Kerstin Rodgers, aka. the blogger Ms Marmite Lover, says a squash and a squeeze can get the most out of these versatile veg.

Interesting squash and pumpkins are a fairly recent import from the USA. They don’t traditionally have a reputation for good eating here because we are used to the large classic orange ones. Jack O’lanterns are only good for carving as their flesh tends to be stringy and watery. Nowadays, there is an abundance of sweet, dense-fleshed, tasty squash around.

Use every part of the pumpkin. You can save the seeds and roast them. Just brush/scrape off most of the flesh, give them a quick wash and roast with a little salt and olive or pumpkin seed oil. I use pumpkin seeds in bread or scattered over salads. The skins or shells are effective as bowls for soup or as below, for a soufflé. The flowers can be used for a Mexican squash flower soup. Squash is also a brilliant carbohydrate filler for those who are gluten free.

For the best tasting winter squash, experiment with some of the other cultivars available.

Butternut squash. I love it roasted and tossed into salads or served with couscous, pomegranate seeds and parsley. The ‘coquina’ variety is nicely sweet.

Spaghetti squash. Once baked, the centre can be forked into spaghetti-like strands. You can treat it like courgetti, a gluten-free replacement for pasta and the latest trend for fashionable ‘clean’ eaters. Or add lashings of salty butter and parmesan, as I do.

Tromboncini; Trombone-shaped Italian squash. When young, slice up and use like courgette; when older, use like squash.

Gem squash. Wonderfully sweet: stuff and bake.

Acorn squash. Another small squash. Can be pureed into soup or stuffed.

Onion squash. Small, baked, mixed with cheese. This is great on toast.

Kabocha squash. Popular in Japan. Perfect simply roasted with soy sauce, ginger, sesame seeds and served with sushi rice.

Hokkaido. Teardrop-shaped, deep red/orange squash. Use in a tart, a soup or simply roasted.

Delicata squash. Italian from Lombardy. Difficult to find in the UK but it’s easier to chop up than other squashes and the skin is edible so no peeling required. Roast with a little salt.

Crown Prince. Large blue/grey skinned squash with sweet orange flesh inside.

Harlequin. Pointy decorative squash is also good to eat.

Turban squash. Spectacular - looks just like a Turkish hat.

One of my favourites is the munchkin pumpkin, the size of a cricket ball, available at most large supermarkets around this time of year. Their flesh is reminiscent of chestnuts.

Munchkin Pumpkin Blue Cheese Soufflé recipe

(Serves 4)

This recipe makes a lovely starter for a dinner party or an adult dish for Halloween parties. I’ve noticed that children like them too - there is something of the fairy tale about a pumpkin.

4 munchkin pumpkins

Olive oil

Sea salt

2 eggs, separated

50g blue cheese (I used Shropshire Blue), crumbled finely

50ml double cream

5 or 6 sage leaves, torn up finely

Slug of flavoured oil such as walnut, pumpkin or truffle oil

Black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200cº.

Cut off the top section of the pumpkins, making a little ‘hat’.

Brush olive oil all over the pumpkins and sprinkle good sea salt over them.

Place on a baking tray and roast the pumpkins for 10 minutes or so until the flesh is soft.

For the last 5 minutes put the ‘lid’ into the oven too.

Make the soufflé mixture by whisking the egg yolks with the blue cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until fluffy and rigid.

Add the cream and sage leaves to the yolk mixture, stirring, then carefully fold in the egg whites.

Remove the pumpkins from the oven, use a sharp sided spoon to hollow out the centre, removing the seeds. Add a little flavoured oil and salt into the hollowed out centre of the munchkin pumpkins, then spoon in the soufflé mixture.

Replace the pumpkins into the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until the soufflé has risen.

Serve immediately with the cute little lid propped next to the baby pumpkin. Dress with black pepper.

29 November: MsMarmitelover’s gardening supper club, The Secret Garden Club - Grow your own curry! Learn how to grow ginger, lemon grass, garlic, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, fennel seeds and more, plus enjoy a homegrown curry lunch. Tickets £40. BYO or order from winetrust100.co.uk

Kerstin blogs at msmarmitelover.com