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Serving pumpkin

The word "pumpkin" comes from the Greek word "pepon," which means "ripened." Pumpkins come in a variety of sizes, from the mini-pumpkin, to the 800 pound one. Their flavor is sweet, while their texture is smooth.

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Seed, sprout, pumpkin, pie
by Jill Esbaum.
Washington, D.C. : National Geographic, 2009.
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, PiefollowsApples for Everyonein thePicture the Seasonsseries. This beautifully photographed picture book about everybody’s favorite fall treat is sure to please kids both young and old. The glossy, festive images and lively text are sure to get your family in the mood to celebrate the season. Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field? Children piling off school buses to pick one out. Carving out funny faces, smiles, or scary frowns to illuminate Halloween doorsteps. Making room for that last piece of pumpkin pie after a delicious Thanksgiving feast. In this book, pumpkins aren’t just a fruit, they’re a symbol, a scent, a flavor of the entire season. Celebrate the flavor of fall on every page of this beautifully photo-graphed picture book. Follow along as National Geographic takes you from seed to sprout, pumpkin to pie. Envelope yourself, your family, or your class in the season by reading and learning all about pumpkins.
     
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Cooking with pumpkins and squash
Brian Glover ; photography by Peter Cassidy.
New York : Ryland Peters & Small, c2008.
Includes index.
     
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A harvest of pumpkins and squash : seasonal recipes
by Lou Seibert Pappas ; photographs by Maren Caruso.
San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2008, c2007.
Includes index.
     

There are many ways to serve pumpkin as a meal. Besides being a wonderful vegetable for your family to enjoy, pumpkins can be used as both a spectacular soup and the tourin to serve it in. Simply cut a pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, and then fill it with a delicate, velvety-textured soup.

Traditionally, the Pilgrims ate pumpkins for their day of prayer and giving thanks for the harvest. Nowadays, pumpkin pie is often served during the American Thanksgiving dinner.

Pumpkin dishes to serve:

Cream of Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Ravioli
Pumpkin Puree
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin recipes

Pumpkins are an international vegetable; each country has their own method of serving pumpkin. In Morocco pumpkin salads include garlic, cilantro, and hot pepper sauce.  Italians like to cook pumpkin in risotto. However, in Brazil, culinary experts prepare a hearty soup of pumpkin simmered with beef, potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes.

Pumpkins are the most famous of the winter squashes. They are available from late September through late November and can be stored in a cool dark place for 2 to 3 months. Pureed pumpkin freezes very nicely. One cup of cooked pumpkin has 80 to 110 calories and is rich in Vitamin A, and a good source of Vitamin C.

Bright, orange, pumpkins bring back childhood memories of Halloween.  It’s exciting to walk through a pumpkin patch and discover the "right" pumpkin.  Just don't forget to pick up one for cooking, not just for carving.

Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff