Halloween
is the time for carving your Jack-O-Lantern. Make sure to select one that is heavy
for its size and has a tough, hard rind. Pumpkin is high in Vitamins A, C, Niacin
and Dietary Fiber.
Pumpkin Carving Precautions
- Make sure children don’t handle knives.
- Kids can draw designs of the face with a magic marker and
adults can do the carving.
- Make sure to use a sharp knife.
- Keep the children a safe distance from the carving site so
there aren’t any distractions in the way of a sharp object.
- Layer newspaper under the pumpkin prior to carving.
- Remove the inside flesh safely with an ice cream scoop or
your hands.
- Separate seeds into a bowl of cold water. Let it set for
a few hours. Rinse off seeds. Mix seeds in vegetable oil and put on a sprayed cookie
sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Set oven at 300°F. Put seeds
in oven. Turn seeds often to avoid scorching. Don’t over-toast as seeds tend to
darken, lose flavor and become tough.
- Make sure the clean up the mess from pumpkin carving. Pumpkin
flesh is slippery and could cause an accident such as a slip and fall.
- Use a glow stick to safely illuminate your jack-o-lantern
vs. candles. Candles left unattended could possibly start a fire.
Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.