Pumpkins, squashes, and gourds are all part of a botanical family of fruit known as the Cucurbitaceae family. It's a big family with over 900 species; that said, they do have some differences. For ...

But the diversity of pumpkins and squash, Heisler says, means that they can shape an entire meal, appetizer to dessert. Here are some of his favorite varieties and his suggestions on how to cook them.

A small, nutty squash, this is easy to roast and takes well to warm, savory and hot spices. The flesh is smooth, and the skin is edible. It’s a good squash to braise. Photo Credit Aaron Borton ...