Appetite for Knowledge

What’s Your Pumpkin IQ?

The October 2015 FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE had some interesting trivia in their “What’s Your Pumpkin IQ?” pages 31 – 36. Here is a sampling of some of the questions. I’ll give you the correct answer instead of the multiple-choice ones they had. Here’s FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE’s questions (and answers):

“A pumpkin is a (fruit). Squashes, including pumpkins, are considered fruits because they develop from flowers and contain seeds.”
“How can you tell if a pumpkin is fresh? (The stem is firm and green). In addition to green stems, fresh pumpkins have a uniform orange color.”
“Pumpkins are in the Curcurbitaceae plant family, which also includes (zucchini).”
“What is a pepita? (A pepita is a pumpkin seed)”.
“The scientific term for the sticky stuff inside a pumpkin is (Funiculus).”
“What color is pumpkin seed oil? (Pumpkin seed oil can appear dark red, green, or brown, depending on the thickness)”.
“Giant pumpkins are grown from (seed varieties that include Atlantic Giant and Goliath Giant).”
The jack-o’-lantern is named after (According to the centuries-old tale, Stingy Jack carried a turnip lantern after he tricked the devil and was made to wander the earth. People in Ireland and Scotland made vegetable lanterns to ward off Stingy Jack. The tradition continued in America with pumpkins).”
“What is “punkin chunkin?” (The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA) holds an annual pumpkin-launching event where competitors use contraptions they’ve built to toss pumpkins. The 2013 record is nearly nine-tenths of a mile).”
“The world’s largest pumpkin in 2014 weighed about the same as (It weighed 2,323 pounds, slightly more than the Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and its yoke)”.

How did you do? “You don’t know Jack!” “You’re well rounded” or “You’re a smashing success”?

Here is a recipe I think you will enjoy!

Reviewed: January 18, 2024

Print Recipe

Autumn Pumpkin Bread

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Servings: 2 loaves

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups solid pack pumpkin
1 cup oil
3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins

Orange Glaze

1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tsp grated orange peel
6 tbsp orange juice
additional chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray.
Combine in a medium bowl flour, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl, using an electric mixer, combine the pumpkin, oil, sugar and eggs. Mix until well blended.
Add dry ingredients and mix well.
By hand, stir in walnuts and raisins.
Divide batter between prepared pans.
Bake for 50 – 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Orange Glaze

Combine confectioner’s sugar, orange peel, and orange juice in a small bow. Stir with spoon to blend.
Spoon over top of loaves, letting excess glaze run down side.
Sprinkle with additional nuts before glaze hardens.

Contact Our Expert!

Email: cvh@uwyo.edu

Extension Educator:

Joddee Jacobsen, Program Leader

Community Vitality & Health
Extension Educator

(307) 235-9400
jjacobsen@natronacounty-wy.gov

Follow UW Community Vitality & Health

Feel free to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Rules of Use. Thank You.

For more information, contact a University of Wyoming Community Vitality & Health Educator at nfs@uwyo.edu.