Pumpkins originated in North America and is the Greek word for large melon. Native American Indians used pumpkin as a staple food long before Pilgrims landed. They dried long strips and wove them into mats, also toasted long strips in the glowing coals of the campfire. Early settlers used Pumpkin in soups, stews and also desserts. Pumpkin Pie is thought to have originated when colonists sliced off the top of the pumpkin removed the seeds and filled with milk, spices and honey then baked in the ashes. In early colonial times it was used as a pie crust not as a filling.The record for the largest pumpkin pie ever made was five foot in diameter, weighed over 350lbs, took 80lbs of pumpkin, 30lbs of sugar and 12 dozen eggs and took over 6 hours to bake. The worlds largest pumpkin weighed 1140 lbs. It is 90% water, contains potassium and Vitamin A and the flowers are edible. Eighty percent of supply in the States is in October. Pumpkin can be used in many ways, as a soup is very popular, try a spoonful of sour cream at serving topped with a teaspoonful of passionfruit pulp, or some finely chopped rockmelon, curried pumpkin soup is delicious. Roasted pumpkin is one of the best ways to enjoy this great vegetable, char grill thin strips and use in a salad, as we mentioned pumpkin pie, aqs a steamed vegetable and in cakes and puddings, make yummy and wholesome muffins, the possibilities are endless. We will be trying lots of pumpkin dishes in the future for you to try.