Now that I have kids, they love the carving too -- but neither of the boys will get their hands messy. It's all me baby! So we usually end up with only 2 carved pumpkins. But they have fun helping decide what the pumpkin should look like. Some times we use a pattern, some times we have to make one up.
Now that Halloween is only one week away, I thought this Friday Family Fun Night we (or I) could carve our family pumpkin. So I'm sharing pumpkin carving tips of the trade to make your carving experience more enjoyable.
1. Buy a carving tool kit . You will see them at Target, the grocery stores, Wal-Mart, drug stores... pretty much anywhere. They have a scoop, several small carving tools like saws, drills and such in various sizes. Usually there is a book of patterns too... more on patterns in a bit. These little tools make carving so much easier and safer! No more kitchen knives! The small tools give you better control when carving out details. They may not last from one year to the next, but they sure are worth the money!
2. Choose your pattern (or make your own). Your pattern needs to suit your pumpkin. There are lots of websites with patterns for all pumpkin shapes and sizes, and the tool kit usually comes with a pattern book as well. Or you can make your own. The important thing is the pattern matches the pumpkin. Tall thin pumpkins may look better with a tall thin pattern. Round pumpkins, with round faces and features. Test them out and choose one that suits your pumpkin's shape and size.
3. Gut your pumpkin. Now comes the fun part. Cut a hole in the top or bottom of the pumpkin big enough to easily scoop out the innards. I find a large spoon helps with the initial scraping and gutting, then the scoop tool from the kit helps with the nitty-gritty scraping. You'll probably have lots of scraping to do. Your pumpkin "flesh" should only be about 1" thick. Here's my confession -- I only thin out the place where the pattern will go. I'm usually too tired to do the whole pumpkin. But, I'm sure the more you scrape, the better!
4. Set your pattern & Transfer it to the pumpkin. Tape your pattern on the pumpkin where you want it. I usually find I have to make adjustments as I go. The paper never lays the way I want and I end up with folds or seams where I don't want them. But I'm not a perfectionist, so I can live with it. Once you have it taped on, then use the transfer tool to poke little holes in the pattern along the edges. If you don't have a "transfer tool" use something like a metal skewer to poke small holes in the pumpkin (fairly close together) along the pattern border. This is where you will cut the pumpkin in a "connect the dots" fashion.
5. Carve the pumpkin. Using the holes as guides, use the saw to cut out the pattern. Start with smaller areas first and move on to larger areas. Sometimes you may need to break up a large area and do it in smaller chunks. Go slowly and soon your pumpkin will be carved.
6. Don't forget the chimney! If you are using candles and not electric lights, you will need a chimney. In the lid, carve out a small hole for the smoke to escape.
And don't forget to roast your pumpkin seeds when you're done!
There are lots of different ways to roast them, but basically it all boils down to separating them from the pulp. You can soak in salt water over night if you want (but I never do). Preheat your oven to 300F, toss the seeds with a bit of oil to coat, throw in some salt or other seasonings and roast on a cookie sheet for about 40 minutes (or until brown) turning occasionally. I found this great site with step by step instructions if you are still unsure.
So have fun tonight carving your pumpkins. Let your kids help as much or as little as they want. It's fun to get your hands all mucky sometimes!
From Being Savvy Atlanta
