-FIRST, you have to go find the perfect pumpkin: go to a pumpkin patch or general store to find your perfect pumpkin if you haven’t already.

Kansas Pumpkin Patches:

-Bergmann Corn Maze–  8401 S. Meridian  Haysville, KS–   http://www.bergmanncornmaze.com/

-Cox Farm–   6059 South Seneca Wichita, Ks–   http://www.coxfarm.com/

-AppleJacks Pumpkin Patch–   10007 SW Indianola Rd  Augusta, KS–   http://applejackpumpkinpatch.com/

-SECOND, learn about your pumpkin.

–Fun Facts!!

• The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepõn which means large melon.
• Pumpkins are actually squash, they are part of the Cucurbita family.
• Pumpkins can be grown all over the world.
• Pumpkins are fruit.
• The largest “official” pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,340 pounds.
• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
• 90 percent of pumpkins are water.

-THIRD, decorate your pumpkin 

Today on Halloween many people carve their pumpkins then they are called jack-o-lanterns!

IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW TO MAKE YOUR JACK-O-LANTERN THIS IS HOW…

– All you need is a knife, a pumpkin, a marker and your creative skills-

* Clean your pumpkin with a wet rag to get all the dirt off.

1. Think of a carving you would like to do on your pumpkin.

Just a few ideas

2. Cut around the the stem until you can remove the lid, like the picture above. Clean the seeds out from the inside of the pumpkin (save the seeds for later).

3. Pick the side you would like to carve on.

4. With your marker draw the carvings you want to make on your pumpkin.

5. Grab your knife (carefully! don’t get hurt).

6. Trace over your marker drawings with the knife to make the piece come out of the pumpkin.

-FORTH, make seeds

1.Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

2.Clean the seeds: Separate the seeds from the stringy pulp, rinse the seeds under cold water, then shake dry (don’t blot with paper towels; the seeds will stick).

3.Dry them: Spread the seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet and roast 30 minutes to dry them out.

4.Add spices: Toss the seeds with olive oil, salt and your choice of spices (see below). Return to the oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 20 more minutes.

Sweet Toss with cinnamon and sugar (do not use salt in step 4).

Indian Toss with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.

Spanish Toss with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.

Italian Toss with grated parmesan and dried oregano.

Barbecue Toss with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin

or try to come up with your own

🙂