[Photographs: Lucy Baker] Two weeks ago, I reviewed Maggie & Mary's Creamy Pumpkin Soup. It was so spicy and warming, I still thought about it long after slurping up the last spoonful. Squash-based soups make wonderful winter weeknight meals. Not only are they quick, satisfying, and healthy, they also chase the chill out of your bones faster than my mother chases my brother out of the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning. Last week I found myself unable to resist another batch of pumpkin soup. This time, I opted for Crate & Barrel's Pumpkin Chowder ($6.95). Unlike Maggie & Mary's soup (smooth and evenly textured) this one incorporates rice and chunks of vegetables.... More

"Pumpkin pie in soup form? Should I sprinkle it with graham cracker crumbs instead of croutons?" [Photographs: Lucy Baker] Forget candy corn, fun-size Snickers bars, and caramel apples. What I really look forward to every October is the pumpkin. As soon as the leaves start turning, it seems like every coffee shop, craft brewery, and gourmet purveyor goes gourd-happy, offering up everything from lattes and ales to bundt cakes and whoopie pies flavored with the sunset-hued squash. Happily, for the next month I will be reviewing a host of festive foods that are easy to prepare at home using the season's best pumpkin mixes. Maggie & Mary's, a Minnesota-based specialty food company, has an inviting website, dotted with black-and-white snapshots... More

The season for pumpkin isn't over yet, so why not try this pumpkin cheesecake with a ginger-pecan crust from Muneeba of An Edible Symphony. Topped with raspberries and a generous dollop of whipped cream, it has "just the right amount of creaminess." Inspired by The Pioneer Woman, Muneeba's cheesecake is a snap to put together. All you need is a food processor or blender and a springform pan. There's also no waterbath—good news for those who are still scared to try the technique (i.e., me). It's alright, I'll get over my shame by diving into a slice of this pumpkin cheesecake.... More

Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to remind you of how great you have it. In this instance, I'm talking about pumpkin. Aran of Cannelle et Vanille didn't grow up on pumpkin pie, but as soon as she moved to the States, she "immediately fell in love and to this day, pumpkin pie is [her] favorite part of the American holidays." An homage to the pie that stole her heart, these Pumpkin and Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches bookend fresh roasted pumpkin ice cream with sugary gingerbread squares. They prove that spin-offs can be as good as the original.... More

When I first heard about the pumpkin spice Hershey's Kisses, I didn't know what to expect. Would there be chocolate? A pumpkin center? A pumpkin shell? There's no chocolate involved. A cinnamony creme center. And yes, a pumpkin shell. More

Following in the tradition of crafty potheads, some industrious folk brewed beer inside a hollowed-out pumpkin, and documented the process on a Flickr set. The beer had "a raw squash flavor up front and strong hop aftertaste. No bacterial contamination as far as we could tell."... More