Creative Ways to Use Your Pumpkin
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Halloween is quickly approaching and people everywhere are decorating for the holiday. Lawns, patios and windows are being adorned with jack-o-lanterns, hay bales, scarecrows and other spooky items. Pumpkins are a reasonably affordable way to showcase one’s Halloween spirit. Rather than just carving a traditional jack-o-lantern, one can really make their home stand out with some unique uses for this seasonal gourd.
No Carving Required Jack-o-Lanterns
Carving a pumpkin can be time-consuming and messy. For those who like jack-o-lanterns but hate the fuss, there are many other ways to achieve a designer gourd. Non-chocolate candy, smaller gourds or found objects, such as acorns, can be attached to the pumpkin using a glue gun. Once the face is done, hot glue ‘hair’ to the stem area. Corn silk, broom straws and yarn all work well for this purpose. Small children, who may not be able to safely handle a carving knife, will get a thrill out of being able to do most of this project themselves.
Feed the Birds
Give a treat to the neighborhood birds and use a pie pumpkin to craft a fabulous bird feeder. Start by cutting the pumpkin in half. Next, scrape out the innards and set them aside to make roasted seeds. Third, use an apple corer to make two holes in each half. These holes should be opposite each other near the rim of the open pumpkin. String twine or a lightweight rope through the holes to hang the feeder with. Twigs can be pushed into the flesh of the pumpkin to create a place for the birds to rest while eating. Finally, add birdseed and start watching for visitors.
Quick and Easy Snacking
Pumpkin seeds are a traditional fall snack. Rather than buying them at the store, make them at home with this simple method. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and lightly oil a cookie sheet. After removing the seeds from the pumpkin, wash them to get rid of any orange strings. Spread them onto the pan in a single layer and season to taste. Salt or brown sugar are traditional flavors. Depending on the oven, baking time will vary from 10 minutes to almost an hour. They are done when they turn a light golden color.
Flavorful Baking
Pumpkin puree has a variety of uses beyond pie filling. Muffins, bread and soup can all be enhanced by adding some pumpkin flavor. To make pumpkin puree, start by cutting the gourd in half and scraping it clean. Place it into a baking dish, flat side down, and add half an inch of water. Bake at 350 degrees. The pumpkin will be done when it is soft and tender. The baking time will vary depending on the size of the pumpkin used. Put the softened flesh into a blender or food processor and puree. Anything that is not used immediately can be frozen.
Pumpkin Snowman
Using three pumpkins of graduating size, it is easy to construct the fall version of a snowman. Make sure the base pumpkin has a large, flat bottom to prevent the completed sculpture from toppling. After removing the stem from the bottom pumpkin, use a hot glue gun to attach the middle pumpkin. Repeat this step to add the top pumpkin. Use an apple corer to create holes in the side of the middle piece to place sticks in for arms. Facial features can be glued or painted on, a small bumpy gourd will make the perfect warty nose. A witch’s hat and black cape make a creepy costume for this yard decoration.
Fall Centerpiece
Medium sized pumpkins work best for this holiday craft. Cut the top third of the pumpkin off and clean out the bottom portion. Fill with pine cones, colorful leaves and small gourds. This is the perfect alternative to a fresh bouquet of flowers during the autumn months. If a natural centerpiece does not fit into the the theme of a room, there is another possibility. Take a small glass dish, plastic may stain, and place it into the clean pumpkin shell. Fill the dish with potpourri, candy or candles to create a centerpiece that can be changed easily.
Using Leftover Pumpkin
When carving time is over there is always a great deal of scrap left behind. Instead of throwing it into the garbage, place it away from the house to treat neighborhood animals. Deer, squirrels, birds and rabbits will enjoy feasting on the shell, flesh and insides that could not be used elsewhere.
Pumpkins are an important part of fall tradition. They can often be overlooked, despite having many uses. With so many crafts available, no one ever has to settle for just a standard jack-o-lantern again.