Pumpkin Carving
- Instead of cutting a hole in the top of a pumpkin, leave the stem of the pumpkin and the "lid" intact and cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin with a hole saw drill bit and drill. Then put the light in from the bottom.
Pumpkin Decorating
Uncarved pumpkins will last longer.
- Paint them.
- Make a web pattern out of masking tape, paint the pumpkin black, remove the tape to see the orange web.
- Melt crayons and pour down the sides of the pumpkin, or melt unwrapped crayons around the stem of a painted white pumpkin (melt the wax using a blowdryer on high setting.)
- Stick pushpins in a pumpkin in a pattern
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
- Spoon out seeds. 1 medium pumpkin = 2 cups
- Transfer seeds to large bowl of water. Scoop out loose seeds that float.
- Separate pulp from remaining seeds and discard pulp.
- Rinse seeds in a colander, drain, pat dry with dishtowels.
- Spread clean seeds on baking sheet.
- Bake at 250 degrees F about 1 hour, to dry.
- To season, toss seed with 2 Tbsp olive oil and seasonings.
- Roast at 350 degrees F about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 1/2 cup finely grated romano or parmesan cheese + 2 tsp cracked pepper
- 1/4 cup brown sugar + 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (sweet heat)
- 1 Tbsp hot cocoa mix + 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Never put pulp or seeds down the toilet, sink, drain or garbage disposer. The stringy, sticky gunk hardens and clogs drains and disposers.
- Carve pumpkins on a thick bed of newspaper. Wrap up pumpkin-related materials and throw away in the garbage can or compost pile.
