Pumpkins A Plenty

     The season of fall wouldn’t be quite complete without a trip to the local patch. The pumpkin patch offers a great photo backdrop as well as a great selection of pumpkins to adorn the front porch or carve into an assortment of faces. Sculpting the pumpkin aside though, the round orange squash actually does have a variety of other options.

Hair Mask/Face Mask: The high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc in the pumpkin can do wonders for dry and damaged skin or hair.

For the face mask:

Mix 2 tsps. of purred pumpkin, either from a can or cooked fresh from the pumpkin with a touch of honey and milk.

Apply to your face for fifteen minuets and relax. Scrub you face off and enjoy a fresh glow!

For the hair mask:

In a food processor, mix one cup of fresh pumpkin and four tablespoons of coconut oil together. Spread the smooth mixture throughout wet or dry hair and let sit for 30 minuets. Wash out the mixture thoroughly from your hair and enjoy a new shine!

Pumpkin Pinata: What better way to smash a pumpkin? Carve out a pumpkin and fill it with candy. Then hang the pumpkin by a string. Blindfold players one at a time and let everyone have a turn smashing the pumpkin. Perfect idea for a Halloween party!

Pumpkin Seeds: A favorite of our families, this recipe is easy and the pumpkin seeds last a long time.

Ingredients:

One medium sized pumpkin

Salt

Olive Oil

1.  First pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2.  Scoop out pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin and separate the seeds from the rest of the pumpkin mass. Measure the pumpkin seeds in a cup measure and them dump them in a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to the pot for every half-cup of pumpkin seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let simmer for 10 minuets.  

3.  After draining the seeds, coat the bottom of a tray with olive oil and spread the seeds out on the tray. Bake the seeds in the oven until they begin to brown, probably about 5-20 minuets. When the seeds begin to brown, take out the tray and let the seeds cool. Once the seeds are cool, they are good to eat!

Since everyone has their own family traditions with pumpkins, let me know yours and I’ll feature it on this blog! Happy Fall, ya’ll!