Pumpkin ideas beyond jack-o'-lanterns: Make your own pumpkin spice latte or even ice cream
Ah pumpkins. Those harbingers of fall. Yeah, we know, it may be harder to tell in Florida when fall has arrived, but if your thoughts start turning to everything pumpkin, then we can certainly celebrate "the season."
The closer we get to Halloween, the more pumpkin patches start popping up on the Florida landscape. Besides the fall colors on the National Hurricane Center's maps — you know, those yellows, oranges and reds — it may be the closest we get to experiencing the vibrant colors of autumn.
While it's still a little too soon to see how much those pumpkins — which by any other name are also considered a member of the squash family — will cost this year, unless there's a pumpkin glut we haven't heard about, we can expect those potential jack-o'-lanterns will cost you more this year.
So, to get the most for our money, what else can we do with those pumpkins?
Here's a few ideas, along with some pumpkin trivia.
Popular Florida pumpkins for jack-o'-lanterns do have other uses
Connecticut Field is the most popular variety used for carving, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. It has several other names, including Big Tom, Canner’s Supreme, Common Field, Connecticut Cornfield, Golden Marrow, Lake Shore, Michigan Mammoth, Pure Gold and Yankee.
Besides carving, this pumpkin can be used for pies, canning and stock feed.
Just looking for bragging rights? The Atlantic Giant can be considered the best show variety, reaching over 200 pounds in Florida.
Looking specifically for a pie pumpkin?
Small Sugar is a popular variety. Other common varieties of pie pumpkins include Cinderella, Triple Treat, Spookie, Winter Luxury, Cheese, Kentucky Field and Cushaw.
An important variety grown in Florida is the Seminole pumpkin. They are less susceptible to heat and humidity. The fruit is small, has a sweet flavor and bright firm flesh, and stores well at room temperature, according to IFAS Extension.
Want to grow your own pumpkins in Florida?
Most pumpkin varieties need about four months to be ready for picking. Plant seeds no later than early July if you'd like a pumpkin for Halloween.
Looking for pumpkins to decorate your Thanksgiving table? Plant seeds in early August.
Now let's get down to business on what else you can do with that pumpkin in hand.
1,952 pound pumpkin: How do you grow a giant pumpkin? 75 gallons of water daily and hand-pollination, NY man says
Don't eat pumpkins that have been cut or left outside for days (or weeks)
"Once you cut into a pumpkin, even to shallowly carve the surface or stick a toothpick in to hold a decoration, you start that two-hour food safety clock running, after which the pumpkin won't be safe to eat, even if you cook it," according to Lomi.
Not to mention what has been crawling in or on it while it's been sitting on your porch or in your yard, tempting the neighbor's dog. Enough said.
So what can you do with those cut pumpkins? Here are some ideas:
Compost them (especially if they're already squishy) or bury them to build up soil.
Feed them to your chickens or other livestock (if there's no mold).
Make pumpkin bird feeders. (Of course, squirrels will enjoy them, too)
Know anyone who has made a pumpkin cannon?
If no to the cannon, host a pumpkin smashing party.
If the pumpkin is still in good shape, turn it into a planter for a fall arrangement.
How about a natural holder for potpourri?
What can you do with pumpkin seeds?
As you're carving your pumpkin or pulling out the innards, separate the seeds. Here's what you can do with them:
Dry them and share with wildlife.
Roast them for a healthy snack. There are a lot of great recipes out there. Here's a few of the most popular to get you started:
Jessica Gavin, certified culinary scientist
On TikTok by Baked by Melissa: Perfect pumpkin seeds
Dry them to plant your own pumpkins next year
Oh the flesh! What to do with the 'guts' of the pumpkin
Don't toss those "guts" if you're carving a pumpkin. Besides the fall favorites of pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin spice muffins, there is so much more you can do with it.
Food 52 has a bunch of ideas, ranging from adding the flesh to other vegetable scraps to make broth or making pumpkin hummus. You could even make a face mask.
Let's start at the beginning by making your own pumpkin puree.
Once you have your own made-from-scratch pumpkin puree (yeah, be proud!), the possibilities are endless. Here are a few favorite recipes to get you started:
Now let's expand our horizons a bit with more things to do with pumpkin
Pumpkin pie ice cream with salted caramel sauce
Yes, you can eat pumpkin skin
Even the skin of pumpkins is edible, but because it can be tough, it needs to be cooked properly.
How to make your own pumpkin spice chai latte and other drinks
Craving that first pumpkin spice latte? Now you don't have to wait for your favorite retailer to bring it back for the season. Head to your kitchen and mix up a tasty start (or end) of your day.
Even pumpkin 'strings' are edible
The fibrous strands inside a pumpkin have many names, including brains, guts, sinew, goop, goo, pumpkin slime. Your kids probably have the best name: “yucky stuff.”
But no matter what you call them, you can use them.
Thirsty or cold? (Ok, maybe not in Florida any time soon unless you're sitting right in front of the a/c). Boil the stringy parts and add apple cider, nutmeg and cinnamon to make a pumpkin infused cider.
Make pumpkin stock.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Pumpkin ideas, recipes. From compost to face masks, even bird feeder
