The most spooktacular time of the year is here but – as exciting as Halloween is – shockingly, a whopping 18,000 tons of pumpkin goes to waste every year in the UK. That’s the same weight as 1,500 double-decker buses, which is pretty frightening. Pumpkin isn’t just for making spooky faces out of on Halloween, though – not only are they delicious in a wide range of recipes, but did you know pumpkins also have a whole number of health benefits too? Pumpkins are packed with health benefits. Rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and fibre, this versatile vegetable is really good for eye, gut and heart health, and that’s just the flesh! Pumpkin seeds are a great source of good fats, iron and B vitamins – all important nutrients that support heart, muscle, skin, nervous system and immune health. If you eat enough of them, the seeds are also a good source of protein and fibre – both of which help to regulate blood sugar. Ready to enjoy some yummy pumpkin goodness this Halloween? From classic soup to fancy fondue, here are four recipes that are to die for. Hearty pumpkin soup Serves: 4 Ingredients: 3 cups of pumpkin/vegetable/chicken stock 500g pumpkin puree Large knob of butter 1 chopped onion 2 chopped carrots 1 finely chopped garlic clove 1 cup of cream ½ tsp chopped thyme, salt and pepper Method: Melt the butter in a large saucepan, then add the garlic, onion, carrots, thyme and a pinch of salt and cook for 5-8 minutes or until softened. When cooked, transfer to a food processor and blitz together with the pumpkin puree until smooth, then return to the saucepan, add in the stock. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to very low and add the cream and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Season to taste and serve. Pumpkin ravioli with sage butter Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 eggs 400g “00” pasta flour 4 tsp olive oil 350g roast pumpkin flesh 100g grated parmesan 15g fresh sage 75g butter Salt and pepper Method: For pumpkin filling: Add the roast pumpkin, grated parmesan and a big pinch of salt and pepper to a food processor and blitz until smooth. For the ravioli: Add the eggs, pasta flour and olive oil to a food processor and blitz until a crumbly mixture forms. Knead the mixture for 10 minutes or until it becomes smooth and elastic, then wrap in clingfilm and leave to rest for 20 minutes. When ready, cut the dough into 4 pieces and roll out into thin pasta sheets (approx 2mm). On one sheet, spoon out a couple of teaspoons of filling every few inches, then brush around each mound of filling with water, place the second sheet on top and cut around each mound with a sharp knife. Crimp the edges of each to seal them. Repeat until all the filling or pasta sheets have been used up, then add the ravioli to a pot of boiling water for 3 minutes or until they float to the top of the water. For the sage butter: Heat the butter in a frying pan until melted and foaming, then add the sage leaves and cook until the leaves crisp up and the butter browns. Season to taste, and drizzle over the cooked ravioli. Pumpkin pickle Ingredients: 500g pumpkin 1 red onion 2 garlic cloves 1 red chilli 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds 1 tsp turmeric 15g knob of ginger 250ml cider vinegar 250ml castor sugar 1 tsp nigella seeds Method: Peel and slice the onions, garlic and ginger. Peel and chop the pumpkin into small bite-size pieces. De-seed and finely chop the red chillies. Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a drizzle of oil and cook the onion, ginger and chilli for 10-12 min or until softened. Add the mustard seeds, garlic, and turmeric and cook for 1 min. Add the pumpkin, sugar, cider vinegar & a splash of water and cook for 8 min or until the pumpkin has softened and the pickle has thickened. Season with a pinch of salt, sprinkle in the nigella seeds and transfer the mixture to sterilised jars. Pumpkin fondue Ingredients: 1 whole mid-large sized pumpkin 300g of grated mixed cheeses (traditionally gruyere, Emmental and cheddar) 2 tsp cornflour A peeled garlic clove A few glugs of white wine Method: Cut the top off the pumpkin and scrape out the fibrous strands and seeds, then replace the lid and bake in the oven at 180C/160C fan for 1 hr to 1hr 30 minutes, or until the pumpkin flesh is cooked. Meanwhile, mix the cornflour with the grated cheese until it has fully coated the gratings. When the pumpkin has mostly cooked, remove from the oven, take off the lid and place the grated cheese, white wine and garlic clove inside, giving it a mix to combine. Increase the oven temperature a little higher and bake for a further 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling away. When cooked, remove from the oven and serve with bread or crudites for dipping. For more Halloween tips and recipes, visit the Gousto website.

President Joe Biden’s campaign is banking on reproductive rights to be an early galvanizing issue for voters in the 2024 presidential election

Max Verstappen is eyeing a record-breaking 10th F1 win in a row as the paddock rolls around to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. Verstappen, picking up where he left off before the summer break, won his home race in the Netherlands last week to equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive grand prix triumphs. The Dutchman, who now has a mammoth 138-point lead in the championship over team-mate Sergio Perez, is the overwhelming favourite in Italy having also won in Monza last year. Mercedes endured a difficult weekend last time out in Zandvoort but will be buoyed by the news that both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have signed contract extensions until the end of the 2025 season. As for Ferrari, they head into their home race short of form having not won a race since Austria last year but will be hoping for a strong performance in front of the home tifosi crowd. Fernando Alonso, too, will be looking to back up his podium in Zandvoort with another top-three showing at Monza. Follow live updates from the Italian Grand Prix with The Independent Read More Lewis Hamilton signs new Mercedes contract Lewis Hamilton reveals reason for signing new Mercedes deal: ‘Unfinished business’ How does Max Verstappen’s win-streak compare to fellow record-holder Sebastian Vettel’s?

Ugandan LGBTQ rights activist Clare Byarugaba was looking forward to showing her country off to her French partner’s

Meta, and its platform Facebook, are facing continued calls for accountability and reparations following accusations

By Andrew Goudsward Outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia Inc has settled its lawsuit accusing Gap Inc of illegally copying

Opossums have a bad reputation, but they’re smarter and more beneficial to people than other woodland denizens. Discover more about these unique marsupials here.

It's officially summer in the northern hemisphere, which means it's the opposite of cuffing season:

National Park rules go beyond the general Leave No Trace guidelines. These surprising cover everything from wildlife to waste.

A ceremony notorious for its shocking on-stage moments and outrageous red carpet looks, the MTV Video Music Awards, otherwise known as the VMAs, will take place on Sunday 30 August. But, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year will be unlike any other. The event, which celebrates the best music videos of the year, was originally set to air live from Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, but those plans have since been scrapped. Instead, the show will consist of various live outdoor performances across New York City from artists including Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus, which will all be streamed online and presented by Scream Queens and Hustlers star Keke Palmer. While little else is known about the details of the ceremony, one thing viewers can be sure of is that there will be plenty of show-stopping looks to enjoy. According to direct messages shared by fans on Twitter, the VMAs is planning on having a formal red carpet of some kind, but in what capacity it will take place is uncertain. Since the first ceremony in 1984, the VMAs has delivered some iconic outfits aplenty, ranging from the truly show-stopping to the downright bizarre. Over the years, we have seen Lady Gaga arrive in a dress made out of meat, Katy Perry pay homage to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s double denim moment, and Lil’ Kim wear one of the most famous body-baring jumpsuits of all time. Click through the gallery above to take a look back through the most memorable and iconic looks to have ever graced the VMAs red carpet. Read More Fashion experts pick the essentials you need for your staycation

Australia's "Black Summer" bushfire catastrophe coughed up so much smoke it may have fuelled the global onset of La Nina in 2020, according...

One of China’s biggest social media platforms shut the accounts of a K-pop superstar and a Chinese actress