pure solid-pack pumpkin

a.k.a.

pumpkin puree

what is it?

Not to be confused with canned pumpkin-pie filling, which contains spices and sugar, pure solid-pack pumpkin is, as the name implies, simply mashed, cooked pumpkin and nothing else. A Thanksgiving staple for pumpkin pies, it's also great in any recipe that calls for pumpkin puree, including breads, muffins, soups, and stews.

kitchen math:

15-oz. cans, which contain a little less than 2 cups by volume, are the most common size in the supermarket.