As the October season approached, Andrew and I decided to kick things off with some festive fun – pumpkin carving. We took our enthusiasm up a notch by incorporating our new power drill into the process. To make it an even more unique experience, we decided to live stream the event on Facebook, inviting friends and followers to join in on the excitement. As expected, things got a little messy, but that’s all part of the fun – and a few unexpected bumps along the way didn’t dampen our spirits.
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To embark on the thrilling adventure of carving a pumpkin, you’ll need to gather some essential tools and supplies. First, procure a trusty serrated knife that will effortlessly navigate through the pumpkin’s tough skin. You may also want to have a power drill handy, preferably one like our beloved Ryobi – its versatility is unmatched. Additionally, stock up on drill bits of your desired size to create intricate designs or patterns.
To ensure a mess-free experience, have some newspapers at the ready to contain any stray pulp or seeds. Finally, don’t forget to grab some sturdy buckets for collecting and disposing of those pesky pumpkin guts.
Prepping the Pumpkins
When it comes to pumpkin preparation, starting with a clean slate is essential. A simple yet effective trick is to cut out the bottom of the pumpkin instead of the top, discarding the removed portion. This approach helps preserve the pumpkin’s natural moisture levels and simplifies the process of placing a candle inside or lighting one on top. Additionally, this technique reduces the risk of accidents caused by having to set a candle down within the pumpkin.
Once the pumpkin is hollowed out, don’t overlook the seeds; they can be easily roasted for a delicious snack, which will be covered in further detail later. For now, focus on removing the insides and setting the pumpkin guts aside. To guide your carving design, use a marker to create reference points. We opted for dots at the corners of the eyes, nose, and mouth, utilizing a Sharpie.
While our choice didn’t provide a clean wash-off solution, you can employ a washable marker for more temporary guidelines that can be easily removed afterward.
Carving the Pumpkin
As you begin crafting your masterpiece, a few key points to keep in mind: First, maintain control over the drill speed – rapid spinning can result in an untimely pumpkin explosion. Next, exercise caution when spacing out your holes, as overly crowded or closely placed punctures may cause the pumpkin to weaken and potentially collapse. To achieve intricate details like the ‘R’ design featured below, consider drilling smaller holes between larger ones.
Finally, ensure a secure drill bit attachment, lest it fall victim to the same fate as our initial, ill-fated attempt.
Post-Carving
As we finished drilling, I was surprised to find pumpkin guts lingering in most of the holes. Cleaning them out with a skewer proved tedious, so I resorted to blowing into them. The process reminded me of giving CPR to ‘Charlie,’ and Andrew humorously added that it was like cheating on your husband! 😆 Thankfully, this unorthodox method worked, leaving us with smoothly drilled pumpkins. Without risking a cut from using a knife, we were able to complete the task efficiently.
Although gut-scooping took around 10 minutes, drilling both pumpkins in under 10 minutes was a significant time-saver. I’m pleased with the outcome. With our new jack-o’-lanterns now ready for their close-up, we turned to lighting them up. However, the candles began to dim once the pumpkins were placed over them. To address this issue, we drilled a few additional holes in the back of the pumpkins to improve airflow. Finally, our ‘shining’ moment arrived!
Don’t Forget About the seeds!
The allure of roasted pumpkin seeds is undeniable; nostalgia strikes whenever I think about my brother’s annual pumpkin seed roasting sessions when we were younger. He’d devour the entire batch, leaving none for anyone else. This time around, I stumbled upon a simple yet effective recipe from Food Network that I just had to try. The process begins with separating the seeds from their pulp and rinsing them in cold water to remove any excess residue.
After shaking off excess moisture, spread the seeds evenly over a greased baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes to dry them out. Next, drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the seeds and add your preferred seasonings – I opted for garlic salt, basil, thyme, and oregano, but feel free to experiment with other flavor combinations. Finally, return the seeds to the oven and bake for an additional 20+ minutes or until they reach a golden brown perfection. That’s it.
The perfect snack for fall enthusiasts. If you decide to give roasting pumpkin seeds a try this year, be sure to share your experience in the comments below.
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The allure of roasted pumpkin seeds is undeniable; nostalgia strikes whenever I think about my brother’s annual pumpkin seed roasting sessions when we were younger. He’d devour the entire batch, leaving none for anyone else. This time around, I stumbled upon a simple yet effective recipe from Food Network that I just had to try. The process begins with separating the seeds from their pulp and rinsing them in cold water to remove any excess residue.
After shaking off excess moisture, spread the seeds evenly over a greased baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes to dry them out. Next, drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the seeds and add your preferred seasonings – I opted for garlic salt, basil, thyme, and oregano, but feel free to experiment with other flavor combinations. Finally, return the seeds to the oven and bake for an additional 20+ minutes or until they reach a golden brown perfection. That’s it.
The perfect snack for fall enthusiasts. If you decide to give roasting pumpkin seeds a try this year, be sure to share your experience in the comments below.