Everything's Coming Up Pumpkin This Season

Story by: Tammy Lovvorn

Everything is coming up pumpkin or is it just pumpkin spice?

Just a bit of information about the versatile pumpkin.

Pumpkins are a variety of squash. They have a round smooth skin and range in color from white to deep orange. Pumpkins are native to North America and is the oldest domesticated plant. They are used for food, decoration, and even some recreational fun. You can't celebrate Halloween without a jack-o-lantern or Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie.

Pumpkins are an excellent source of beta-carotene and vitamin A and C. They consist of 95% water, 6.5% carbohydrates, 1% protein and 0.5% fat. Pumpkins can be boiled, steamed, and roasted. And you can eat the shell, the seeds, the leaves, and even the flowers.

Pumpkins are grown all across the United States, starting from a small seed and growing up to a whopping 2,528 pounds, which is the record sized pumpkin for the U.S. And get this, the winner won $6,000 for the prized pumpkin! The world record pumpkin weighed 2,264 pounds and was grown in Europe. The next time you think about planting a pumpkin seed, think about growing a record pumpkin and earning a little cash too!

Pumpkins were exported to France and then to England where the sweet custard pumpkin pie, was created around 1675. While pumpkin pies in early America were more savory. It was not until the early nineteenth century that the sweet pumpkin pie made an appearance on the table. This was known as the English pumpkin pie which was stuffed with apples, spices and sugar and brought to New England by the pilgrims. After the civil war, the pumpkin pie was a symbol of Yankee culture imposed on the south, the south had no tradition of eating pumpkin pie... as a result, southern cooks made a sweet potato pie. However, today, the pumpkin pie is a traditional dessert for Thanksgiving across the U.S.

For years, pumpkin pie was the only craze... but that has all changed!

The pumpkin spice craze started in 2003, when Starbucks introduced the pumpkin spice latte! This wonderful fall coffee, is made with spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove), steamed milk. sugar and topped with whipped cream. Many food critics complained that the latte did not contain any pumpkin, so in 2015, a small amount of actual pumpkin puree was added to the drink.

It's a rainy day while I am writing this article which makes it a perfect day of a cup of latte and a slice of bread - all pumpkin of course!

Today, the pumpkin spice craze has become even more crazy! As you go into any store, whether it's your local grocery store or your local home decor store, you can find pumpkin spice something! At the grocery store, you find pumpkin spice beer, bread, cereal, coffee, coffee creamer, ice cream, waffles, and even spam! The home decor stores have pumpkin spice air fresheners, Mrs. Meyer's Spiced Pumpkin soap. and candles to name a few.

Even the fur babies can get their fill for pumpkin spice while enjoying a pumpkin snack! Cats get an extra bonus with Pumpkin Spiced Kitty Litter!

If those aren't enough, you can still get Burt's Bees pumpkin spice Chapstick and Bath & Body Works lotions, sprays and shower gels!

In looking at all these products, is it really pumpkin or the pumpkin spice that has people going crazy? You decide while I enjoy another cup of pumpkin spice latte! Enjoy!