Halloween isn't just about tricks, treats and fright fests. What about everyone's fave fall fruit—pumpkins? This weekend, gather up the fam, a group of your best gals or your BF and go pumpkin picking at a patch near you.
And P.S.—there’s more to a pumpkin than just carving spooky, funny, or crazy faces into it.
Want a great weekend idea? Throw a pumpkin party with your pals. Carve and paint up some creations, roast seeds, cook up our GL-exclusive recipes and feel ahh-mazing with our pumpkin scrub.
Sure, making jack-o-lanterns is the most obvious use of your squash, but there are so many ways to carve up a really cool one. Draw up some face or design ideas on paper, pick the one you like best and then transfer it to your pumpkin with a pencil first. Hint: You don’t have to do the typical face—try poking holes in the shape of a peace sign, star, or heart so your pumpkin will glow with little lights in the shape of whatever you pick. Even cooler? Carve out a pumpkin self-portrait, or create one of a friend or fam member.
With parental supervision, use a pumpkin carving knife and get to work on creating your masterpiece.
CLICK HERE for more ideas on how to get a perf pumpkin.
Sweet or Salty Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are such a healthy snack and now is the time of year to get ‘em fresh. After scoopin’ them out of your pumpkin, put them on a pan or cookie sheet and bake for 10-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy 'em the traditional way by roasting the seeds and lightly sprinkling with salt. Wanna make a sweeter treat? Dust them with cinnamon and/or brown sugar before you pop in the oven. Added plus? Pumpkin seeds go great in salads!
Pumpkin Picasso
Instead of carving a design, paints something pretty. Acrylic paints work best on pumpkins and they'll let ya be super creative with your paint brush, which is way safer than a knife. Tip: Do a combo of painting and carving. Your big orange squash will look super glam when you put a candle in it.
Yummy Treats
Thought pumpkin pie was the only pumpkin-based recipe out there? Think again!
PUMPKIN SANDWICH: A featured recipe on
GL over the summer, this is a great way to use up those extra cans of pumpkin your mom bought. Even though it’s cold out, these frozen treats are yummy year round.
PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS: Muffins are a breakfast staple and this is a fun fall twist on the old fave. Serve 'em up with piping hot cider or cocoa.
Fall-ify Your Face
Uh-oh colder weather got your skin going crazy? Use pumpkin to help clear up those pesky pimples. CLICK HERE for the easy how-to.
-Liz Lebedda
BLOG IT OUT! Do you love pumpkins? Are ya addicted to pumpkin spice lattes? Do ya pine for pumpkin pie year-round? Can't get enough of carving? Love picking them at a patch with your pals or fam? We wanna know!
BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/17/2009 8:00:00 AM 45 COMMENTS