by Assunta Ng
Northwest Asia Weekly
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
If you hated pumpkin in the first half of your life, you might be surprised how much this fruit will please you in the second half of your life. I belong to the latter. I can’t tell you the multidimensionality of squash.
Pumpkin decoration in Federal Road City (photo by Assunta Ng)
Like many immigrants, I didn’t venture out to buy oranges myself. Pumpkin pie was introduced to me at Thanksgiving and I immediately rejected it. People put too much sugar in their pies and ruin the true flavor of the pumpkin. I can only taste the sugar, not the pumpkin completely dissolved in the sugar. So, if you want to enjoy the benefits of eating pumpkin, look no further than pie.
Pumpkin crème brulee by Tracy Luu (photo by Assunta Ng)
Due to my recent interest in researching the nutritional value of different types of foods, the health benefits of pumpkin are fascinating. Its versatility is unmatched. It is low in calories, sodium and saturated fat. It is high in fiber and moisture. Most importantly, it’s good for your heart. It is a great source of antioxidants. It is great for vision as it is rich in vitamin A, beta carotene content, vitamin C and potassium, all of which are anti-aging properties. If you want youthful skin, try pumpkin. Most importantly, it strengthens bones and reduces joint inflammation. My favorite is that it is a happy fruit because it helps lower depression.
Surprisingly, even tiny pumpkin seeds contain healthy fats, protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and antioxidants. As for saying it improves male fertility, well, I don’t know.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
My daughter-in-law told me that if you keep the squash in a cool place, it’s ok to eat even a year later. So if you carve them for Halloween, don’t throw them away afterwards. You can cook them for your dinner later. Even cute little pumpkins. Yes, you can cook them.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
real! My wife said so. I’ve never done this before. But it’s good to experiment.
If you want to get creative with pumpkin cooking, you can use pumpkin for stews, pumpkin soups, or even pumpkin fried rice. These dishes are delicious and bring out the flavor of the pumpkin. I have eaten fried rice with pumpkin, which is fried rice in pumpkin after taking out the seeds. Simmer on low heat for more than half an hour to allow the rice to absorb the pumpkin juice and taste like heaven.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
Preparing dishes like stewed squash takes a lot of time because you have to cook it before you can get the meat out of it. I paid my cleaner to make me pumpkin soup and it was delicious and delightful. She also does a great job of making ribs with pumpkin.
You can enjoy fixing pumpkins. Recently, my son raved about the pumpkin spice latte he bought from Dole’s Day Bakery in the International District of Chinatown. You see, pumpkin can be mixed with just about anything.
Pumpkin Latte
Pumpkins are everywhere at this time of year. Buy pumpkin from a nearby grocery store. And spread the good news to your friends that the pumpkin is not just a silly pumpkin. Enjoy food, decor, games and art with them. Pumpkin is the spice of life, and you want to make the most of it.
Pumpkin decoration in Federal Road City (photo by Assunta Ng)
Assunta can reach assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
