Dad’s Pumpkin Soup

The delight this soup used to cause my brother and me seemed immeasurable. Dad would tie on his stripy pinny, which always struck me as a faintly ridiculous look for a man of six feet five, and then close the kitchen door. Muffled crash, bang, tinkles would be heard through the house as the special soup was created by the master. Finally, it was time to eat it and in he would carry the whole pumpkin to the excited table. Holding the stalk, the top would come off and the billow of steam woul