PUMPKINS

I sat down here at the computer half an hour ago with the intention of writing about hedging. I was just getting to a good bit when Julie walked in and reminded me that it was Halloween. And I had said that I was going to talk about something spooky. Well I’m not really the storyteller in our house so I will say a few things about a vegetable that is widely used as backdrop to a ghoulish evening; the pumpkin.

TRIVIA
Before I get started I thought I would test your knowledge on this gigantic vegetable. Here are a couple of brainteasers:



What percentage of a pumpkin is made up of water?



How much can giant pumpkin varieties grow in one day?



How big was the pumpkin that holds the world record for giant pumpkins?



Now, if you do something that you very rarely do which is to get to the end of this weeks article (or is that just me) you’ll see the answers.



PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS.

Instead of the traditional carved faces, your kids can try other ways of decorating pumpkins: here are a few that don’t require the vegetable being hollowed out:

· Use a thin knife (parental supervision may be needed) to carve different shapes onto the pumpkin. Try moons and stars or broomsticks. The cuts don’t have to go all the way through for a good effect.




· Paint your pumpkin with water-based paints or use felt tips. Choose colours that stand out, such as red and white for best effect.



· Choose a flat-sided pumpkin, set it on its side, and use the stem for the nose for a goofy or scary painted face.

Now of course the best pumpkins are the ones that are hollowed out so that a candle can be put inside to give that eerie glow. After you have put your artistic skills to good use creating a scary image on the pumpkin don’t throw away the goo inside, (seeds and pulp) that has been scraped out for the candle to fit in, it will come in very handy for the next project:

ROASTING PUMKIN SEEDS

For this exciting project you will need:
Pumpkin
Vegetable oil
Salt
Large spoons
Bowl and colander
Baking tray

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

After the top has been cut off the pumpkin, get the kids to scoop out the insides with the spoons. Separate the seed from the pulp. The flesh that is scraped out can be made into a delicious soup. Clean the seeds by rubbing them with a tea towel or washing them in a bowl of warm water. Rinse them under the tap using the colander then place them into a clean bowl.

Measure about a tablespoon or more of oil (depending on the amount of seeds) into a cup and let the kids sprinkle it over the seeds, along with a pinch of salt. Stir the seeds until they are fully coated.

With parental supervision again, spread the seeds onto a baking tray and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are dry and slightly brown. Serve with lots of spine tingling noises and creepy stories!


You made it this far so here are the answers to the trivia questions:
90 percent
As much as 25 pounds (11kg)
1,262 pounds (574kg) the 2001 world record.