Inspired by one of Martin's food posts I went on a crusade Saturday to buy a Pumpkin Pie for Halloween consumption.

Harrods? No (loads of pumpkin decorations but no pies).

M&S? No... likewise hanging pumpkins and sweets and patterns - but no pie.

Waitrose?
Nope.

I ended up with a delicious treacle tart and cream which looked similar but, of course, tasted totally different.

Why doesn't anyone make pumpkin pies anymore? I used to buy them every year ar D'Agostinos opposite my NYC home.

Why not make one yourself and stop whinging?

Much as I was amazed by the devouring of my minor pumpkin yesterday , by all eight people, who had never even eaten one before, the best pumpkin recipe is soup.
Slice it up, and bake it in the oven with garlic, olive oil and chilli.
Soften one large onion, in a pan, add your favourite curry spice blend, then the squash itself and some stock. Finally blend it down to soup consistency, but allways use the skin, this is important roughage, and breaks down easily when soft enough.
I add cream add the end, as it looks pretty, and can take the heat off for none chilli eaters.
I am surprised by the lack of pumpkin pies available commercially, they could be knocking them out for 10p, and selling this time of the year for about

I love pumpkin soup Mart; I shall try your recipe!

Is there a name for things like pumpkins and marrows (love them too)?

Surely they belong to a family of vegetables.

It's a fruit.

Marrow is too.

They tend to be called 'squashes'

I think it's an American dish.

Thankfully they haven't completely taken us over yet.

Surely they are preferable to haggis, Al?!!!

Or tripes... having said that I do like chitterlings, although you can't get them these days due to 'food hygene' laws... It was only bad butchers who didn't clean the pipe... but one bad apple as they say

Never tried Haggis, but at least it's British.