10 Ways to Show Some Pumpkin Love (Pumpkins)

Member Name: i_heart_elo

Product:	Pumpkins
Date:	04/09/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Versitile Vegatable with various uses, Tastes Great, Decorative

Disadvantages: Only is available in the Fall

Fall (or as soom say Autumn) is now upon us. Get ready for falling leaves, colder temperatures, less sun (was there even that much sun in the summer?) , and flowers to start dying. Although these are the negative side effects, many of us tend to forget all the positive ones. Like being able to now use our favourite jumpers and jackets, going on those last minute holidays up to Scotland (before it turns to ice), and....Pumpkins!

Growing up in the U.S., Pumpkins are a staple to the American diet of appreciating the changing of the season guard. You wake up one morning near the end of summer, go to a store, and see several types of squash and pumpkins (a type of squash) for sale. That's when you know when summer is officially over. You allow yourself ten seconds to be saddened by this before you smile and think mmmm "Pumpkin Pie"!

If there is one thing I miss from the states, it's Pumpkin Pie. I'm always so miffed when Fall rolls around in England and see that the most wonderful, mouth-watering, almost-good-for-you Pie is not being sold. I tell my brother-in-law (who's a native here) " Why don't you guys freaking have Pumpkin Pie". He counters that with " Why don't you "guys" have freaking bangers and mash"? Well, I can't argue with that.

There are a lot of various foods one country has that another one doesn't. They just don't seem to catch on, even if they taste mind-bogglingly good. (i.e. - Clotted Cream and Scones haven't reached the states, and Coney Dogs haven't reached Britain.....I don't get that). The biggest descrepancy in my mind though, is the quintessential "fall" seasonal foods.

I know this is a review that is suppposed to just be all about Pumpkins, but lets not forget there breathern Squash, and Goards, and Corn on the Cob, and Sweet Potatoes. You can make a million things out of those vegatables and yet many don't seem to understand how or even want to. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

These are the foods that actually "help" you lose weight believe it or not. If your craving carbs, simply cut up a sweet potato and make "Yam Chips" out of it, ( I'll post the receipe for that on here later), or take a butternut squash, cut it into cubes and toss it with some other grill-able veggies in the oven, and then there is one of the most versitile, the Pumpkin.

Let me break down for you all the things you can do with this veggie in a top 10 list.

1.) Make Pumpkin Pie:

Yes, i'm ramming this down your throat, but your going to kiss me later for forcing feeding it to you. It can be served hot, cold, with whipped cream or without or you can just spoon it off the crust like I do (I hate crust on pies....yes i'm weird).

I've known dozens of people who have ate an entire Pumpkin Pie all at once. It's just that good. You also don't have to be too concerned about fat/calories. This (and it's brother Sweet Potatoe Pie), are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and don't have a high amount of fat or sugars. If you eat it like I do in fact, it's even lower (crust is very fattening). Plus, it's very very VERY easy to make. I'll even include a recipe for you at the end of this review!

9.) Pumpkin Bread:

This includes all type of "breads" like Muffins, Cookies, and Coffee Cakes. If you were go go online and type in "Pumpkin Bread", you'll get a plethora of recipes. If you don't like any type of Pumpkin Bread I am willing to give you 100 quid. (Unless I know your lying just to get the 100).

These breads are also easy to make and are extremely moist. Pumpkin stops them from drying out. They also can be frozen in most cases and don't get hard or go bad quickly. I make them on occasion and give them to people as gifts, which sounds cheezy, but they're one of of the few foods I think are "giftable". Your kitchen smells amazing afterwards as well.

8.) Pumpkin Seeds:

Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, and what? Pumpkin Seeds? You can eat those? Yes.....yes you can. As a matter of fact, they're better tasting than those other two seeds mentioned above. You do have to do an at home roasting process for them, but it isn't that difficult.

The downside is that this is where all the fat is in a pumpkin. 1/2 Cup of Pumpkin seeds are about 22 grams of fat and 200 or so calories. Before you go off and say "No Thanks", remember that this is "Good Fat". Even if I hate when people say good fat, they do have a point. There is a huge difference between fats that were just not starting to differentiate.

Pumpkin Seeds are best used with trail mix or as a snack when you have a day where your active. Let's say you just went for a run with the dog and have a few hours before dinner but are starving. That's when you eat pumpkin seeds. It's similar to nuts the type of fiber, protein, and vitamins they have. They also will stay fresh for a long time if you keep them in the fridge.

7.) Pumpkin Cheesecake:

I had to put this here even it is slight decadant. If your a cheesecake lover, then you must make this or have someone make if for you as soon as possible. I have nothing more to say about this than....it's ******* Good.

6.) Pumpkin "Leftovers":

If you buy a large Pumpkin you will have TONS of leftovers. Most of you will not have enough time in the day to open up a pumpkin, scoop it out (which is a little gross mind you), and then use all the insides for various recipes. Generally you'll have one desert in mind and will need to discard the rest not called for. So, you just throw it away? Wrong.

If you have a dog then you have a winner. It's not bad for them, just the opposite. If you have a garden then there's another way. Simply, mix it with the soil. My grandfather would do this to his garden in the fall. Take all the leftovers from pumpkins and mix them with his garden soil. It helps keep in the moisture.

4.) Pumpkin Casserole:

Everyone thinks you can only use this veggie for deserts. That is far from the truth. There are lots of recipes that call for this in savory dishes too. Look it up for yourself. It might be another way to "get rid of" your leftovers too.

3.) The Hard Pumpkin Shell:

This might be a stretch for some of you that aren't females, but if you cut up hard outter pumpkin shell into small chunks and soak them in a large pot full of water, cinnamon, and nutmeg you have just made some very nice potpourri. I saw this once on a Martha Stewart Show.

You boil/soak the shell portions with some cinnamon and nutmeg until they're soft then let them sit in the sun until the moisture is dried out. It works a lot faster if you have a freeze drying machine but you do the same with apple peels as well. Mix some dried apple peels with the cinna-nutmeg-pumpkin and you have some amazing smelling stuff to put around the house.

2.) Halloween Jack-O-Laterns:

I don't celebrate Halloween myself, but for those of you that do, it's a fun treat for the kids to get a Pumpkin and cut out some faces in them. Just make sure they are watched with the knife. I'm sure you might watch to even help them do it if they are under than 11 or 12. You clean out the inside after taking the "top off" , then after the kids cut out the faces, you can stick one of those tealight candles inside. It's just spooky enough for the kids to love it without freaking out.

1.) Decorative Pumpkins:

My favorite thing to do in the fall is take several different sizes of pumpkins and set them outside on my porch. Usually I mix other goards and squash with them, but even alone they look nice. It's a cheap way to celebrate the season and they last well into the winter. Most Pumpkins don't "go bad" for several months. If your not a cook, this is the easiest way to go. =)


So there you have it. 10 ways to use and appreciate Pumpkins. I pray at least someone reading this can one day use one of them (hopefully the pumpkin pie). Have a Happy Fall!

Summary: An Ode to a Pumpkin