https://padlet.com/noraac22/cookingduringcovid A collection of heartfelt recipes from our BPS family to yours ~ en-us 2020-10-24 21:22:17 UTC 2025-10-30 14:53:25 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f372.png noraac22 https://padlet.com/noraac22/cookingduringcovid/wish/863343017 This dish is vegetarian friendly!
Ghapama Recipe 
Ingredients:
1 pumpkin, about 3 lbs.
1 ½ cups rice
4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) butter, melted
¼ cup each of dried plums, apricots, cherries, chopped
¼ cup raisins
½ - 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of salt, or to taste
1 – 2 Tbsp. honey (or sugar)
½ cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans), optional
¼ cup hot water

Directions: 
1. Wash and dry exterior of pumpkin. Cut off the top in a circle shape as it will be used as a lid.
2. Scrape out the stringy fibers and seeds. Discard fibers, but rinse and save the seeds for roasting later on, if desired. Rinse the inside of the pumpkin; pat dry.
3. In a saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add rice, stir, cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Cook rice for about 15 minutes. Rice should not be completely cooked. Drain any excess liquid.
4. In bowl, mix together the partially cooked rice, chopped, dried fruit, melted butter, salt, cinnamon, honey (or sugar), and nuts, if using.
5. Loosely stuff filling into pumpkin; pour the ¼ cup hot water over the top of the filling.
6. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet for support. Put the top of the pumpkin back on and bake at 325°F for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until soft. Insert a toothpick into the pumpkin to determine tenderness.

Cut into wedges; serve.

Background: Ghapama is a holiday and celebratory Armenian dish. Traditionally, we will sing a song together as the meal is brought out that goes: “Hey Jan Ghapama, Hamov Hodov Ghapama”, meaning ‘Dear sweet Ghapama, tasty, aromatic ghapama’. It is such a fun and delicious dish that turns a meal into a whole experience!!]]> 2020-10-26 19:30:57 UTC https://padlet.com/noraac22/cookingduringcovid/wish/863343017