Pumpkin Perfection?

Yesterday was Halloween, a festival I increasingly enjoy since we moved to the suburbs.

I enjoyed the steady stream of mask-wearing, broom-waving, sugar-fuelled children demanding sweeties who haunted our doorstep.

Ellie enjoyed answering the door and showing-off her spider costume whilst dishing out sweets.

My favourite aspect, however, is making pumpkin lanterns. These are the finished ones (sorry about the poor lighting!)

I have had a few thoughts about pumpkin lanterns. (To be honest it's just nice having a stream of sensible thoughts at the moment!)

- Don't carve out too much flesh. If the pumpkin is too thin then it may collapse in on itself as it dries out. Similarly, crisp details you have carved may start to curl (the 'fangs to dentures' problem!)

- Don't carve large apertures. These speed the collapsing problem and will allow wind to blow out the candle.

- Don't leave your finished pumpkin in too much direct sunlight as this will make it dryout and curl.

- Ideally stand the candle in a clear, glass jar which fits inside the pumpkin. This will prevent the candle being extinguished by a draught.

- When choosing a pumpkin select one with a relatively flat bottom.

- Using a felt-tip marker draw the face/design you are hoping to create on the flattest 'face' of the pumpkin before carving.

Above all...have fun!

And here's Ellie in her costume.