Dinner in a Pumpkin

Submitted by Lezlie Zollinger

Ingredients:

1 large pumpkin--about 10 to 12 inches in diameter

2 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground ham or bulk sausage

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 medium onion, chopped

3 T. green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 t. oregano

1 t. Italian seasonings

1/2 c. stuffed green olives, chopped, plus 1/2 the marinade

1 large can diced tomatoes

1 small can plain tomato sauce

3 c. cooked rice

Directions:

1. Cut off top of pumpkin, making sure to cut a couple of notches to fit it back on. Clean       
out seeds, etc. Place in roasting pan.

2. In a frying pan, combine the meats, salt and pepper, onion, green pepper, garlic, and seasonings. Simmer until meat is browned. (Taste and add more seasonings if desired.)

3. Add remaining ingredients, plus a little more water or olive marinade if the mixture appears dry. Let simmer another 10 minutes.

4. Scoop entire mixture into pumpkin shell, replace cover and cover loosely in foil. Bake at 350* for about 1 1/2 hours. During the last 20-30 minutes, watch carefully. You don't want your pumpkin to lose it's shape by shriveling too much, but you do want it to be tender.

5. Serve straight from the pumpkin along with a little of the pumpkin meat, which you can scoop off the insides with the serving spoon.