Although maybe not big enough for a Cinderella coach, that's still a lot of pie.
Widely believed to have originated in North America, pumpkins are now grown everywhere in the world except Antarctica. Maybe their popularity can be at least partly attributed to their versatility. Nutritionally, pumpkins have no cholesterol and are a source of vitamins A and C. Even their seeds can be roasted or toasted for a tasty snack. And ornamentally, pumpkins make great jack-o-lanterns and seasonal decorations.
Sounds pretty thrifty to me. And thanks to the online efforts of pumpkin-lovers everywhere, making the most of your pumpkin is getting easier all the time.
Gardeners will probably want to make note of the Backyard Gardener's World Class Giant Pumpkins website, where size does matter. The site offers advice for gardeners interested in growing bigger pumpkins, with information about seeds, soil, and general growing conditions.
Cooks, from novice to expert, can find helpful hints and tips online, as well as a terrific assortment of recipes:
- The Pumpkin Nook's Cookbook has lots of recipes, including pie, muffins and fudge.
- Larriland Farm has some helpful suggestions for preparing your pumpkin, using other squash instead of pumpkin, and recipes too.
- Nestles' (R) also has some pumpkin recipes.
And for the artist in you, Pumpkin Carving 101 has everything you ever wanted to know about the carver's craft, including history, tools and techniques. They also offer helpful advice to make your creation last longer, including rubbing petroleum jelly on cut edges.
More online advice, including free stencils you can copy, is available from carver Steve Frey at Jack-O-Lantern.com. Using Frey's technique, there's no reason to limit your pumpkin lantern themes to just Hallowe'en.
You might be thinking by now that even if our passion for pumpkins only included online assistance for gardeners, cooks and artists -- well, that would probably be enough for even the most ardent pumpkin-lover.
Well, of course, it isn't.
Crafters can create their own pumpkin tribute out of pantyhose. The free online instructions for a soft-sculpture pumpkin are available courtesy of Kathy Ross, and her book Crafts for All Seasons.
And finally, singers can lift their voices in song with Pumpkin Carols. Pumpkin caroling is apparently an annual event at Weiss College. If you scroll down the page at their website, youll find the words for some of the more popular pumpkin carols.
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