Here you will find recommendations on how to make a jack-o'-lantern pumpkin on Halloween and dry the seeds extracted from the pumpkin.
The tradition of pumpkin lighting went from the custom of the Celts to make lanterns that help lost souls find their way to purgatory. After many centuries, Jack's lamp became an indispensable attribute of the Halloween holiday, and funny faces from everywhere look out now at the end of October, scaring evil spirits away.
All you need to make a festive lantern is a beautiful orange pumpkin of the correct form, a knife and a spoon. To illuminate, use a regular candle or electric torch.
- Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients and accessories for pumpkin lamp
- 1 pumpkin;
- a piece of gauze;
- a tablespoon with a sharpened edge;
- sharp knife;
- a knife for removing the core of apples;
- pen or marker.
Cooking Method
Making a pumpkin lamp
Experience shows that the most beautiful are obtained from the pumpkin of the classical form - they are resistant and convenient to cut. To begin, wash the pumpkin, then cut off the top with a tail with a large, sharpened knife. Not everyone has a tablespoon with a sharpened edge, but if you regularly mark Halloween, I advise you to single out one spoon for this purpose from home utensils. Any man (with hands) will help you sharpen it. So, we carefully scraped the seed bag, trying not to damage the seeds and walls. You can cut and pulp, leaving the walls with a thickness of 1, 5 cm. Firstly, the pumpkin will glow brighter, and secondly, there will be something to cook stew from, let the vegetable not disappear!
We take the cut off cover with a tail, cut out small triangles in a circle in it. This must be done to ensure that the heat from the candle, which naturally rises up, would have a way out.
Then use the marker to draw a face on the most beautiful side of the pumpkin. Cut the eyes with a knife to remove the core of apples.
We cut out a smile with a small sharply sharpened knife. I advise you to leave two jumpers in a smile (2 teeth). I will explain why. The pumpkin heats up from the candle and, if the mouth is cut completely, then under the influence of heat your Jack will settle, and the smile will turn into a narrow slit.
This can be finished if you have made a pumpkin lamp in advance, put it in the fridge, it will last 2 days without problems. Pumpkin lamp Jack for Halloween is ready.
Dry pumpkin seeds
The economical mistress will not discard a useful by-product of the production of lanterns - seeds. Hands separate the seeds from the pulp, put in a colander or sieve.
Thoroughly wash the seeds, so that the remnants of the pulp are completely washed off, leave in a sieve so that the water is glass.
Fold the gauze in several layers, put the seeds in a thin layer, leave for 1-2 hours to dry.
Now put the seeds on a dry cast iron skillet. We put on the stove, make the smallest fire and dry, stirring, for 20 minutes. You can also put the seeds on a baking sheet, put them in the oven on the middle shelf, slightly opening the oven door. Temperature 80 degrees, time 30 minutes.
Dried seeds are best stored in a linen bag.
