Pumpkins

[amo]

Hi

I just picked my pumpkins and their skins are all cracked. They are not that big.

Why?

Thank you very much

AMO

[peter]

AMO, this is probably due to the dry summer followed by a wet autumn. The skins have decided their size based on the summer and started to set or cure to thick orange leather. Then the wet weather arrived and the plant decided to pump up the flesh, hence your splits.

Of course I could be wrong.

[amo]

Hi Peter

I think that you are righ but do you think they are going to keep or should I make pumpkin soup this week-end?

Thank you

Amo

[peter]

Amo, I have found that de-seeded, skinned and chunked squash freezes rather well, especially if its eventual fate is soup.

[Tigger]

And if it is......roast it with whatever other veg you're adding (parsnips are particularly good), then cook with onions, butter, stock, etc and process. The roasting intensifies the flavours.