From pumpkin spice lattes to harvest-themed entrance porches, pumpkins are an iconic staple for the autumn. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service consultants have some tips about methods to use these fashionable gourds in and round your house.
Odessa Keenan, AgriLife Extension program coordinator for the company’s Dinner Tonight initiative, mentioned pumpkins are an extremely fashionable merchandise not just for fall décor however as a key ingredient in lots of seasonal recipes.
Household Pleasant Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkins can be utilized to make a number of seasonal treats and drinks, Keenan mentioned. AgriLife Extension has quite a lot of pumpkin recipes obtainable via its Dinner Tonight program.
Pumpkin puree is a straightforward technique to make the most of the pulp inside, she mentioned. Puree can be utilized to make candy treats like pies, parfaits and cookies, or savory snacks like hummus.
“When you take away the seeds and pulp to prepare dinner, they need to be instantly refrigerated or ready to keep away from potential meals questions of safety,” she mentioned. “When you carve a pumpkin and go away the pulp out for greater than a few hours, you’ll be able to assume it’s not good to eat.”
The puree ought to be saved within the fridge and can probably final round 4 days earlier than spoiling, she mentioned.
“The shelf lifetime of the pumpkin puree is determined by how recent it was from the vine whenever you bought it, its present situation and any potential for bacterial publicity,” she mentioned. “Canning the puree accurately can lengthen its shelf life as much as 4 months.”
Cooking And Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
Keenan mentioned pumpkin seeds also can make a easy and wholesome seasonal deal with.
“Roasting pumpkin seeds for snacking is one other enjoyable approach to make use of your pumpkin,” she mentioned. “You may experiment with completely different spice blends – savory, spicy and candy – to search out your loved ones’s favourite. Simply you should definitely look ahead to an excessive amount of added sodium or sugar.”
She mentioned use a big spoon or ice cream scoop to take away the pulp, then separate the seeds. Put the seeds in a colander and wash them completely to take away any extra pulp.
“It’s fantastic if there’s nonetheless a bit of the pumpkin flesh on the seeds,” Keenan mentioned.
Dry the seeds as a lot as potential in between paper towels or a material, then toss them in a bowl with cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg or no matter different kind of seasoning you favor. Unfold the seeds evenly on a calmly greased cookie sheet and prepare dinner at 350 levels for about 12 to fifteen minutes. Toss the seeds just a few occasions throughout cooking to assist guarantee they brown evenly. The roasted seeds are prepared once they flip a golden brown.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides suggestions for methods to use pumpkins earlier than you head to the pumpkin patch this fall.
Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife Communications
Pumpkin-Themed Residence Decor
Along with the timeliness of a Halloween jack-o’-lantern and the most recent stencil carving, Keenan provides some extra décor concepts.
“Pumpkins make implausible entrance porch decorations in addition to nice fall desk preparations,” she mentioned. “I’ve additionally seen pumpkins used to carry flower preparations.”
To make use of a pumpkin to carry your flowers, she advises that it’s best to carve out simply sufficient of the pumpkin to carry a vase. Prepare and water the flowers contained in the vase to cut back the moisture stage contained in the pumpkin and hold some area between the pumpkin and the association.
Composting And Disposing Of Pumpkins
When the pumpkin does finally decay, the leftover natural matter makes a fantastic compost pile addition, mentioned Joe Masabni, AgriLife Extension horticulturist.
“It’s greatest to both mix it or let it dry to interrupt the rinds up into as small of items as potential,” he mentioned. “The smaller the items, then the quicker it would break down. It is advisable to break the seeds down as properly, in any other case some might germinate in your compost pile.”
Masabni mentioned pumpkin seeds will also be saved to plant by laying them out flat to air dry on paper towels for about 24 hours. As soon as dry, place them in a plastic bag or retailer them within the fridge or a cool, dry place.
“Don’t warmth dry them in an oven or within the solar as a result of it may trigger injury,” he mentioned. “And mark the bag with the pumpkin selection and date.”
Masabni mentioned if saved accurately, pumpkin seeds can final for at the least 5 years.
Pumpkin For The Birds
“Pumpkins which have been used as jack-o’-lanterns or different decorations may be used as a snack for wildlife,” mentioned Maureen Frank, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist. “When you bake pumpkin seeds, you’ll be able to place them in a chook feeder and share them along with your feathered pals. Make sure to not add salt or every other seasoning – simply use the plain seeds.”
Frank mentioned the pumpkin itself can be utilized as a chook feeder and steered following instructions from the Audubon organization.
“Different animals, reminiscent of squirrels, raccoons and deer, could also be all in favour of pumpkin items, however feeding these mammals can create issues and could also be in opposition to native ordinances, so it’s in all probability greatest to share with birds solely,” she mentioned.
