SUPERB PUMPKINS

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion”.

Henry David Thoreau

What associations come to your mind when you think about pumpkins? Is it a pumpkin pie? Halloween and jack-o-lanterns? Or maybe pumpkin spice latte? In fact, apart from being so attractive, bright, plump and tasty, pumpkins are rich in essential nutrients and possess a great number of benefits.

Pumpkin is a variety of squash that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is native to North America but now is cultivated almost everywhere. The stems are pubescent and quinquangular; the simple leaves are exstipulated, alternate, palmatilobate. The flowers are unisexual. The male and female flowers typically grow on different plants but sometimes they occur on the same plant. The female flowers possess inferior ovaries. The fruit is a berry that is referred to as pepo. The fruits are usually large, about 4–8 kg, yellowish to orange in color. Their shape may vary from globular to oblong, some varieties can be very small or have a white rind. The pumpkin rind is smooth and usually a bit grooved or ribbed; the fruit stem is woody and hard.

Chemical Components:

• Vitamin A
• Beta-carotene
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Potassium, manganese, iron, magnesium
• Protein
• Fiber

Interesting Facts About Pumpkins

• The word “pumpkin” comes from the Greek word “pepon” which signifies “a large melon”.
• Scientifically, pumpkins are considered to be fruits, not vegetables.
• Pumpkin is a low-calorie food as it is 90% water.
• Pumpkins usually make part of Halloween decorations. There is a tradition to make jack-o-lanterns - carved pumpkins that are illuminated with candles. This tradition is thought to have originated from Ireland.
• A pumpkin pie is a sweet cake native to North America. It is traditionally prepared and eaten during harvest times and on such popular holidays as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

What you need

• 2 tbsp of pumpkin puree
• 0.5 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups of milk
• 1-3 tbsp of sugar (according to your taste)
• 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
• 1/2  cup of strong hot coffee

Mix pumpkin puree, milk and sugar in a saucepan. Heat the mixture until it becomes hot but don’t boil it. Then remove it from the heat and add pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and hot coffee. A delicious pumpkin drink is ready! You can decorate it with whipped cream and some pumpkin pie spice.

And here are some pieces of advice for you from a pumpkin:

• Be well-rounded
• Get plenty of sunshine
• Give thanks for life’s bounty
• Have thick skin
• Keep growing
• Be outstanding in your field
• Think big:)