Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins
by Susan J. Hunter
The crisp autumn air, the bright blue sky, the colorful leaves floating gracefully to the ground. The winds howling through trees and the crunching of dried leaves. Yes, it is October, the month of beautiful fall weather, Halloween, and pumpkins.
Did you know that while many people consider the pumpkin a vegetable, it is actually a fruit? It’s a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants that includes squash and cucumbers. There are many varieties of pumpkins: the Jack O’Lantern, Jumbo, Large, Miniature, Pie, and Naked Seeded. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word pepon that means “large melon”. The French changed pepon to pompon. In Medieval England pompon became pumpion, then the American colonists renamed this fabulous fruit to pumpkin.
Aside from the variations and origination, pumpkins are actually good for you. In one cup of pumpkin puree there is only 80 calories, 19 grams of carbohydrates, zero cholesterol, less than 1 gram of fat, 588 milligrams of potassium, and 2.4 grams of protein. They are also a good source of fiber and are loaded with vitamin A, beta carotene, and other nutrients. Did you know that pumpkins are 90% water?!
Every continent with the exception of Antarctica grows pumpkins, but the United States is at the top of the production list. The self-proclaimed “Pumpkin Capital of the World” is Morton, Illinois where you will also find the Libby pumpkin packing plant in which over 80% of the world’s canned pumpkin is processed.
Even though pumpkins are healthy and colorful, their character is linked with darkness and superstition. Why does this globular fruit have such a singular reputation? It begins with an old Irish tale of trickery and deceit . . .
Stingy Jack, a miserable drunk, liked to play tricks on everyone. His luck appeared to run out one night in a pub when he agreed to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for one more drink. The Devil consented and turned himself into a coin, which Jack promptly grabbed and stuffed into his cross adorned purse. The Devil was trapped. Jack agreed to free the Devil if he would give him ten years before he would claim his soul. Again, the Devil consented.
Ten years later, the Devil came to collect Jack’s soul where he found Jack walking down a tree-lined country road. Jack asked the Devil for one more favor; would he kindly get Jack an apple from the tree? The Devil, thinking that he had nothing to lose, said yes and scampered up the tree. Jack pulled out his knife and quickly carved a Cross in the tree. Stuck up in the tree and unable to obtain Jack’s soul, the Devil promised Jack that he would never again ask for his soul.
Many years later, Jack died but was not allowed into Heaven because of his unrepentant life. While munching on a turnip, Jack wandered down through the darkness to Hell, confident that the Devil would give him a place to live, but the Devil kept his promise and wouldn’t allow him to enter. Jack was frightened at his predicament and pleaded with the Devil to give him some light so he could find his way. The Devil tossed him a hot ember from the fires of Hell, and so the light wouldn’t go out, Jack placed it in the hollowed out turnip that he had been eating. He was doomed to wander in the darkness with his “lantern” until Judgment Day. Hence, Jack of the lantern, or Jack O’Lantern.
(Why is our Jack a pumpkin instead of a turnip? After coming to America, the Irish immigrants discovered that pumpkins were easier to carve out. So that is how the turnip became a pumpkin.)
When you carve into your pumpkin and start scooping out the insides to create your own lantern, keep the seeds! Pumpkin seeds, also know as pepitas, are a tasty and healthy snack. Once toasted, pumpkin seeds can be salted or seasoned to your taste.
Directions
Rinse pumpkins seeds and remove all the pulp from around the seeds. Spread seeds out on paper towels to dry overnight. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray sheets with cooking spray. Toss pumpkin seeds in olive oil or butter. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, or your choice of seasonings. Bake about 1 hour, tossing every 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool before eating. Store in an airtight container.
Enjoy October and the beautiful colors of autumn, and when you hollow out that pumpkin for your own Jack of the Lantern, remember…… don’t ever deal with the devil!
