At Halloween, one of the most fun traditions is to carve a jack-o-lantern. Food Rescue your Halloween by getting the most out of your pumpkin carving.
You can use the pumpkin flesh you scoop out before carving to make delicious Autumn hearty soup:Heat 2 tbsp of sunflower oil and a teaspoon of butter in a pan. Add an onion, 2 cloves of garlic, a chunk of grated ginger and a red chilli and cook gently over a low heat till the onion is soft.Add your rescued pumpkin flesh and cook for a minute or two more. Pour 1 litre of vegetable stock and bring to boil. Cover and simmer till the pumpkin flesh is soft.Blitz smooth in a food processor, then return to a clean pan to reheat. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in a splash of coconut milk to finish before serving.You can also use the pumpkin flesh to make pumpkin butter, smoothies, bread, pancakes or of course pie!
Use the rescued pumpkin seeds to make tasty snacks:Heat olive oil in a frying pan, then add the (washed and dried) rescued pumpkin seeds. Once they become brown tip them into a bowl, eat them plain or season them with cumin, garlic salt, paprika, sea salt, ground black pepper.You can mix your rescued pumpkin seeds with sunflower seeds – toast in a pan and add a tablespoon of soy sauce to make a delicious sticky snack.To make pumpkin seed brittle: Butter a baking sheet and set aside. Melt 60g butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 100g packed light brown sugar and 4 tbsp of honey. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring for about 6 minutes. Stir in pumpkin seeds. Cook for further 2 minutes. Pour onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely, then break into pieces.Or you can make Halloween Food Rescue trail mix: Preheat oven to 190 degrees. Mix your pumpkin seeds with 1 tbsp of olive oil on a baking sheet, and toast, stirring halfway through, until golden (about 8 minutes). Place toasted pumpkin seeds in a bowl and mix in coconut flakes, almonds, dried cranberries, and candied ginger. Divide among jars and enjoy!Alternatively design and craft Autumn fashion jewellery: Wash the seeds and dry them on paper towels for 8 hours. Thread a sewing needle and pierce seeds, stringing the seeds in a pattern of your choice.
After Halloween:Don’t bin your sad looking pumpkin - break up it up and add to your compost pile. If you don’t have your own compost bin, ask your family and friends, or check to see if your community has a recycling plan already in motion for pumpkins. If they don’t, maybe you can step up and start one!
