Pumpkins – Wait, There’s More Than One Kind?

GOURD big or go home!

Nothing signals fall like a porch full of pumpkins or a big ol’ slice of pumpkin pie. But did you know that not all pumpkins are the same? While all pumpkins are technically edible and carvable, you want to be sure to select the right variety for its intended use.

What kind of pumpkin do you have? 

• Carving pumpkins tend to have thinner walls and flesh that is stringy (think: spaghetti squash) and flavorless but relatively easy to carve. You’ll often find them displayed outside grocery stores. 
• Cooking/Baking/Sugar pumpkins – a.k.a. “pie pumpkins” – have a denser, sweeter flesh that’s better suited to cooking and baking. The sweeter ones tend to be relatively small (4-8lbs) and you’ll typically find them in the produce section of the grocery store, near other varieties of winter squash such as acorn, delicata, and butternut squash.

Carving Pumpkins

Despite their name, there are plenty of things you can do with a carving pumpkin besides actually carving it into a Jack-o-lantern. You can turn it into a woodland animal (look at #15) or a decorative planter. Whatever you do with your carving pumpkin, remember that the seeds roast up great! Try this recipe! Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin E.

Cooking/Baking/Sugar Pumpkins

And as pretty as they may be to look at, pumpkins can do so much more than just look festive. They are nutritional powerhouses, high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin A, and beta carotene. And though people tend to associate the pumpkin with dessert, the pumpkin is extremely versatile, solidly capable of leaning sweet OR savory.

See for yourself with a few of our favorite recipes

...and by all means feel free to start from scratch or substitute canned pumpkin, which is nutritionally similar and heaps quicker.

• Dressed-up Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkin Flapjacks + Creepy Cherry Goo + Whipped Scream: What says “cozy fall breakfast” better than a warm stack of flapjacks? These fluffy, festive pumpkin pancakes are packed with vitamin A and beta carotene. 
• Spooky Pumpkin Gnocchi + Whipped Scream Sage Butter + Jack-o-Lantern Shakes: This sneaky, spooky pumpkin pasta is sure to be a hit with even the littlest of ghouls!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

THYME for a Laugh!

• What do you call a barking pumpkin? A gourd dog.
• What is a pumpkin's favorite sport? Squash.
• Who helps the little pumpkins cross the road safely? The crossing gourd.
• How do you repair a broken jack o’ lantern? Use a pumpkin patch.

HaPpY HalLoWeEn!

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