Picking the Perfect Pumpkin
Halloween is here and that means pumpkins! Whether you’re looking for one to carve into the perfect Jack O’Lantern or just decorate your porch or home, here are some tips on how to pick the perfect one.
For carving, chose a pumpkin that’s about the size of a basketball. You want one that has a nice even orange color, flat bottom, smooth skin, and not too many ridges. Some small blemishes are fine, but steer clear of any that have bruises, cracks, or brown spots. For decorating, you can pick the traditional orange ones, but think about trying some of the other varieties as well. Pumpkins come in shades of green and even ghostly white!
For a cute fall centerpiece, put a small to medium sized one in the center of your table and surround it with colorful fall leaves and a few gourds. Gourds are a wonderful natural item-they come in all kinds of shapes, colors and sizes.
When the time comes to carve your pumpkin, rub a thin layer of Vaseline on the inside of it to keep the flesh from drying out, and be sure to use a safe lighting source such as a flashlight, electric candle, or glow stick. Never use a regular candle! For an interesting twist, try carving the face on the stem end, using the stem itself as a funky nose for your Jack O’ Lantern!
Finally, you’ll probably scoop out a ton of seeds-don’t toss them! Remove the stringy flesh, rinse the seeds, and pat dry. Then toss with a little melted butter and spread out evenly onto a cookie sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt and any other spices you’d like (try garlic powder or even cayenne pepper!) and roast in a 250 degree oven for about an hour, tossing every 15 minutes. Delicious and good for you!
gardening, pumpkins, Halloween, pumpkin carving, roasting pumpkin seeds
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