Do you have a passion for pumpkins?

   By DianeHoffmaster  Oct 27, 2011
16

Fall is my favorite time of year...the smell of the fallen leaves, the crispness of the air, and of course the plentiful pumpkins! There are just so many things you can do with a pumpkin...my kids love to carve, draw on, or glue sparkly bits all over it to create a beautiful masterpiece. I feast on breads, muffins, pancakes and other yummy baked goods made with this beautiful orange gourd. And, we can't forget toasting the pumpkin seeds...the aroma of garlic oil and spicy black pepper coming from my oven makes my mouth water.

 

So, other than the fact that it is tasty and pretty, what else do you really know about it? Here are a few facts for you to whip out at your Thanksgiving feast to wow your guests!

 

  • The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon"
  • The oldest evidence of a pumpkin-related seed dates to between 7000 and 5500 BC and were found in Mexico.
  • Although pumpkins are usually orange they can also be yellow, dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray.
  • Pumpkins are actually fruits, not vegetables
  • Of the seven continents, only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins
  • 1.5 billion pounds (680,000,000 kilograms) of pumpkins are produced each year in the US
  • Chris Stevens of New Richmond, Wi., remains the world record holder for the largest pumpkin... 1810.5 pounds!
  • The largest pumpkin pie is 3,699 pounds!
  • Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is a popular Halloween tradition that originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland (but they used potatoes and turnips!)
  • The self proclaimed "pumpkin capital" of the world is Morton, Illinois
  • Pumpkin flowers are edible.
  • Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
  • Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.

    Now that you are smart enough to wow your family on Turkey Day with your pumpkin knowledge, are you going to head out to the pumpkin patch and pick a peck of...pumpkins? If you do, what are you planning on doing with them? Are they destined for a pumpkin soup or are you going to let your kids put on Mr. Potato Head parts and let it adorn your dining room table?

 

 

 

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lil_angel78 by lil_angel78 | Clearwater, FL
Nov 10, 2011

I absolutely love fall for all the pumpkins! I could eat pretty much anything with pumpkin lol

Bobbiegirl56 by Bobbiegirl56 | RAVENA, NY
Nov 03, 2011

My favorite season is Fall because you have Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Spice Coffee, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Latte's, Pumpkin Candles!

Kipply by Kipply | Charlotte, NC
Nov 02, 2011

I love everything PUMPKIN! Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin cake, pumkin cream cheese!!

dmp515 by dmp515 | LANCASTER, PA
Nov 02, 2011

Pumpkins are definitley a fall favorite of mine. I love all the colors, sizes and textures to decorate with. So many choices to use for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I also like to cook with pumpkin and this past weekend made Pumpkin Walnut pancakes and Pumpkin Cream cheese muffins. Both were delicious. I will be making Pumpkin soup for my daughter in law's Baby Sprinkle. No greater taste to bring the fall inside the home and heart. Favorite fall coffee....Pumpkin Spice of course!!!

K_Leigh by K_Leigh | Madison, AL
Oct 27, 2011

I love pumpkins! I think they are great to decorate with, and the food that can be made with a pumpkin is the best!! So yummy!

hardertobreathe by hardertobreathe | SEASIDE, OR
Oct 27, 2011

Now that's one big pumpkin pie! I love pumpkins and fall in general. :)

Julcohn by Julcohn | ANTHEM, AZ
Oct 27, 2011

I love all these facts about pumpkins! I enjoy this time of year because of all the pumpkin treats, as well as pumpkin carving!

yorkiepuppy by yorkiepuppy | LANCASTER, CA
Oct 27, 2011

Love Halloween and Pumkins love making mush and freezing and using it all year to make all kinds of stuff out it like homemade pies and bread,cookies and anything else we can think else with the mush and we use the seeds too nothing goes to waste with the pumkin. Yum Yum love pumkin. Oh and we carve it too LOL

scentednights by scentednights | CASTLETON, VT
Oct 27, 2011

Pumpkin bread is my all time favorite way to enjoy pumpkins!

misaacmom by misaacmom | RALEIGH, NC
Oct 27, 2011

I do - pumpkin seeds, bread, soup, etc. It is so versatile and tasty to boot! Love it we roasted the seeds this year in our popcorn popper which has a not roasting setting. Delish!

Niti24 by Niti24 | Osakis, MN
Oct 27, 2011

I had some Pumpkin ice cream the other day... Delicious :)

MiscRamblings by MiscRamblings | COLTON, NY
Oct 27, 2011

I've roasted seeds, but I only use a little olive oil and mediteranian sea salt

cocoabella by cocoabella | EL PASO, TX
Oct 27, 2011

they are nice to look at The only thing I like to eat from pumpkin is toasted pumpkin seeds. yum!

adecheine by adecheine | WEST PALM BCH, FL
Oct 27, 2011

I love growing pumpkins and trying to grow gigantic ones LOL, love pumpkin soup..

Sandpiper by Sandpiper | Melbourne, FL
Oct 27, 2011

I love the fall because I know there are going to be pumpkins everywhere! The food, the smell, the taste the fall colors of pumpkins. It's like christmas and spring and candy canes you only get them one time a year so I take full advantage of it. There is nothing like a nice cold front coming in and you open the windows and bake pies and make carmel apples and hear the sounds of laughter coming from out side of my grandbabies playing and being happy................... Fall is the best time of the year!