Pumpkin

The St. Mary Catholic School kindergarten class worked recently on a pumpkin science unit. The students measured the height of each pumpkin, the weight of each pumpkin and measured how big around each pumpkin was.  With this knowledge, they predicted which pumpkin would have the most seeds. The students also drew a picture of the pumpkin they thought would win and wrote a sentence telling why.

Cookie base:   17 1/2-ounce package Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix   1/2 cup crushed gingersnap cookies   1/2 cup finely chopped pecans   1/2 cup cold butter or margarine   Filling:   2 8-ounce packages...

The St. Mary Catholic School kindergarten class worked recently on a pumpkin science unit. The students measured the height of each pumpkin, the weight of each pumpkin and measured how big around each pumpkin was.  With this knowledge, they predicted which pumpkin would have the most seeds. The students also drew a picture of the pumpkin they thought would win and wrote a sentence telling why.

Heidi Geraci of Smithsburg, who is studying photography at Hagerstown Community College, submitted this photo with the following story: "Halloween this fall has inspired many beautiful images that I have capture with my camera. A fun family tradition of carving pumpkins with my daughter last night made a great memory to last the whole year through. "In this morning's light I decided to take a picture of the pumpkin we carved together and to my surprise we found a 'smashed pumpkin.

Miracle Netz, 6 1/2 months old, of Hagerstown, poses with her first pumpkin.

Scenes from a corn maze at Misty Meadow Farm in Smithsburg.

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! As I drive around Washington County, I see pumpkins everywhere. They are used to decorate for autumn and to make into jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween. Also, pumpkin pies bring images of Thanksgiving. How do you pick a good pumpkin and store it for long-lasting results? Botanically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit, not a vegetable. To have pumpkins for fall harvest, they should have been planted in late May or early June, after the soil warmed up. One question I am asked frequently is, "Why do some pumpkin flowers not produce pumpkins?"

Is your jack-o'-lantern absolutely frightening? Or does Jack crack people up with a funny face? If you have an outstanding carved pumpkin, The Herald-Mail wants to see your handiwork to feature on our Gallery page Sunday, Oct. 30. Drop off a photo of it at The Herald-Mail Co. at 100 Summit Ave. in Hagerstown, e-mail a photo to lifestyle@herald-mail.com, or mail a photo to The Herald-Mail; Attn: Lifestyle; P.O. Box 439; Hagerstown, MD 21741. Photos must be received by noon Monday, Oct. 24. We will select the best pumpkin art Monday afternoon.

The children of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Lappans, planted a pumpkin patch May 26 on church ground prepared by gardeners Ernest and Diane Pugh and Duane Mose. The children planted three varieties of pumpkins, including a giant variety. Once the pumpkins ripen, they will be offered to church members and the general public to benefit the Micah's Backpack outreach program that the church supports for Rockland Woods Elementary School. Lutheran Church to hold spaghetti dinner St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 53 N. Main St., Keedysville, will hold a spaghetti dinner Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The meal will include spaghetti, coleslaw, applesauce, bread, drinks and dessert.

Bill Williams of Hedgesville, W.Va., usually travels the week of Thanksgiving but said he and his wife will stay home this year and prepare the holiday meal. “We've gotten preliminary Thanksgiving stuff such as turkey and stuffing,” said Williams, 65. “We've also started to test pumpkin pie recipes. It'll be nice to be home for the week.” Thanksgiving preparations for many area residents and businesses began well ahead of time. With the holiday approaching, bakeries, meat markets and grocery stores prepared for an onslaught of customers.

The most popular use of pumpkins may be for jack-o'-lanterns and fall decorations, but there are many more healthful ways pumpkin can be used. When eaten, pumpkin provides vitamin A, potassium, protein and vitamin C. Pumpkin is also low in calories. When choosing a pumpkin for cooking, choose a small pumpkin, labeled “pie” or “sweet” and weighing between 2 and 6 pounds. For every pound of whole pumpkin, you can expect to get 1 cup of pumpkin puree. Look for one that has one or two inches of stem left.

My latest creation came about when playing with some espresso-ground pumpkin spice coffee.  I love the flavor and was interested in trying to coax out more flavors at breakfast, hence the Pumpkin Coffee Cake. I also wanted it to have a bite to it so that it can perk up anyone sampling the moist coffee cake.  If you desire you can easily leave out the cayenne, and add in another teaspoon of cinnamon, or nutmeg. However, be careful, nutmeg can overpower the batter if used liberally.

Lewis Orchards Field Manager Steven Lewis says this year has been one of the best years for the farm's pumpkin patch. “We have the nicest and one of the most abundant crops of pumpkins we've had in a long while,” he said. “We planted about three acres of pumpkins, and business has been very good with the sales of pumpkins this year.” Lewis said the season has been great in terms of the amount and the size of the pumpkins. The quality of the pumpkins is also a major reason for the season's success.

Nothing conjures up autumn memories of our youth more than apples, brilliant leaf colors and pumpkins. The pumpkin is my topic today and it is more than a pie or a porch decoration. I hope you enjoy our investigation of this member of the Cucurbita family. Though they are often thought to be used solely as festive fall decorations, pumpkins are also nutritious and versatile fruit that can be found in many soups, stews and other hearty dishes. When fresh pumpkins are not available or convenient, canned pumpkin can be an alternative.

Fall craft bazaar More than 50 vendors will participate. Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today; car show, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fort Ritchie Community Center, 14421 Lake Royer Drive, Cascade. Proceeds from food sales will go to the gymnastics program at Fort Ritchie Community Center. Call 301-241-5085 or go to www.thefrcc.org. Open Airplane Afternoon A display of vintage airplanes made in Hagerstown, including World War II-era planes. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Hagerstown Aircraft Services, 14235 Oak Springs Road, near Hagerstown Regional Airport.

With plenty of homemade food, live music, hayrides, pumpkin carving and a full day of activities, the 19th annual Pumpkin Festival was a smashing success for all ages. “We expect more than 1,000 people. It's just been a perfect day,” said Melodie Anderson-Smith, director of the Renfrew Institute in Waynesboro. The event is a fundraiser for the Renfrew Institute and Renfrew Museum and Park. It was Dave and Linda Stottlemyer's lucky day when they happened upon the activities at Renfrew.

1. He's actually 'Got Talent' Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., last year's "America's Got Talent " winner, will perform Sinatra-style standards at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown. Tickets cost $27 to $39. Call 301-790-2000 or go to www.mdtheatre.org . 2. Strings and sounds North Hagerstown High Orchestra will present its Pops Concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at North Hagerstown High School auditorium, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown.

Hagerstown Police Department officers are reminding people to be respectful when playing Halloween tricks after pumpkins were used to damage cars in north Hagerstown over the weekend. Pumpkins were used to damage windshields and windows on cars in three incidents, according to a news release.   “While this may seem laughable to some, it causes an extensive amount of damage and is certainly illegal. The Hagerstown Police Department will aggressively investigate each case, exhausting all leads; and will seek prosecution where warranted,” the release said.