Page 26 - Oundle Life October 2021

TRICKS
& TREATS
...with your pumpkins
Carving a Halloween Pumpkin this year? It is estimated that, year on year, 95% of pumpkins grown in the UK are carved up to use for Halloween.
It’s always great fun to carve some spooky faces; here’s some ideas about how to make the most of what you have left at the end...
The Shell
• Enrich the soil – chop the pumpkin up and either add it to your compost bin, or bury direct into shallow holes in the garden.
• Feed the birds – cut into pieces for the bird table or cut in half and fill with birdseed to create a temporary bird feeder.
The Seeds
• Grow your own pumpkins – just rinse and then dry out the seeds, before storing them in a dry place until planting time in May/June the next year.
• A healthy snack – clean and roast them; salt and pepper, cinnamon, honey-roast... the choice is yours (just don’t eat too many at once!).
• Feed the birds – leave the seeds out for the birds to enjoy.
The Pulp
• Make a facemask – pumpkins are packed with vitamins, and there are lots of DIY facemask recipes online.
• Get cooking – there are recipes out there for everything from purée to hummus to smoothies.
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