Herald & Lantern 21 October 81

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Fixih’s from the Innards There’s More To Pumpkins Than

Meets the

, ' by ^Florence L.D. Heal October is the mont.of Halloween and pumpkins. Hallowe'en means the evening before All Saints Day. Nov. 1. The day itself is of Druidic origin and mbst of the customs of, the day are remnants of ancient religious beliefs connected'with the celebration of the new year. When we think of Halloween we think of dressing up in costumes, trick or treating, bobbing or dunking for apples, and Jack O'Lantems. There are many old tales connected with these activities. In the Cape May City Library there is a book which includes many of these old tales "entitled 'Celebrations The Complete Booh of American Holidays'. Myers, Double Day & Co. Inc. PUMPKINS ARE A part of Halloween and Jack O'Lantems are made from pumpkins. Pumpkins, one of our oldest vegatables, are classifed as stock feed or pie type. One is Jal'ge, slightly oval shaped, and may weigh as touch as 15 to 20 pounds or more. It has a smooth, hard, somewhat ribbed surface and it is light orange in color. The light orange flesh is usually thick and coarse. This jumbo type is used for stock feed or Jack O’Lantems. When selecting one to be used as a Jack O’Lantern, choose a jumbo pumpkin that is rounded in shape, yet flattened at the ends. Check to see thaMhe rind is hard and free from blemishes A soft rind makes carving a Jack O Lahter more difficult. THE PUMPKIN I^IE type is oblong in shape with a moderately long neck. The deep orange (some are almost red) skin is rough and bumpy. The flesh is deep orange. These are the very best for pies, soups, muffins, custards, breads, cookies and candy. For their size they have a larger yield of flesh than other pumpkins. The neck is solid flesh, and the flesh is usually 1>,*! to 2 inches thick. Choose a pumpkin that is heavy for its size. The rind should be hard, smooth, and free from blemishes and discolorations. Pumpkins, especially those used in cooking, should be harvested before frost and

Ey<

stored in a cool, dry place to preserve quality. Pumpkins will keep well for months if stored properly. There should be circulation of air around the pumpkins. If you plan to store them for a long time, select those which ake unbruised and have stem attached. Keep cooked pumpkm in a covered container in the refrigerator, and use within two or three days after cooking. Cooked pumpkin,can be mashed or pureed and stored in the freezer for several mpn-

ths.

TO PREPARE FOR cooking, wash the pumpkin well, cut in half,and remove the seeds and stringy fibers If the pumpkin is cooked with the shell on, the flesh will take on color from the rind and will be a deeper

shade of orange.

TO BAKE: Place pumpkin halves, shell up, in a baking pan. Bake at 325° for 40-60

minutes or until tender.

TO BOIL: Cut pumpkin into 2-4 pieces. Place in a small amount of water. Cook until tender. Note: The pumpkin rind is very difficult to peel It is advisable to boil the pumpkin in the shell and remove the shell before the flesh is mashed or pureed. WHEN SCOOPING out a pumpkin, we usually create two things; a jack o’lantern and a mess! This year don’t throw away all that “mess". Save the seeds artd turn them into a nutritious snack. Pumpkin seeds have more protein and fewer * calories than any other seed or nuts.

TO ROAST SEEDS: Wash the seeds^—Drop by teaspoons 2 inches apart under cold water to remove the stringy creased bakinc sheet

pulp, then allow to dry for a few days between paper towels. Spread the seeds individually in a single layer on an oiled cookie sheet and roast at 350°F until dry and light brown. Check frequently, as cooking time will vary with the wetness of

the seeds.

y Here are a few recipes to — even after f Halloween is behind us:

4f,V n ' PUMPKINS ARE PLENTIFUL on the Jersey Cape. In fact it s difficult to travel a rural roadside without coming across piles of these fruits of the vine. And it you think all pum pkins are good for is Halloween Jack o'Lanterns«‘Vou've got another thought Coming.

2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda I 1/4 Cups rolled oats 1/2 Cup chopped dates

3/4 Cup raisins

1/2 Cup chopped nuts

Cream butter or margarine and sugar

together.

Beat eggs, add pumpkins, mix together Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda,

and spices.

Stir in oats, dates, raisins, and nuts.

Fall Festival Draws Near—

PUMPKIN COOKIES 1/2 Cup butter or margarine 1 Cup sugar

2 eggs

I Cup cooked pumpkin I teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon cloves

1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour

COURT HOUSE - The Annual 4-H Fall Festival is 10 to 2 Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center, 4-H Fairgrounds, Dennisville Rd. 4-H leaders and members have for some time been preparing for this first event of the-4 H year. Members will be entering projects and exhibits in Pumpkin Crafts, Harvest Art* ‘n Crafts, Mystery Foods and Food Pi^servation There are also divisions tor 7- and 8-year-old members. The festival will also) include a Harvest Foods Contest and a Costume Contest open to the public; anyone can enter. 4-H members will be entering 4heir exhibits for judging 10 a.m. and registration for the costume contest begins at 12:30 p.m Ribbons will be awarded for outstanding entries. Refreshments will be served.

greased baking sheet.

Bake at 375° about 12 minutes. Makes 6

doz.

PUMPKIN SOUP

2 Tablespoons butter \

1/3 Cup finely chopped green pepper 2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 Tablespoons parsley

I Tablespoon chopped fresh basil

I (80ozi) can tomatoes 1 1/2 Cup cooked pumpkin 2 Cups chicken broth

I Tablespoon flour I cup sour cream

freshly grated black pepper Melt butter in a large saucepan Add green peppers, onion, parsley, and basil. Cooke 5 minutes until spft. Add tomatoes, pumpkin, and broth Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirr-

ing occasionally.

Blend flour and sour cream and stir into

soup.

Stir constantly until well heated (do not boil) Add black pepper ^ Serve itomediately Makes 6-8 serving^.

PUMPKIN CORN MpAh MUFFJNf I/4 Cup butter or olea

1/4 Cup honey 1/3 Cup milk

1/2 Cup cooked purpphin ’ I I/2 Cups flour t 1/3 Cup yellow corn meal I Tablespoon baking poivder 1/2 teaspoon cidnamon .. •’ 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg Cream butter or oleo. add honey, and

beat well

Slowly stir in mi{k and pumpkin Add rest of ingredients and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened Fill greased muffin tins two-thirds full Bake at 400° F. for 20-25 minutes Makes

12 muffins.

V

, PUMPKIN CAKE ,1/2 Cup butter or Oleo 1 Cup brown sugar 1/2 Cup white Sugar 2 egg yolks ■. 3/4 Cup Oookea pumpkin 1/2 Cup milk 2 Cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon mapleine 2/3 Cup walnuts (l like black) Ceeam sugar and shortening, add beaten egg yolks apd pumpkin. Then flour and milk, flavoring and nuts Bake at 350° F. Serve with your favorite cream cheese or butter icing Florence Heal of Cape May is former Home Economist for the State of New Jersey.

British Seagull 387 Who’s Dumping

Oil?

Halloween Party Seeks Amusements

CAPE MAY-One of the most popular community events of the past, a giant Halloween Party on the Physick Estate grounds, returns 6 to 10 p.m. Friday night. Oct. 34 Once again the spirits will convert the basement of the Physick House into a deadly dungeon of thrills and chills for all brave souls who dare to descend into its dark and mysterious depths

IN KEEPING with the community spirit of the celebration, every group or oganization in the area is urged to sponsor a game that night for its own firofit. Those interested should call 884-5404 The county Art League is supplying food thpt evening. Should evil spirits bring rain that night, the* haunting will be moved to Saturday, Oct. 31. •

by Ima Byrd A bunch of ducks wandered over to Poverty Beach last week to register a complaint with the Seagull Assoc for the Preservation of Sanity (SAPS). It seems these ducks were swimming around the bay area in the Crest down around Sunset Lake, when they got stuck in some oil. Someone dumped oil out of their engines, possibly to change it, and didn't give a dam about the environment Now when someone does that it's not just a few quarts, it's gallons of oil. And if enough boats did it. there'd be nothing Jeft of the waterways, , When you do that to the meadows, you kill all the baby mudhens, minnows—all life. They can't survive in oil Fiddler cr£bs, marsh birds, babyikk^ks and other wild creatures arc all affqcted. THE DUCKS SAID in their complaint that they heard engines running late at night and got curious They went out and saw this boat with engines running and stuff coming out of the bilges. The engines have to be heated vo drain the oil out The ducks were horrified then to see trt^ oil surface on the water For days the oil went in and out with the tide. It was still hanging around a week later The ducks grabbed up their babies and moved to another part of the bay buf they had already gotten doused with oil yi don't know what we can do.aboul your complaint,'' said a SAPS official. ''We did hear about it from the har bbrmaster over there, and several residents who spotted the boat The Coast Guard and other interested people arc watching the area carefully to see that it doesn't happen again," he added “THAT DOESN’T HELP US." cried the ducks. "Can’t you get someone to clean that stuff up NOW " The official looked at the ducks. Some of them had a tinge of oil on their wings, others made tracks of oil on the

beach. The gull shook his head <“Look ducks, it's this way Humans get all upset when there's a hig spill in the Delaware Bay or on the Ocean, but they don't seem to give a darn about these little spills that continue on and on and eventually kill everything in the waterways. These little spills often add up to be. poten1 tially a greater threat than any major oil spill These indignities often go unnoticed b'ut there's no doubt they pollute and pollute It may be just one thoughtless person whi thinks his crap won't hurt the environment that mu h. Just imagine if all the boaters wkre as irresponsible, ’ he said. "BUT WHAT CAN WE DO?* the ducks implored "I don't know," said the gull "But I'll tell you this If it's any comfort to you, boatmen like Jack Blake of the Wildwood II, who spent hours cleaning oil off his boat, and Eddie Royales of the Royal Flush and other very responsi hie and caring boaters are just as angry as you are And there's a lot of people living along that waterway thStWe determined that the dumping wilf stop. It isn't that wefre not doing anything about it, it’s just that when you get one guy sneaking around at night dumping his stuff in the waterway, it takes a while lo catch him We're on to him now and we'll get him if hedoes it again," the official said THE DUCKS THANKED the Association official and waddled down to the bulkhead leaving their oily tracks behind them. The seagull took out' his feathered pen and wrote carefully in his little book: Oil dumping in Wildwood Crest Then he called his staff of birdwatchers and gave them their assignment. “There are 40 boaters who care and just one who doesn’t gi\>e a darn about the environment. That’s the one we’re after," he said NEXT WEEK Birdpower