Last year about 2 weeks after Halloween I took this picture. It is still my favorite Jack-o-Lantern ever. Is it not one of the saddest faces you've ever seen? While I was in Big Bear I rediscovered him and was inspired to learn a little more. Pumpkin Fun Facts:
- Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by Irish immigrants. All Hallows Eve on 31 October marked the end of the old Celtic calendar year, and on that night hollowed-out turnips, beets and rutabagas with a candle inside were placed on windowsill and porches to welcome home spirits of deceased ancestors and ward off evil spirits and a restless soul called "Stingy Jack" hence the name "Jack-o'-lantern".
- The pumpkin is the state fruit of New Hampshire. (I thought it was a veggie!)
- In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
- Pumpkins are 90 percent water
- Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
- Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.
- The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" the Greek word for "“large melon." (Has anyone seen- My Big Fat Greek Wedding?- this fact should have been slipped into that movie!)
What is your favorite Pumpkin recipe?
(I must admit I have not used it much besides in pie- I want to try it as a crust though)
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15 comments:
Wow! Thanks for the great pumpkin info and that really does look like one sad pumpkin. I wanted to go "awwwwwwwww!!!"
Very interesting to learn new stuff about this orange delight.
Definately Pumpkin Soup, it is my winter favourite, or pumpkin/sunflower seed bread, or pumpkin fries, okay i just love pumpkin in general i think it would have to be one of my favourite veggies.. i mean fruits?(apparently)?!
-Claire
I didn't know that pumpkins are the state fruit of NH. And I grew up there! The town of Keene, NH has a great pumpkin festival every year, though :)
Aww, that poor little pumkin is so sad :(
Mikaela
I LOVE pumpkins so much and I can't tell you how much your post delighted me! :) As for my favorite pumpkin recipe, I would have to think about that one for a while because I love anything pumpkin. But pumpkin pudding, pumpkin pancakes, and pumpkin soup are three things I can think of right off that are high on my list! Much, much more to come on pumpkins later! :)
Love the pumpkin!
My favorite way of using pumpkin is pumpkin cranberry nut muffins. They're a taste of Fall/Autumn.
what a beautifull pumkins american have!
i use the pumking that grow here in my island to make stewed beans
Blogger really has been a pain lately hasn't it Teddy?
I love your pumpkin photo! That is really cool. I like this time of year. I don't know what it's like where you are, but here it's getting cool, mornings are crisp. It's just got that fall smell and feel. Hard to explain. We were driving up to Niagara last week and passed this huge field FULL of pumpkins, which adds to my "fall feeling". I love it! I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin to eat, and I don't like pumpkin pie, so I'm afraid no recipe or dish ideas to share.
Can't wait for Hallowe'en though!
Your Jack-o-lantern is so sad and cute!!!! What a perfect shape it must have been! This phot is so great. That pumpkin has a personality!!!
Thanks for the info on Hallos Eve and for the pumpkin info too!!
oh, favorite ways to use pumpkin? That's tough. I'll have to think about that and come back too to get ideas from everyone else's comments! I probably like soups made with pumpkin the best of all pumpkin recipes. I looooove roasting the seeds too!
That is truly one sad looking pumpkin--but sad in a cute way. :-)
I have a "gutted" pumpkin in my fridge right now, waiting for me to decide what to do with it. My daughter started to carve it on Saturday, but I told her that it wouldn't last until Halloween, so she decided I could use it to make pie. I may make a stew or soup instead--that's my favorite use of pumpkin next to pie.
i like pumpkin muffins,
and pumpin pizza
and pumpkin pasta..
and pumpkin waffles
and pumpkin ice cream
(i am from ohio, where there is a festival every year an hour or so north of me called "The Circleville Pumpkin Show")
pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread are two of my favorite desserts. and i'm going to make some of that bread very soon! i've had it on my mind for a few days now!
awesome pumpkin pic! he is so pathetic! there's nothing like mold spots, a lean to the left, and a huge frown to Scream out Sad!! if there's a pumpkin photo contest --- you gotta enter this.
Pumpkin seeds are my favorite recipe for pumpkins (if that counts!) We typically do a pumpkin carving at my house and then make all kinds of flavored seeds. Yum!
-Crystal
I loooove pumpkin soup. Also, pumpkin cookies, cakes, pies, etc are very good!!! I love pumpkin seeds also. Yummy!
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