♫Trick or treat, trick or treat,
give me something nice to eat,
give my friend something, too…
or we’ll play a trick on you! ♫

In those years, all I was able to think about was… chocolate! Now, I grew enough to know that chocolate is good only in small amounts. Moreover, exaggerating with chocolate can bring some disadvantages: sickness, a few extra pounds… and worst of all: the reduction of the iron in our blood. Learn more: http://www.oipainternational.org/iron-veg-the-iron-in-the-vegan-diet/

Anyway, there is an important food, typical of the season, linked to Halloween… PUMPKIN.  
It is usually used to cut an evil face from it, replacing its interior with a candle, in order to make the famous Jack ‘o Lantern. But, c’mon! Pumpkins are so delicious. Let’s use them in a smart and tasty way!

First of all, pumpkins are really an amazing food: 100 grams of it contains only 20 calories, making it perfect for diabetics who do not want to give up on flavour!, absolutely no cholesterol, but lot of potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin A and E.              
(To know more about vitamins: http://www.oipainternational.org/veganism-and-vitamin-deficiencies/).
In addition to a good amount of fibres, the vegetable is also rich in different amino acids, such as arginine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and tryptophan. The therapeutic properties of the pumpkin are due to the beta-carotene, which can prevent the onset of various diseases. It protects the circulatory system, is an anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant properties: it counteracts the action of free radicals and slows down the aging of cells. This marvellous vegetable is also able to have diuretic, laxative and sedative effects.

Now… ready to cook!

Even if pumpkins are great to add taste to a homemade vegetable soup, we will see something different! For example… You know you can substitute potatoes with pumpkins?!

BAKED PUMPKIN

 Ingredients:

• s. pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• s. rosemary
• s. sagebrush
• s. thyme
• black pepper grains

Preparation:
Cut the pumpkin into cubes, drizzle them with olive oil and the herbs. Let marinate for 15 minutes, in order to make the pumpkin absorb their taste. Bake at 200 ° C for 20-25 minutes. A useful hint is to check the formation of the crust on top of the cubes.            
If necessary, add raw oil and serve. Remember that the pumpkin must be baked and eaten immediately, otherwise it will dry.

PUMPKIN CHIPS

Ingredients:

• 500 grams pumpkin
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt

Preparation:
Cut the pumpkin into thin, circular slices and salt them. Heat the oven to 160°C and bake for 50/60 minutes. Then, turn the oven off and let the pumpkins chips to cool completely in it.
These are a great and healthy snack that can be served also as crackers, with accompanied by hummus or other sauces.

Have fun and… BON APETIT!

L'articolo Halloween is here… Trick or treat? proviene da OIPA.

TIPS

• Keep cats inside. For cats—especially black cats, who have been unfairly associated with “evil forces”—the days leading up to Halloween can be dark indeed as pranksters often go on the prowl for roaming kitties.
• Keep dogs inside. Some kids think that letting dogs out of their yards on Halloween is a great trick, but it’s a terrifying experience for dogs, who often run from the noise and the strangely dressed people and can become lost.
• Don’t take dogs on trick-or-treating trips. Dogs can easily become frightened by the endless stream of laughing and screaming children and run off or even bite someone.
• Keep candy out of reach of animals. All candy (and wrappers!) can cause animals to become sick, and chocolate—which contains an ingredient that is poisonous to dogs—can kill.
• Keep curious noses and paws away from candles and party favors. Jack-o’-lanterns lit up by candles are appropriately spooky, but they can burn animals (and children) or start fires if tipped over. The ink that is used in some brightly colored decorations, such as orange streamers and paper pumpkins, is toxic to animals, and swallowed balloons or party favors can block an animal’s digestive tract.

By taking a few simple precautions, everyone—humans and animals alike—can have a safe and happy Halloween.

If you are interested on animal rights issues, you can cooperate with OIPA in different ways, CLICK HERE

L'articolo Tips on Protecting Animals From Halloween Hazards proviene da OIPA.