Pumpkin Love

When we were down in Dorset last week driving back and forth to my Mum's cottage, we drove past a small farm house selling pumpkins. Each day there would be three or four beautiful orange pumpkins of varying size placed on the wall in front of the house, with an "honesty box" and a hand written sign pricing them at £2.50.

I spent many hours sat with my Mum last week whilst J took the Little People out and about. When we got back one afternoon the Little Peeps made me close my eyes as I went into the kitchen (I honestly had no idea what was going on), then there was this big Ta-daaaaaaah!! and this amazing pumpkin was revealed. It was such a sweet thing for them to do to cheer me up, as they know how much I love carving our annual halloween pumpkin.

Because of the way the pumpkin had come to me this year, I wanted to do something a bit special with it. I hopped onto Pinterest and began drinking in all sorts of ghoulish ideas for spooky pumpkin lanterns. Nothing quite grabbed me until I came across this Night Owl. The design came from a website called "Zombie Pumpkins" (yes, really) and I managed to fairly easily print the design and trace it onto the front of my gorgeous Dorset Pumpkin. 

On Friday afternoon, The Little People were off getting dressed and made up ready for a Halloween Party, so I was given full, peaceful permission to Do The Pumpkin. I used an ice cream scoop to carve out the pumpkin flesh, then a small sharp kitchen knife to carefully cut out the shapes. Finally, I used a lino cutting tool to carve some extra patterns, and I tell you I was one happy, satisfied, Halloween Mummy!

I was absolutely chuffed to bits with how it turned out and couldn't wait for it to get dark so that I could light up the candles inside.

Everyone who came to our door trick or treating that evening loved it, and even took photos of it. It's definitely my best halloween pumpkin to date, and the Little People were suitably impressed by my carving skillz.

I was left with 600g of scooped out pumpkin innards, so on Saturday I decided to have a go at baking a pumpkin pie.

I don't think any of us here in the Attic have ever eaten pumpkin pie before, so it was a bit of a gamble really, but I did want to give it a go. I found a recipe on the BBC Good Food website, then set about doing pastry stuff and making my spiced pumpkin filling. It took an age to do.....and the result? I have to confess that none of us really liked it! I mean, it was oh-kay, the spice flavours were really quite strong (I might've put too much ginger in) and I thought it was going to be much sweeter. But anyhow, we all really tried to like it, and bless the LP, they didn't want to tell me they didn't like it until they saw me screw my face up then they were able to breathe out and admit they didn't much care for it either. Oh well, you can't win'em all. Pumpkin soup next year then.

I've had pumpkins on my mind all weekend, thinking about how much I loved doing the carving and how I would really like to have a go at making more pumpkin lanterns. The above pages are cut out of an old Country Living magazine and have stuck in my mind (they're about 6 years old I think), I just loved the simplicity of making these sort of seasonal decorations for the home.

Last week I also came across these beauties on Facebook, which has certainly fuelled my carving-craving! Aren't they beautiful? They were designed and carved by a super talented artist called Amy Swann, who is perhaps better known for her incredible wedding cakes.

And then today, I found these wonderful designs on a US website giving ideas for things to do to celebrate Fall. I mean Autumn. Autumn-Fall.

So can you guess what I did this morning? Yeah, course you can, I am nothing if not predictable.....

....I got out my nifty little lino cutter, ready for an hour of peaceful gouging. I bought my cutter from a local shop but they are easy to come by online (on Amazon UK here)

I wanted to do another pumpkin, but in the days after Halloween there was not a pumpkin to be found. So I had to settle for a short, squat little Butternut Squash. I chopped it's top off then set about getting rid of the innards. I can definitely recommend the ice cream scoop method, it works a treat.

I hollowed out the lid too, but in the end I discarded it and made a candle pot instead of a full candle lantern.

I didn't bother to draw the design, just waded straight in with an idea to create some stems and leaves and maybe a birdie. I didn't really faff too much, just went with the flow....

....and produced something rather pleasing and very rustic shall we say. But oh the pleasure! I was sat in my little back yard with a cup of coffee, scraping and cutting and piercing to my hearts content.

The instant results were very gratifying, and I immediately put my carved butternut lantern to good use on the table.

Oh, cute!

This little project has really pleased me today and delivered a welcome dose of happy. I know the lantern won't last long, but that just makes it more special. It's of the moment, and I like that.

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Comments

[mari]

even though it won't last as long...it looks just lovely :)

[DEBBIE MCKINNISS]

So sorry about your pumpkin pie. As an American, I've grown up on the pie and it is one of my favorites. Might I encourage you to try again? But this time, use this recipe https://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18470/libbys-famous-pumpkin-pie/ This is the quintessential American Pumpkin pie--on our tables every Thanksgiving. And you can't just scoop out the innards of the pumpkin...if you don't use canned pumpkin (abundant on our grocery shelves) you bake the whole pumpkin and then peel off the rind. Puree the flesh and use 2 cups in the recipe. Yummy!
Loved your lanterns---what a sculptor you are!

[Ann]

You are so creative and your pumpkins are wonderful. As to the pie filling. Here in the US the pumpkins grown for Halloween carving are of a different variety than the ones used for pie making. I believe the pie making ones are smaller and sweeter. One thing your kids might like is to roast the pumpkin seeds with lots of kosher salt. We used to make them when the kids were younger and everyone loved it. Just pick out the seeds and put them on a baking sheet with a little oil and salt and bake. Yummy!

[Sher]

Love the candle squash - that'd be a good idea for a Thanksgiving decoration - obviously that wouldn't be needed in the UK but here in the US, it's given me some stellar thanksgiving décor ideas! THANKS. And nice carving.

[Mady]

Loving the table lantern!! Have you tried a pumpkin teabread? My brood love it and they don't care for p-pie either.

[Erica]

Gorgeous! Or should I say, gourd-geous!

[Claire]

Magical and fantastic! I even like the sound of the over-gingered, under-sweetened pumpkin pie - just for the making of it!

[Angela-Southern USA]

Oh how wonderful they turned out Lucy! Bravo! I've never thought about the lino cutters! Over the years I've just used knives and such when all the while I had lino cutters in the craft room, Duh!(I will definitely use them next year!) I love the one with the ginkgo leaves, I think I'll try that with a gourd and my air carver for a more permanent one. Thanks for the inspiration. Pumpkin pie recipes, it can be hard to find one you like, but worth it when you do (and the right pumpkin). Plenty of pumpkins to be found here and on sale too. Enjoy!

[jeannette]

beautiful.
while i am not carving a butternut, i am planning to make this roasted butternut innards dish today.
maybe it wil come in handy for you.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Winter-Squash-and-Parsnips-with-Maple-Syrup-Glaze-and-Marcona-Almonds-350453

[Jo]

You can preserve pumpkins by spraying them with a bleach and water solution. Think it might be 1 part bleach to 3 parts water but you may want to look that up. Your squash looks so sweet. Well done x

[Debbie]

I had exactly the same reaction when I made pumpkin pie a couple of years ago. Everybody was very quiet until I said "ooh thats horrible" and then they all quickly agreed. I make pumpkin soup every year and we all love it.
Your pumpkin carving is wonderful, you are so talented.

[Sue in Marion, Indiana]

We Americans do love our pumpkin pie...but all pumpkins are not created equal for pie-making. The only time I baked a pie from a fresh pumpkin it was pretty...bleahh. Over here, they grow small, sweet "sugar pumpkins" for baking. I just stick to canned. And I always make a ginger snap cookie crumb crust. YUM!!!!!!
Pastry crust tends to get soggy. And if the filling isn't spiced just right, it really is not tasty. Pumpkin muffins are delicious!

[Clo]

Thank you for this beautiful discovery of carved pumpkins, I do not know anything .. !!

[Lesley]

Lovely lanterns Lucy! Must have a go myself next year. Another use for pumpkin apparently is for helping your cat go to the loo! Tried it on my Mollie though and she just turned her nose up and looked at me as if to say - "Do you expect me to eat this?!" -(as usual). Naughty spoiled cat! Now I just use tiny amounts and squish it into her food. Sorry - getting off track here......

[Begonvilli Ev]

Wonderful!! I love pumpkin. Your owl pumpkin is so cute.

[Jean viserta]

Lucy, I absolutely love your pumpkin carvings. You are very artistic. I just discovered your blog just before you closed your attic window. I'm so glad I found it. It's very heartwarming with my morning coffee. I must have discovered you on Pinterest. It was probably a crochet pin that I saw that lead me to you. I, too, am an avid crocheter. My mom taught me when I was just a little girl. I made long chains while she made her beautiful doilies. I have graduated to doilies and afghans, etc. now. Looking forward to your next blog. Thanks for making me smile each day.

[Diane]

So cool! I never would have thought to carve them so intricately. This year my pumpkins stayed whole so I could keep them a bit longer and because it was so windy they never would've stayed lit. I am also not a fan of pumpkin pie, but I absolutely love pumpkin spice muffins! Ree at the Pioneer Woman blog has a great recipe, with optional frosting :)

[Carrie B.]

Absolutely fabulous carving! We always carve a basic pumpkin face and now that my kiddos are older they did all their own carving this year with the little carving kits we have here in the States. Be easy on yourself and make your pie with canned pumpkin - same end product with less work. I always use the recipe on the can but I prefer all the spices to 'pumpkin pie spice' blend. And don't forget the whipped cream - although we prefer 'Cool Whip' in our family! :)

[Carole C]

Wow...your carvings are fabulous ,Lucy ! I didn't get a pumpkin this year...I was out shopping on Friday ,but it completely slipped my mind....sieve head these days :)
Last year I carved one ,but the soup I made from the ' innards' was decidedly gloopy and despite the addition of various spices,still seemed quite bland .After lengthy washing and de- stringing ,I tried roasting the seeds to have as a savoury snack...but these were just foul too ,so joined the soup in the bin !
I stick to tried and tested butternut squash for soup now ...and buy my pumpkin seeds :)

[Rabbitquilter]

Just beautiful, I especially like the 'non-Halloween' one!! Sometimes it is the simple things that make you the happiest. Sweet Lucy, you so deserve happiness at the moment. XX

[Tamara]

We didn't do a pumpkin. My husband carved a watermelon! He called it a Jack O Melon. It turned out pretty cool.

[crafty mena]

bravo on the pumpkins

the pie is an acquired taste-so not dispair

oxoxoxxcrafty mema

[ann clements]

lovely to have you back in the attic and the pictures of your pumpkin and your butternut squash lantern are lovely, I have never carved a pumpkin or had pumpkin pie but I may try it next year if I am brave enough

[Sew Create It - Jane]

Great carvings!! you did a wonderful job... As an aside I might have the reason why your pumpkin pie didn't taste too great. There are in fact 2 types of pumpkin..carving ones and eating ones. The carving ones are big and watery and have very little flavour where as the eating ones are small and tasty...more like butternut squash. If you shop at Sainsbury's they actually label each one differently.."carving" and "edible" I had a friend who grew pumpkins for the first time and tried to make soup with the oversized gourds and then ran me in horror when the soup wasn't tasty..it's an easy mistake. :o)

[Sarah]

Lucy, I found this on Pintrest and thought of you:

How to keep carved pumpkin longer...after clean out inside and carve, dip in bucket of water and add bleach. 1 tsp per gallon. Dry upside down. Once completely dry, brush a solution of 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1tsp of lemon juice in a quart of water

Should help with all your carvings!