Doce de Abóbara

• 3 pounds West Indian pumpkin meat, without skin, or hubbard squash or regular pumpkin meat, cut into small cubes
• 2 cups sugar

Place the pumpkin cubes, sugar, and star anise in a copper or heavy-bottomed nonreactive saucepan. Add 5 tablespoons cold water and bring to a simmer over low heat. Stir often, making sure the mixture does not stick to the pan. Add a little more water if the mixture is too thick and starts to stick. When the mixture begins to simmer add the ginger and cook for 40 minutes, or until the pumpkin f