Saturday, November 01, 2008

Pumpkins



It's interesting reading all the posts about Halloween, because we basically don't do anything for Halloween at all. The school had a Halloween party but other than that, there was no pumpkin carving, no trick or treaters (although I did buy some lollies just in case because occasionally we will get one or two come to the door), no one I know had a Halloween party. Nothing...nada...zilch.

One of the things that I have found interesting over the years that I have been connecting with people around the world is the way we all treat pumpkins differently.

Author Catherine Delors posted on her blog about Halloween in France, and how it is basically not celebrated at all. She also mentioned that pumpkins were available in the shops and that it was used to make pumpkin soup (including the basic ingredients). Pumpkin soup would be one of the most popular uses of pumpkin here in Australia as well, especially during winter, served with a swirl of sour cream and perhaps with a sprinkle of nutmeg on it.

Another way we like to eat pumpkin is roasted along with other vegies like carrots, sweet potatoes and potatoes. Yum.

One way we don't eat them is in sweet potato pies. Whilst I am not knocking this sweet treat that seems so synonymous with Thanksgiving celebrations in the US, I can't imagine eating pumpkin as a sweet. Having said that, there are some Aussies around who eat pumpkin scones. I have never figured out if they are meant to be sweet or savoury though. I also have been known to enjoy a slice of carrot cake which is sweet even though it has vegetables in it.

14 comments:

  1. I'm in the US, and I do love sweet pumpkin desserts! Pumpkin bread, cake, pie, pudding. Yum! It's interesting to hear what others do (or don't do) in different parts of the world. In general, I think other countries have much healthier tastes and habits.

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  2. I think our pumpkins are different Marg.
    I can't imagine trying to hollow out a Queensland Blue, and a Butternut would be useless for Halloween purposes.

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  3. Yes, I meant to put something in about different types.

    Still can't imagine eating it sweet!

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  4. I'm a big fan of sweet potato and pecan pie, but not so much of pumpkin pie. Mostly because I'm spoiled, I guess -- don't like the mushy consistency that results from using canned pumpkin but am too lazy to bake one from scratch.

    Love pumpkin soup, though, and the pumpkin appetizer (with yogurt, garlic and a sprinkle of raw sugar) at a local Afghan restaurant.

    Pumpkin scones here tend to sweet rather than savory. One coffee shop around the corner smothers them in frosting, which I could do without. But there are a variety of pumpkin breads and cakes around this time of year. I've seen: pumpkin chip bread (rather cake-like); pumpkin-cream cheese muffins; pecan & pumpkin cheesecake; pumpkin log/roll (roll held together by a cream cheese based frosting); and so on.

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  5. I LOVE pumpkin pie. Not so much anything else pumpkin... Fall here is put up with just because there's pumpkin pie to be had, & the changing leaves are beautiful. =)

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  6. My daughter, Lindsey, loves pumpkin pie. She will not eat apple pie. Which I though was a little strange, because of the mushy texture. I saw Catherine Delors post and her pictures of the pumpkins has inspired me to do my own. I was pleased on how it turned out.

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  7. We don't do Halloween very much here in the UK either. We have pumpkins and stuff and some clubs have costume parties but other than that, it goes unnoticed for most people. Its kind of odd.

    I can't imagine pumpkin sweet either O.o

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  8. I loved reading this post, Marg! I always find it so interesting how people around the world celebrate different holidays (or don't celebrate). I LOVE Halloween, but I think that's because my mom always took such care in making our costumes and helping make the holiday so exciting. I've kind of been sad over the years to see the holiday fade out a bit, but for me it is also the beginning of the holiday season.

    LOVE pumpkin pie, but that's really the only thing our family uses pumpkin for. Pumpkin soup actually sounds kind of yummy, but I've never had it.

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  9. Trish, I don't know whether you would need a different variety of pumpkin, but the soup is deliciuos! Especially with the sour cream, and some crusty bread.

    Wayne, I didn't remember much celebration from when I lived in the UK either.

    Vickie, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to what kids will or won't eat. There are not many desserts that my son will eat. I think that that maybe a little bit of a fear thing due to his allergies though.

    Drey, maybe I will get the opportunity to try it one day.

    JMC, I can't imagine sweet potato pie as a dessert either.

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  10. What a fun post. Maybe the difference in types of pumpkins is important. Pie is generally made from sugar pumpkins which are already a bit sweet and generally smaller. I made pumpkin soup from a different pumpkin that was not so sweet - can't remember the name.

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  11. Being in New Zealand, we don't really do Halloween either, and eating pumpkin in sweet dishes is pretty unheard of. I have made an American style pumpkin pie, and although it was quite nice, I think I am more partial to pumpkin in savoury dishes.

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  12. Thanks for the link, Marg! How interesting to learn about Halloween in other cultures. My pumpkin post got record hits, with sadly some hate mail included. I hadn't realized I had written anything offensive. Pumpkins are far more controversial than I thought...

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  13. There was nothing offensive in your post. Very strange!

    Sorry that happened to you Catherine!

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  14. It was upsetting at the time, but now I see it as the price of blogging success!

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