It’s The Great Pumpkin, Melvin

Well, it’s that time of year again.  The leaves are beginning to change color, the weather is getting cooler, and I cannot stop thinking about pumpkins.  Hopefully you’re starting to get into the spirit of Fall as well.  And if you are, I’m sure you’re beginning to plan how to carve your pumpkin, right?  Today for Foodie Friday we’re going to switch it up a bit- we’re going to have a pumpkin carving tutorial and a recipe for delicious roasted pumpkin seeds.  And hopefully by the end of it, you will be in the mood for wielding knives, because Mom’s Basement is going to be holding a GEEKY PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST complete with prizes you are not going to believe.  You’re on the edge of your seat now, right?  Don’t worry, more details will be posted about it this weekend!  So for now, let’s get carving!

So you’re ready to carve an epic pumpkin.  Here’s what you will need:

• pumpkin
• pattern of what you would like to make
• large sharp knife
• small saw-like tool, or a smaller knife
• spoon
• pencil
• tape

Step 1:  Wipe off your pumpkin.  I might be getting a little OCD with this step, but seriously, just clean it a little with a wet paper towel.  It will look so much happier.  Or scarier, if that’s what you’re going for.

Step 2:  Cut a hole in your pumpkin so that you will be able to place a candle inside.  But guess what I just learned after YEARS of pumpkin carving.  Cut the hole in the BOTTOM of the pumpkin.  That way, when you’re done, you can just set the pumpkin on top of a candle, instead of trying to place a lit candle inside of the pumpkin and burning yourself.

Step 3:  Gut the pumpkin with a spoon.  Place the insides in a bowl.  We will be using the seeds later.

Step 4:  Draw your pattern onto your pumpkin face OR tape your pattern to the pumpkin face.  You may need to cut small slits in the pattern to help make the paper lay flat against the rounded face of the pumpkin.

Step 5:  Trace where you are planning on cutting the pumpkin by poking small holes into the pumpkin along the lines of your pattern.  You can use a pencil or the tip of a small knife.  This helps the sawing process.  If you taped the pattern onto the pumpkin, you can remove it once you’ve finished poking the holes.

Step 6:  Now using a small saw tool (I bought one from a craft store but they’re pretty much everywhere) or small knife, cut out your pattern.  Here’s another cool tip that I recently learned.  After cutting a section of your pattern, leave the piece you are cutting out in place, don’t pop it out.  I would always pop out the pieces as soon as I cut them because I was excited to see my jack-o-lantern take form.  Don’t do this!  If you leave all of your pieces in, it helps the pumpkin maintain its form, making it easier to cut out smaller, intricate shapes.

Step 7:  Once you’ve cut around all of your pattern pieces, now pop the pieces out!  I push my pieces in and then pull them out, but you can pop them out however you would like.

Step 8:  Light a small candle.  Set your pumpkin right on top.  Oh my goodness, can you believe how easy that was?

Now, what to do with those pumpkin seeds…

Basic Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• pumpkin seeds
• 2 tsp melted butter
• pinch of salt

Step 1:  Preheat your oven to 300°F.

Step 2:  Toss pumpkin seeds in the butter and salt.

Step 3:  Spread seeds onto a baking sheet.  Bake for about 45 minutes.

Now here’s the awesome thing about pumpkin seeds.  You can make them taste like whatever you want.  So if you’re in a sweet mood, add some cinnamon and sugar.  Feeling spicy?  Add some cayenne!  Get crazy and make whatever concoctions your tastebuds are craving.  In fact, let me know in the comments what you decided to make!

Halloween will never be the same without these:

Coon the pumpkin oo… mealymonster $35.00	pumpkin no.14 dancesippydanc… $12.00	Halloween Pumpkins … Erinle $30.00	Peter Pumpkin Eater… AutumnBearStud… $8.95
Party Hat Halloween… squirrelmomma $24.00	Amigurumi pattern l… Lapetite2101 $4.00	1 package Large Fan… PUMPKINTEETH $3.00	Jack-O-Lantern Bunn… michellecoffee $22.00

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