Ingredients

　　an 8-pound pumpkin (preferably a sugar pumpkin)

　　1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

　　Slice off the stem end of the pumpkin 2 1/2 inches from the top, reserving it, scrape out the seeds and the membranes, reserving the seeds for toasting if desired, and brush the inside of the pumpkin with the butter. Top the pumpkin with the reserved stem end, bake it in a shallow baking pan in the middle of a preheated 375°F. oven for 1 1/2 hours, or until the pulp is tender, and let it cool in the pan until it can be handled. Discard any liquid that may have accumulated in the pumpkin, scoop out the pulp, and in a blender purée it in batches, transferring it as it is puréed to a large sieve or colander lined with overlapping large coffee filters and set over a large bowl. Cover the surface of the purée with plastic wrap and let the purée drain, chilled, overnight.