view basket
Does this look like a Halloween Pumpkin?
I must say, it does not. So what is the point? The Halloween pumpkin and the pie pumpkin have a lot to say about our modern society.
October, time to bring all those pumpkins in from the garden or field. Jack-o-lantern pumpkins are everywhere but where are the pie pumpkins? If you search you can scarcely find one. Why do farmers grow so many Halloween pumpkins? Simple answer - because that is what their customers want to buy. Herein lies my concern. The Halloween pumpkin is associated with fun and entertainment, whereas the pie pumpkin is associated with nourishing food for the body. The point is, I fear that we as a society are leaning more toward fun and entertainment at the expense of things of substance and greater value. I'm not suggesting that we throw out the jack-o-lantern but that we have some balance.
Pumpkins were a staple in the diet of the native American Indian. They were grown with corn and beans and called the three sisters. The corn provided a support for the beans to climb, the beans were able to fix nitrogen in the soil, and the pumpkin leaves helped shade out unwanted weeds. By teaching the early colonist to grow the three sisters, the Indians helped them survive in the new world. Pumpkins are a storehouse of nutrition - Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, Potassium and more.
You can add these nutrients to your Halloween treats and children will love helping you do it. Check out the following recipes. It's fun!
Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Glaze
