Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Did you know that Pumpkins are actually fruits. Many of us think of pumpkin as a fruit so it's also included it in the Fruits pages. Of course, there are also many people who think of pumpkin as a veggie. How do you think of pumpkin? A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae). This family also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons. Pumpkins are jam-packed full of some of the best nutritional compounds around. They are highly loaded with Vitamin A and beta carotene. Beta Carotene is one of the plant carotenoids that when eaten and digested, turns into Vitamin A in the human body. Beta Carotene may reduce the risk of cancer as well as heart disease. It also may be responsible for combating or putting off the degenerative effects of ageing. Pumpkins are also good sources of potassium, protein, and iron. Pumpkin seeds also contain a good amount of protein and iron so eating the seeds does provide some nutritive value. We don't recommend that you offer your baby or toddler pumpkin seeds however. Pumpkins are wonderfully low in fat, low in calories but high in fiber.
I recently peeled back the label on a can of 100% pure pumpkin (Libby's brand) and found this very interesting information, posted verbatim: Can I Eat the Pumpkin Without Cooking It? Libby's 100% pure pumpkin is thoroughly cooked during the canning process so it is perfectly safe and acceptable to enjoy straight from the can. Once opened, can I freeze? How to Store? How Long Does Pumpkin Last? Pumpkin may be stored in a sealed plastic container for 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer. When freezing, allow for headspace at the top of the container as the pumpkin may expand when frozen. Pumpkin may have a separated appearance when thawed due to air bubbles. This will not affect the pumpkin quality or performance.
when you peak into the bowl and find that color. Baking pumpkins, like many other fruits/squashes may be the best choice of cooking for optimal flavor and nutrient retention.
When scooping out the "meat" of many winter squash types, you may encounter some very hard "strings". These strings are actually the veins of the shell. Look at the acorn squash or sugar pumpkin and notice it's ridges. Between these ridges are the "veins" or strings that you may find once you have cut and then baked the squash or pumpkin. Check out the Is your pumpkin or winter squash puree plagued with hard strings? Blog post to see what I mean. To avoid getting these hard little strings in your puree, scoop the insides out gently and not too closely to the shell. If you have baked your squash or pumpkin enough, these strings or veins will easily fall away from the shell as the meat is separated from it.
1 sugar pumpkin 3 Apples, peeled & cored (use Macintosh, Gala, Braeburn or Granny Smith) water cinnamon, nutmeg (optional - sprinkle into the cooking water or when you puree/mash) 1. Halve the pumpkin, peel and de-seed it then cut into cubes 2. Slice the apples 3. Add 3 inches of water to a pot and then insert a steamer basket - add the pumpkin cubes and apples 4. Bring water to a boil and then steam gently until soft and cooked. Be sure to check on the water level! Let cool a bit then puree or mash as needed for your baby.
Pumpkin is very watery so baking is the best method you may peel, de-seed and steam chunks of you prefer.
Pumpkins are high in Beta Carotene - Beta carotene is responsible for "Orange Babies"; if your baby's nose, cheeks or even the soles of his feet are taking on an orange tinge, chock it up to the beta carotene!
Apple, Pumpkin & Oatmeal Breakfast Baby Food Recipe (6-8 months) 1/2 cup applesauce 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1 1/2 cup (cooked) oatmeal Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and/or ginger Mix spices, applesauce, pumpkin puree and oatmeal together Stir thoroughly or blend if needed Back to Top
Pumpkin Baby Food Recipes - Yummy Bananas & Pumpkin (6-8 months) 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 2 small bananas Mash 2 small bananas and add the pumpkin puree Mix thoroughly, blend if needed for your baby's texture preferences. Makes a yummy addition to baby's cereal or yogurt.
Baby's Pumpkin & Pears (6-8 months) cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned) 1 pear, peeled & cored & diced Mash the pear and then mix in the pumpkin puree if needed.
Pumpkin, Banana & Peaches (6-8 months) cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned) 1 pear, peeled & cored & diced 1peach peeled, pitted & diced Combine all food (steam pear and peach together if need be) and mash or puree if needed. Back to Top
Savory Pumpkin Puree - A Tasty Pumpkin Baby Food Recipe (8-10 months) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup diced onion 1 to 2 cups pumpkin peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (butternut squash may also be used.) 2 cups vegetable stock pepper, rosemary, basil pinch of turbinado sugar if desired Heat the oil in a medium saucepot then add the onion and squash cubes. Saute until the onions are soft and translucent then add the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and simmer until the squash is tender enough to puree. Season to taste with pepper, rosemary and basil You may make this a sweet puree by using nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon as the spices instead of the savory spices and herbs. Toss this mixture with cooked brown rice, couscous, lentils or even quinoa for a hearty meal.
halve a sugar pumpkin then cut into slices as you would a melon pat slices with a wee bit of butter (or olive oil if you prefer) then place slices on a greased (olive oil) baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with water drizzle with pure maple syrup or sprinkle slices with brown sugar (if desired) and then sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of ginger. I like to mix these spices together first for an even mix so that no one spice overpowers the other.
Pumpkin Risotto (8-10 months) 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup finely chopped onion 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 2 cups arborio rice 1 cup apple juice) About 6 cups of hot chicken stock or vegetable stock 1 sugar pumpkin, one half baked and then pureed; the other half, peeled, cut into small dice, and sauteed in a little oil and butter until tender 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute, until translucent and soft. Add the arborio rice and stir so that the rice is coated in the oil. Cook until translucent, stirring all the while. Add the apple juice and continue stirring and cooking until the juice has been absorbed. Slowly pour in enough chicken stock to cover the rice completely, about 3 cups, and continue to cook, stirring often, until all the liquid is absorbed. Pour in 1 cup more of the remaining stock and stir and cook until it has been absorbed. Repeat with last cup of stock. Add the remaining cup and cook until the rice is soft but but not mushy. Most of the stock will be absorbed at this point. Stir in the pumpkin puree and the diced pumpkin and reduce heat so that risotto and pumpkin mix in and infuse. Do not simmer - stir in the Parmesan and butter then serve. I think I found this from the food network - it's printed on now tattered paper and "network" is in the upper left-corner. It's tattered because of over-use but my notes/tweaks are still legible - I have it down without the need to read.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup (8-10 months) Ingredients: 16 ounces Pumpkin (canned or fresh pureed) 13.75 ounces Chicken Broth or Homemade Stock 1 Large Onion 2 Carrots (Wheels or Diced) 2 cups half and half or evaporated milk (sub. with yogurt if desired) 1/4 cup Sour Cream (optional) 1/8 teaspoon Pepper 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Dash of Nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda 1/3 teaspoon( or less) Salt Preparation Directions: 1. In a large pot add, chicken broth, onions, carrot, baking soda, salt and pepper. 2. Simmer uncovered for ten to fifteen minutes until carrots are soft. Optional: Put vegetable and broth into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Return to pot. 3. Add pumpkin and half and half or yogurt. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Pour into soup crocks or soup bowls. Top with sour cream (optional) Back to Top
Autumn Smoothie (8-10 months) 1/2 cup plain, vanilla or banana yogurt 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg dash of ginger 1 frozen banana Combine everything in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Serves one grown-up and one baby.
The Autumn Spoon (8months+) A new twist on the Autumn Smoothie 1/2 cup plain, yogurt 1/4 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg dash of ginger 1 banana Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend or process until a thick consistency is created. Add some wheat germ for even more cling.
Banana Pumpkin Smoothie Ingredients: 1-cup milk or plain yogurt 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin (or homemade puree pumpkin) 1 banana dash of cinnamon (8+months old) Directions: Blend in blender until smooth and foamy. Serve immediately.
Foods Good to Mix With Pumpkin: Apples Bananas Blueberries Peaches Carrots Butternut or Acorn Squash Sweet Potato Brown Rice Lentils Chicken Yogurt