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Pumpkin place- where you can read about why pumpkin is so good for you. Here you will find reasons to eat it and some free recipes to try. I personally love pumpkin EVERYTHING. And now that I know how good it is for me, I am experimenting all the time with how I can get it into more of my recipes. Also, it makes everything taste better in my opinion! 

Pumpkin Place–why pumpkin is SO good for you:

Eating pumpkin is good for the heart. The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C content in pumpkin all support heart health. Furthermore, studies suggest that consuming enough potassium may be as important as decreasing sodium intake for the treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure. Pumpkin has all of these! Other benefits of pumpkin include:

• 1. Feel Fuller
  Pumpkin seeds pack about 1.7 grams of dietary fiber per ounce, while mashed pumpkin has only 50 calories per cup and 3 grams of fiber. In addition, fiber helps keep you fuller longer, which keeps your appetite at bay so you eat less overall!
• 2. Boost Vision
  A cup of cubed pumpkin contains almost twice the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which promotes good vision, especially in dim light, according to the National Institutes of Health. It has also been found to slow the decline of retinal function in those with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness, according to researchers from Harvard. Bonus: Vitamin A also helps form and maintain healthy skin, teeth and bones.
• 3. Lower Blood Pressure
  Pumpkin seed oil is full of phytoestrogens, which research shows are beneficial for preventing hypertension. When researchers fed rats a diet supplement with the oil, they found that it helped lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in just 12 weeks.
• 4. Sleep Better
  Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, the amino acid that contributes to sleepiness. Tryptophan is also responsible for helping the body make serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter that helps you relax and unwind. Not only do pumpkin seeds promote better sleep, the serotonin will improve your mood. 
• 5. Enhance and maintain male sexual health
  Pumpkins — especially the seeds — are rich in beta-carotene and other antioxidants with cancer protective properties, according to nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin, author of The Virgin Diet. And pumpkin seeds could be especially healthy for men. Researchers in Taiwan found pumpkin seed oil blocked unhealthy prostate growth in male rats. A quarter cup of the seeds also contains about 2.75 mg of zinc (about 17 percent of the recommended daily intake for adults), which contributes to male sexual health. When young men in a Wayne State University study restricted their dietary zinc intake, they had significantly lower levels of testosterone after 20 weeks.
• 6. Have a Healthier Heart
  All that fiber can also help protect your heart research shows. One Harvard study of over 40,000 male health professionals found that those who ate a diet high in fiber had a 40 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, compared to those who ate a diet low in fiber. A more recent study by Swedish researchers found that women who ate a diet high in fiber had a 25 percent lower risk of heart disease compared with women who ate a low fiber diet. Men benefitted less, likely because they’re more likely to get their fiber from breads, while women are more likely to get their fiber from healthier sources, like fruits and vegetables, the researchers write.

Pumpkin Place knows how yummy pumpkin desserts are. What you read above means that pumpkin-laced desserts won’t quite cut it. Darn. I love them too.  My personal opinion is “eat everything in moderation”. So having a pumpkin dessert once in a while is ok. However, for a healthier way to add pumpkin into your diet, add pumpkin chunks to your winter recipes, such as roasted vegetable medley. Another idea is to sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of your oatmeal or in your congee (go here for recipe). Try adding pumpkin to your chili (go here for recipe)! It’s delicious! It changes the texture to a creamier one. And gives just the right amount of sweet/savory taste. Feeling even more creative? Try pumpkin puree in place of nut butters as a spread. The sky is the limit on what you can add pumpkin to! 

Pumpkin Place Recipes

Some of my favorite pumpkin recipes are below. And yes, I’ve included a few dessert ones. Because let’s face it, we are always going to eat some desserts. And especially relevant, this pumpkin bread recipe has been called “The best pumpkin bread recipe” by many people over the years. I’m not sure how you get to have that title. However, it was passed down from my father’s side of the family through the generations. Consequently, it is my go-to hostess, teacher and ‘not sure what to get someone’ gift! 

Pumpkin Place Recipe # 1

Pumpkin Soup in a pumpkin

Rosemary Hersey

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups pared pumpkin, cut into ½ inch cubes                      1 cup thinly sliced onion (chopped too)

  

• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• Salt to taste (about 1-1/2 tsp)
• ½ tsp dried thyme leaves
• 5 peppercorns
• ½ to 1 cup whipping cream, warmed (or heavy cream)
• 1 tsp snipped fresh parsley
• ½ to ¾ cup canned pumpkin—depending on how thick you like your soup

How to Make:

In covered saucepan, heat all ingredients except cream, parsley and canned pumpkin, to boiling. Reduce heat: simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove ½ of the pumpkin with slotted spoon: reserve for later. Simmer remaining pumpkin mixture, uncovered for 20 minute longer. Transfer to a large bowl.

Puree ½ of this pumpkin mixture in blender or food processor. Return pureed mixture to pot. Repeat with remaining pumpkin mixture. Add enough canned pumpkin to thicken to your desired consistency. Heat this to boiling, then reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

Stir in warm cream and reserved pumpkin into soup. Garnish with fresh parsley. Also, be the ‘hostess with the mostess’ and serve in hallowed-out sugar pumpkins (the little tiny ones), which have been warmed for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Hence, your guests will be very impressed!

Sit down and enjoy…you deserve it!!

Pumpkin Place Recipe # 2

Zorc’s Pumpkin Bread– “The Best Ever” 

(From: Aunt Alice Zorc’s Kitchen)

Makes 3 large loafs or 6 small loafs

Ingredients: 

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix till smooth:

• Add 1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin and the following spices:
• 1 tsp ground cardamon
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground cloves

Mix well

• Add 1 cup vegetable oil
• Mix till blended
• Add 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, alternating with ¾ cup of water, 2 tsp baking soda, and
• 1 tsp salt.

Mix well until all ingredients are smooth. Batter should be fairly thick.

Pour evenly into bread loaf pans that have been sprayed with Pam, or greased with vegetable oil and dusted with flour.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. (If you choose to make them into the small loaf pans, only cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for about 10 minutes, if you can wait that long. Additionally, these make great gifts for teachers, hostess, post surgery friends and family–wrapped up nicely!!)

Note: I like it best when it’s warm out of the oven with a little butter on it… Yum. Enjoy!!

Keep checking back as more pumpkin recipes are coming!

And don’t forget to look up my chili recipe that has pumpkin in it! So delicious! 

 

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