Halloween 2008 Pumpkin Carving
We got together with our family and carved the pumpkins a little early this year as Halloween is on Friday and we had so many activities that week. Jeanette and Connor arrived first followed by Robin and Nick. Dave joined us and the knives began to fly!
After th carving and the content, we went to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner
The First Task, Cleaning Pumpkins
Connor helps grandpa clean the pumpkins.. A dirty job but someone has to do it!
Did You Know? - The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon.” The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pompion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin.”
The origin of pumpkins is not known, although pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America.
The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C., were found in Mexico. Pumpkins are a squash-like fruit that range in size (less than 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) to over 1,000 pounds (453.59 kilograms)), shape, color, and appearance (smooth or ribbed).
Nick has the scoop!
Nick is quite correct, pumpkin guts are icky!
If you are going to cut a pumpkin then you have to clean it out first
Robin holds the seeds so we can roast them later on in the evening!
When you are carving the Halloween pumpkin this year, save the seeds and make this yummy and nutritious snack. The novelty of scooping out the stringy pumpkin guts makes this a fun family activity.
Jeanette provides adult supervision!
Connor and Robin are going to head in and get the sharp instruments ready!
Busy Fingers Are Happy Fingers
Did You Know? -A jack-o'-lantern (sometimes also spelled Jack O'Lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween, and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. At night a light (commonly a candle, although in recent years candles have fallen out of favor and are now considered unsafe because of the potential for fires) is placed inside to illuminate the effect. The term is not particularly common outside North America, although the practice of carving lanterns for Halloween is.
Pumpkin patterns make the job a little easier!
Dave look on as Jeanette applies the pattern to Sue's pumpkin
Robin and Nick team up
Dave is busy with his creation
"Who me do a pumpkin? You gotta be kidding!"
"Who can make the scariest face???"
"Now, who can make the happiest face???"
Dave and Sue collaborating on the patterns
What a serious face... The one on the pumpkin!
She is being creative!
You can always count on Connor to look as goofy as the pumpkin!
Nick is starting to see the pattern take effect!
We Roast The Pumpkin Seeds Every Year!
Wash them and spread them out on foil in a cookie sheet. Add spices! This year it was a Mexican spice but some years we used garlic and habanaro.
The smell was super, fit right into the holiday!
They are getting ready!
Do You Know How To Prepare The Seeds?-
Seed preparation
- Separate the seeds from the stringy pulp, but do not wash the seeds. Washing them removes much of the flavor. Don’t worry if you cannot get all the pulp off, just try to get most of it off.
- Toss the seeds in the mixing bowl with about a Tablespoon of oil per cup of seeds and season them with spices such as garlic, chili, salt and/or Mexican seasonings to taste
- Spread the seeds out in a single layer on the cookie sheet. If you have a lot of seeds you may need to make 2 batches
Roasting The Seeds
- Put the seeds into a preheated oven set to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
- Bake them for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
- The seeds are done when they are dry and light brown
- Let cool and transfer to an airtight container. They will keep for about a week.
Meanwhile Back At The Table...
Whistle while you work!
Black nail polish was perfect for this evening!
Dave is still working hard!
Grandma Sue is really tearing up the pattern
The wine helps!
Precision counts!
Time To Admire Our Creations!
Sarge and Flower are curious and want to know why they didn't get a pumpkin!
Connor's cat was super!
Little boys playing with fire!
They look better in the dark!
EEK!
These will be used to terrorize the neighborhood on Friday!
Last minute adjustments
Off To CPK For Dinner
"Where is my food???"
She is making scary faces again... The first server ran away screaming!
Robin and Paul always smiling!
Dang... Don't let Sue see! Oh, she took the picture!
"I want my Long Island Iced Tea"
Did You Know? -A Long Island Iced Tea is a highball made with, among other ingredients, vodka, gin, tequila, and rum. A popular version mixes equal parts vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec with 1 1/2 parts sour mix and a splash of cola. Close variants often replace the sour mix with sweet and sour mix or with lemon juice, the cola with actual iced tea, or add white creme de menthe.
Some restaurants substitute brandy for the tequila. The drink has a much higher alcohol concentration (~28%) than most highballs because of the proportionally small amount of mixer. The cola is just for color. Outside of the United States, this highball is often altered, due to the unpopularity of sour mix. Long Island Iced Tea served outside the States is often made of liquors and cola alone (without sour mix), with lemon or lime juice, or with lime cordial.
"Oh, really?????"
"Who can make the goofiest face??? " Jeanette is gonna yell at her dad
about this one!
Connor must be tired from carving!
The Duda's are having a ball! Bob had to work late but made dinner!
"So Dave, I can recreate the sandwich we had on our last date"
"A little of this and a little of that and a lot of those"
Mr. Innocent!
Not so innocent!
Bob and Nick showing their teeth!
Dave enjoying the evening!
Someone is telling a story!
Jeanette and Sue smiling at the birdie!
Good Night And Happy Scaring!
We loaded the trunk full of carvings... Looking good Connor!
Did You Know?
Q: What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter?
A: Pumpkin Pi.
Q: How do you make a witch stew?
A: Keep her waiting for hours.
Q: How do ghosts begin their letters?
A: "Tomb it may concern..."
Q: What happened to the guy who couldn't keep up payments to his exorcist?
A: He was repossessed.
Q: What do you call a person who puts rat poison in a person's Corn Flakes?
A: A cereal killer
Q: How do you mend a broken Jack-o-lantern?
A: With a pumpkin patch.
Q: What is a ghost's favorite ride?
A: A roller ghoster.
Q: Why are there fences around cemeteries?
A: Because people are dying to get in.
Q: What do you get when you cross Dracula with Sleeping Beauty?
A: Tired blood.
Q: Why was the mummy so tense?
A: He was all wound up.
Q: What kind of street does a ghost like best?
A: A dead end.
Q: How do you know if a ghost is lying?
A: You can see right through him.
Q: How is a werewolf like a computer?
A: They both have megabytes.
Q: Where do vampires live?
A: At the Vampire State Building.
Q: Why don't witches like to ride their brooms when they're angry?
A: They're afraid of flying off the handle.
Q: Where do ghosts go on vacation?
A: Lake Erie.
Q: How can you tell when a window is scared?
A: They get shudders.
Q: Why didn't the skeleton dance at the Halloween party?
A: It had no body to dance with.
Q: What do you say to a ghost with three heads?
A: Hello, hello, hello.
Q: What is a witch's favorite subject in school?
A: Spelling!
Q: When does a skeleton laugh?
A: When something tickles his funny bone.
Q: What tops off a ghost's sundae?
A: Whipped Scream
Q: What has a black hat, flies on a broomstick, and can't see anything?
A: A witch with her eyes closed.
Q: Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
A: Because he's always a goblin.
Q: What happens when a ghost gets lost in a fog?
A: He's mist.
Q: What sailor like to be chilled to the bone?
A: A skeleton crew.
Q: Where does Count Dracula usually eat his lunch?
A: In the casketeria.
Q: Where did the goblin throw the football?
A: Over the ghoul line.
Q: What do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire?
A: Toasty ghosty.
Q: What do you call a ghost with a broken leg?
A: Hoblin Goblin.
Q: What do you call a wicked witch who lives by the sea?
A: A Sand-witch
Q: What did the baby ghost eat for dinner?
A: A boo-loney sandwich.
Q: What do you get when you cross a were-wolf with a drip-dry suit?
A: A wash-and-werewolf.
Q: What did the papa ghost say to the baby ghost?
A: Fasten your sheet belt.
Q: Who does a ghoul fall in love with?
A: His ghoul friend.
Q: What is a vampires favourite mode of transportation?
A: A blood vessel.
Q: What do you call a dog owned by Dracula?
A: A blood hound.
Q: What kind of hot dogs do werewolves like best?
A: Hallowieners.
Q: What do you call serious rocks?
A: Grave stones.
Q: How do you picture yourself flying on a broom?
A: By witchful thinking.
Q: Why did the witch's mail rattle?
A: It was a chain letter.
Q: Why did the vampire's lunch give her heartburn?
A: It was a stake sandwich.
Q: What do you call a skeleton who refuses to help around the house?
A: Lazybones
Q: Why did Dracula take cold medicine?
A: To stop his coffin