1,000-lb. Halloween pumpkins carved outside Chili home | Green Pumpkin Seeds Kernel

These nutrient-packed nuts grow on a tree (botanically speaking they are seeds, not nuts, and are related to peaches and plums) and are believed to have originated in China and Central Asia, after which they soon spread to the Mediterranean region. They were referenced in both Ancient Egyptian and Roman culture, and were given to newlywed Roman couples as a sign of fertility. In the 1700s they were brought to California by the Spaniards, where they are now part of a thriving almond industry. Nutritionally speaking, almonds are an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamin E, and several other nutrients. They may also help lower LDL (low-density lipids) cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. They make a perfectly portable snack, whether roasted, raw, chopped, or ground into some delicious almond butter.

“What’s that?” I ask in English. While they both speak fluent French, my native tongue is spoken widely at Mokonuts.

These green-hued nuts come from a tree that is native to western Asia, and evidence suggests that they were consumed as early as 7,000 BC. In Persia (now called Iran), pistachios symbolized wealth and high status, and in later years they were introduced to countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. As pistachios grow, the shell naturally cracks open halfway, making it quick and easy to reach the nut inside! Pistachios are lower in fat and calories than most other nuts, and are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which assists in the formation of hemoglobin, a molecule that helps carry oxygen in red blood cells. They are also the only nut that contain a high amount of carotenoids, which help contribute to eye health.

BELLEFONTE — There’s some good news for Centre County employees. On Thursday, the commissioners approved a …

If you’re pulling up to a snoozy Carefree strip mall on a quiet, pitch-black evening, you’ll know you’re in the right place by the smell of the pizza joint next door.

If your inner cookie monster is so fierce that you even wake up craving the baked goods, you’ll be glad to know that these are perfectly acceptable to reach for first thing in the morning. Regular butter is replaced with the sunflower-based stuff, which adds a subtle sweetness to the lower-sugar treats.

Sunflower seeds are rich in nutrients. One serving of shelled sunflower seeds is usually an ounce, which is about 1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons (one to two thumb-sized portions.) They’re particularly high in healthy fat: A serving delivers 14 grams of fat with a mix of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. “The mono- and polyunsaturated fats in sunflower seeds show a clear health benefit, especially related to heart health and risk of cardiovascular disease,” says registered dietitian Alissa Rumsey.

For an easy quick-pickle rind, check out the recipe that follows. Courtesy of Brine Street Picklery, the recipe calls for a mixture of vinegar, sugar and spices that’s used to soak and soften the rind. What results is a slightly tangy and sweet pickle that resembles the flavor of a classic bread-and-butter-style pickle, with small hints of clove and ginger.

“We can package their oatmeal into small packages and tell each farm’s story on the back of the oatmeal package. Consumers love that story, and it’s something unique to us and our area,” he adds.

A perennial shrub native to the American tropics, Jatropha curcas ​grows on poor soils in unfavourable climatic conditions.

Geddes says he planted the seeds for the giant pumpkin back in April of this year, and by the time the pumpkin was ready to be harvested, the plant—which bore only one fruit— extended across 1,300 square feet. Geddes described the leaves of the mature plant as “elephant-ear sized.”

We like to grow the pumpkins on a piece of metal mesh fabric. These came from the Rumford paper mill. They spin paper on them and the mill needs to throw them out when old.  The fabric drains water well, and keeps mice from getting in under the fruit.