Pumpkins were originally a food crop (Letters, 11 October). Even the larger jack o’lantern pumpkins can be cooked, unless they are very burnt or rotten. The simplest way is to trim off any black, cut them into halves or large pieces, place them upside down on a lightly greased baking sheet and cook in a low oven until they begin to collapse, or put pieces in a slow cooker.
The pulp can be used for soup in chunks or as a puree, in curries, pasta and risottos, and pureed pulp can be drained to reduce the water content before using in all sorts of baking, besides pumpkin pie. The liquid can go towards stock. That leaves only the rind for the compost heap, and the seeds to toast and eat, put out for the birds, or save to plant next year. (They don’t grow true to seed, but they’re good for children to grow all the same.)
Cheryl Thornett
Birmingham
• Pumpkins that have been used to make Halloween lanterns can be composted, reducing waste sent to landfill. In many parts of the country community groups organise pumpkin rescues and smashes – collecting, smashing and composting the used pumpkins to help grow food on allotments.
Rod Weston
Hugglescote, Leicesterhire
