By Kaira Headrick
- In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding "gros melons." The name was translated into English as "pompions," which has since evolved into the modern "pumpkin."
- Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.
- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
- The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was 350 pounds and five feet in diameter.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records the largest pumpkin to date weighed in at 1,337 pounds at the pumpkin weigh-off at Topsfield Fair, Massachusetts and was grown by Charles Houghton of New Boston, New Hampshire.
- Pumpkins were thought to ward off evil wandering spirits in Irish and Scottish folklore, which has developed into the traditional display of Jack O' Lanterns at Halloween we know today.
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The rich and bright colors will captivate your eye, while the various, eccentric shapes will spark your imagination to their limitless ornamental possibilities. The pumpkin, a unique and versatile creation, has both culinary and decorative uses, and has since long been a key signature of the fall holidays.
A chef's dream in the kitchen, the pumpkin can be used to make soups, breads, cakes, pies, main dishes and desserts. This delicious ingredient is loaded with the antioxidant, beta-carotene, and thus an excellent source of vitamin A in any of its numerous preparations. However, probably the most popular prepared pumpkin dish of all (and most well known) is the illustrious pumpkin pie. Traditionally served at Thanksgiving dinner, the recipe itself has several variations, but the end results are always the same - a savory and comforting dessert that always reminds you of home!
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in Central America. This member of the genus Cucurbita, which also includes squash, gourds and cucumbers, first hinted to its existence around 7,000 B.C. Africa, China and India have also noted the pumpkin early in history, but none as much as North American Native Indians. The resourceful fruit was a staple in the Native American diet and used for other various means, such as peeling and drying the skin in strips to weave into mats.
Seeing the resourceful value of pumpkins, the Pilgrims soon incorporated the pumpkin into their diet and everyday use. Soup and lager were made from the fruit, as well as an early variation of pumpkin pie; a hollowed out pumpkin shell would be filled with milk, honey and spices, and then baked in hot ashes. Although history is unclear to exactly when the first "traditional" pumpkin pie was made, it is believed by some that the second Thanksgiving feast had the delicious dessert on the menu.
Pumpkins also lend themselves to being very versatile ornamental pieces. Pumpkins may be carved, sculpted or painted, waxed and arranged for a centerpiece or hanging ornamental piece. Dried seeds can be used for their natural color, or they can be dyed or painted to use as accents on various crafts. The smaller variations of pumpkins are typically used around Thanksgiving as table centerpieces or door ornaments. However, it is at Halloween were the pumpkin can be seen in all its creative glory masqueraded as infamous jack-o-lantern.
Pumpkins are one of the most rewarding plants to house in a garden. Once planted, they grow quickly to satisfy the eager gardener with all its rewards. Be it for gardening pleasure, decorative tastes or culinary satisfaction, the pumpkin will keep any gardener content for the growing season and in anticipation of the next.
So, IS a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable? Most fruits are known to be sweet because they contain a simple sugar called fructose. Most vegetables, having less fructose, are not sweet. As with the human 'sweet tooth,' the sweetness of fruit encourages animals to eat it, which thereby "spread the seeds." Based on the understanding that fruits have seeds, a pumpkin is a fruit, just as are tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, green, yellow, and red peppers and peapods.
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Indian Harvest Pumpkin, Sweet Potato & Apple Soup
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1/2 cup Carrots (diced)
1/2 cup Celery (diced)
1/2 cup Onions (diced)
1 tsp. Garlic (smashed & minced)
1 cup Apples (diced)
3 oz. Clarified Butter
1/2 cup Sherry Wine
1 quart Pumpkin (roasted & peeled)
1 cup Sweet Potatoes (peeled & diced)
1 quart Chicken Stock
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 oz. Sugar
1 Bay Leaf
pinch Sage
pinch Cinnamon
pinch Nutmeg
Salt & White Pepper (to taste)
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- Heat clarified butter in a heavy-bottom pot. Sauté carrots, celery, onions, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apples and garlic until slightly brown.
- Deglaze pan with sherry wine and let reduce by half.
- Add bay leaf and chicken stock to vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until all vegetables are tender.
- Add sugar, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt and white pepper to taste.
- Remove bay leaf; puree in food processor or blender and strain liquid through a sieve. Temper your heavy cream when incorporating. Readjust salt and white pepper and serve hot.
- Garnish with roasted pumpkinseeds and julienne cut apples.
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