Halloween Pumpkin

Halloween Pumpkin History, Health Benefits and Uses of Pumpkin for making yogurt parfait, bread, spices, pies, pancakes, muffins, cookies, and nutritious snacks

Even though the most popular use of a pumpkin is to carve jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins are nutritional powerhouses that can be used for a variety of cooked and baked goods. 

History of Halloween and Pumpkin : 

Pumpkins originated in Central America and are part of the vine crops family called Cucurbitaceae. The name pumpkin originates from "pepon," which is the Greek word for "large melon." Throughout history, pumpkins have been used as an ingredient within pie crusts in early colonial times, and Native Americans used pumpkins to make mats and also used the seeds for food and medicinal purposes. Pumpkins were at one time recommended to remove freckles and to cure snake bites. Today, the most popular use of pumpkins is carving jack-o-lanterns or making pumpkin pie. 

Nutritional value  and benefits of eating pumpkin: 

pumpkin facts

Pumpkins are considered to be a fruit and are 90 percent water. Pumpkins are loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene, which has been shown to help improve immune function and can reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. In addition, pumpkins also contain many vitamins and nutrients including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, niacin, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E. One cup of pumpkin contain only 50 calories and 3 grams of fiber.

How Pumpkins Can be Used: 

In addition to being used to make pumpkin pie, pumpkins have a variety of uses including bread, butter, soups, muffins, pancakes, waffles, cakes, custards, cookies and can be cut into chunks, peeled and roasted. Also, the seeds of pumpkins can be roasted and are a nutritious snack. 

How to Select a Pumpkin for Cooking or Baking: 

The best selection for a pumpkin to cook or bake is a pie pumpkin or sweet pumpkin. Pie or sweet pumpkins are smaller than the type of pumpkins used to carve jack-o-lanterns and the flesh is sweeter and not as watery. When selecting a pumpkin, look for a stem that is one to two inches. When the stem of a pumpkin is cut too low, the pumpkin will quickly decay or may already be decaying at time of purchase. Pumpkins should be heavy, and pumpkins that are blemished or have soft spots should be avoided. A pound of raw pumpkin usually constitutes one cup finished pumpkin puree.