October 15, 2007
By ANN STILLWATER
Columnist
ARS29I@PSU.EDU
Winter squash is now in season in
South Central Pennsylvania. This
staple in the American diet is another
food native to North America. Native
Americans traditionally planted the
three sisters of com, squash and
beans together in a small hillock of
dirt. The tall com would supply a
stake for the beans to climb and the
squash could grow along the ground.
The beans re-nitrogenate the soil,
which allow the com and squash
more fertile ground for growth.
Nowadays, most farmers do not
practice this synergistic planting of
crops together, but many do rotate
fields between crops to replenish the
soil naturally.
Winter squash flesh is orange or
yellow and full of nutrition. Not only
are all varieties high in fiber, but they
are excellent sources of vitamin A.
They contain some vitamin C and
iron as well.
There are many varieties of winter
squash. The iconic squash of October
is the pumpkin. Locally, one might
see the long-necked “pie pumpkins”
which are better for making pies!
The traditional pumpkin takes a lot
of work to separate the flesh from the
skin. Other varieties of winter squash
include butternut, acorn, spaghetti,
buttercup and the largest hubbards.
All can be prepared in similar ways.
For many, the seeds are more prized
than the sweet flesh of homegrown
pumpkins. Squash seeds have a
delicacy that is much better than
store bought seeds. Wash the outside
of the vegetable, then split the squash
in half before cooking, so the seeds
can be scraped out with the side of a
spoon. Separate the seeds from any
bits of pulp, wash the seeds and soak
Domestic Viole
Awareness Mo
Domestic Violence Awareness Panel
October 23 ♦ 12:15 p.m,
Morrison Gallery, Library eliminating racism
Refreshments will be served empowering women
Panelists will include representatives from the District
Attorney’s Office, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Jr ™
State Police, Penn State Harrisburg Criminal Justice program, WIN Services, and other agencies.
"Prom Night” Play
October 15 ♦ 12:30 p.m.
Gallery Lounge, Olmsted Building
An educational theatre program about relationship violence.
“Unfastened” Play
October 24 ♦ 6:15 p.m.
Auditorium, Olmsted Building
A play about domestic violence set in the 1700’s, ivritten by Peter DeHart
Performed by the Backstage Drama Club under the direction of Dorothy King
Vigil
October 24 ♦ immediately following “Unfastened”
Auditorium, Olmsted Building
An Empty Place at the Table
Week of October 22
Display in Olmsted Lobby
in very salty water for five minutes
to 15 hours. Strain off the water and
bake them on an oiled baking pan
for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Stir often and remove when lightly
browned and crisp. Store in a tightly
covered container if there are any
left to store!
The most common methods of
cooking squash are to bake or boil.
To bake, place the split, cleaned
squash halves or pieces cut-side
down on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees till the squash
is tender. The cooking time will vary
considerably depending on what size
chunks are being cooked. An entire
half of a butternut squash will take
45 to 60 minutes to cook. Smaller
pieces may be tender in 20 to 30
minutes. Squash halves can also be
dotted with butter, brown sugar and
cinnamon and wrapped in foil. Bake,
open side up on a cookie sheet for 45
to 60 minutes. The sweetness of the
sugar added to the sweetness of the
squash flesh makes for a delicious
side dish!
Traditionally, boiling squash means
peeling chunks of the raw vegetable.
Add the chunks to boiling water with
salt if desired. Turn down the heat
to simmer the chunks until they are
tender. Drain off the water and add
butter and pepper if desired. Winter
squash can be mashed like potatoes
with a fork, masher or beaters.
A more modem method of preparing
squash is to use a Crackpot. Place a
whole rinsed small or medium squash
in the Crackpot. Acom squash work
well since the lid must fit tightly.
Cook on low setting for eight to
10 hours. Split the squash, remove
the seeds and serve with butter and
salt. The main disadvantages to this
method are that the seeds are not
baked and the Crackpot may need to
be soaked for easier cleaning.
There are two dramatic pumpkin
■“ •
Penn State Harrisburg Commission for Women
and YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
THE CAPITAL TIMES
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recipes that make wonderful guest
meals. Start either recipe by picking
a pumpkin that will fit into the pan
you have and into your oven, whole.
Wash the outside of the pumpkin.
Cut the top as if you are making a
jack-o-lantem, using an angled cut
so the lid will not fall in, after the
body of the pumpkin gets soft from
cooking. Scrape out the seeds and
stringy pulp. Prepare the seeds as
above if you are making the stuffed
pumpkin, since the roasted seeds are
mixed into the stuffing or are used as
a garnish. Continue with the chosen
recipe below.
Stuffed Pumpkin
Cook a rice pilaf according to
directions on the package. Add
sauteed chicken and/or vegetables as
desired. Mix with a white sauce or
gravy. Stuff the rice/sauce mixture
in the hollowed out pumpkin. Place
in pan, cover with pumpkin lid and
bake for at least an hour at 350
degree until the pumpkin flesh is
tender. Serve by removing the lid
and scooping out rice mixture with
some of the pumpkin flesh from the
sides. Garnish with roasted pumpkin
seeds.
Pumpkin Soup
Make a chicken soup with either
your own stock, or canned or dry
soup stock. Add carrots, celery,
potatoes and chicken chunks as
desired. Add salt and pepper to taste.
If you are serving adventurous eaters,
season either with sage or cinnamon
and other spices. Fill the hollowed
out pumpkin with the soup and add
stale bread chunks to the top. Place
in pan, cover with the pumpkin lid
and bake at 350 degrees for about an
hour till flesh of pumpkin is tender.
This recipe is more delicate, since
the soup will not hold the pumpkin
sides up if it is overcooked. Serve by
ladling into bowls, scraping some of
the pumpkin into each dish.
Cencfar
Domestic Violence Awareness starts
out on October 15, 12:30 p.m. in
the Gallery Lounge of the Olmsted
Building featuring an educational
theatre program about relationship
violence entitled, “Prom Night.”
The following week of October 22
will feature a display in the Olmsted
Lobby, called “An Empty Place at
the Table.” A domestic violence
awareness panel will be available
on October 23, 12:15 p.m. in the
Morrison Gallery, Library.
Panelists will include representa
tives from the District Attorney’s
Office, YWCA of Greater Harris
burg, Penn State Harrisburg Crimi
nal Justice program, WIN Services,
and other agencies. “Unfastened,” a
play about domestic violence set in
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lIT has received reports of problems
with jump drives on the computers
in the labs and at the library. There
is a simple work around that can
be used while this problem is being
resolved. The helpdesk can assist
anyone with how to use PASS to
store your work online. lIT also has
brochures outside of E-302 for stu
dents, faculty and staff that explain
the procedure. Also, the procedure
for use of PASS is explained on
the FAQ website at www.hbg.psu,
edu/iit.
All CUB Fitness Facility users must
wear proper workout attire. Shoes
must be worn at all times when in
the building! Flip-flops are permit
ted when using any of the fitness
equipment. Anyone seen working
out in bare feet or in flip flops will
the 1700’s, written by Peter DeHart
and performed by the Backstage
Drama Club under the direction of
Dr. Dorothy King, will be per
formed on October 24 at 6:15 p.m.
in the auditorium of the Olmsted
Building. Immediately following
“Unfastened” will be a vigil in the
Ziegler Commons of the Olmsted
Building.
Koji and the Color make Crew-
Come out for a free concert featur
ing the incredibly talented singer
/ songwriter who will be perform
ing all original songs on acoustic
guitar! The event will take place on
October 16 at 9:15 p.m. on Stack’s
Stage in Olmsted. This event is open
to all.
be asked to leave the fitness facility
until proper footwear is acquired.
CUB Fitness Facility users should
avoid working out in clothing that
has buttons and zippers that could
rip or otherwise damage equipment
upholstery.
In an effort to increase the secu-
rity measure at the Capital Union
Building, a new swipe card sorfware
system has been implemented at
the Front Desk. We are asking all
students and PSH staff and Faculty
to use this system. In order to enter
staff and faculty into the database,
please contact Becky Parthemore or
Marilyn Demey for the appropriate
form at the Capital Union Building
then return it to the CUB. Once your
information is entered into the soft-
“DUI: A Powerful Lesson” An
unforgettable program by Mark
Sterner will take place on October
15 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the
Olmsted Auditorium.
A limited number of free tickets to
the Forth Annual Harrisburg Polish
Film Festival are available to facul
ty, staff, and students in the Student
Activities Office, E-131 Olmsted.
The October 19 to 25 film festival is
sponsored by the Polish American
Association of Harrisburg at the
Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St. A
maximum of two tickets per person
is available while supplies last. For
information on the festival, visit the
Web at www.polamhar.org.
ware system you may swipe your
PSU ID+ card to enter the building.
Athletics is looking for a Men’s and
Women’s Basketball Game An-
nouncer. Announcers must be avail
able for evenings and weekends,
with an interest in basketball and/or
communications. If interested please
e-mail sjdlB@psu.edu.
The Penn State Harrisburg Cheer
leading Squad is looking for guys
and girls who can tumble and help
with stunting. For tumbling, a min
imum of a series 3 back handspring
is required. For further information,
please contact Tammy James, PSH
Cheerleading Coach at 717-514-
7455 or Julie Stoehr, Cheerleading
Advisor at 948-6267.