Pumpkins are an original North American product. They are considered a part of the squash family and therefore, are a vegetable.
French explorer Jacques Carter was the first non-native of the America’s to see and record the existence of the pumpkin. He was exploring the area around the St. Lawrence River in 1584. When he saw the big orange balls growing in a field, they reminded him of melons. He called them “pompions” and “gros or big melons”. From the word pompion we got the word pumpkin.
There are two events in American culture that are associated with the pumpkin. One is Halloween and the other is Thanksgiving.
On Halloween Americans’ carve ghostly shapes from their pumpkins, place a light inside and let them glow, casting unearthly shadows. Jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland where they were not made from pumpkins, but from hollowed out rutabagas, turnips and potatoes. These vegetables were used as lanterns during the celebration of Samhain on October 31st. This was the eve before the new year or the end of “the season of the sun” and began “the season of darkness and cold”. In the darkness of this night the Druid priests would meet in a forest on a hill. They would build great fires and dance about them. Some of the embers were placed in jack-o-lanterns and carried about to light the path. In the morning they would give an ember from the fire to each family who would take them home to start a cooking fire. These fires would keep their homes safe from evil. Later on the tradition was still continued. Children would carve jack-o-lanterns from available vegetables and carry them about on the evening of Oct 31st.
It is said that the Indians brought out baked pumpkin to serve their Pilgrim guests during the first Thanksgiving. Irregardless of what really happened the first Thanksgiving, this dish looked nothing like the pumpkin pie American’s are used to eating during the Thanksgiving feast. It was cooked more like a squash being cubed and boiled. The whole pumpkin could be hollowed and a stew placed within using the pumpkin chunks. The first printed recipe for pumpkin pie was in New England’s Cook’s Companion. There was no crust in this recipe; the top of the pumpkin was cut off, the insides removed and the cavity was filled with milk, spices and maple syrup. It was then completely, pumpkin and all, baked in an oven.
The following are a few recipes that are different than the American Pumpkin Pie and can be used during this time of the year. One is a savory soup and the other is a sweet, cake-like desert.
Pumpkin Soup Recipe
- 2 T butter
- ½ c chopped onion
- 4 c chicken broth
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 3 c canned pumpkin
- Corn chips
Directions:
- In Dutch oven melt butter and sauté onion for 5 minutes.
- Add broth, spices, and pumpkin and bring to a boil. Simmer 10 minutes or until mixture thickens. Stir every so often so it won’t stick.
- Serve inside the prepared pumpkin if desired. To prepare your “pumpkin skin” Cut top off pumpkin and remove strings and seeds. Scrap the pulp from inside making sure you don’t scrape enough to break the skin. Rinse inside clean with clear water. Turn upside-down in the sink to drain.
- Fill with hot soup and sprinkle with crushed corn chips.
Pumkin Roll Recipe
Dough:
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 c pumpkin
- 1 tsp soda
- 1 c sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 c flour
Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 T margarine
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 c powdered sugar
- 1/3 c chopped nuts (optional)
Directions:
- Line cookie sheet with edges with waxed paper and grease.
- Spread dough in pan and bake at 375'F for 15 minutes.
- After you take it out of the oven sprinkle top with powdered sugar, then flip onto a clean dishtowel.
- Remove waxed paper and sprinkle with more powdered sugar.
- Roll up jellyroll style in the dishtowel.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour or put in freezer for 15 minutes.
- Unroll; spread filling on roll and roll again without the towel.
- Place in container or wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate.
- Cut into slices before serving.
The autumn of the year is a great time to enjoy the flavor of pumpkin. Try these recipes for a tasty fall treat.
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