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to Newsletter ...Look for a pumpkin with 1 or 2 inches of stem left. If the stem is cut down too low the pumpkin will decay quickly or may be decaying at the time of purchase. Avoid pumpkins with blemishes and soft spots. It should be heavy, shape is unimportant. A lopsided pumpkin is not necessarily a bad pumpkin. Figure one pound of raw, untrimmed pumpkin for each cup finished pumpkin puree. Preparing the Pumpkin: Cooking the Pumpkin: Oven Method: Cut pumpkin in half, scraping away stringy mass and seeds. Rinse under cold water. Place pumpkin, cut side down on a large cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for one hour or until fork tender. Then follow the procedure outlined below in preparing the puree. Microwave Method: Cut pumpkin in half, place cut side down on a microwave safe plate or tray. Microwave on high for 15 minutes, check for doneness. If necessary continue cooking at 1-2 minute intervals until fork tender. Follow preparing the puree. Preparing the Puree: Pumpkin puree freezes well. To freeze, measure cooled puree into one cup portions, place in ridged freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace or pack into zip closure bags. Label, date and freeze at 0°F for up to one yrar. Use this puree in recipes or substitute in the same amount in any recipe calling for solid pack canned pumpkin. 2. So, whose idea was
this anyway?...A Pumpkin History. History of the Jack-o-Lantern People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. the next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years. Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern." In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brough the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.
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We Know They Taste Good...But are they good for you?
...In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many imporant functions in overall health. Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and often protects against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging. Pumpkin Nutrition Facts Ever wonder about the caloric and nutritional value of pumpkin pie? This interesting site will provide nutritional information on everything from pumpkin pies and breads to pumpkin seeds and flowers. University of Illinois Nutrition Analysis Tool
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4. No Shortage of Pumpkin Places on the Web.
Parties, Treats, Crafts, Everything Halloween |
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5. Orange and Black food just isn't for Halloween. ...and you won't have to worry about getting the stains out at laundry time. The great things about this stuff is that you can get it all year round, including the pumpkin...remember, that comes in a can! Here's
a place to find a slew of black bean recipes Looking
for the millions of ways to prepare pumpkin? Tired
of the same old corn dish Want
to Impress the Masses?
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