Happy Halloween! On this day, the souls of the dead return to their homes, according to ancient Celtics who celebrated a festival called Samhain on Nov. 1. They dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits,
Pumpkins are in season now and are used for carving jack-o-lanterns. They are the fruits of the vine and are a type of berry known as a pepo.
Did you know that:
The largest pumpkin recorded weighed in at 2,702 pounds!
The average pumpkin has 500 seeds!
More than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the United States every year and over 80 percent are ready for harvest in October.
The world record for smashing a pumpkin stands at 52 in one minute.
The largest pumpkin pie was made in 2010 Pumpkinfest in New Bremen, Ohio, and was 20 feet wide! That is a large pie plate.
Fragments of pumpkin were found in Mexico, dating back to 7,000 and 5,500 BC.
There are over 150 varieties of pumpkin worldwide.
Sugar pumpkins, also called pie pumpkins or sweet pumpkins, are perfect for pies because they are not stringy and have less water content.
Captain Jack pumpkins are the jack-o-lantern pumpkins as they are extra large. Although edible, these pumpkins are stringy, coarse and not “meaty” like other pumpkins.
Before pumpkins were carved, turnips, potatoes and other vegetables were used to make jack-o-lanterns.
Libby’s grows their own variety of pumpkins called Dickinson squash for their canned pumpkin.
The most expensive pumpkin is the King Pumpkin, which in 2022 was sold for $13,000!
Like turkey, pumpkin contains tryptophan, an amino acid, which increases the sleep hormone melatonin.
Pumpkins are a mild diuretic so may harm those taking medications such as lithium.
Pumpkins were served to prisoners in the past because it was plentiful and inexpensive. It reminds me of when I was in Thailand and couldn’t find brown jasmine rice at the markets. When I asked why, they said it was served only to the prisoners..
Dogs can eat pumpkin, and it is often added to dog foods.
Only the female flowers produce pumpkins.
Pumpkins are high in vitamin A, with beta-carotene lutein zeaxanthin, and also contain thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
Pumpkins can be difficult to peel. I usually microwave or place the whole pumpkin in the oven heated to 325 degrees for 30 minutes. This softens the skin and makes it easy to peel. Now you are ready to make some pumpkin soup.
Curried Coconut Pumpkin Soup
Serves 4
4 cups cubed, peeled fresh pumpkin
3 cups vegetable broth (for pumpkin soup the Pacific brand works best)
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3/4 cup diced onions
1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 can coconut milk, well shaken and stirred, divided
1 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seed kernels (pepitas)
Combine pumpkins, broth, apple, onions, ginger, garlic, curry powder, salt and crushed red pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until vegetables are very tender, about 7 hours. Stir in 1 cup coconut milk and lime juice.
Using a stick blender, blend the pumpkin mixture until smooth.
Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle 1 teaspoon coconut milk into each serving, top with pepitas.
For today:
Decorate muffins or sandwiches with gummy worms. Have them sticking out of the sandwich or coming out of the muffins.
Grandson Quentin goes to kempo karate and Sensei Lance asked them what they need to do while going out treat-or-treating. Some of the answers were:
Bring a flashlight.
Don’t go to houses you don’t know.
Don’t go to a house that does not have its lights on.
Don’t wear a mask, especially if the eye holes are small.
Wear bright clothes or put glow-in-the-dark strips around your costume so cars can see you.
Have fun and be safe! Happy Halloween!
Email Audrey Wilson at audreywilson808@gmail.com.