The Thing in the Compost Bin

A couple of months ago something sprouted in our compost bin and we waited with baited breath to see what it was.  My wishes were fulfilled when it started fruiting - yes!  buttercup pumpkin - happy days!  The folks back home are likely surprised (I was) to find out that many people in the US have no idea of what to do with a pumpkin.  The canned stuff is for pies and the actual vegetable only comes out around Halloween and is ceremoniously hacked into a lantern.

As a result, one of my all-time favourite veggies is somewhat hard to come across here.  Not to be confused with butternut squash or butternut pumpkin, no matter what Wikipedia says.  (University professors everywhere are exclaiming "SEE?  This is why we won't let you use Wikipedia as a reference!")

The buttercup pumpkin has a creamy texture and is great boiled or roasted.  The other day we boiled some, then put it on the barbeque to finish it off.  You can even eat the skins.  Yummmmy!  Here's a photo of a couple we grew - totally different from the Wikipedia pic.  Yup, I've saved some seeds and will be enjoying another crop next year.