This site is dedicated to the wonderful pumpkin. How to grow it, how to cook it, all the best classic recipes, and a lot more unusual ones, and as a celebration of the fabulous orange gourd, how to carve it for Halloween.



It can be added to sweet dishes and savoury dishes. It can be used in everything from baking to salads. Breads, cakes, cookies and pies, salads, soups, roasts and casseroles. Curries, stews, dips, relishes, and chutneys. The sky is the limit.

Good for you!

And, the even better news is, pumpkins are very good for you. They are full of fiber, vitamins A, C and E and beta-carotene and what's more very low in calories. They have been named as a superfood as they are full of antioxidants, and they have been found to be valuable in diabetes treatment. Used in the traditional medicines of many societies for centuries, modern research is finding new therapeutic benefits in diabetes and other diseases.

Great for everyday cooking

I use this sweet orange vegetable all the time. It's easy to digest and I love it. It's fantastic in the winter, and has to be one of my favourite comfort foods. I always put pumpkin, still in its skin in the oven with a roast. I have some with the roast, and then scrape the rest out of the skin (save the effort of peeling) and make a soup. The roasting gives a wonderful flavour to the soup that you don't get with boiling. You don't even have to use a blender, as the flesh is so soft it just dissolves when boiled up with some stock and a few herbs.

My other winter favourite is mash. I like it half pumpkin and half potato. I put a clove of garlic in the boiling water and mash it all together. Perfect with lamb chops, or sausages for a winter supper.

In summer, I adore pumpkin in salads. Its light and gives a touch of colour to any combination. It looks gorgeous with dark green spinach leaves and a crumbly white feta cheese. Add the sweetness of a honey dressing and some crunchy walnuts and you have a really exotic treat.

And so easy to grow!

They are also extremely easy to grow. In fact I've grown a few accidently with no effort at all! My growing tips mean that you can have your own all the year round. If you grow enough you will be able to store them throughout the year. Because, yes, they are also very easy to store and keep for ages.

Giant Pumpkins

I was amazed by the giants I saw last year at the Sydney Easter show, and I took some stunning photos of them. I'm no expert, but I will recommend all the best resources for getting involved in that great hobby.



You can get involved too....

I'd love to hear about your favourite recipes or your attempts at cultivation. I'll add all the best stories to this site so that everyone can share them. I'll run competitions from time to time, and award prizes for the best recipes.

So get cooking, and join in the challenge. Why not check back from time to time and see what new recipes have been added. You can also subscribe by email and be updated whenever anything new is added.

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