All Things Pumpkin

For centuries pumpkins have been used for cooking. Native Americans cut them into long strips and roasted them over a fire. Colonists removed the pumpkin’s top and its seeds and then put milk, honey and spices into it and cooked it in hot ashes. There’s a lot that can be learned about this colorful fruit.

Pumpkin Facts

– The word “pumpkin” means ‘large melon’ in Greek. Native Americans actually called them “isqoutm squash”.
– Pumpkins are technically a fruit because they contain seeds. However, when it comes to cooking many people mistakenly refer to them as a vegetable.
– Pumpkins are made up of about 90% water.
– Pumpkins can weigh anywhere from a couple of pounds to over 1,000 pounds. The largest pumpkin on record weighed 1,140 pounds.
– The U.S. produces more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins each year. During the month of October 80% of the U.S.’s supply of pumpkins are available. The top states for pumpkin growing are California, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Eat Pumpkins For Your Health

There are a lot of benefits to eating pumpkins. They contain Vitamin A and beta-carotene and are full of fiber. Since there are pumpkins practically everywhere this time of year, now is a good time to incorporate it into your diet. Here’s an easy fall pumpkin recipe that you can try at home.

Pumpkin Bisque

Ingredients:

– 1 small onion
– ½ teaspoon cinnamon
– 1 can of pumpkin puree
– 1 cup chicken broth
– 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
– ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
– 2 ½ cups water
– 1 cup cream

To make:
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. While the butter is melting chop the onion and place it into the saucepan. Let cook for two minutes while stirring occasionally. Pour the pumpkin puree, water, chicken broth, nutmeg and cinnamon into the saucepan. Stir the ingredients together and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for a few minutes. Pour the cream in and stir. Simmer until the bisque is hot.

You can top with fresh herbs, croutons, roasted pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg or grated cheese.

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