The huge heap of steaming manure that arrived in the spring, (Gardener’s Gold May 2011) simmered on the edge of the garden, ugly and useless until I did what everyone else round here seems to do; used it as a fertile, warm bed for a clutch of greedy pumpkin plants which then magically transformed it into a green mound of rasping tendrils, inching daily, hourly almost, over the heap, and across the lawn.

Underneath, as the summer moved through heat and downpour, the little orange and green knobs became swollen cricket balls, footballs, rugby balls, and finally a couple of weeks ago I cut them loose and piled them up and left them in the sun to ripen. Aren’t they beautiful?

And now what to do with them all? Half to give away still leaves a lot, time to get cooking!

Pumpkin soup? A bit bland to my mind, better with some added tomato and red pepper puree, and maybe a smattering of dried red chilli

Pumpkin pie?  No, personally I don’t much like it

Pumpkin in a Thai green curry sauce, yes, what’s not to like, add some prawns, or some water chestnuts for crunch, don’t overcook though, soggy, disintegrating pumpkin is not so appetising.

Pumpkin and potato gratin – yes, layers of sliced potato and pumpkin, slip some sage leaves in between, top with cream and cheese, delicious!

And last suggestion, not that I have ever made it myself, but I have eaten them and loved the dish, pumpkin and ricotta ravioli with sage butter.