Pumpkin Goodness

Now that Halloween has come and gone, what will you do with all those carved-up jack-o-lanterns and festive centerpieces? You’ve already shelled out the cash, love and labor for your pumpkin, so there's no reason to throw it out when creative uses abound. 
 

Plus its wonderful pumpkin season, pumpkin is tasty, here are a few tips many involve food. But keep in mind that these food applications are best used for uncarved pumpkins. Once a pumpkin has been carved and has sat out for more than 24 hours, it could be unsafe to eat. But don't despair, dear pumpkin lover. Here are a few tips for your halloween carvings:

 Whip up some pumpkin purée

Pumpkin purée is the No. 1 use for the fleshy insides of your pumpkin, and it’s super easy to make. Start by cutting your pumpkin down the middle. Scoop out the seeds and guts, and set them aside for later.

Place your pumpkin cut-side down in a baking dish with about a cup of water, and bake for about 90 minutes or until the flesh is tender. Then, simply scoop out the flesh and puree in a food processor.

Once you’ve made your pumpkin purée, it’s ready for use in all your favorite pumpkin recipes, from pies to pancakes. Any extra can be stored in the freezer for several months, which means you can ditch all that canned pumpkin when Thanksgiving comes around.

Get pumpkin pretty

Pumpkins are rich in zinc and vitamins A, C and E, which makes pumpkin purée healthy for your body if you eat it and healthy to apply to the skin. That's why one of the prettiest uses for the pumpkin is for a DIY face mask.

Start with about five teaspoons of pumpkin purée, add three teaspoons of brown sugar - which will naturally exfoliate your skin - and a tiny splash of milk.

Mix it all together, and apply to your face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Relax for up to 20 minutes and allow all that pumpkin goodness to seep into your skin. Bonus: it smells yummy, too!

Create a classic pumpkin seed dish

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a tasty fall favorite, and there are plenty of ways to use them this November. After you’ve separated the seeds from the guts and rinsed them throughly, place them in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet. Stir them around to coat them with oil.

From here, you can go almost anywhere with your pumpkin seeds. Add a little salt for classic roasted pumpkin seeds, or add some brown sugar and cinnamon for a sweeter treat. Roasted pumpkin seeds also make a tasty and crunchy outer layer for your candied apples, and they go great in brownies and other baked goods. But if Halloween has left you with a sugar crash, your roasted pumpkin seeds will make delicious garnishes for salads, too.

 Feed the wildlife

Depending on where you live, a pumpkin you’d otherwise throw away could be a tasty snack for a furry or feathery neighbor. Old jack-o-lanterns are perfect food for deer, and any pumpkin seeds you don’t want to toast up for yourself will make a yummy treat for birds.

Cut good ol’ Jack into fourths and place the pieces in your yard, away from your house. Soon you’ll notice some Bambi look-a-likes having a tasty afternoon snack. Place unwanted pumpkin seeds in your birdfeeder or the container of your choice, and do some bird-watching while you have your morning coffee.

Mix up a pumpkin cocktail

Thanks to the ever-widening selection of flavored vodkas on the market, you can make a tasty cocktail out of almost anything - even your Halloween pumpkin. For a tasty cocktail, fill a shaker with ice, and add a tablespoon of pumpkin purée and two ounces of the flavored vodka of your choice. We suggest vanilla, cinnamon or ginger. Add a splash of lime juice and a tiny squeeze of honey. Shake and strain into a glass over fresh ice.

While you enjoy your grown-up dessert drink, you can use some of that pumpkin purée in a tasty milkshake for the kids. Combine two scoops of vanilla ice cream, a half-cup of milk, three tablespoons of pumpkin purée and a teaspoon of cinnamon in a blender. It tastes so much like pumpkin pie in a glass that you may even steal a little for yourself.

Spice up a dinner party with pumpkin serving bowls

Instead of hitting the trash can, those pumpkin shells could be hitting the dinner table and impressing all of your guests. Turning your pumpkin shells into festive serving bowls is easy.

Simply place your hollowed-out pumpkin on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush the insides and the tops with a little vegetable oil, and season as desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, and these babies are ready to serve your favorite soups or dips.  

 Have pumpkin butter with breakfast

Fruit butters are delectable additions to a fall breakfast, and pumpkin butter is one of the easiest to make. Simply place two cups of your pumpkin purée into a saucepan with a cup of brown sugar and a cup of water or apple cider. From there you can add whatever spices you choose. We suggest familiar pumpkin pie spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger, along with a pinch of salt.

Stir all the ingredients together, and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, and allow the mixture to simmer for about 25 minutes. Once your pumpkin butter has cooled, store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator, and use. 

Sources: Earth911.com