Pumpkin Expert Gives the Gourdy Details

Though pumpkins are purchased with the best seasonal intentions, they often end up as a predictable soup, pie or lopsided sculpture. This fall, enjoy your gourd as the culinary diva it was born to be with ideas from food historian Michael Krondl, author of The Great Little Pumpkin Book and the upcoming paperback The Taste of Conquest. A recipe follows the Q&A.

The Great Little Pumpkin Book has been in print for almost 10 years. What's new about pumpkins today?

Cooking pumpkins are more ubiquitous; they're all over the place. ...