Page 49 - Sonoma County Gazette Oct. 2019

Getting to the roots of the Jack O’Lantern
By Kelly Smith
With October’s arrival we find a lot more winter squash and gourds around
the farmers’ markets. It’s a great time to start roasting, sautéing and making soup out the abundance of fruit that comes from the Cucurbitaceae family. As
I was thinking about this month’s article I started
to wonder why we carve pumpkins on Halloween? As I approach my 49th Halloween I realized I
have never known why we celebrate the pumpkin as a Jack O’ Lantern on October 31st.
B.C. The Native Americans used them as a staple in their diet way before any of the European explorers arrived on the continent.
When the Irish came over in the late 1800’s they brought many pieces of folklore with them. including the story of Stingy Jack. According to the story, Stingy Jack was a drunk and a trickster and lived a miserable life. He even tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. He then put crosses around the base of the tree so the Devil couldn’t come down. The Devil begged for Stingy Jack to let him down. Stingy Jack said he would let the Devil down only if he promised not to take Stingy Jack’s soul when he died. The Devil agreed and was let down from the apple tree.
When Stingy Jack passed away his soul went up to the pearly gates in heaven. Saint Peter was at the gate and would not let Stingy Jack in to Heaven because he led a miserable life and wasn’t ever kind to anyone. Stingy Jack went down to Hell where the Devil greeted him. The Devil wouldn’t let him because of his promise to Stingy Jack not to take his soul. Stingy Jack wasn’t sure what to do and asked the Devil how would he get back through the darkness. The Devil gave him an ember from Hell to light the way. Jack had a turnip in his pocket since it was his favorite food. He carved it out and put the ember of fire in it to keep it going as he roamed the earth.
The Irish referred to the ghostly soul as Jack of the Lantern. The Irish started carving turnips, potatoes and rutabagas and would hang them in windows to ward off Stingy Jack and other wandering souls. Once they came to America, the immigrants found that pumpkins were easier to carve.
According to my research I found out that the Jack O’ Lantern originated from Ireland. You might find that odd since pumpkins weren’t grown in Ireland. Pumpkins originated in Mexico between 5500 - 7000
Pumpkin Puree for Pies or Soups
1 (4 to 6-pound) baking pumpkin, rinsed and dried Kosher salt
Ingredients:
Directions::
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Slice a small piece of skin off the one side of the pumpkin so when laid on its side, the pumpkin will lay flat without rolling.
Remove the stem and split the pumpkin in half from top to bottom, using a large cleaver and a mallet. Scoop out the seeds and fiber with a large metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Cut the fibers with kitchen shears if necessary. Reserve seeds for another use.
Sprinkle the flesh with kosher salt and lay the halves, flesh side down, on a parchment paper-lined half sheet pan. Roast until a paring knife can be easily inserted and removed from the pumpkin, 30 to 45 minutes. Test in several places to ensure doneness.
Remove the half sheet pan to a cooling rack and cool the pumpkin for 1 hour. Using a large spoon, remove the roasted flesh of the pumpkin from the skin to the bowl of a food processor. Process until the flesh is smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
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* INFO: communityfarmersmarkets.com/markets ** YEAR-ROUND
SATURDAY:
Gualala Farmers’ Market ~ 9:30- 12:30p, through Nov 3. Gualala Community Center, Hwy 1, Gualala. INFO: 707-884-3726
Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Markets ~ 8:30a - Noon (through Nov 23) West Plaza Parking Lot, North & Vine St. 707-824-8717/ 707 529-4884, Healdsburgfarmersmarket.org, manager@healdsburgfarmersmarket.org
Oakmont Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 9a – 12p, at the Wells Fargo parking lot corner of White Oak and Oakmont Dr. 707-538-7023**
Petaluma Walnut Park Farmers’ Market ~ 2-5p (through Nov. 16) Petaluma Blvd South at D Street 415-999-5635 info@communityfarmersmarkets.com
Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market at the Vets Bldg ~ 8:30a-1p Veteran’s Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 415-999-5635 * & **
Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 8:30a - 1p. Luther Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. thesantarosafarmersmarket.com 707-522-8629**
Sonoma Garden Park Harvest Market - 9a - 12p, through Nov. Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 7th St. East, Sonoma. sonomagardenpark.org
SUNDAY:
Bodega Bay Community Farmers Market - @ 10a - 2p, Through October. @ 10a - 2p BB Community Center, 2255 CA Hwy 1, bodegabaycommunitycenter.org
Sebastopol Farmers’ Market ~ 10a -1:30p Sebastopol Plaza, Downtown Across from Whole Foods Market sebastopolfarmmarket.org **
The Springs - 10a-2p, through Dec. 15th on the Plaza at Boyes Blvd. and Hwy 12 next to the Post Office, CalFresh. *
Windsor Certified Farmers Market - 10a-1p, through Dec. 8th. Rain or Shine, Windsor Town Green, McClelland Dr. windsorfarmersmarket.com
TUESDAY:
Cloverdale Tuesday Farmers’ Market - 3-6p , through Nov 26, 225 N. Cloverdale Blvd. (Empty Lot Next to Plank Coffee); cloverdaletuesdayfarmersmarket.com
Healdsburg’s Market-on-the-Plaza - 9a - 1p. through Nov. 30. Healdsburg Ave & Matheson, Plaza @ Center St. INFO: healdsburgfarmersmarket.org
Petaluma East Side Farmers’ Market ~ 10a -1:30p, Year Round, Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell Blvd, Pet. communityfarmersmarkets.com; 415-999-5635 info@ communityfarmersmarkets.com**
WEDNESDAY:
Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market at the Vets Bldg ~ 9a - 1p, Veteran’s Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 415-999-5635 * & **
Santa Rosa Original Farmers’ Market ~ 8:30a - 1p. Luther Burbank Ctr, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. thesantarosafarmersmarket.com 707-522-8629 **
THURSDAY:
Petaluma Farmers’ Market Pop Up Shop ~ 2p-8p, 151 Petaluma Blvd S Petaluma facebook.com/PetalumaFarmersMarket
FRIDAY:
Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 9a - 12:30p, Arnold Field, 241 First St West (across from the Depot Hotel.), Sonoma 707-538-7023, svcfm.org**
Occidental Farmer’s Market ~ Downtown starting at 4pm. Local farmers, local
musicians, local everything our community has to offer. BIG finale on Oct 25.
INFO: occidentalcommunityfarmersmarket.com
10/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 49