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How to carve a simple Jack O Lantern
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Use your own shapes.
Tools Needed:
Pumpkin
Newspaper
Messy Clothes
Large, sturdy knife
Large, sturdy kitchen spoon
Bowl
Step One: Lay newspaper over table and put on messy clothes as this is messy work.
Step Two: Using a sturdy knife, cut lid of pumpkin into a hexagon or octagon shape while angling the knife into the center of the pumpkin. If you cut streight down into the pumpkin, the lid will fall into your pumpkin-trust me on this one. The angular shape also makes it easier to replace the lid and have it seat well. A wimpy knife makes you more likely to cut yourself.
Step Three: Using large sturdy spoon, remove the guts of the pumpkin. A wimpy spoon may not survive this step. Scrape out all of the goo and then scrape off a bit of the pumpkin flesh, if you can. Place it in the bowl. This will make carving easier in step four.
Note-If you would like to save and roast the pumpkin seeds, this is where you get them from. The seeds must be separated from the stringy guts which I always found to be messy and time consuming. I would follow up by burning the seeds during the roasting process, so I suggest you skip this and buy a bag of pumpkin seeds if you want some.
Step four: Using your handy dandy sturdy knife, cut two shapes next to each other about 3/4 of the way up the pumpkin (these will be the eyes). In between and slightly below them, cut another shape (this will be the nose). For the mouth, carefully cut a large moon on it's side shape directly below the others.
Step back and sigh with pleasure as you gaze upon your masterpiece.
This is the fastest way to carve a pumpkin but can be hard for little kids. Tomorrow we'll cover how to carve with kids.
Follow the care and feeding directions from yesterday and have a Happy Halloween.
