11/02/2026
Halloween’s over, but that big red-orange pumpkin on your porch can still make it to the Thanksgiving table. 🎃
That’s a Cinderella pumpkin, also called Rouge Vif d’Étampes.
It’s a French heirloom that was a favorite in 1880s Paris and is said to have inspired Cinderella’s carriage.
You’ll find it at nearly every Hudson Valley farm stand right now, and most people never cook it.
In this bonus episode of Beyond Butternut, I’m turning one Cinderella pumpkin into two plates:
🍛 For you: a red curry (or soup) where the pumpkin melts right into the sauce. It makes a cozy plant-based main for Thanksgiving week, or an easy way to use up leftovers.
🍲 For your dog: a warm pot-au-feu-style stew with chicken, pumpkin, carrots and green beans, slow-cooked in plenty of broth.
The broth supports hydration.
Dogs tend to drink less once the weather turns cold, and heated homes are dry.
Moisture in the bowl helps keep urine dilute, which supports bladder health through the winter.
Thanksgiving tip: while everyone else eats, give your dog plain, warm pumpkin as their holiday treat.
Keep turkey skin, gravy, stuffing and anything with onion or garlic off their plate.
Cooking your porch pumpkin?
Make sure it’s uncarved, unpainted and unwaxed, with firm skin and no soft spots.
Want warm, fresh meal ideas for your dog this winter? Book a discovery session through the link in my bio.