Saturday, June 4, 2011

WINTER SQUASH BREAD RECIPE. SQUASH HEALTH BENEFITS, ANCIENT PILGRIMS SQUASH PIE RECIPE

WINTER SQUASH BREAD RECIPE.
SQUASH HEALTH BENEFITS,
ANCIENT PILGRIMS SQUASH PIE RECIPE
WINTER SQUASH GUEST POSTS
WINTER SQUASH VARIETIES
There are so many varieties of winter squashes, but the one that attracted me most is the turban squash. They are so uniquely beautiful and artistically textured with marry colors and shapes.
It was love at first sight for me. We don’t have this variety in Malaysia, so I started to request for guest posts…


However, through the feedbacks I got, not many bloggers have seen this either..so the idea got diversified to turban squash paintings, poems, cartoons, sketches apart from food recipes. ha ha. Just recipes, I have not received any turban squash photo from anyone, must be rare..

The ones published were all images from Wikimedia Commons….with many thanks…

History:

The origin of squash is not really known, but the word "Squash" comes from the Narragansett Native American word Askutasquash, which means "eaten raw or uncooked."


Squashes are one of the oldest known crops--10,000 years by some estimates of sites in Mexico
A)For making  pies, ancient Pilgrims first hollowed out a pumpkin, filled it with apples, sugar, spices and milk, then put the stem back on and baked.


From South America to Africa to India and Asia and even in some parts of the United States, no single food provides a greater percentage of certain carotenoids than WINTER SQUASHES


B) PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE http://cooking-varieties.blogspot.com/2011/04/winter-squash-bread-recipe-nutty-squash.html
Sheril said my postis different.. the post, which included the first (difhes) American pumpkin (pompkin) recipe, that was published in a book.
(excerpts)  Simmons Amelia American Cookery 1796, Grand Rapids- Recipe on “Pompkin” a dough fpu, crof and chequer it and baked in difhes  three quarters of an hour”  is on page 4…   Wanna read? Check this out:   http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/tri054.html
Thanks sheril for your mind boggling thoughts….like, like, like Pumpkin into a bread????
Tho’ cinderella might not agree, cooking-varieties says it’s luvverlyy ! !
WINTER SQUASH VARIETIES
1) 2nd may 2011. The first guest post..was from the United States..Sardonic salad, a Toon blog, where, a clever squash by the name of Mr butternut shrunk2, in order to avoid being stewed, had to disguise himself as an eggplant- he did this by painting his yellow skin, to a purple color.

Aint that smart? Ya, only clever squash can do this trick. What the heck, no one can.
Sardonic salad’s URL (artist Chad Isely and writer Kit Lowrance)
main URL is www.sardonicsalad.com also post at www.sardonicsalad.blogspot.com


2) The art of digital photography can produce artsy photographs of oil painting or water color painting effects . Also the classic sepia and antique effects, which brings one down memory lane.
Some people preserved nature whilst others preserved culture.


The traditional bridal procession with various musical instruments together with the chanting of poetic verses and a touch of mehndi, is well preserved in this Malaysian’s Traditional Weddings and a Events blog.. by syed alfandi from Kedah, Malaysia. Check this out at: http://www.samillenniumphotography.blogspot.com

3) Katrina wrote on her experiences, following her late husband, a planter, in ” Life in the oil palm and cocoa plantations in remote Sabah, deep in the jungles of Borneo.”


“The very basic of facilities. Water collected from roof gutters were processed in deep wells, then pumped into our homes for daily consumptions.

There were lots of fresh vegetables and fruits harvested from our own garden.


A very neighborly community of various races and we practiced barter trade especially on food.” A rare experience from Katrina at  http://www.woman724.blogspot.com


4) Next was balqis, from Sarawak, Malaysia- PART AND PARCEL OF LIFE- she asked.” Why is the salad so sardonic? “

CV says: I don’t know why balqis, “Why is your poem (that day) so melancholic” :) actually i must say i love reading your poems. Sometimes they hit me too, but i wont tell ya :) which one.. well, this is for you balqis, in response to your "paradise" poem :

I saw the humming birds flew gracefully to you
I wish the dolphins meet up and play with you too
until the soft sunrise…
another day in paradise….  
http://lilstarrz09.blogspot.com/


5) Hella Heaven: Ana Luiza from  Brazil:  Quibebe Pumpkin recipe: *For lousy cookers*
oops ! , i changed this to **For those who don't know how to cook”. then, changed again to **For beginners**. Oops! Changed again to **For those who don’t how to cook**. .ha ha, finally, have to use this sentence, because googles already picked up these words in their listings… thanks ana, I am forgiven :)  OMG !


I almost missed this recipe, because just a day before I am supposed to get it, hella heaven’s blog went missing. The words and anxiety, still linger…..

After e few days, Ana got her blog back, but that was a real miracle..

6) Squash Candy – nice and easy recipe, with artistic sketches, from Speedy and Klaat from The Philippines.       http://www.valleyofcoconuts.blogspot.com/
Lynn (Speedy) said, her mom used to make this when she was small.

Bennix , also of the Philippines, commented- that his mom used to prepare this yummy recipe. I guess it’s a very popular dish amongst the pinoy people.

7) Spaghetti Squash by Cindy Paul from USA - a creative chef and an illustrator specializing in children’s art. She likes to use the computer as well as paint brushes and pencils to create her art pieces..

Amazingly pretty, and how the squash can look like very soft and sweeeeeet spaghetti strands.
Please feel free to visit her at http://www.cindypaulblog.blogspot.com.
You can also visit her beautiful illustrations in her facebook page- get the link through her facebook badge ( it’s in the blog above)

8) Cream of Squash..by Mehjabeen from USA

To be honest, I was slightly surprised by the amazing creamy soupy consistency it had finally. “
http://www.comeletseat.blogspot.com/
 Mehjabeen said “This is my first time as a Guest blogger. Well, decided to make a guilt free soup with no oil or any kind of fat..

Lately I have been trying to discover oil free foods.. and this wonderful bowl definitely tops the charts.. Its a whole meal by itself.
So, that wraps up the winter squash Guest posts, there are a few more guest posts coming, but will not be on winter squashes anymore. O ya , as I promised, I have to do the serawa from squash, ok..will do that in future.
WINTER SQUASH VARIETIES
HEALTH BENEFITS OF WINTER SQUASHES;
From South America to Africa to India and Asia and even in some parts of the United States, no single food provides a greater percentage of certain carotenoids than WINTER SQUASHES

BETA-CAROTENE- Medline Plus- National Institute of Health- A service of The International Library of Medicine (exerpts)
Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A, an essential nutrient. It has antioxidant activity, which helps to protect cells from damage.

Beta-carotene is one of a group of red, orange, and yellow pigments called carotenoids. Beta-carotene and other carotenoids provide approximately 50% of the vitamin A needed and can be found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It can also be made in a laboratory.(as in supplementary nutrition)

Beta-carotene is used to decrease asthma symptoms caused by exercise; to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts, and age related macular degeneration (AMD); and to treat AIDS, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, headache, heartburn, high blood pressure, infertility, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and skin disorders including psoriasis and vitiligo.

There are many authorities – including the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the World Cancer Research Institute in association with the American Institute for Cancer Research, and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer – that recommend getting beta-carotene and other antioxidants from food instead of supplements, at least until research finds out whether supplements offer the same benefits. Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily provides 6-8 mg of beta-carotene.

How effective is it?

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
The effectiveness ratings for BETA-CAROTENE are as follows:

Effective for...
1. Treating sun sensitivity in people who have a form of inherited blood disorder called “erythropoietic protoporphyria.” use beta-carotene to reduce the risk of sunburn.
Possibly effective for...
1. Reducing the risk of breast cancer in women before menopause when fruits and vegetables containing beta-carotene are consumed. Beta-carotene seems to be especially effective for women who are at high risk of getting breast cancer, including those with a family history and those who use alcohol excessively.

2. Treating an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD) when used with other medicines. Taking 15 mg of beta-carotene by mouth along with 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 80 mg of elemental zinc daily, seems to help prevent vision loss and worsening of AMD in people with advanced AMD. There isn’t enough evidence to know if this combination works for people with less advanced macular disease.

3. Preventing sunburn in people who are sun sensitive. However, beta-carotene is unlikely to have much effect on sunburn risk in most people.

4. Keeping a form of arthritis called osteoarthritis from getting worse. But taking beta-carotene doesn’t seem to prevent osteoarthritis.

5. Preventing bronchitis and difficulty breathing in smokers.

Beta-carotene from the diet seems to help, but beta-carotene supplements do not.                              6. Reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in women after menopause.
7. Reducing the risk of pregnancy-related death, night blindness, and diarrhea and fever after delivery in underfed women.
8. Preventing asthma attacks triggered by exercise.
9. Treating a tongue disease called oral leukoplakia.
10. Improving physical performance and strength in the elderly.

Are there safety concerns?









Beta-carotene is LIKELY SAFE when used for certain specific medical conditions and taken in appropriate amounts.
Beta carotene is good, but taking

Beta carotene SUPPLEMENTS are not recommended for general use.
Are there interactions with medications?

Moderate. Be cautious with this combination.

Medications used for lowering cholesterol (Statins)
Taking beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E together might decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol. It is not known if beta-carotene alone decreases the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol.


What is it?

Niacin
Taking beta-carotene along with vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium might decrease some of the beneficial effects of niacin. Niacin can increase the good cholesterol.

Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Are there interactions with foods?

Alcohol - Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can reduce the level of beta-carotene in the body and increase the level of another chemical called retinol. Researchers are concerned that this might increase the risk of cancer.

Likely ineffective for...

check this out from - Medline Plus- National Institute of Health- A service of The International Library of Medicine

Preventing heart disease. Preventing cancer. lung cancer in smokers and prostate cancer.

Other names

A-Beta-Carotene, Beta Carotene, Bêta-Carotène, Bêta-Carotène Tout Trans, Beta-Caroteno, Carotenes, Carotenoids, Mixed Carotenoids, Provitamin A
.http://www.food.oregonstate.education    on photo below
SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH MUSHROOM AND SPRING ONIONS
This copyrighted, evidence-based medicine resource is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database disclaims any responsibility related to consequences of using any product. This monograph should not replace advice from a healthcare professional and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
1. SQUASH BREAD RECIPE- Out of 9.58m search.- .Listed on Page 2 # 6
2. WINTER SQUASH BREAD RECIPE- Out of 0.59m search.- .Listed on Page 1 # 8

3. SQUASH HEALTH BENEFITS - Out of 1.99m search.. Page 1 # 10

Many thanks to all of you for doing the Guest Posts, for putting in comments or even for just visiting 

16 comments:

  1. With squash you have some interesting, historical, cultural and current facts along with some nice recipes.

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  2. How about Squash in Malaysia Maznah? Can we find this in our local market?

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  3. Tks CV and from here I was directed to so many other lovely blogs, able to share and learn from their experiences, photos and articles.

    It is so nice to be able to share..

    Cheers
    KATRINA

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  4. great sharing on squash and have to agree with you on the nutrinious value of it. By the way, I made some baked cakes with squash or I don't know whether pumpkin is considered squash and other recipes too.

    Let me see if I can gather some and pass it to you since I saw on request from Malaysia as Malaysia pun boleh.

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  5. It's squash mania in here! My mom's busy making squash on my side of the world too. We usually halve them, remove the seeds and let them cook through. When it's still nice and hot, we add butter a tiny bit of salt to each half, and fill the insides with sweetcorn. They're then topped off with a sprinkling of fine cinnamon, and placed into the oven for roasting.
    Thanks for the background information! My Sunday meals will now be accompanied by useful nutritional and historical facts.

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  6. hi rawiyah, what a wonderful surprise, thought you wouldn’ t look me up after I told you I don’t do literature. Ha ha. It’s great to get to know ana’s friend like you. Many thanks for teaching your mom’s recipe to me ( although from behind curtains- aysh ! aysh ! again :) )..surprised not dismay ok :).

    Sound really flavorful and yummy, please do a Guest post for me on this, do check again ok, your mom may put more flavorful ingredients to this lovely recipe, that you may not be aware of (sorry, I know you are a great cook). And a photo of it too. I like it, something different. .take care

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  7. Hi WAN, i just drop by. BTW thanks for commenting on my blog. I know you're too busy this week, How's knowing with William Correy?

    I hope I could make a post for you this months too busy din...:)

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  8. nice post.. I kindah like the presentation I mean the last one.. it's cute..

    when it comes to food I really got nothing to see i just read and eat haha I'm not much of a cook.. but i love reading blogs like yours.

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  9. Wan, your poem wows me. It's so nicely-written! Now, I have some ideas which of my poems hit you. Thank you! :)

    I'm sorry I can't answer you why my poem was melancholic. Sometimes, it's written for the love in poetry and can't be related with my own feelings. Sometimes, it's my attempt exploring into different moods and pen it down as simple poem or haiku. :)

    Btw, the winter squash looks so yummy. I was comparing it with our yellow pumpkin but it looks much better! I guess its taste must be as good as its look!

    Thank you for all the infos from those participating in guests' blog and particularly to the owner of this blog who came up with the great idea of inviting friends to participate in writing anything connected to winter squash. Through this blog, I learned some great recipes from other parts if the world. As we don't have winter squash, may be I can opt for other alternatives.

    Looking forward to reading more great recipes! :)

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  10. @ sailor- I am glad you noted the varieties- in my presentation, thanks sunish. I learnt a lot on beta carotene
    @ Katrina- thanks that you appreciate it, that’s exactly the purpose of putting the link. Its for everyone to linked up and get to know each other. All the best.

    @ Lunaticg – By the way, pumpkin is one of the winter squash variety. And there are imported ones in KL supermarket. The small light yellow or bright orange varieties were sold at Tesco, but its not like the “yellow in my post here”..
    @ nava-k I am glad you came up with the squash cake recipe. Looking forward to that., I already detailed that out in your comment box

    @ aysh ! aysh ! (learnt this word from you) didn’t realize that you are from south Africa.. just visited your blog- Midsummer’s night dreams will have to wait a while.
    @ bennix- thanks and looking forward to learn your philippino traditional recipe.. when you are free. Will be in touch with William correy soon.
    @ strawberry princess, gee thanks, I am glad you now put comments, unlike before, you made silent visits always…

    @ balqis - btw btw..i think the tiny yellow squash must be sweeter and of smoother texture than our variety. –for creamy soup?
    Perhaps kuih labu .. lepat ke.. bingka ke.. tak tau laa…think must add a bit of rice flour. Do let me know if you discover new recipes.
    I just love your poems for what they are. I am also learning the mood of poets like yourself… Your having a home by the sea reflects your love for poems- the cultured mind

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  11. Wonderful post full of ideas and nutritinal information. I always love your recipes as you know. I'm enjoying the guest posts with lots of new recipes as well. Keep up the great work!

    Regards, Mari

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  12. thanks for your post on winter squashes! my favorite is kabochas~~~ :)

    ps - thanks for the blog visit :)

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  13. lovely information and blog
    hope to see you soon
    salaams following you

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  14. many thanks to mari wilbur, jania and
    create with mom for your lovely comments. by the way jania, i have not heard of "kabochas"
    , wish you tell me more one day..

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  15. Hey thanks for the continuous visit and the comments. Hope you are doing good.

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    Keep uρ thе gгeat wгiting.



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