the mascot

 modern HALLOWEEN.

As you may already be aware, pumpkins are pretty neat.  They remind us of the autumnal season; crisp evenings, yummy treats, and of course Halloween.  We all need one.  

Our pumpkin defines us.

This Halloween, I decided to transform my pumpkin into a new personal masterpiece.  No more glowing faces or spooky silhouettes.  I needed a more modern approach to capturing my spirit in an orange squash.

Au naturel. 

I promise you that this decision was well thought out.  

The inspiration came from a little light reading I did regarding pumpkin nutrition.  As many of my faithful readers are well aware, I have a minor interest in food and its many health benefits.  Therefore, instead of carving my pumpkin, I decided to embrace its natural state.  My little orange blob might be one heck of a snack after all!

The pumpkin, or cucurbita maxima, has a long history that stems back at least 7,500 years ago.  Pumpkins were an important part of the Native American diet and culture.  They were used for food consumption, mats, and other products that could be made from the shell.  The first pumpkin pie was in fact made by early settlers that noticed the Native Americans utilizing the squash.  They filled a hallowed-out pumpkin with spices, milk, and honey and then baked it.

Yes, absolutely delicious if you ask me.

Pumpkins are produced mainly in the United States, India, China, and Mexico.  We all should be eating this delicious squash, as it is an excellent source of potassium, fiber, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and lutein.  Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of omega-3 fats and may help lower cholesterol.  According to my favorite book of all time, "101 Foods that can save your life," consuming pumpkin seeds may help reduce enlarged prostate glands.  In addition, pumpkin may alleviate some of the symptoms related to diabetes.

There are basically 2 main forms of pumpkins.  The one we most typically recognize are those that are best used for carving.  These pumpkins are not good for personal consumption.  Canning pumpkins are better to use in pies, breads, and other forms because they are sweeter and less watery.  Make sure to choose a pumpkin that is heavy and has a good shape.  Once cut open, the pumpkin must be cooked the same day.

A few good tips on the general consumption of a pumpkin:

1. Dice sweet pumpkins up.  Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon, and drizzle a little olive oil onto the pieces.  Bake on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees until pumpkin pieces look brown and tender.
2. Puree pumpkin, carrot, ginger, onions, and leeks together.  Add vegetable stock and some spices to make a simple, yet delicious soup.
3. When roasting pumpkin seeds, first rinse them thoroughly.  Spread the seeds out evenly on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle butter or oil on them to give them extra flavor.  You may also had some brown sugar and salt to make them EXCELLENT.

a most common consumption

GRApeS

Vitis

Grapes seem to have been a frequent occurrence in my life these days...  From the casual glass of wine to the frequent snacks by the pool- grapes are my common consumption.

Grapes grow all over the world.  They were originally cultivated in Caucasia, near present day Iran, in 6000 B.C..  Grapes were used for wine making during the Greek and Roman eras.  From here, the grape's popularity and usage spread throughout Europe.  In the 17th century, grapes finally made their way to the United States, namely the central valley of California.

And just in case you didn't already know, California is pretty great.

There are literally thousands of varieties of grapes that range in both color and form.  However, only about 20 varieties make up the vast majority of what we consume.  That's pretty crazy to think about.  The most popular of those consumed are European grapes, wine grapes, French hybrid, and North American grapes.

Grapes contain powerful antioxidants .  Studies show that they are abundant in the predominant antioxidant, proanthocyanidin.  This has 20 times greater the antioxidant power of vitamin E and 50 times greater than that of vitamin C.  Another reason why you should eat grapes is their resveratrol component.  Resveratrol is a key phytonutrient found mainly in the skin of grapes.  It has both anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Red grapes are especially healthy because they contain the carotenoid lycopene, which may help inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

Grapes are best when they are plump and free of wrinkles.  They are stored best when they are unwashed and placed in a paper towel and put inside of a plastic bag.  Keeping them cool in the fridge will prolong their freshness.  Although, grapes will also keep for several days at room temperature.

Freezing grapes also makes a tasty snack, as my housemates can attest to :)

seasonal saturdays

 the local Farmer's Market. Santa Barbara, CA.