Pumpkin Carving

In this episode (176) – Pumpkin Carving . . .

Are you planning to host a pumpkin carving party for the neighborhood kids this holiday season, or maybe just liven up your porch for Halloween?

Yep, Halloween is about two weeks away. So dig out your pumpkin carving kit, cover your kitchen table with newspapers, and have at it. This festive task can be lots of fun - but messy, especially if you have a cat that insists on participating - sniffing everything, with paws flipping pumpkin seeds everywhere!

Here’s a quick tip I ran across from the How-To-Geek newsletter. The next time you carve a pumpkin, cut out the bottom of the gourd first to scrape the seeds. I’ve always cut the top of the pumpkin first to clean it out.

The reason was to carve a chimney to vent the candle votive used inside.

It turns out it’s much easier to clean the pumpkin upside down. Most of the seeds are attached to the base, so cutting from the bottom will make this messy task much cleaner and smoother. All that’s needed is a quick scrape inside, and your jack-o-lantern is ready to carve.

Now that you’ve cleaned out the inside of your pumpkin make sure to have some petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on hand to help your jack-o-lantern live a little longer during the spooky season.

Petroleum jelly can help keep your carved masterpiece looking perfect longer.

Apply Vaseline to the carved edges. This will seal the pumpkin’s moisture and prevent it from quick drying and shrinking. Who wants a wrinkled jack-o-lantern. But there are a few things to remember before going in with the jelly.

First, you’ll want to sterilize your pumpkin to prevent bacterial growth. Mix a teaspoon of bleach with a quart of water and rinse the carved inside and the outside of your pumpkin. Place the mixture in a spray bottle to make it easier to apply. Then, once dry, you can smear on the jelly.

When you do, keep in mind that petroleum jelly is flammable. You should only use a battery-operated votive inside, never an actual candle. The last thing you want is a visit from the fire department.

Have fun this season, but remember, stay safe.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

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