A Meal in a Pumpkin

This is a very cute idea for around Halloween. When I first saw the recipe, I thought "YUCK", but then I tried it and it is really good and kids think it is GREAT because it is prepared and served in a pumpkin. 2 hours is the time I baked my 10 to 12 lb pumpkin and it was almost too long.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 2  onions, chopped
• 1  lb hamburger meat
• 1  lb sausage
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup mushroom, drained and chopped
• 1 (10 1/2ounce) can  cream of chicken soup
• 8  ounces water chestnuts, drained and sliced
• 1  bell pepper, chopped
• 1  jalapeno, chopped
• 2  tablespoons pimentos, drained and chopped
• 2  cups cooked rice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  creole seasoning
• 10 -12  lbs pumpkin
•  shortening

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brown and drain beef along with onions and sausage.
3. Cook until no longer pink and drain well.
4. Cut top off of pumpkin and reserve.
5. Clean seeds and strings from pumpkin.
6. Clean well.
7. Coat pumpkin skin with shortening.
8. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
9. Spoon ingredients into pumpkin.
10. Place top back on pumpkin.
11. Wrap foil over the stem.
12. Bake on a cookie sheet for 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of pumpkin.
13. DO NOT OVERBAKE. The pumpkin should not begin to brown.