Early American living

Three Favorite 1800s Pies (and…win a book ;) ) 

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While there might always be that debate between which is better, a cake or a pie, in the 1800s, pies were a bit more common at the table. After all, what could be more tasty and more forgiving of a recipe than a bit of this and that put into a pastry crust? 

With settlers from other countries making their way to the young United States, many new pies were introduced. In addition, many old favorites were modified and adapted to the ingredients that were readily available here in America. 

Considered a practical dish, a pie could be a little of this, a little of that, and turn out to be a hearty meal. Think of that in savory, like Shepards Pie or Pot Pie, when small portions can be combined to make a filling meal, or even a fruit pie, where even if it’s not bursting and overflowing with fruit, it’s still delicious. The crusts are made of simple ingredients also, and the pie could be cooked in the oven or in a covered pot over the fire. 

There are so many types of pies, I hoped to find a few I didn’t know anything about, so I went hunting, and found several that made my jaw drop. Here are a few that you also might not have heard of! 

White Potato Pie

I bet you’ve heard, maybe even tasted, sweet potato pie. Until I started looking, I had no idea that white potatoes could also make a good pie! It appears to have gotten its start in Maryland, and uses ingredients that are similar to those of a pumpkin pie, such as cream, sugar, eggs, and various spices. The only difference, is that instead of pumpkin of sweet potato, they use white potato! While I’ve never tried it myself, this seems to be an official recipe for it! 

Buttermilk Pie

Did you know I lived in Texas for a little over ten years? That’s right! When I married, I left my beautiful Virginia for the west, to live where my husband did. We came back, but while there, I heard of this unusual pie.

Sort of custardy, it makes me think of a chess pie, maybe a sugar cream pie. It’s inexpensive, forgiving, and tasty! Eggs, buttermilk, butter, and just a little flour and the spices help it to set up, quite easily. Here’s a recipe for this one, if you are curious to try it yourself. 

Marlborough Pie

Now, this is one more I’ve never had, but I’m curious to try! This pie is a tasty sounding mix of apples, spices, eggs, and, depending on which recipe you find, also cream and sherry. This appears to be one of those pies that people have a particular way of making. You know, like how some insist their chili is the best! But, this recipe here seems so incredibly simple, and is served at a historical New England site, so I’m betting it’s pretty tasty.

Feeling hungry? When I was writing Cherry Cheese Pie by Carissa, I won’t lie. I made a LOT of pies. And, right now I want another! 

 

Carissa Porter is tired of being a wallflower. She’s starting to wonder what’s wrong with her. Why won’t any man even look her way? About the only thing she can do well is bake, so she does just that, and tries to forget about how she’ll be single the rest of her life.

Duncan Marshall wants to tell Carissa how he feels about her, but something stops him every time. After being left at the altar, he’s not offering up his heart ever again, even if he senses she might be different. It’s something he just can’t risk. So, he continues to offer friendship, and nothing more.

When a letter arrives that may remove Carissa from his life, and put her in another’s, will Duncan listen to his heart and show her that they should be together? Or is it too late?

You can learn more by clicking here. 

Would you like a chance to win an ebook of this sweet (and stomach growling inducing!) story? Just comment below with either your favorite pie, or if you have ever tried one of the ones above!  

 

Dog Companions Throughout Time

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Most people acquainted with me know that I’m an animal lover. And that love goes beyond dogs and cats and, of course, horses. Besides fish and hamsters and even a hermit crab once, my many pets over the years have included chickens, ducks, bunnies, goats, calves, and a pot-bellied pig.

But dogs still remain my number one, and the only time I was without a dog sharing my home was when I was away at college. Most of my canine companions were typical ranch dogs. Border collies (too many to count), Australian Cattle dogs (too many to count), and sporting breeds like retrievers and spaniels. Now, I know that we’ve talked about pets in the old west before here at P&P, but I’m going to focus just on dogs and go a little further back in time. Specifically, to the beginning.

I’ve heard that early humans and dogs first bonded sometime during the Palaeolithic or, as it’s more commonly called, the stone age. As both humans and dogs were hunters, perhaps somewhere along the way, they realized if they teamed up, they might enjoy more success in bringing down prey. And then affection grew. I mean, stone age puppies were probably pretty cute, right?

I also imagine as mankind developed, moving away from hunting and gathering and toward agriculture (raising crops and domesticated animals), the jobs of their dog companions changed accordingly. Humans used dogs’ natural instincts to guard and protect their crops and livestock from the threat of predators. Those dogs showing superior intelligence and a tendency to herd were trained to assist modern farmers with controlling and relocating their cattle, sheep, and goats. In the United States, as people moved westward in the 18th and 19th centuries, they took their four-legged companions with them and before long, dogs were mainstays on ranches, farms, and cattle drives.

I suspect the lives of dogs in the old west weren’t easy. No prepackaged, nutrition rich kibble from a bag or hearty stew from a can. No regular veterinarian care and vaccines against rabies. No comfy raised pet beds or special shoes to protect their feet from the rough ground. Old west dogs likely had to sleep outside regardless of the weather and eat scraps­—if they were lucky.

But it seems from old pictures and written accounts that dogs were valued and loved as much back then as they are today. I’m pretty sure if I lived during the old west, I’d have owned a dog just like today. And I probably would have had my picture taken with them, too.

Don’t forget to check out our P&P Facebook Reader’s group at:  P&P FB Readers Group

The Curious and Useful Broom Corn Plant – and a giveaway

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Have you ever played that game: what is your state (or town) famous for? I met someone recently from a small town in Colorado. He told me that where he lived grew more broom corn than anywhere else in the country. Now, I can’t verify if what he claimed is 100% true, but our conversation was interesting, and I learned a lot about broom corn.

Full disclosure, I never really thought about how people made brooms in olden days. I figured they used some kind of thin, hard plant stalk. I had no idea brooms were actually constructed by using the top part of a plant. And as it turns out, broom corn isn’t really corn at all. It’s a type of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a plant with long fibrous seed heads. Once the seeds are (easily) removed, the remaining strands can be bound together to make great bristles for brooms.

In case you’re interested, here’s a video of a man making a broom from the broom corn seed heads. It’s kind of cool. Though sweeping with one of these old-fashioned brooms looks like hard work. I now have a new respect for people in centuries past.

Short Video on How to Make a Broom with Broom Corn

Seems brooms aren’t the only thing you can use broom corn seed heads for. The stalks make great decorative items like festive spring or fall wreaths, dried flower arrangements, and fun Halloween ornaments. After watching the video, I’m wondering if I couldn’t craft a witch’s broom for the front door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, my research in to broom corn and its many uses inspired me. I thought it might be fun to have a giveaway. Who doesn’t want a genuine broom corn whisk broom? I decided to give away this little fellow along with a couple of my backlist books. I think it might look cute hanging on a laundry room wall or in the pantry.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is comment below on how you use a whisk broom. I’ll start. Sweep crumbs off the counter (ha, ha). I’ll randomly choose one winner from everyone who comments.

P.S. – don’t forget to check out the Petticoats & Pistols FB Readers Group page at:

Petticoats & Pistols FB Readers Group

 

 

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts! Cathy McDavid

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I’m so excited to be part of Christmas Stocking Sweethearts  – my first participation in a collection with my fellow Petticoats and Pistols fillies. Little known fact, I wrote western historicals early in my writing career before switching to contemporaries. I’m thrilled to be returning to one of my favorite romance genres. And the story also happens to be set in one of my favorite time periods:  the early 1900s.

A widow struggling to save her home

A cowboy sworn to protect his family

A Christmas neither will ever forget…

 

 

Merry Ann Bright may be pint-sized, but she’s chock-full of gumption. For the last three years, she’s fended off a wealthy and greedy neighbor bent on acquiring her land by hook or by crook — emphasis on the crook. The last thing she needs is more trouble. But when she unexpectedly encounters a family in dire straits, how can she turn her back on them?

Thèo Cartier is a man on a mission. Once he’s seen his sister-in-law and young nephew safely home, he’ll return to Texas and help his aging father run the ranch. The lovely widow Merry is a distraction he can ill afford. Especially when her roots are firmly planted a thousand miles from his own.

Can Christmastime, the shared love of favorite carols, and a special heirloom stocking show two people convinced they have no future together that anything is possible…if they just open their hearts?

Click here to purchase MERRY’S CHRISTMAS COWBOY

Click here to view the entire series on Amazon

 

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THEIR DECORATIONS ARE SO GAUDY.

 

You might win this piano ornament from me – plus a backlist holiday book!

 

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

In the event the piano ornament becomes unavailable, we will happily make a substitute.

What Fishing Was Like in the Early 1900s

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Good morning, everyone. And I’m sorry to be late with this blog. I admit, my calendar failed me (which is better than saying I forgot).

You may remember from a previous blog post of mine, I’m working on a new historical story. That means, for me, I have to stop every few pages and research something to make sure I got it right. In this book, my heroine is fishing for trout in a creek. Seems simple enough, yes? But no. first research item – were there trout in the area where I’m setting my story during 1915. Turns out there were, so I’m good there. Second item, do I call what she’s using a fishing pole or a fishing rod? Well, who knew there’s a difference?

Turns out, she’d use a fishing pole — which is basically a long stick from which a string is tied and seems to have been around for at least four-thousand years. A fishing rod is more complicated and sophisticated. It has ringed guides along the pole and a reel to store the line. My heroine would definitely not have that. But from my research, reels did first start appearing in the 1600s.  In those day, it was mostly a loop of wire attached to the end of the pole. An improvement, nonetheless, and the string didn’t get so tangled.

I also learned that most fishing poles and fishing rods, at least until the 1900s, were home-made by people. There were even books published about how to make your own fishing poles, such as Iziak Walton’s “The Complete Angler (1676). I wonder if my local library has that. Tackle shops which sold manufactured fishing equipment have only been around for a hundred years or so, which is probably when innovations to fishing rods really took off and we got the modern tools anglers use today.

There are other ways of fishing besides with a pole or rod. Early man used spears, sometimes setting traps or bait and standing in the water waiting until a fish approached. A more primitive version of the pole was to simply toss a line into the water, anchor it with a heavy rock and wait for a fish to take the bait. Large nets were also used, sometimes requiring two or more people.

All this is probably more than you wanted to know about early fishing and more than I needed for my one scene in the book when my heroine is fishing. But I always enjoy learning something new. I didn’t bother researching hooks, figuring that was going a little too deep and readers probably would care. But now I’m thinking, maybe that would be interesting…

Manners and Morals of Victorian America

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Like all writers, I have quite a few research books I’ve picked up here and there about a variety of subjects. Here’s one sure to get plenty of giggles—Manners and Morals of Victorian America by Wayne Erbsen. Seems those Victorians had rules for everything.

The book lists all sorts of subjects such as: Business Etiquette, Children, Courtship, Kissing, Dining, and so many more. This is just a treasure-trove of information and I hardly know where to begin.

This has to be #1 though:

Beware of Bad Books – one half of the youth in our prisons and houses of correction started on their evil path by reading bad books, or at best, worthless novels. These books are the nicotine and alcohol of literature; they poison and burn, and blast the head and heart as surely as their cousins do the stomach. (1903)

No wise girl would accept a man who proposed by moonlight or just after a meal. The dear things are not themselves then and not thinking clearly.

Matrimony for women is the great business of life, whereas for the men it is only a mere incident. (1838)

Avoid the pen as you would the devil when you are angry. If you must commit follies, don’t put them down on paper. (1887)

You’re going to love this one!! I can hear your laughing.

We kiss too much. The principles of both hygiene and honesty are constantly violated in the practice. We might well indulge in a perfunctory little peck on the cheek that means nothing. It ought not to be necessary—but it is—to say that kissing in public is extremely bad form. (1907)

It is not allowable for a young man to shake hands with a lady unless she offers hers first. Only those of unimpeachable integrity and unsullied reputation should be introduced to a lady. (1892)

There is beauty in the helplessness of women. The clinging trust which searches for extraneous support is graceful and touching. Timidity is the attribute of her sex; but to herself, it is not without danger, inconveniences and sufferings. Her first effort at comparative freedom is bitter enough. The delicate mind shrinks from every unaccustomed contact and the warm and gushing heart closes itself. (1916)  OH PLEASE!! This had to have been written by a narcissistic man who never married or dated!

What men want in a wife for the most part is a humble, nattering, smiling, child-loving, tea-making being who laughs at their jokes however boring they may be. Women should coax and wheedle us to good humor. (1886)

Ladies, never marry a genius. As the supply of geniuses is very limited, this advice may seem useless. It is not so, however, for there is enough and too many men who think that they are and take liberties accordingly. (1886)

No lady should use the piano of a hotel uninvited if there are others in the room. It looks bold and forward to display even the most finished musical education in this way. It is still worse to sing. (1910)

And one more. These are just too funny.

It is evident that although a man may be ugly, there is no necessity for his being shocking. (1836)

Okay, there you go. I didn’t even get a chance to get into table manners or umbrella etiquette or any of the other interesting topics. I guess I’ll have to save those. It blows my mind that they went to such lengths to have rules for everything. They had waaaaay too much time on their hands back then.

Did I give you a laugh? Which was the funniest to you?

Lewis and Clark Festival

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I went to a Lewis and Clark Festival last Saturday.

Like the history nerd I am, I LOVED IT.

First say hello to Seaman.

This first picture is a Newfoundland, the same breed as Seaman, the dog that went along on with the Corp of Discovery.

Lewis and Clark dog
Meriwether Lewis brought his Newfoundland dog, Seaman

There was a crew of men dressed up like the men on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the first one I came across said, “Do you have any questions?”

The man did NOT know who he was dealing with.

Mary replies, “I have one hundred questions.”

They just all looked thrilled. So genuinely happy to find someone who would get excited along with them.

I probably talked to these guys for an hour. I wish I’d had more time. 

The guy on the far right went on the Re-Enactment to celebrate the Lewis and Clark bi-Centennial almost two decades ago.

I remember that re-enactment. We took our school to the river to watch the Corp come up the Missouri River.

Every one of these men was playing a part of one of the crew. They all had stuff to say. Very fun to talk to them.

This gentleman was Meriwether Lewis. Where was Clark? I didn’t even ask!!!

Did you know Meriwether Lewis LIVED in the White House with Thomas Jefferson and acted as his personal secretary for two years? (It wasn’t called the White House back then) And he was a soldier on the far western frontier before that. You know…the far western frontier…OHIO.

Anyway, he was a skilled woodsman, a trained solider, a knowledgeable boatman and a skilled writer. Very educated in all the ways he’d need to be about botany and survival skills. The Corps did not go off without a solid, serious, years-in-the-making plan.

The men were all wearing their everyday uniforms, made out of worn out ship sails. But they all had dress uniforms, too. To present a dignified image to the native folks they met. As if those white sail cloth outfits wouldn’t have impress them. Here is Lewis holding his dress hat.

Captain Lewis presented samples of the company muskets. He said they brought along 17 Tennessee riflemen strictly to hunt food. The Corps ate the equivalent of one entire buffalo a day. Thirty men.

I loved this guy. He was wearing the actual dress uniform. He showed me how to load his musket (no gunpowder involved but it was great). He’s standing in front of a replica of the Keelboat they took upriver.

This couple was so fascinating. Not part of the costumed characters but they are holding up medical equipment that went along on the journey. She’s holding the tourniquet. He’s holding the bone saw. Except for lancets for bleeding people, this was pretty much all medicine was back then. I was horrified, in an entirely polite and genteel way. Oh they had other medicine (not these folks but the world) but a lot of them were strange concoctions like Dr. Rush’s pills that were more snake oil than anything else.

This man said, “Once a wound was infected, it was amputate or die. These tools saved lives.

There is a Lewis and Clark Lake by Onawa, Iowa and there is an interpretive center alongside the lake. There are TWO replicas of the keel boat that they road up the river–the man in the dress uniform two pictures above is standing in front of one of the replica keelboats. Lewis and Clark took this boat and too pirogues when was a really big canoe-like boat. All three boats carried tons of supplies…so REALLY big canoes.

Most of the time the boats were pulled upstream with ropes. All the way from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains!!!

They honestly couldn’t eat enough food hardly to stay strong enough to do this work. The Corps re-enactor characters slept in these tents at the festival. 

At the festival, a big chunk of the west side of Lewis and Clark Lake was surrounded by tents like these above.

Here is a map of the trail they followed. An unbelievable journey. And I am right now reading Undaunted Courage, the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Stephen Ambrose. What this Corps of Discovery set out to do was a gargantuan undertaking. Something no one in the world had ever accomplished.

Explore the uncharted west of America before it was firmly in America’s hands. They didn’t even know the Rocky Mountains were bigger than the Appalachians. They thought, with perhaps a short portage, the Missouri River joined with the Columbia River. They were searching for a water route that crossed the entire continent.

Fun Fact: Lewis did all the planning and worked on it for YEARS with President Jefferson, while Jefferson was working on buying New Orleans from Napolean. His diplomats came back, not with New Orleans but with Louisiana which had very vague borders…Thomas Jefferson claimed America all the way to the Continental Divide in Montana. Of course there was no Montana then.

Lewis knew Clark and had served with him for six months and was friends with him though almost exclusively through letters. But Lewis did all the planning. All the buying. Clark joined the expedition after Lewis set out from Pittsburgh. At the time Clark lived in Clarksville (named a town after himself???) Which was in Indian Territory, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. And they were command equals. Which was very unusual. But it was all Lewis in the planning stages.

Besides the costumed Corps members, there were tents and crafts. One tent was all animal furs. There was jewelry and leather goods, all hand crafted. (well, I didn’t personally spot any ‘Made in China’ labels, so I’m hopeful)

There were buffalo burgers and, well, the Methodist church served pie. Might not have been authentic but it was delicious!

It’s a wonder I’m not there still. It helped move me along that it was around 100 degrees, but even that, those men had to endure that back then as they made their journey. At no point could they get in their car and turn the air conditioner way, way up.

I loved it.

And I’ve got a book releasing in July and I should be talking about that.

I made a trailer. 

Inventions of the Heart (canva.com)

 Inventions of the Heart

Book #2

The Lumber Baron’s Daughters Series

Releasing July 5

Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her even here?

After her sister’s marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She’s managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father’s business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can’t risk putting her in harm’s way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she’s suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they’ll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

 

 

Rachel Fordham Finds Treasures of the Past

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While researching a book, I came across several accounts of hidden money sewn into clothing, hat brims, or fake compartments in luggage. I didn’t end up using everything I’d discovered in my novel, but it did send my mind racing and ideas spinning. We are so used to electronic funds, checks, and secured shipping that we don’t often worry about traveling with the family’s heirloom jewels or your life savings, but times used to be different.

During the prime stagecoach and railroad days people often traveled with money or valuables. Robbers knew this, which is why we have so many accounts of stagecoach robberies and trains stopped by bandits and looted. Some passengers took to hiding money in their clothing, sewing it into the hem of their pants or skirt, or stitching it into lining of a jacket.

There have been other times in history when hiding money and valuables became the norm. During and after the Great Depression there was a general mistrust of the banking system. Our grandparents and great-grandparents (depending on your age) may have been some of those that weren’t quite ready to trust their hard-earned savings to an institution.

Rather than sew their money into their clothing (though, some of them might have), they could have buried it in the backyard, under floorboards, behind the mantle, in the piano, and even in the outhouse (gross).

There are fantastic stories of people buying old homes and finding “treasure” hidden in the floorboards or in the rafters of the attic. I can’t help but wonder how many homes have been torn down with their treasure never found, or items of clothing discarded that held a secret. The author in me wonders the circumstances that led to someone hiding away their money—were they saving so they could reach for a dream? Preparing for a rainy day? Hoping to give their children a better life?

When my husband and I moved to Buffalo, New York so he could attend dental school there, we bought a small, OLD home. I asked the neighbors about it and learned as much history as I could about the charming little place. It had once housed a large family. (Where they all slept, I will never know.) I tried to visualize them and often thought about those that had lived inside the walls of my beloved first house. At one point we decided to add more insulation. (Those Buffalo winters are brutal!) While working we discovered a small box tucked way back in the eaves.

I was not an author at the time, but I still had a vivid imagination and can still remember my heart beating a little faster when I reached for the box. It didn’t contain any gold, no rare coins, or fine jewels. But it did contain handmade Christmas ornaments from decades ago. As a lover of history and stories, I found my discovery fascinating. Holding those ornaments in my hand made it easier to picture the big loving family that I had only heard a few scattered details about. I confess, I still think it would be fun to prowl through an abandoned house and discover treasure, a journal, or any other fascinating piece of history. Wouldn’t it be so fun to sneak around a ghost town…sigh, someday!

Whether hidden to avoid bandits, or fear of a depression, or simply an accident, the pieces of the past we discover tell us a little about those that came before. I wonder what the next person to live in my beloved Buffalo house learned about me. We were students and had no money to hide, but there is a bird house my son made with his grandpa and nailed to the back fence, scratches in the floor from a baby walker, and probably a few missing socks behind the washing machine. (It’s been a decade, so maybe those are gone by now.)

And now after writing this and thinking about hidden treasure and stories, I am convinced that all writing retreats should take place in very old houses or near other prime locations for treasure hunting. Maybe we would all find a story worth telling!

 

Rachel Fordham is giving away a copy of her latest novel Where the Road Bends. To be entered in the random drawing, leave a comment for Rachel telling her if you’ve ever stumbled across a treasure or family heirloom.

Misty M. Beller On Unusual Settings (and she has a giveaway!)

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Hey, y’all!

It’s always such an honor to spend the day with you! The Petticoats and Pistols reader family is one of my favorite places to visit.

Are you a fan of unusual settings in books? I’ve always loved western settings, especially in the mountains. (especially the Rocky Mountains!) My latest release, A Healer’s Promise, has an especially unusual setting—a secret village hidden in caves in the Canadian Rockies. They’ve been completely cut off from the outside world for a hundred years!

This series has been so much fun to write, and I’m often asked if the hidden village of Laurent was a real place. My answer is…it’s possible! J

I was listening to a historical podcast a few years ago that talked about the Vikings and the female warriors who would sometimes gain fame among them. As the hosts talked about the first Viking raids to North America, I started thinking… “What if one of those groups went farther west than any of us thought? What if they found the Canadian Rockies and lived there in a hidden community for centuries?” The thought took hold, and little by little, the idea for the Brides of Laurent series came to life. I eventually changed the village to be a French settlement named Laurent.

Much of the book takes places in the mountains just outside of the village of Laurent, and some of my favorite parts are the snowy winter weather, hiding in a cave, a horse named Chaucer who saves the day…

And of course, our hero and heroine!

From my mind’s first glimpse of Levi and Audrey, I fell in love with them both. Levi is a British spy, and he’s one of those really good guys. He’s strong and capable. A gentleman, who struggles to protect Audrey, especially when his very presence is part of what puts her in danger. And add in the British accent… (happy sigh)

Audrey is one of those caring people who give freely of themselves to help others—and she really loves doing it! She’s a born nurturer, which is one of the reasons she helps Levi escape instead of letting him face unjust punishment because of his background.

Of course, no one is perfect and these two have their share of personal struggles. But I love their hearts throughout the story. And of course, the way things develop to a sizzle between them! I think you’ll love being part of their story as it unfolds. And I hope you love the wild majesty of the Canadian Rockies as much as I do. J

Today, I’m excited to give away a copy of book one in the series, A Warrior’s Heart.
I’d love to hear from you, what are some of your favorite book settings?

Misty M. Beller

Available for preorder! A Healer’s Promise
USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Palooza

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This year the release of the PSL (pumpkin spice latte—a new acronym I learned this week—) was August 24. As I sat writing in Starbucks, I wondered how we went from my childhood of pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread around the holidays to the pumpkin/pumpkin spice frenzy of today. That made me curious about the history of pumpkins, and to the internet I went.

To my surprise, pumpkins are fruit. (Sidebar, so are all squash, eggplants, avocados, and cucumbers. And, so you can answer the why question, it’s because those plant have seeds and the items we eat develop from the flower-producing part of the plant. Botanically that makes them fruit.) Archaeologists believe pumpkins originated in Central America 7,500 years ago, but unlike todays, those were small and had a bitter taste. (Which again makes me wonder how they caught on for food!)

Despite that beginning, a recipe for a side dish with diced pumpkin was published in New-England’s Rarities Discovered, in America in the 1670s. After that, women developed more pumpkin recipes. Serving sweet pumpkin dishes during the holidays didn’t start until the 1800s. However, the first pies were scooped out pumpkins filled with a ginger-spiced milk, then roasted by the fire. Hmmm, an early PSL?

Fun pumpkin facts:

  • Antarctica is the only content where pumpkins aren’t grown.
  • Pumpkin seeds (each pumpkin has around 500) can be roasted, then salted and eaten. The flowers are also edible.
  • Pumpkin, which are 90% water, contains carotenoids which are good for eyes and neutralizes free radicals that can attack cells.
  • Pumpkins are also high in lutein and zeaxanthin which could reduce cataract formation and risk of macular degeneration. They also contain potassium, vitamin A, iron, zinc, and fiber.
  • Irish immigrant brought the tradition of Jack-O’-Lanterns to the U.S., but instead of using turnips or potatoes, they used the American pumpkins.
  • In the United States, the heaviest pumpkin was grown in New Hampshire (2018) and weighed 2,528 pounds.
  • In 2010 a pumpkin pie was baked in Ohio weighing 3,699 pounds and over 20 feet in diameter.
  • Early American settlers cut pumpkin shells into strips, dried them, and wove them into mats.
  • Morton, Illinois is called the ‘Pumpkin Capital of the World’ and the home to Libby’s pumpkin industry. Illinois also grows the most pumpkins.
  • Pumpkins were once a remedy for freckles and snakebites.
Large pumpkins are usually used for feed for livestock.

Yesterday my Pinterest feed was filled with pumpkin recipes. My research didn’t really explain how we went from the first pumpkins to the craze we see today. But maybe the answer has something to do with the following Pilgrim verse, circa 1633.

For pottage and puddings and custards and pies
Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies,
We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon,
If it were not for pumpkins we should be undoon.”

I may not have satisfied my original curiosity, but at least now you can astound and stun your friend and family with your amazing pumpkin knowledge this Thanksgiving!

To be entered in today’s random drawing for Howdy Fall T-shirt, tell me what’s your favorite pumpkin recipe or what fun fact surprised you the most. Happy (almost) Fall, Y’all!