Post 10/31 clean up with your pumpkins and candy

What to Do With the Pumpkins

 

What to Do With the Pumpkins

Yesterday, we talked about using up the leftover candy. Today, let’s talk about the pumpkins.
First off, if you carved the pumpkin and had it sitting outside, it got hit with airborn bacteria, and probably shouldn’t be eaten. There are websites that recommend cutting off the exposed parts around the eyes and mouth, peeling, baking and pureeing, and state that it’s perfectly fine.
For fun, you can read about one person’s attempt here. It’s just not recommended.
Some people draw the faces on the pumpkin and don’t carve it. These pumpkins can absolutely be used.
Pumpkin puree can be frozen i one or two cup amounts and used in recipes throughout the year. If you can find a type called sugar pie in your local grocer, it will be the most flavorful for pies, soups, stews, bread, and cookies.

Recipes

• Preparing the pumpkin
• White Bean and Pumpkin Chili - Scroll down to the bottom to see the recipe. There’s also one for cornbread to eat with the chili.
• Pumpkin lasagna – I wonder if Garfield the Cat would like this?
• Pumpkin mac and cheese – pumpkin is full of healthy antioxidants
• Roasted pumpkin and apple soup – the best of harvest time all rolled up into one soup
• Pumpkin cookies – with a gorgeous swirl icing. This site also has videos to show you how it’s done
• Roast pumpkin and feta risotto – Served directly in the pumpkin shell.
• Pumpkin Bread – the ultimate breakfast or snack. But with cream cheese or plain?

Hopefully you saved the seeds and soaked them in salt water. They can be roasted in a 300 degree oven for 30 minutes. You can then add a variety of seasonings and roast for a further 20 minutes:

Add spices: Toss the seeds with olive oil, salt and your choice of spices (see below). Return to the oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 20 more minutes.
Sweet Toss with cinnamon and sugar (do not use salt in step 4).
Indian Toss with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.
Spanish Toss with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.
Italian Toss with grated parmesan and dried oregano.
Barbecue Toss with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin.

What will you do with your pumpkins?

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What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

 

What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

We hope you had a happy and safe Halloween. Whether you passed out candy and have extras, or your kids got too much (or even want to get rid of the stuff they don’t like), here are some ideas for getting through that mountain of sugar.

Donate It

Halloween Candy Buy Back works with dentists and Operation Gratitude. You can go to the website and look for participating dentists near you. Some dentists are offering prizes, or money in exchange for the candy. You can also send your candy directly to:
OPERATION GRATITUDE/ CA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
17330 VICTORY BLVD.
VAN NUYS, CA 91406
ATTN: RICH HERNANDEZ / 262-674-7281
Check your local newspaper, television or radio station for other local donation spots.

Exchange It

Some dentists are offering coupons or cash in exchange for your candy. They then donate the candy to Operation Gratitude.
You can look online at Halloween Candy Buy Back or check the websites for your local newspaper, television or radio station for participating dentists.

Create With It

Parenting Magazine
JournalStar Ideas

Freeze It

Put hard candies or fruity sweets like Starburst into tightly sealed bags. Chocolate freezes very well, and is a great treat for your brown bag lunches. Plus you wont need to use an ice pack to keep your beverage cool.
But do be careful if you eat the candy from the freezer. Let it thaw a little bit otherwise you might crack a tooth.

Bake With It

Chopped or crushed, they add a great flavor to brownies and cookes…even cake batter. Use skittles and other small colored candy to decorate cakes and cupcakes.

Drink (or Eat) It

Add it to a milkshake like the ice cream chains do, only save the money by making it yourself. Some blenders can handle chopping up the candy like Butterfinger or Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, and some can’t and you may need to chop it up a little before blending. And while it’s not drinking, you can also use candy as an ice cream topping. If you’re really adventurous, you could thaw the ice cream out a little and smoosh in the candy, and then pop it back into the freezer.

Play With It

Have a science experiment afternoon where you try out different things with the candy. Microwave it and see if it melts. Create a mentos geyser with a bottle of diet Coke. Find more ideas here
So what will you be doing with your candy?