Pumpkin Carving

What great memories we all have of carving a pumpkin for halloween. It is a great activity the whole family can enjoy doing together.

Things you will need for pumpkin carving:
- one or more pumpkins
- a paper template or stencil ( a design of your choice)
- a marker
- scissors (if you plan on cutting out your pattern instead of transferring it)
- a marker ( if you plan on cutting out your pattern instead of transferring it)
- one large knife and one small knife
- a large spoon or scoop ( to remove the seeds and insides of the pumpkin)
- news papers
- a bowl
- a large nail or a poker (this is to poke holes on the lines of your pattern, so you transfer the pattern to your pumpkin)
- a candle or light to put inside

2006 Pumpkins

First - You need to go to your local farmer, stand or grocery store to pick out your pumpkins. If you are doing several pumpkins try to pick pumpkins that all look different (oval, round, tall, stumpy) this will give your pumpkins or jack-o-lantern personality.

Second - When you get your pumpkins home clean the outsides of them they tend to have mud on them. Lay down newspaper and sit your pumpkin on it.

Third - You need to take a marker and draw a lid on the top of your pumpkin. Take a large knife and angle the blade towards the inside of the pumpkin and cut this allows a ledge for your lid to sit on. Take your time and make sure the blade stays on an angle or else when you replace your lid it will fall through into the pumpkin. The other alternative is to cut a hole out the bottom of your pumpkin discard the piece then you can just sit the pumpkin on top of the candle or light.

Fourth - Use your large spoon and spoon out all the seeds and the inside waste into a bowl. Save them so later you can can bake them with a pumpkin seed recipe. If your walls are really thick, I usually scrape the walls a bit too. This makes it easier to carve the pumpkin. Just make sure you don't scrape too much away.

Fifth - If you are using a paper pumpkin carving stencil, cut out the peace's it says to. Then tape it in place on your pumpkin. Use a marker to line all the places you are to cut out. The alternative to this is - Tape your paper stencil on the pumpkin. Then take a nail or poker and poke holes on the lines of your stencil.

Sixth - Remove your pumpkin carving template and carve out (with a knife) all the peace's you outlined with a marker or with a nail. For small holes or cracks that have to be carved out. I prefer to use a drill with the smallest drill bit I can find. It works extremely well.

Seventh - Add a candle to your jack-o-lantern. For indoors use a tea light usually does the trick. But for outdoor use because of the wind you usually need a stronger one. Just make sure it's not to tall because it will burn your lid. If you choose a large but short candle, make sure it is not to hot or it will turn your lid to mush. All in all never leave your pumpkin unattended because it can start a fire. You can opt to use a small flashlight. (just make sure you have enough batteries)