Pumpkin Pointers

by Ann Landi — October 23, 2006

Monday October 23rd
Smoothie of the Week

Our smoothie of the week, made with canned pumpkin, comes from Stacy Larsen or Portland, Oregon, and will take you right through the holiday season. Creamy and spicy, it's low in fat and packs lots of vitamin A, calcium, and protein.

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt, enriched vanilla soy milk, or 1 cup nonfat milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (if using plain milk, add an extra spoonful of sugar or honey)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
dash nutmeg
2-3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar

Blend until creamy. Serves two.

Tuesday October 24th
Pumpkin Pointers

For easier carving this Halloween, Julie Longstaff of North Vancouver, BC, suggests popping the pumpkin in a microwave or hot oven (400 degrees). The innards are easier to scoop out and the skin becomes slightly softer, making faces a breeze to pare and slice. She recommends using a skewer to test for “doneness”—every 10 minutes in the oven; every 3 minutes or so for smaller pumpkins in a microwave.

Wednesday October 25th
Tip-Top Tops

“When I cut a hole in the top of my jack-o-lantern,” writes Wyn Jamieson of Chula Vista, California, “I always cut a distinctive V shape jutting out of one part of the circle. That way, when I replaced the top, I can easily figure out how it fits back onto the pumpkin.”

Thursday October 26th
Seed Snacks

Stacy Larsen also has a suggestion for an unusual snack while your brood is hard at work on pumpkin carving. Collect the seeds from the innards and wash and dry them on paper towels. Spread them on a lightly oiled, lightly salted (no more than ½ teaspoon per cup of seeds) baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes. Check frequently and shake the pan a few times to ensure even toasting. Serve with mugs of hot apple cider.

Friday October 27th
The Trick to a Safe Halloween

How well do you know your neighbors come the spookiest celebration of the year? If your kids are out trick-or-treating without adult supervision, you may want to brush up on a few safety precautions before sending them out into the night. Melissa Burns of Tipton, MO, suggests perusing www.childsafenetwork.com for good tips on keeping your kids safe in any situation. Another site—www.halloween-safety.com—offers specific pointers for safeguarding your little demons and witches.

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