warts and All

A pile of mini-pumpkins at my favorite local greenhouse.  These are the variety called "Jack Be Little" on the opposite end of the spectrum from "Dill's Atlantic Giant", the darling of the giant pumpkin contest aficionados. These little guys are 2" high and 3" in diameter, not the 1500 lb giants of the contest world.

Did you know that the first pumpkin pies were an invention of the colonists? Pumpkins were divested of their seeds and strings, filled with spices, eggs and milk and then placed in the ashes of a fireplace to bake. The sweet, spicy custard was then served to eager diners. I like the idea of no pie crust to wrangle with!