The Last of the Butternut Squash/Pumpkin
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339971)
Rockingham, Australia
April 21, 2016 9:50pm CST
It's a lovely warm, sunny day here and I've just been out and picked almost the last of the butternut pumpkin/squash. Considering the lack of care they received I'm pretty happy with the number of fruit. We used a couple and there are about four more to pick. I hope they last long enough for us to eat them all.
I'll make some pumpkin soup as the weather is cooling off now and soup either for lunch or dinner will be very welcome. Pumpkin pie is a big thing in the US I know but it isn't as popular here. At least I don't think it is. In fact, I don't think I've ever had it. Do you like pumpkin soup?
21 people like this
25 responses
@allknowing (136424)
• India
22 Apr 16
I see loads of them in your picture. Are you going to use them all?
4 people like this
@allknowing (136424)
• India
22 Apr 16
@JudyEv When there is a bumper crop then starts all the trouble (lol)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
@allknowing I can freeze some soup too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@drannhh I use a big spoon full of pumpkin puree in my hot oatmeal, with maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Apr 16
I've had pumpkin spice soup before. Although it was a long time ago, so I don't remember it too well to say how it was.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Apr 16
@JudyEv I'm an adventurous eater. Case in point I just cut up fresh ginger root and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. It's pretty strong eating it straight. I love the pickled ginger though. I'm trying to make some and it's sitting in the fridge. It has been for a few days now.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@OneOfMany Boil thin slices of ginger in hot water and strain it to drink as tea. You can freeze the tea in ice cube trays to add zip to juice drinks. Grate it or slice it thinly for stir fry.
2 people like this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
22 Apr 16
@JudyEv yes it is I was wondering when the Australians were gonna adopt that beautiful SA word for outdoor barbecue - its a BRAAI (remember to give it a dash of dried herbs like rosemary and oregano and then foil it up and put on the coals. Bon appetit
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Apr 16
Many people in the US would not understand or believe that Butternut Squash is pumpkin, but I know it is. We have used it to make soup. I also put it in chili, and use it in other savory dishes. I have made pumpkin pie. I have also made pumpkin custard and have even served the pie filling or the custard without the pastry as it is lower calorie. The only year I grew butternut squash I found it to be very forgiving and also long lasting once it was picked.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
I expect these to last until we use them all. I tried to use both words - pumpkin/squash - so that my US readers would equate the two, so to speak. 
They are so much easier to cut than other types of pumpkin.
They are so much easier to cut than other types of pumpkin.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
22 Apr 16
I was confused for a minute, then I saw you are in Australia and towards the end of summer, right? Because here, we are just coming out of winter.
I have tried butternut squash soup, but I don't know if I tried pumpkin. I do love pumpkin pie and I bake and freeze pumpkin for pies and sometimes muffins. Another favorite here is pumpkin stew. This is made by removing the seeds and filling the pumpkin with stew ingredients.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@JudyEv Ah, I see. Yes, ever since I got the recipe, my husband insists we make it at least a couple times a year and knows that if he leaves a pumpkin too long, it will become my famous pumpkin pie. 
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
23 Apr 16
Pumpkin pie is a biggie here, but we don't call them butternut pumpkin - they are butternut squash. I don't think they taste anything like pumpkin.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
24 Apr 16
@JudyEv Maybe since there you use the word pumpkin with that squash your brain thinks pumpkin...I don't know...I actually prefer sweet potato pie over pumpkin. Way more flavor, plus it's a southern thing.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@JudyEv Our recipe for the soup calls for chestnuts in the soup and ginger. Then topped with blue cheese crumbles, bacon and pecans.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
@GardenGerty Hey, that's a very fancy soup! Sounds wonderful. Mine is pretty boring compared to that.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
22 Apr 16
We rarely make heavy soups in California, even in winter. We are far more into light foods.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@JudyEv How do you make a cold soup? Do you cook it then cool it?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace Yes, you do whatever you have to do in the way of cooking, pureeing, etc then cool it.
1 person likes this
@destimona (1910)
• Luxembourg, Luxembourg
22 Apr 16
I don't really like pumpkin.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@JudyEv Some people serve it mashed, like potatoes, but sweetened with maple syrup and butter. We actually prefer it savory, butter, salt and pepper and herbs in it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
@GardenGerty When I was growing up, mashed pumpkin was a staple. Meat and three vegies usually meant mashed potato, mashed pumpkin and perhaps peas or beans. In Australia, pumpkin is rarely served with anything sweet.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Apr 16
We enjoy pumpkin everything. Most squash plants are plentiful here so these are a natural choice for us.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
It's strange that in Australia, they are one and the same. We have other 'squashes' but butternut is normally referred to as pumpkin.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Apr 16
wait, never had it? Should try it sometimes! Granted sweet potato pie is about as good.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
23 Apr 16
shame i can't jest pop o'er'n talk ya outta a couple 'f those, eh? i'm glad they survived the neglect - some plants jest seem to thrive'n such 'n when pampered sometimes let'cha down.
i aint fond'f pumpkin pie myself, but adore pumpkin soup...'n pumpkin bread/cookies/cakes.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Apr 16
I've honestly never had pumpkin soup. I do like pumpkin pie, but I like sweet potato pie even better.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Apr 16
@JudyEv -I love them in pie, otherwise, I can take them or leave them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339971)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Apr 16
I'll have to have a go at making a pumpkin pie. It's not something you have in Australia. Can you use butternut squash (we call it pumpkin) for a pie?
