It is rolling into the holiday season, and Cathy Isom takes us there by celebrating one of the main symbols of Halloween. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
It’s the holiday fruit that grabs everyone’s attention this time of year, and every October 26th, Americans celebrate National Pumpkin Day.
Scientists believe that pumpkins originated in North America about 9,000 years ago. Today, we recognize this autumn decoration and food in a variety of recipes, competitions, and festivals.
Pumpkins are high in fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. Pumpkins are an amazingly versatile vegetable, they can be used in sweet, savory, spicy, or salty dishes! You can bake them, boil them, steam them, puree them, even fry them. With so many ways to prepare pumpkins and so many flavors you can add to them, there is guaranteed to be a way that appeals to everyone.
The word pumpkin originates from the word <em>pepon</em>, which means “large melon” in Greek.
Within recent years, white pumpkins have become more popular in the United States. The United States produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins, with Illinois producing more than any other state.
I’m Cathy Isom…