Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a bowl, toss the pumpkin with the honey and the melted butter. Spread the pumpkin on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 35 minutes, or just until tender; let cool.
2 lbs pumpkin, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Arrange the bread on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven with the pumpkin for about 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Brush the toasts generously with pumpkin seed oil and rub with the sage leaves. Spread the pumpkin seeds in a pie plate; toast in the oven for about 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
In a bowl, toss the apple with 1/2 tablespoon of the vinegar. In another bowl, toss the pumpkin with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar. Season both with salt and pepper.
1 whole Granny Smith apple, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
To Serve
Set a crouton on each plate and top with the apple slices. Spoon the pumpkin salad and chopped persimmon over the apple slices. Garnish with the toasted pumpkin seeds and serve.
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Notes
This unusual salad is a wonderful starter to the meal. Toasted bread slices are rubbed with sage and pumpkinseed oil, then topped with vinegary apples, honey-roasted pumpkin salad and finely chopped persimmons.