Pumpkin and Squash Books

There is a strange sense of magic in this book. There are no fanciful illustrations or other-worldly story lines that have become so common in so much children's literature. Rather, it is a simple tale of a celebration on a farm in October, in which glowing pumpkins, squash, and gourds are set adrift in the ocean. Through this folk tale, we learn a simple and beautiful lesson about the life cycle of birth, death, and everything in between. It is a must-read for adults as well as children, and the feeling of the season is so strong that you can almost smell the apple cider and pumpkins in it's pages.

The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower's Guide to Pumpkins, Squashes, and Gourds What a great book. Good information about the squash family and recipes that are to die for. She will introduce you to a new world of a great vegetable. This book will become a family heirloom.

At this time, this is the most comprehensive volume on the Cucurbita genus. A good personal narrative, coupled with sublime photography. My only quibbles are that none of the images show cut open fruit, to give a view of the flesh and cavity. Secondly, that quite a number of internationally known cultivars are not mentioned. Nevertheless, an absolute "must have" for pumpkin and squash devotee.

This book is beautiful to look at, has a great deal of interesting history, useful gardening information, and some good recipes. Also it is inspirational, makes you want to source the rarer seeds and get out there with the spade. I don't know how much of this information is readily available in America, but here in Britain, where growing squash still mostly means butternut or Jack o' Lantern, the book is a revelation.

Highly recommended

Beautiful photos. Well-researched. Passionate, but balanced assessments. Writing comes from intimate and in-depth experience. I would have liked even more technical information on growing habits, morphology, and horticultural groups, but it is a wonderful book as it stands. Highly recommended

This is a very visually attractive book, with superb photographs, but this is not just for the coffee table. For the devotee who grows pumpkins, all the information needed is there, down to conditions and seed sources for an amazing selection of varieties. For the cook, there are some unusual recipes, but also the eating quality of each type of pumpkin. Essential,this. Some are delicious, others vile. Lots of historical and other info & stories too. Pumpkins are my passion. I grew them, I eat them and now I paint them. It was great to get this book and know there are other squash nutters out there.

I love all fall fruits and vegetables, and I had to have this little book when I saw it.

There is a picture of each recipe you are making, the are glossy, mouth watering, and let me tell you, I am planning on making every single recipe in this book. There are only 30 or so, but each is written with sense and clarity, and the book would make a perfect present simply because it's so beautiful. Pumpkins aren't the only veggies used, there are also Butternuts and Squash recipes.

Some of my favorite things I made from it; Roasted Pumpkin Salad -to die for, crusty and charred pumpkin chunks, peppers, onions, lentils with lemon, oil and few other yummies. Chile pumpkin babycakes - sweet, spicy fried till golden for major crunch. Pumpkin Soup - warm with holiday written all over it. Spicy Butternut Curry - creamy, hot, melt in your mouth goodness.

This little charmer of a book also has cakes, pies, souffles, stuffed sugar pumpkins, Moroccan Tangine, Kabobs, seeds, chips and granola recipes, pumpkin gnocchi and risottos as well.

No cookie cutter recipes here. I love this book, and always look for ways to cook with it.

Where I live, butternut squash will be coming into the produce section. I'm eagerly waiting for it. Why? So I can roast seeds and toss them in a brown paper bag with homemade curry powder for that fourth Thursday in November.

I'd also like to try the pumpkin soup and risotto. Yum and what reads like the ultimate yum.

The selection of recipes in this gem are varied. Brava! I also have another book of Elsa's and find her style friendly and engaging. Elsa makes me want to get into the kitchen and make something. Another "Brava!"

I also recommend her Cool Smoothies: Juices and Cocktails and Smoothies and Shakes. Tasty-sounding recipes.

Did I convince you? :)

From the title you'd think your getting a book on how to grow squash for home use as food. "Winter Squahs & Pumpkins from Seed to Supper" is not this book. The descriptions on growing and harvesing are short and imprecise. However; this said the recipe section is quite good. The book has a good variety of recipes, and some very creative uses for Squash; pumpkin souffle anyone?

The author has at least seven other books in a series of growing various vegetables. This book has the feeling of something written to spec without great depth or passion. Much of the information is generic, and the author and the book could have benefited from a bit more effort and research. There is needless lack of precision. The book is certainly of some use, but it could have and should have been better.