Sweets from the pumpkin patch

Pumpkin Pointers  

From scratch  One way to make this year’s pies even more special is to start with a whole pumpkin, instead of a can. It’s important to choose small sugar-pie pumpkins; Halloween jack-o’-lanterns are too stringy to eat and are best left carved on the doorstep!

With a little help  Of course, canned pumpkin is a lifesaver when time is short. Make sure to buy pumpkin purée (not canned pumpkin-pie filling, which already contains sugar and spices). And look for a brand that is 100 percent pumpkin, not a blend of pumpkin and other squash.

Squash options  We also made the pie with butternut squash. It’s a bit sweeter than pumpkin, but just as delicious. Roast and purée butternut according to the pumpkin directions
in our pie recipe and try it in any of these desserts.