“A little pumpkin is on the way” is one of the most popular baby shower themes. Being gender neutral, this theme is chosen by many parents. Especially those who don’t want to reveal their baby’s gender just yet. This article will give you 5 food ideas that are inspired by the little pumpkin theme for your child’s baby shower. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right in!
Pumpkin mousse dessert
Your party guests will definitely enjoy these pumpkin mousse parfaits. They’re not only delicious but also quite easy to pull off. First you need to prepare some serving vessels. They can be food jars or any other kinds of vessels you could find in your house. Then prepare the ingredients below:
- Vanilla extract (1 1/2 teaspoons)
- Heavy cream (1 1/2 cups)
- Salt (1/2 teaspoons)
- Nutmeg (1/4 teaspoons)
- Ground cinnamon (1/2 teaspoons)
- Egg yolks (2)
- Light brown sugar (1/2 cups)
- Pumpkin puree (1 15oz can)
- Unflavored gelatin (2 teaspoons)
- Dark rum (1/4 cups)
- Whipped cream (1 can)
- Ginger biscuits (1 box)
Here are the instructions for the dessert:
Step 1: Pour the rum and sprinkle the gelatin into a bowl (choose the heat-safe ones). Set aside the mixture for around 10 minutes.
Step 2: Whisk together the nutmeg, cinnamon, egg yolks, brown sugar, granulated sugar and pumpkin puree in a large bowl. Don’t forget to add the salt.
Step 3: Set the gelatin bowl in a pan with boiling water and stir the mixture often until it becomes clear. Then whisk the mixture into the pumpkin puree mixture.
Step 4: Whip the vanilla and heavy cream to obtain a soft peak form. Mix the whipped cream with the pumpkin puree mixture.
Step 5: Scoop some pumpkin puree mixture into the serving vessel. Then alternate between a layer of whipped cream and a layer of ground cookies. Add a piece of ginger biscuit and a scoop of whipped cream on top and the pumpkin mousse is ready to be served!
Read more: Del Frisco’s Lemon Cake: Recipes, Dishes and Ideas for Your Next Party
The cake is always the centerpiece of any baby shower party. With the little pumpkin theme, there are tons of cake decoration ideas that you can come up with. You can go with a simple and basic round cake, then add a topper on top of it. If you’re serving more than 10 people at the party. The more suitable option is to make a pumpkin theme inspired sheet cake.
The cake in the picture is decorated with a pumpkin made out of cake and “A little pumpkin is on his way” topper. You can use fondant to make the ribbons and hearts. Also cover the whole cake with fondant to achieve a smooth and even surface. Add some fresh roses for a more aesthetic and natural look.
Read more: 16th Birthday Cakes: Customized Cake Ideas for Teenage Boys
Creamy pumpkin pasta Recipe
This pumpkin pasta is highlighted with creamy and silky sauce made of parmesan and mascarpone. To make this dish, here are the ingredients you need to prepare:
- Grated parmesan (40g)
- Short pasta (350g)
- Mascarpone (2 tablespoon)
- Tomato puree (2 tablespoon)
- Whole milk (50-100ml)
- Pumpkin (500g, cut into cubes)
- Garlic cloves (2, crushed)
- Onion (1, finely chopped)
- Olive oil (2 tablespoon)
Follow these steps to pull off a creamy pumpkin pasta dish for your “A little pumpkin is on the way” baby shower theme:
Step 1: Use a frying pan to heat the oil. Fry the onion for about 10-15 minutes with a pinch of salt. Add the garlic and keep frying for 1 more minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Step 2: Cook the pumpkin for 10-15 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain and use a blender to grind the pumpkin. Add the onions and 50ml milk to the mixture. Gradually add more milk to obtain a thick texture that can coat the back of a spoon. Tip the mixture into a frying pan, add mascarpone and tomato puree then cook at low heat.
Step 3: Use a large pan of salted boiling water to cook the pasta. Drain the pasta but don’t forget to reserve 50-100ml of the cooking water. Finally, mix the cooked pasta with pumpkin sauce, a cupful of cooking water and parmesan. Season and add some extra parmesan to your taste.
Pumpkin and bacon soup Recipe
Pumpkin soup is something that you should consider adding to your baby shower menu. And it also perfectly matches the “A little pumpkin is on the way” theme. To create this mouth-watering dish, first you need to prepare the ingredients below:
- Pumpkin seeds (3 tablespoon, toasted)
- Double cream (100ml)
- Chicken stock (1l)
- Pumpkin flesh (500g)
- Maple-cured bacon (150g, cut into small pieces)
- Onion (1, finely chopped)
- Butter (50g)
- Vegetable oil (1 tablespoon)
Already have all the things you need for the pumpkin soup? Check out the instructions to see how it’s done:
Step 1: Use a large pan to heat the oil and add 25g butter. Tip in the onion with a pinch of salt, then cook until tender for about 10 minutes on a low heat. Add 50-60g bacon and cook until the bacon’s fat is released (about 5 minutes).
Step 2: Raise the heat to medium then add stock, pumpkin and season. After bringing to the boil, lower the heat and cook for 40 minutes more with a lid on. Pour in the cream mixture and bring to boil, then turn off the heat. Reserve some of the mixture and blend the rest of the pumpkin until velvety. Pour the mixture bit by bit into the pan. Use a sieve to strain through the mixture and set aside.
Step 3: Heat up the remaining butter till soft and fry the rest of the bacon for about 5 minutes. Reheat the soup and pour into bowls. Serve with maple syrup and pumpkin seeds to add more flavors.
With these recipes, your “A little pumpkin is on the way” inspired baby shower party will definitely be a day to remember. See you in the next article for more amazing food ideas with Bourbon O!
