Halloween Manju

Directions

1. 1
   Cut peeled kabocha into approximate sizes, and boil until you can pierce it through with a toothpick.
2. 2
   You will use the skins for decoration when making the Kabocha faces, so boil a little of the skin together with the pumpkin.
3. 3
   After boiling, mash up all of the Kabocha except for the skin.
4. 4
   Set aside 50g of the mashed kabocha.
5. 5
   This is to knead into the dough.
6. 6
   In a bowl, mix the pancake mix and kabocha (50g) with salt until the color has become uniform.
7. 7
   After mixing it to a crumbly mixture, add the milk.
8. 8
   Once it has lost its stickiness and become smooth, wrap in plastic wrap, and let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.
9. 9
   Kabocha Paste: Add the remaining kabocha to a pot, add sugar and skim milk, heat over low heat, mix well, and let it cool.
10. 10
    Take out the dough from the fridge, divide into 8 equal portions, spread out the dough, and wrap in the kabocha paste.
11. 11
    After shaping, cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from the kabocha skin, and stick it on the dough.
12. 12
    I added black sesame seeds on top of the others.
13. 13
    Cut parchment paper big enough to set 1 manju on top of (8 sheets).
14. 14
    After steam has risen, line them up in a steamer, and steam-cook over a medium heat for 10-12 minutes, and they are done.