Halloween Favourites
With Halloween only a few days away, here’re some interesting facts about pumpkins that we here at Karwig’s didn’t know:
A pumpkin is really a squash?
It is! It’s a member of the Cucurbita family which includes squash and cucumbers.
That pumpkins are grown all over the world?
Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins including Alaska! Antarctica is the only continent that they won’t grow in.
That the “pumpkin capital” of the world is Morton, Illinois?
This self proclaimed pumpkin capital is where you’ll find the home of the Libby corporation’s pumpkin industry.
That the Irish brought this tradition of pumpkin carving to America?
The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they found pumpkins a plenty and they were much easier to carve for their ancient holiday.
Fun Facts about the Pumpkin!
- Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
- Pumpkin flowers are edible.
- The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.
- In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
- Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
- The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.
- Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
- Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.
- Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
Once we’d learned these we decided to see what wines went best with Pumpkin dishes.
Here’s what we decided for Pumpkin Soup:
Gewürztraminer http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/showsearchresults_custom.asp?customfield=3&SearchValues=230&vLM=Grape&vLMC=
Campolieti http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/Valpolicella-Campolietti-Righetti-9p214.htm
If pumpkin soup’s not your thing try some Pumpkin pie, all of the wines below go brilliantly with it
French Muscat http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=9&keyword=chateau+de+stony
Sauternes http://www.karwigwines.ie/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=9&keyword=Sauternes
Karwig’s would like to take the opportunity to wish all off you, our customers and readers a safe and enjoyable Halloween. And don’t forget your penny for the pucha!
Till next time….
