Transform your home-grown pumpkin into a ghoulish treat. ATTRIBUTION: Jeremy Seitz (Flickr)
From spooky jack-o’-lanterns to spiced pumpkin pies, there are numerous things you can do with your home-grown pumpkins. Pumpkins can be used for fall décor, Halloween displays, and a wide variety of delicious dishes. These resilient fruits are highly versatile and tasty and can actually be a healthy treat to enjoy during the fall season. Check out these other creative uses for pumpkins:
1. Hang Pumpkin Lanterns
Light the way for little trick-or-treaters with pumpkin lanterns that illuminate the walkway to your front door. Cut out a pumpkin face with a large mouth and place a safe LED candle inside to light up the face. Attach the pumpkin to a rope and hang it from a tree or pole.
2. Blend a Purée
Pumpkin purée can be used in a wide variety of recipes, from breakfast pancakes to after-dinner pies. Scoop out the guts and seeds and place the emptied pumpkin cut side down on a baking dish. Bake for about 90 minutes, then scoop out the tender flesh and blend it in a food processor. Use your purée right away or freeze it for later use.
3. Make a Masterpiece
Create painted works of art on your uncut pumpkins. Black and white craft paint painted in slim lines on the pumpkin can give it a chic zebra-print effect, while a pumpkin painted entirely white leaves an open canvas for painted black insects and other creepy artwork.
4. Drink a Healthy Smoothie
Pumpkins are low in calories and make excellent healthy smoothies. Blend together your favorite smoothie ingredients, but don’t forget some puréed pumpkin. Other complementing ingredients include banana, almond milk, almond butter, and vanilla.
5. Roast the Seeds
Don’t want to waste the handfuls of seeds found inside your pumpkin? Roast the pumpkin seeds to create a simple, great-tasting snack. Rinse your seeds well, toss them with extra-virgin olive oil, and spread them out on a baking sheet. Roast the seeds in a 250-degree oven until golden brown and crisp, or about 1 hour.
6. Melt Crayons Over It
Dripping-crayon pumpkins have become highly popular due to their colorful nature and easy execution. Just melt crayons under a blow dryer set on hot and allow the melted wax to drip onto the pumpkin. Use gloves to protect little hands from the heat.
7. Display a Planter
Use your pumpkin to decorate your yard. Pumpkin planters add natural beauty to any space and act as a festive decoration throughout the fall season. Simply carve your pumpkin and remove all of the seeds, guts, and flesh. Pack some potting soil at the bottom of the pumpkin, dig a small hole in the center of the soil, and insert your plant.
8. Use Cookie Cutters
If you’re not a highly skilled pumpkin-cutter, consider using cookie cutters instead. The cookie cutters allow you to make a wide variety of perfect shapes without having to cut free-hand. Place a candle inside the pumpkin to light up your work when finished.
9. Combine With Cinnamon
There’s nothing quite like the delectable taste of pumpkin and cinnamon. There are numerous recipes that use these two ingredients, including treats in the form of pies, cookies, streusel buns, rolls, muffins, and dessert breads.
10. Attract Feathered Friends
With the help of the kids, make a simple bird feeder to attract birds in your neighborhood. Cut a medium-size pumpkin in half horizontally, scoop out the guts, seeds, and flesh, and fill the pumpkin with bird seed. Hang on a tree or pole.
11. Boil Pumpkin for Stock
It can be hard to figure out what to do with those stringy pumpkin guts. Consider using them to make a pumpkin stock, which can instantly add flavor to casseroles and soups. Separate the guts from the seeds and allow them to boil in a pot of water. Boil for about 30 minutes, and strain to reserve the broth.
12. Paint it Like a Chalkboard
Chalkboard paint has become very popular among do-it-yourself crafters. Grab a small can of chalkboard paint from your local home improvement store and give your pumpkin two thin coats. Use chalk to draw on the pumpkin and a damp washcloth to wash off your doodles when finished.
13. Apply it to Your Face
Pumpkins are not only great for fall décor and tasty treats but can also be healthy for your skin. This is because pumpkins are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which can help soften the skin. Combine six teaspoons of pumpkin purée with four teaspoons of brown sugar, which acts as a natural exfoliant. Add a splash of milk and mix. Apply the mixture to your face and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it off.