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• Pumpkins are a variety of squash, typically orange or yellow, that can range in size from a few inches across to several yards. Most pumpkins used for cooking and Jack-o-Lanterns in North America are about 1-2 feet wide and weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.

• Fast Facts

  1. Is actually a Fruit
  2. High in Vitamin A
  3. Good source of beta carotene and low in saturated fat
  4. Pumpkin seeds are high in manganese and iron
  5. Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits.
  6. Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2006 was valued at $101.3 million.
  7. Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.

• Cooking Uses

  Pumpkins are in season during the autumn months and dishes are prepared most often around Halloween and Thanksgiving. Though the inside of a pumpkin can be eaten raw, the pumpkin "meat" is most often baked into pumpkin pie or cooked alongside other vegetables as a side dish.

  Pumpkins are often mixed with cream and water and made into soup. The dish resembles tomato soup but will have a sweeter taste and is usually seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg.

  Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and eaten as a snack. The seeds are a good source of protein and zinc, and families usually have a surplus leftover after carving Jack-o-Lanterns.

• Pumpkin Carving

  Most Jack-o-Lanterns have a frightening face on them, though professional artists can create vivid images on the countenance of a pumpkin. Common images include black cats, witches and the character Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  How to Make Pumpkin Puree | How to Grow Pumpkins | How to Choose a Pumpkin Variety | Pumpkin Recipes | How to Make Pumpkin Butter | How To Cook Pumpkin Seeds | How to Make Pumpkin Soup | Pumpkin Pie | Pumpkin Recipes | Pumpkin Fudge | How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake | Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Patterns and Designs | How to Make Pumpkin Puree | Pumpkin Carving Tips | Nutrition Information Pumpkin Seeds | Pumpkin Bread | Pumpkin Cupcakes | Printable Pumpkin Carving Patterns | How To Carve A Pumpkin

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