Fun Pumpkin Facts & An Old- Fashioned Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Nothing says autumn better than pumpkins. And, they sure have been around for a long time. Per Better Homes & Gardens, pumpkins have been on earth for a whopping 5,000 years. And it’s a fruit! When we think of pumpkins, tasty foods or beverages that contain pumpkin come to mind, or even Jack-o’-lanterns. However, would it surprise you to know that original Jack-o’-lanterns were first made with turnips and potatoes by the Irish? Today, over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin are produced each year in the United States. Can you name the top five pumpkin-producing U.S. states?

(See answer below.)

Ma’s favorite old fashioned Pumpkin bread recipe

Makes two loaves

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp allspice
• ¾ cup butter softened (1 ½ sticks, may use unsalted)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 15-oz. can all-natural pure pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie mix)

Directions: 

Set oven rack in the middle position. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, grease two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans with butter and lightly dust with flour. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Stir and set aside. In a bigger mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the pumpkin. Then add in the flour mixture slowly and mix at low speed until combined. Split the batter between the two loaf pans and bake for 65 minutes (or slightly longer) until a cake tester comes out clean. Let the bread cool down slightly in the loaf pans, then place bread on a wire rack to continue cooling.

Answer: Per GH, the top pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. Did you get it right??? Hope so!