Barbados Pumpkin Soup

Barbados Pumpkin Soup ( I learned this from a native
good with fried Plantains)

Medium Cooking Pumpkin (explain differences between
decorative and eating pumpkins aka canner/cooking
pumpkins) Also, explain pumpkin in cans as bought in
the store can be, was well, varieties of deep yellow
squashes like acorn, butternut, golden cushaw, etc.
Peel, gut, and cut into 2 inch cubes. Save seeds to
salt and snack or feed to bids or for next year's
pumpkin crop.

Start by browning some lean pork meat cut into cubes
in some butter or olive oil and several tablespoons of
a good grade chili pepper (I use a lot), two
tablespoons good curry powder, about 4 large cloves
garlic and half a diced onion, set aside. Be sure the
powders soak up in the oils.

Now here is where you get into the "purist" thing. I
always boil a chicken and use the broth as base for
lots of stuff. Some people want to use that old
pantywaste crap in the paper container or that stuff
in cans (do not mention the cubes or I will have a
heart attack). Boiling a chicken is so simple put in
garlic, some onion, a stalk celery, one
carrot...simmer for hours, use the meat for all sorts
of stuff and save the broth.

Anyway, okay so maybe you have some broth you have
frozen. Get it out and thaw. YOu will need about 2
quarts liquid and about 3 pounds pork or more
depending how you like meat or not.

Anyway, to the broth add two cans crushed tomatoes and
two big dice onions (use yellow or white kitchen
onions). Now you are going to simmer a long time.

Add pumpkin to broth and simmer slowly. Throw in some
fennel seeds too. You want the pumpkin to fall apart.
When this has cooked at least 2 hours maybe 3 is
better then you can add the meaty parts, cook at
least another hour, more if possible. Simmer low. You
want this to be full of lumpy meaty goodness with
stringy pumpkin bits. Salt, pepper, serve in big
bowls with friend plantains or grandma fried potatoes.

Sometimes I put a bit of maple syrup in it and it's
very good. Just stir it in whilst cooking.