fruit for pies

[JayJay]

I'm not sure of the actual spelling but I'll give it a try ... pepanoli ... that might be what your looking for. Several years ago there were a couple of women at the Sunday Pahoa market who were making pastries and pies from this squash. Substitute the the squash for the apples and it produces a pie filling which is VERY good and resembles quite closely apple pie in taste and tecture. The squash is actually 'neutral' in taste ... like rice, and can be used with meat, egg and noodle dishes. They like to grow on trellises and we see them quite often grown on wire fences. There are two species, the standard light green, up to perhaps a pound and a half and the smaller white squash which is more delicate in taste and has a lighter skin. The plant has a life-span here in Hawaii of about five to seven years on average and one well-established vine will produce all the fruit you could possibly use. I maintain one plant trellised and I consider it a mainstay for any Hawaiian garden. It's propagated by using an actual squash which has sprouted a runner. Dig a deep whole and fill with good soil or soil mix and plant the fruit one-half into the ground with the sprout pointing up. As it grows train it to the fence or trellis with soft large diameter rope or string since in the early stages the sprout is somewhat tender. Oh, and they do like sun and when established make sure to fertilize (Osmocote works quite well 2x/yr), and water during drought conditions.

JayJay

Edited by - JayJay on 11/18/2007 00:02:20