Dry pumpkins to preserve them for for future use. If you dry them whole, use them in crafts or keep them longer after decorating. Drying the flesh of the pumpkin preserves it for use in baked goods and other dishes. Dried, decorated pumpkins,...
The average American does not consume the required amount of dietary fiber. Fortunately, you can get adequate amounts of fiber by consuming a variety of plant-based foods such as pumpkins. Most people associated pumpkins with carving, but pumpkins...
Miniature pumpkins are often used for their decorative appeal, but this small winter squash variety is packed with sweet, nut-like flavor and important nutrients. Bake miniature pumpkins with seasonal spices, then add sugar. Serve baked miniature...
Roasting pumpkins makes their flesh soft for use in soups, breads and other recipes. You can also eat the roasted flesh by itself with a little salt or sugar and butter. Dry roasting helps remove much of the pumpkin meat's water, which makes the...
Look for fresh pumpkins at farmers' markets, supermarkets and roadside stands. Usually you'll find these versatile vegetables in autumn, but some varieties begin to ripen for table use in late summer. Although Jack-o-lantern pumpkins are the most...
People told to eat plenty of orange and red produce may overlook pumpkins. That's a shame, because pumpkins provide fiber, potassium and vitamin A. Pumpkins are also a good source of vitamin K, especially the canned variety. While serious vitamin...
A pumpkin is a type of winter squash, a cousin to other varieties such as Hubbard, butternut or acorn squash. Like all winter squash, pumpkins are rich in nutrients, including fiber, beta carotene, potassium and vitamins A and C. Although some of...
Pie pumpkins, also known as sugar pumpkins, are substantially smaller than their jack-o-lantern cousins. These pumpkins weigh around 4 lbs. and have a smooth texture and sweet inner flesh. You can roast pumpkin for pies and other baked goods, or...
The tradition of carving a face into the Halloween pumpkin began centuries ago with the jack o'lantern from an Irish myth. The pumpkin, which originated in Central America, is a large fruit that is 90 percent water, grows on a vine and is a good...
Learning how to roast a whole pumpkin can provide you with a delicious and pretty serving option for soups, dips and custards. You can even opt for this easy-cooking method to prepare pumpkin for freezing, pies and other dishes. The best pumpkins...
Baking a whole pumpkin is an easy way to prepare this hardy winter squash. Choose sugar or pie pumpkins for baking, looking for pumpkins that feel heavy for their size. You can roast an entire pumpkin to use the flesh as a side dish, an ingredient...
Pumpkins are typically associated with seasonal times of the year, such as fall harvest and Christmas. The pumpkin, usually enjoyed in pies, is a fruit that is packed full of healthy nutrition that can be beneficial all year long and prepared in...
The pumpkin is best known for its role during Halloween as a decoration and as a pie ingredient during Thanksgiving in the United States. Its use as a soup, bread and curry sauce ingredient during its harvest season from late August through...
Pumpkins may don some spooky faces on Halloween, but there is nothing scary about what they can do for your health. The next time you carve a pumpkin, don't throw away the flesh and seeds. When you realize the health benefits they offer, what you...
Pumpkin is a squash plant that is used in a variety of tradition international cuisines. It can be consumed in a number of ways, including stews, soups and pie. Regardless of how you consume it, pumpkin is a healthy food choice and contains a...
Pumpkins are more than a bright decoration in the fall season. They also pack a hefty four grams of dietary fiber in one-half cup; that's 16 percent of the recommended daily value. Dietary fiber is associated with many health benefits, including...
Adding pumpkin to your diet will help you have optimal health. Pumpkin contains the antioxidant beta-carotene, which helps protect you from heart disease and cancer. Eating this food also helps you slow some of the effects of aging. This healthy...
Pumpkins are good for more than just smashing or carving to make jack o'lanterns. Considered a winter squash, pumpkins are a vitamin A powerhouse and offer up a range of other vitamins and minerals as well. The versatile pumpkin can be part of...
A jack-o-lantern is good for more than just scaring away goblins on Halloween. When properly prepared, you can cook the nutrient-rich pumpkin in pies, breads and other treats. Pumpkin is a good source of vitamins and fiber. Take care to prevent...
Vitamins and minerals are essential for a healthy body, and pumpkin is a rich source of many of them. Buy a whole pumpkin and bake or boil it. Or, you can buy canned pumpkin. According to MayoClinic.com, both types of pumpkin can be healthy....
Fiber refers to a group of indigestible carbohydrates found in plant-based foods. It contributes to your health by decreasing your risk for several diseases and disorders, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hemorrhoids and...
Major minerals are those that the body needs in large amounts to function properly. There are seven major minerals: sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and phosphorus. While pumpkins are rich in various vitamins and minerals,...
Pumpkin, whether it is canned or fresh, is a nutritional powerhouse. Pumpkin's rich orange color indicates the presence of beta carotene, an antioxidant that protects the body from certain diseases and may even help stave off the effects of aging,...
Beta-carotene, an antioxidant in the group of nutrients known as carotenoids, is a precursor to vitamin A and is responsible for giving pumpkins, sweet potatoes, carrots, and some other fruits and vegetables their yellow to orange pigment. The...
Baking in a pumpkin creates a surprising and memorable presentation, whether you opt for a savory stew or a rich and sweet bread pudding. Select dishes that pair well with the flavor of pumpkin, ranging from apple and cinnamon for sweet dishes to...
It takes more time and effort to bake with fresh, raw pumpkins, but when these fall vegetables are in season, the rewards may be worth it. You should avoid the large pumpkins and choose small 2- to 4-lb. pumpkins called "sugar," "cheese," "milk"...
Baking a pumpkin is similar to baking a butternut squash and a cost effective replacement for canned pumpkin. The best pumpkins for baking are small, pie or sugar pumpkins, which have a sweeter taste than other varieties. Although pie and sugar...
All culinary varieties of winter squash, including pumpkins and acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash, have hard shells, mild, sweet-tasting flesh and hollow seed-containing cavities. They are very good sources of dietary fiber, vitamins C and B1,...
Pumpkins, squashes, melons, cucumbers and summer squashes are all part of a larger family referred to collectively as the cucurbitae. These are vining plants that produce large fruits called pepos, with a large quantity of flat seeds contained in...
Preschool is the perfect time to help teach your child letters. Learn how to teach letters of the alphabet to preschoolers in this parenting and education video.
