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Pumpkin Carving for Halloween
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Well, we've picked out about a dozen pumpkins for Halloween carving and will probably get a few more to carve if we have time. We like to do intricate template pumpkin carving and unfortunately, these take ALOT of time to carve but are so beautiful when they are done. We picked up some new template books this year and might try an online store like SpookMaster that lets you download templates from a huge selection for a very low price.
I think we'll be lining our driveway from the road to the door, on either side, with carved pumpkins this year. That should make for a great entrance to our Halloween party, we'll pick a lot of spooky carvings to do. Then we'll have to have them all over the house as well. People are always amazed by how cool they look. It just takes a lot of work, a few people with patience and some big pumpkins!
Monday, October 01, 2007
I see that some of our local stores have pumpkins already! We'll be picking up a few and carving some for around the house. Even though they won't make it until Halloween, it will be fun to carve a few new ones every week and light them at night around the house. It will keep us all in the Halloween spirit, like any of us needs that!
I went back to Pumpkin Carving 101 for ideas again this year. They have some new ideas on products to use for lighting a Jack-O-Lantern besides using candles. I'm traditional, I like using candles because you get that great burnt pumpkin smell but if it's windy outside some other options are available now. I'm letting my wife take over the design ideas for this year, I'm busy working on new props for our yard haunt, she's in charge of the party and pumpkin carving.
I went back to Pumpkin Carving 101 for ideas again this year. They have some new ideas on products to use for lighting a Jack-O-Lantern besides using candles. I'm traditional, I like using candles because you get that great burnt pumpkin smell but if it's windy outside some other options are available now. I'm letting my wife take over the design ideas for this year, I'm busy working on new props for our yard haunt, she's in charge of the party and pumpkin carving.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
We've been looking for new ideas for carving our pumpkins this year. I found a website that was really interesting.
Pumpkin Carving 101 has lots of great info on pumpkins and carving ideas. I took their advice and am putting together a "tool box" for carving that we can use every year.
Pumpkin Carving 101 has lots of great info on pumpkins and carving ideas. I took their advice and am putting together a "tool box" for carving that we can use every year.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
You have to admit, nothing better signifies Halloween than a glowing Jack-O-Lantern! I mean, you see one and instantly think of Halloween, right? And you can never carve just one! We carve a dozen or more in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some stay in the house, some go on the porch and some are scattered through our yard haunt.
Of course, you have to roast up some pumpkin seeds as well, that taste brings back all kinds of great childhood memories for me. It's simple to do. Here's the recipe that we've used for years. We like to go to a local pumpkin farm to pick out our pumpkins, it's more fun than getting them at the grocery store but if that's all you can get, get them there. Cut the pumpkin open and gut it, set it aside for carving.
We never wash our seeds first although some people do. Washing them removes some of the source of the natural flavor. Instead, we remove the seeds from the strings and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. The less they lay on each other, the better they can bake so try and make a nice even layer.
Add salt or seasoned salt to taste and bake at 250° until dry, stirring occasionally. We bake ours for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the start to turn a very light gold.
We set bowls of these around for parties so they never last long but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
There are some good recipes for using pumpkin at
Wanda's Halloween Kitchen. You can find baking pumpkins at the grocery store, they are small and have a smooth skin on them. We like to cook up a pumpkin pie from scratch when these are available, it tastes so much better than a frozen pie or one that's made from canned pumpkin!
Of course, you have to roast up some pumpkin seeds as well, that taste brings back all kinds of great childhood memories for me. It's simple to do. Here's the recipe that we've used for years. We like to go to a local pumpkin farm to pick out our pumpkins, it's more fun than getting them at the grocery store but if that's all you can get, get them there. Cut the pumpkin open and gut it, set it aside for carving.
We never wash our seeds first although some people do. Washing them removes some of the source of the natural flavor. Instead, we remove the seeds from the strings and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. The less they lay on each other, the better they can bake so try and make a nice even layer.
Add salt or seasoned salt to taste and bake at 250° until dry, stirring occasionally. We bake ours for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the start to turn a very light gold.
We set bowls of these around for parties so they never last long but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
There are some good recipes for using pumpkin at
Wanda's Halloween Kitchen. You can find baking pumpkins at the grocery store, they are small and have a smooth skin on them. We like to cook up a pumpkin pie from scratch when these are available, it tastes so much better than a frozen pie or one that's made from canned pumpkin!
