pumpkin pie aint pumpkin pie anymore - its a Libby developed squash flavored w squash spices

[Liberal_in_LA]

The Dickinson variety of squash pictured above was developed specifically by Libby's, the brand responsible for selling about 85 percent of canned pumpkin pie filling sold in the U.S. As you can see, it bears a lot more resemblance to a butternut squash than anything you'd think to carve a face on. Indeed, butternut squash and Dickinson gourds are part of the same species, which is different from the species most jack-o-lanterns come from.

So if you're a longtime fan of pumpkin pie, chances are you've actually been enjoying something more along the lines of butternut squash pie. Seasoned with "squash spices." Which coffee chains use to make seasonally appropriate "squash spice lattes." Yes, squash spice lattes.

Slightly less appetizing? Maybe. Still delicious? Definitely. C. pepo, your classic bright orange pumpkin, actually doesn't make for the best pie. With 90 percent water content and mostly hollow insides, true "pumpkin pie" can come out pretty bland and soupy. Squash is better in every way except, perhaps, appearance -- it's sweeter, fleshier and creamier.

The lines between gourd terminology are a little blurry. That's part of the reason it's perfectly legal under current FDA regulations to label a food product as "pumpkin" when it's actually closer to squash.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/canned-pumpkin-pie-filling_n_5941122.html

[AwakeAtLast]

1. I read recently that the increase in eating pumpkin

is turning people's skin orange. Kind of like when people overeat carrots.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Oh my

[orleans]

4. when my daughter was a baby the bottom of her feet & palms of her hands

turned orange!!

she loved gerber's smooshed carrots & squash

nowadays, not so much.

[pinboy3niner]

3. You're out of your gourd

Quasi-pseudo-faux pumpkin pie is the bestest ever!

[mnhtnbb]

5. Forget the pie

this guy is all about the pumpkin.





Explained here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/103635009

[hobbit709]

6. Never liked pumpkin pie to start with so no biggie for me.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. I don't know about commercially canned pumpkin puree

but I can like a madwoman pretty much all year around -- I also teach classes at the local Adult School and I know that there are very few things you can't can but one of them is pumpkin. The reason being is that there is too much difference between the acidity and viscosity from one pumpkin to another that the USDA cannot put out standard canning guidelines. Anyway, that's my guess. Besides, my Butternut Squash Pie recipe beats out pumpkin pie every time. I've even stopped making pumpkin pies for the holidays.

[jmowreader]

9. Probably, if you have a batch of pumpkin that weighs 5000 pounds it all evens out

But in case no one noticed...a pumpkin IS a squash, dammit!

I tell ya what...this year, bake a pumpkin pie, a sweet potato pie, a carrot pie and a butternut squash pie using the same recipe - changing only the vegetable you use - and see if you can tell the difference. Unless you're a serious Punkin Pie Snob, it'll be very hard. Carrot pies ROCK, I'm here to tell ya.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Down here in the South sweet potato pie is more popular.

And it is hard to tell the difference between that and pumpkin.

[murielm99]

10. I have made pies from the pie pumpkins

that we grew in our garden. They have a very different texture than canned pumpkins. Only one guest did not like the pie.

Quite a few of my family members prefer sweet potato pie. I make one at Thanksgiving and at Christmas.

[LeftyMom]

11. You can however can it in chunks as long as you use a pressure canner.

http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/uga/pumpkin_butter.html

http://www.simplycanning.com/canning-pumpkin.html

[Sheldon Cooper]

8. Well goddamnit what next?

Is nothing sacred?

[Cairycat]

12. My son loves to make pumpkin pie from pie pumpkins

It's very tasty. Roast the pumpkin on a cold afternoon, puree the flesh and freeze it if you aren't going to use it soon.