Are you carving a pumpkin this Halloween? Of course you are – not only is a spooky pumpkin essential from an ornamental perspective, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to let your creative juices flow. But before you get carving, you might want to think about your pumpkin’s potential to make sure you get the most out of it.
According to environmental charity, Hubbub, more than half of us (51%) throw away the seeds and flesh of the pumpkin, and the UK bins eight million pumpkins every Halloween, which would produce enough pumpkin pie to feed the entire nation. Given that we are in the midst of a food wastage crisis, we should probably address this as a matter of urgency. Luckily, there are numerous delicious dishes and ingenious ways to make the most out of your pumpkin this Halloween…
1. Pumpkin Pie
Delicious and oh-so festive, pumpkin pie is the most obvious way to use carved-out pumpkin flesh. Plus, the simple recipe uses common ingredients you probably already have in your food cupboard. Simply mix your pumpkin with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, melted butter and two eggs and pour into a sweet shortcrust pasty dish. Bake for roughly 35 minutes at 180°C and violà!
2. Pumpkin Soup
Another simple recipe perfect for pumpkins is soup. Brown an onion in a pan along with the pumpkin for around 10 minutes. Then, add stock and season with any spices you fancy, bring to the boil and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add heavy cream, blend with a hand blender and serve.
Skincare buffs will know the benefits of pumpkins. They’re full of antioxidants that help to ward off environmental aggressors like pollution, as well as plant enzymes that are great exfoliators and natural glow-givers. Simply mix the pumpkin with some Manuka honey, which is nourishing and restorative, and apply to clean skin.
4. Roast the seeds
Pumpkin seeds are an amazing source of fibre, magnesium and antioxidants so throwing them in the bin is a real shame. All you have to do is rinse off the pulp, toss them in a little olive oil, and roast them in the oven for half an hour. You can even get creative with seasoning to take your seeds to the next level – paprika and cumin make for a spicy combination, or you can go sweet with cinnamon and sugar.
Still don’t have your Halloween costume sorted? Check out these gory but glam makeup looks.
