Halloween

When it comes to carving your Halloween pumpkin, there are endless design possibilities. You can make it with the traditional happy face,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

First, finding that perfect pumpkin. Consider the shape you want - pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure that your pumpkin is ripe, but not too ripe. Here’s a tip…when you thump on it you should hear a hollow sound. That means the pumpkin should be easy to scoop out. Remember to save those seeds for baking. Pumpkin seeds make a yummy snack! Try to find a pumpkin that also has a nice stem & remember not to carry it by the stem, always carry from the bottom. Store your pumpkin in a cool, dry place, until ready to carve. Warm temperatures will only speed up the ripening, then rotting, process. Yuck!

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the first mistake I ever made when carving and it ruined the whole thing!

To help preserve your pumpkin and prevent mold, wash the outside and inside (when it has been cleaned out, of course) with a mild bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon of water), and dry. To make your design last longer, coat all of the exposed areas of the pumpkin with petroleum jelly as soon as you have finished carving, including the surfaces you have cut your design into (you may need to use a cotton swab to reach tricky spots), as this will slow down the ’old apple’ look and shrinking.

As for the actual carving part, it’s really pretty basic - depending on your design. Draw your pumpkin pattern on a piece of paper first, this way you can make revisions without damaging the pumpkin. If you do not consider yourself to be particularly artistic, there are many ready made stencils available and some even come with pumpkin carving kits. There are great patterns that you can find online and print out.

If you use the stencil method, trim off the excess paper and tape the pattern to the pumpkin. Then poke holes through the pattern on to the pumpkin with a push pin, nail, or pumpkin poker (in pumpkin carving kits). Make a dotted line with the holes close enough for you to be able to see the design well when ready to cut - the closer, the better. This part requires patience, but it will pay off in the end. When finished, remove the paper and rub flour or powder over the holes to make them easier to see.

To actually cut the design, you should use a small serrated knife, and slowly use a sawing motion to carve your design. Never use a razor or straight edge knife, as you may slip and ruin your design, the pumpkin, or injure yourself! I prefer the tools that come with a pumpkin carving kit. They are inexpensive and it really does help to have the right tools for the job.

Once you’ve completed your design, it is ready for display! If you want to light it, use either a light made for pumpkins, or a small votive type candle in a secure holder (there are some available just for pumpkins). Place the candle (in holder) inside the pumpkin on a piece of aluminum foil. Light the candle and place the lid on the pumpkin. After a few minutes, remove the lid and look on the underside of it for smoke marks. You will want to cut small vents in the lid where the smoke left marks. This will also help preserve your pumpkin and keep you from cooking it from the inside. Happy Halloween!

Lisa T writes on various subjects and presents a Halloween Costume website and a Halloween Blog . This article is free to reprint as long as nothing is changed and all links remain intact and of course, the rel="no follow" tag is not added. Thank you!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Web ChefJackie.com

Choosing a Halloween Pumpkin - 7 Tips to Ensure That You Get the Best Pumpkin For Your Needs by Melania Karel
Creepy and Cute Halloween Cake Design Ideas by Samantha Mitchell
Easy Halloween Snack Mix by Sara Gray
Ghoulish Entertaining Tips for Halloween by Keith Sinclair
Halloween Bash - Great Ideas For Your Next Party by Kimberly Emminger
Halloween Cake Conjures Up A Witch's Brew! by Samantha Mitchell
Halloween Cakes – Centerpiece and Dessert by Susanne Myers
Halloween Celebrated Around The World Terry Kaufman
Halloween Decorations: 10 Pumpkin Decorating Tips by Donna Monday
Halloween Finger Foods Are Great Crowd Favorites For Scary Theme Food Ideas by Daryl Plaza
Halloween Party Menu by Liz Alderson
Halloween Pumpkin Craze by Sean Carter
Halloween Recipes
Halloween Recipes by Jill Borash
Halloween Treats by Jill Borash
Halloween Treats - Monster Mix by Sara Gray
Halloween - Trick Or Treat? by Joseph Camerlin
How To Carve A Halloween Pumpkin Or Jack O Lantern by Brian Johnson
Jack o' Lantern Halloween Cake - A Bundt Cake Treat! by Samantha Mitchell
Make a Black Cat Cake for Halloween by Patricia Jensen
Pumpkin Carving Ideas by Lata Tokhi
Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips by Gerald Gore
Pumpkin Carving Tips by Lisa T
Pumpkin Painting A Halloween Activity For The Whole Family by JoAnne Westcott
Pumpkin People by Arleen M. Kaptur
Pumpkin Sculptures - They Are Not Your Ordinary Pumpkin by Gerald Gore
Quick And Simple Halloween Recipes by Jeff Layer
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds for Halloween by Sara Gray
Three Great Halloween Cake Ideas by Leefe Poche
The "C's" of Halloween Treats - Cider, Candy Corn, Caramel Corn, Pumpkin "C"-ds, Candied Apples by Anne Clarke
The Art of Photographing Food Debbie Jensen
Tips and Tricks on Carving Jack-o-Lanterns by Rose Smith
Unique Halloween Party Food Ideas by William Smith
Yummy Halloween Treats by Susanne Myers

< Back to Halloween