November 2018
It's That Time of Year
It's that time of year when we reflect on the friendships we have formed with our customers.  We appreciate the trust you have placed in our products and our service.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Pumpkin vs Squash
We asked Google what the difference was between a pumpkin and a squash.  
The first thing that popped up was a nutritional chart.  It seems pumpkins have more potassium and iron, but squash wins on the vitamin C, vitamin K, and magnesium levels.
According to extension.org, "g enerally speaking:
  •  a pumpkin is something you carve 
  • a squash is something you cook
  • a gourd is something you look at
The answer is in the stem. Pumpkins, squashes, and gourds all belong to the same genetic family Cucurbita. Within that family are several species or subgroups: Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata. 

The pepo species is usually recognized as the true pumpkin. Varieties within this group have bright orange skin and hard, woody, and distinctly furrowed stems. But the group also includes gourds, vegetable marrow, Pattypan summer squash, scallop summer squash, gray and black zucchini, and summer crookneck squash. 

The maxima species also contains varieties that produce pumpkin-like fruit, but the skin is usually more yellow than orange and the stems are soft and spongy or corky, without ridges and without an enlargement next to the fruit. They don't really make good handles for jack-o'-lanterns. Varieties such as Atlantic Giant, Big Max, and Show King are often listed as pumpkins but are more properly called pumpkin-squash or squash-type pumpkins. Other members of the maxima group are Hubbard squash, banana squash, buttercup squash, and turban squash; in short, most autumn and winter squash. 

Finally, there's the moschata species. Varieties in this group are usually long and oblong instead of round and have tan rather than orange skin. The stems are deeply ridged and enlarged next to the fruit. Ironically, a member of this group is used for much of the canned pumpkin sold in this country. Other non-pumpkin members include the winter crookneck and butternut squash."
Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Pie?
If you have tasted both, most people have an opinion.  Of course, one is technically made from a fruit, and the other from a tuber.  Depending on the type of sweet potato used, some sweet potato pies are lighter in color (though there is a recipe out there that includes molasses, which would fix that difference).  Folks say that pumpkin tastes more "grounded" and sweet potato is "silkier".  We've provided the basics so you can taste-test for yourself:


Pumpkin Pie Filling

2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

In large bowl, beat eggs slightly with wire whisk or hand beater. Beat in the rest of the ingredients.

Carefully pour pumpkin filling into unbaked 9" pie shell. Bake 15 minutes at 450°F.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake about 45 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

Place pie on cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

Top with sweetened whipped cream.

Sweet Potato Pie Filling

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

Pour into 9" unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until pie tests done.

Cool; Store in refrigerator.

Top with sweetened whipped cream. 




Holiday Stock-up Time
With the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's holidays fast approaching, we remind you to check your shelves for spare items that you might need to get you through the season.  Please check for spare belts, bearings, cutting knives & rubbers, and other items that could make the difference between production and shut-down.

Logged in users will find recommended lists of spares stored in the User Group.  Please contact Gail if you need help in this regard. 
Parting Thought
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. 

Henry David Thoreau
American Author
1917-1862

Rick Guinn:   rickg@webpressllc.com  (Operations Manager)

Scott Roberts:   parts@webpressllc.com  (Parts Manager)

Gail Sampson:   gails@webpressllc.com  (Customer Support)

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