}`HPLASErJ€}.mt 10 .hm 3 .h1Grayson Enterprises Ltd. First NA Serial Rights .h2Page #. Copyright 199l .h3 915 words .LS2           PUMPKIN FESTIVAL USA  Written and photographed by June Grayson   What is as American as the Fourth of July, Old Glory,   and apple pie all rolled into one? Would you believe the annual pumpkin festival? Archeologists say that the pumpkin originated in the Western   Hemisphere. The first pumpkin remains, some seeds and part of a   rind, were discovered in a Mexican cave and reliably dated to   before 5,000 B.C. Ever since then, Indians throughout the Ameri  cas have held the pumpkin and its flowers in religious awe. They   portrayed pumpkins in their art and sold them in their markets.   π03 ŠAmerican Indians met the Spanish explorers with pumpkins seeds as   a gift of peace - not that it did much good. After the returning conquistadors introduced the pumpkin to Europe, Parisians celebrated a yearly "Fete du Roe Potiron"   (King Pumpkin Festival) and crowned the biggest pumpkin as the   star of the parade. The Pilgrims in 1620 found pumpkins growing wild in New   England. Pumpkins, along with corn and beans, sustained them   until they could raise their own crops and livestock. Since   then, many an American farm family has made good use of pumpkins   during lean years.  Even when pumpkins were despised as human food, they were   considered important as food for livestock. Farmers planted   pumpkins among the corn rows. After the corn was harvested,   cattle were let into the fields to feast on the pumpkins.  During the Cold War after WW II, a pumpkin even starred in a   spy drama. During the trial of Alger Hiss in 1949, Whittaker   Chambers, an ex-communist, hid important secret documents in a   hollowed-out pumpkin on his farm. Wisconsin counts as a piker in total pumpkin production.   According to Heide Furseth, state agricultural statistician, the  1987 Wisconsin crop census revealed that only 298 farms devoted a   combined total of 1,050 acres planted to pumpkins. These are the   pumpkins you see in the fall at roadside stands for home and   π0- Šholiday use. However, this was a 50% increase from the 1982   census. Fresh market specialty crops such as pumpkins are becom  ing more popular with Wisconsin farmers. Wisconsin's southern neighbor, Illinois, has over 5,000   acres on 550 farms planted to pumpkins every year, more than one-  fifth of all the pumpkins fields in the United States. Only   California, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey challenge   Illinois in total pumpkin production. Illinois climate is good   for pumpkins: pumpkins can withstand heat and drought better than   corn, and as a specialty crop bring a higher return per acre than   corn or soybeans.  Seed companies extrapolate that there are over 500,000   pumpkins growers in the United States. Every fall, the World   Pumpkin Confederation sponsors a giant pumpkin weigh-off with   telephone hook-ups throughout the world. Growing the giant   pumpkins for fun and glory has become a widespread hobby for the   backyard gardener. It helps to start with seeds from other giant   pumpkins as early as you can get into the garden in the spring. Little wonder that, given this rich heritage, so many Ameri  can communities stage an annual pumpkin festival and call them  selves the pumpkin capital of the world. How drab a fall would   be without this glorious monarch of the fields.  #####  π0-  Š PUMPKIN RECIPES  What other garden vegetable is so versatile? It is even  good for you, high in fiber and Vitamins A and C.   ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS Be sure you use the seeds from a "naked seed" pumpkin such   as Triple Treat or Lady Godiva. Remove the seeds from the pump  kin, separating them from the fibrous strings. Spread seeds on a   greased cookie sheet. Salt lightly as desired. Roast uncovered   in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove   from oven and cool. Store in a tightly covered container.   PUMPKIN PIE I have never found a recipe that makes a better pumpkin pie   than that found on the label of every can of Libby pumpkin. Easy, tastes good, and never fails. Why work any harder?    PUMPKIN MOUSSE WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST  Crust:   π0-  Š1 cup fine gingersnap crumbs 1/4 cup melted butter Mix together and press into bottom of 8" springform pan. Bake in   400 degree preheated over for six minutes. Do not burn. Cool.  Filling: 2 cups pumpkin puree 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened 16 ounces frozen whipped topping, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp. lemon juice  Combine and blend until smooth in mixer, blender, or food   processor. Pour over crust in springform pan. Freeze until   firm, at least four hours. Cover tightly. Will keep in freezer   several days. Remove from freezer and place in refrigerator at   least two hours before serving. Serves 10-12. Since this is rich and bland, serve with two bowls of top  ping to pass: tart whole cranberry sauce and whipping cream with   slivers of crystallized ginger.   π0-  ŠPUMPKIN DATE NUT BREAD 4 cups sugar 3 1/2 cups pumpkin puree 3 eggs 1 cup safflower oil 5 cups flour 1 Tbsp. baking soda 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 1/2 ts. ground cloves 1 tsp. salt. 1 cup chopped dates 2 cups chopped black walnuts  Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease four loaf pans, 4" x 8". Combine sugar, pumpkin, and eggs in large bowl. Beat until well-  blended. Add oil and beat again. Blend in flour, soda, cinna  mon, cloves, and salt. Add dates and nuts. Fill pans 3/4 full   and bake one hour, or until toothpick comes out clean. Invert on   racks and cool. May be frozen indefinitely, keeps well, remains   moist.  Note: this is a big recipe, but if you bake the batter in   those little foil gift pans and then cool, wrap, and freeze, you   will have some of your Christmas baking done for gifts or unex  π0- Špected occasions.   #####