Pumpkin Fun Facts Recipe

pumpkins have been growing in North America for more than 5,000 years. Aboriginal peoples had been eating them for several centuries before the arrival of the Pilgrims.

pumpkins are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B, potassium, protein, iron and fiber. (Eat up!)

pepitas ( pumpkin seeds ) were a celebrated food of the Native American Indians.

Around the time of the first Thanksgiving (1621) it was traditional to serve baked pumpkin filled with milk , honey and spices

The yellow-orange flowers that bloom on pumpkin vines are edible.

pumpkin was once recommended as a cure for freckles and a remedy for snake bites.

2,020-pounder baked up in

2006 by the New Bremen Giant pumpkin Growers of Ohio. They used

900 pounds of pumpkin ,

300 pounds of sugar ,

62 gallons of evaporated milk ,

155 dozen eggs and two pounds of pumpkin pie spice

Jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland where children used to hollow out turnips and light them with coals or candles. The glowing turnips were placed outside of homes to ward off evil spirits, particularly "Jack," a legendary villain so evil, he was rejected by both God and Satan.

The Irish potato Famine (1845-1850) prompted over 700,000 Irish to immigrate to the United States. Since turnips were not as readily available in the U.S. as their homeland, they used pumpkins for their jack-o'-lanterns instead. Today the carved pumpkin is the most popular symbol of the Halloween holiday.

Halloween pumpkins will keep longer if you coat them inside and out with antiseptic spray.