Pumpkins have been a part of American life for a long time. From Halloween to pumpkin pie everyone knows something about them, but there is more, much more. Pumpkins have an unusual if not a mysterious past. Gourd seeds have been found in 12th-Dynasty Egyptian tombs and Mexican archaeological sites that date back to 7,000 B.C. How they arrived to the Americas is the focus of Bruce T. Paddock's introduction. Although these facts are inconclusive, the recipes prepared by Elizabeth Brabb are certain. From pumpkin pie to cream of pumpkin soup, each recipe is as scrumptious as the aroma of butternut squash on a cool, autumn day. Elizabeth presents a wide assortment of pumpkin favorites and some unlikely meals such as pumpkin ice cream and chocolate covered pumpkins. You'll know what I mean after you've had a chance to read the book.