Spice It Up: 7 Things You Can Do With Pumpkins
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It’s October and you can practically smell the pumpkin spice in the air! Pumpkins are very popular this time of year whether they’re plastered on the poster for a haunted house or they’re being enjoyed in a yummy slice of pie.
Beyond their role as a Halloween staple, these brightly colored gourds can be transformed into an array of festive (and also delicious) creations. From savory soups and sweet pies to stunning fall decor and even playful crafts, pumpkins are much more than an ordinary fruit (yes, pumpkins are fruits!)
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Whether it’s canned, fresh, or made of plastic, there are multiple things you can do with pumpkins to spice up the start of the holiday season.
1. Jack o’Lanterns and pumpkin carving
A family favorite Halloween activity, pumpkin carving has become a sport of dexterity and design. Let your creativity fly like chunks of pumpkin through the air as you craft unique carvings that light up from within and delight passers by. Or keep it simple with your standard smiling jack o’lantern to get in the mood for the spooky season.
2. Arts and crafts
If cutting up whole pumpkins isn’t your jam, there’s no reason why you still can’t get festive. Host a pumpkin paint party and create works of art directly on the tough, orange flesh. It’s safe and enjoyable for people of all ages and artistic abilities, but you can elevate your paint party for the grown and sexy by adding an “and sip” component. Why not indulge in a pumpkin chardonnay (that’s a thing!)?
3. Decor
Even though they’re often associated with Halloween, pumpkins don’t have to be scary. This is the perfect time of year to spice up your home decor with pillows, throw blankets, twinkle lights, and art work that feature the stately pumpkin motif. Use a plastic pumpkin as a centerpiece for your dining table or repurpose that pumpkin shaped trick-or-treat basket as a planter for your house plants. Place your newly carved or painted fresh pumpkins out in the front yard for neighbors to admire and enjoy. Pumpkin spice also makes a delightful potpourri or candle. Infuse your home with the fragrance and enjoy the seasonal scent all year long.
4. Pumpkin pie and other desserts
Not sure who needs to hear this but pumpkins are edible! The brightly colored squash has been enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner since the beginning of time and pumpkins make delicious desserts. Not just your traditional pumpkin pie, but also cookies, cheesecakes, muffins, and more. Throw in some cinnamon and pumpkins can also make tasty butter, bread, or pancakes. No need to hunt down a fresh pumpkin for a handmade puree (but if you have the time and skill, more power to you!). Canned pumpkin filling works just fine.
5. Soups and other dishes
Like its cousins squash and zucchini, pumpkins can make a delicious main dish or side for a fall dinner gathering. Transform fresh pumpkin into rich sauce over a pasta dish or create pumpkin ravioli or risotto. Pumpkins also make a savory soup that’s a creamy, comforting dish that’s perfect for the chilly autumn days. Top your bowl off with roasted pumpkins seeds for a flavorful crunch with every spoonful.
6. Drinks
Move over, pumpkin spice latte! There are many other ways to enjoy the taste of fall with a warm cup of pumpkin flavored drinks. Beers, ciders, cocktails, teas, and coffee can all come in sweet, savory, and spicy pumpkin flavors that are easy to mix and brew at home to give you a taste of fall with every sip.
7. Pumpkin patch adventures
Pumpkins are good on a plate, on a pillow, or covered in paint. But they’re perhaps most beautiful just existing in nature. A trip to your local farm or pumpkin patch is a fun way to enjoy pumpkins, frolic through the vines, and maybe even pick out a big one to take home. Pumpkins are a tasty, beautiful, versatile staple of fall. These bright spots of orange on the soft backdrop of autumn are the perfect reminder to embrace the spirit of the season.
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Spice It Up: 7 Things You Can Do With Pumpkins was originally published on elev8.com
