Thursday, October 4, 2012

Of All Things Pumpkin


It's that time of year once again when everyone's taste buds crave the amazing flavor of pumpkin.
Amazing? Really?
I think not.

Pumpkin in its raw form is merely a type of squash that resembles a gourd. It is neither sweet tasting or particularly nutritious. One cup of fresh cubed pumpkin is low in calories: 30...but yet, 26 of those calories come from carbs. It has 1.6 grams of sugar, 106 grams of water, and .9 grams of ash.

Ash? 
I did some research on it and the scientific explanation made my brain hurt a little. Just know this: it won't harm you in any way.

Face it, folks...the only way we love the yummyness of pumpkin is when it is saturated with sugar and butter and flour and cream cheese and nutmeg and cinnamon!
My mother used to make a delicious pumpkin bread and we couldn't wait for it to be pulled from the oven. The top would crack in the middle during baking and would leave a soft, gooey center that melted in your mouth. 
Looking back, I am really surprised that we even tasted it for the first time. Pumpkin sounded too much like squash, carrots and radishes to our young minds. 
But I think it was that overpowering smell that got us hooked. 
Who wouldn't want to eat something that smelled so intoxicatingly wonderful?

Coffee manufacturers have learned that they can put the word pumpkin on their products and sell it like crazy. But I've learned from experience that just because it says pumpkin and may smell like pumpkin, it rarely tastes like pumpkin.

Don't get me wrong- I love all things pumpkin. Pie, rolls, cake, bread, cookies and another assorted fat filled desserts that contain this orange wonder.
But at this point, I am trying to stay away from these types of food.

So...I'll light a Pumpkin Spice Latte candle instead.
Breathe deeply. 
And I'll spend the day dreaming about jack-o-lanterns, good coffee, 
and my mom's warm pumpkin bread.


3 comments:

  1. Gosh...I haven't made pumpkin loaf in years...now you've got me thinking about baking. Not to fear...I'll sit down until the urge passes.

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  2. WOW pumpkin pie and whip cream, there is nothing better. I recently saw fall in its glory, we went for a 24 hour hahahah drive, which was suppose to be a week vacation, hubby got sick, and couldnt go, but the beauty of the trees and the homes we saw all decorated for fall with gourds and pumpkins, took my breath away, and I too remember my mother making pumpkin bread, in fact i have made it alot in my life..... Fall has arrived with all of its spendor,,,,,,,,,,,, try not to diet too much rae. haha barb

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  3. Had a pumpkin and nut muffin Monday morning, YUM!! although I do think it always smells better than it tastes - either way fall is very welcome.
    Glad to see you posting~ K

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