What is the great pumpkin secret?

It's a 9,000 year old native of North America used as food and medicine by Native Americans. The early colonists adapted quickly and filled small pumpkins with milk, honey and spices before baking them in smoldering embers - the original pumpkin pie.

Pumpkins are thought of as vegetables but are actually fruits belonging to the squash family along with gourds, cucumbers and melons. Pumpkin squash are planted in July and harvested September through November, and can be stored all winter. Every part of this winter squash is edible: flowers, leaves, vines, skin, seeds and flesh. Recipes for each can be found on the web, even YouTube.

The most common pumpkin product sold is canned pumpkin puree. ...