(Slugs - I backdated this to yesterday just to keep my NYC post on top because I thought it was more exciting than the anticipation of cutting into a squash.)
Do you want to hear something interesting I learned yesterday? This started when I pondered what to do with a giant white pumpkin-like squash I have (we bought as a decoration but I like eating decorations.) I am going to cook and puree it and make it into pie and other delectables. Well, we wanted to know if it's a pumpkin or a squash, and Oldest College Boy who is also Junior Horticulturalist told us that all pumpkins are squashes and in fact, this one is a type of pumpkin. We researched further and came to the conclusion that there are so many varieties of squashes that it doesn't matter what the damn they're called, really, does it?
I might be preaching to the choir, or rather, telling you something you already know, but here is the tidbit that bowled me over: Someone on the interwebs who claims s/he grew up on a farm where people provided the following says that canned pumpkin (or what is marked as such) is really Hubbard squash. Someone else said canned pumpkin is a blend of squashes based on whatever is cheap, whatever makes it look right, or whatever they can get their hands on and will taste pumpkin-y enough to satisfy people. Also, since "pumpkin" is not a legal term, the same way "panther" is not a true variety of cat but rather a descriptor favored by people who don't care about formal classification, they can put pretty much any kind of gourd in there and call it whatever they want.
So, even though I don't like pumpkin pie, I can be altruistic enough to make it for other people, and I can make all sorts of bread (read: cake, that's what it really is, so let's call it what it is) and I'm sure everyone in this house will be eating the stuff for a year. It's a 27-lb. "pumpkin" we have, and I can't wait to start slicing it up.
(These pics are not mine, but it gives you an idea of what I'll see when I dissect and disembowel it.)
Yep, knew that. Even so, I'd rather buy it in the can(and get a blend of squashes)rather than buying actual "pumpkins" at a farm and making my own puree. Been there, done that and it's a big 'ol PITA!
ReplyDeleteIn the South it's more common to make Sweet Potato pie than Pumpkin. Now let's talk about how Yankees call Rutabaga(the yellow/orange one) "Turnips"(the white ones with purple tips). Drives me bat shit crazy! lol.
Let's talk about yams and sweet potatoes, LOL.
DeleteI'm in for the PITA. I've done in the "way back machine" past, without a food processor (a ricer) but now I've got a processor and I'm going to whirl a hundred batches of that stuff and eat "pumpkin" bread for a year.
I am reading along and liking the post. I just dont care enough for pumpkin to bother processing it in the first place. I keep my 1 can for my annual pie for TheHub and that does me for the year.
ReplyDeleteI am however a strong proponent of PITA processing if it is something I like.
Yes, I have not done this in forever (I think my mom really did all the work - that's how long it's been - I'm saying I've probably never really done it except for cranking the ricer - I do remember that) but I'll be darned if this nice white gem of nature is going to be thrown into the woods for the foxes (or whoever eats it - deer? Anyone?) like we usually do with any rotting gourd or other neglected produce.
ReplyDeleteback when I lived in MI I used to grow the most fancy of squash and pumpkins. I miss this.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I didn't see this until now. It took me about four weeks, or nearly one month, to see it. I know this wasn't your intent, but I am saddened by the thought of your fancy squashes of yesteryear. Do you have any photos of them? Do you think you might grow some again? Would you consider describing them, and mentioning what you did with them? I realize produce doesn't last forever, and I think I'm a little wistful for the flowers I've grown here and the vegetables Jr. has grown. We live in an apartment complex and can't grow anything anymore (unless in pots) even though we did in years past (we have a yard) before new management enforced an inexplicable ban.
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