Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group
October 9th, 2020
Halloween of 2020 will be quite different this year with COVID -19 and the fact that the CDC considers rick or treating to be a high risk activity. So many people are finding new ways to make their Halloween stay special and one idea is having a small (10 people) pumpkin carving party.
This year your pumpkin should look better than it has ever looked and Good Housekeeping has some helpful ideas.
1. Choose a pumpkin that's fresh, with a sturdy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom so it won't roll while you carve.
2. Cut from the bottom. Cutting your "lid" from the bottom of the pumpkin helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
3. If you are going to carve from the top, cut out the lid on an angle, so it won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on top, like it would with a straight up-and-down cut.
4. Scoop out all the pulp. You can use an ice cream scoop. Thin the inner wall of the "face" area to 1ΒΌ-inch thick, so it will be easier to pierce the shell.
5. Sketch your design on paper first. If you draw your jack-o'-lantern face to size just tape it to the front of your pumpkin and use a fork or pencil to poke holes along the lines you want to carve.
6. Hold the pumpkin in your lap.
7. Start by making simple rough cuts. If you get the big pieces of pumpkin out of the way first, you can go back and clean up the edges of your design later.
8. Use your scraps creatively to make tongues, pipes, or hair accessories.
9. Spread petroleum jelly on the cut edges to seal in moisture and keep the pumpkin fresh.
10. Create a chimney. First, leave the lid on for a few minutes while the candle burns. Then make a small hole where the lid has blackened.
11. Sprinkle cinnamon inside the lid. That way, when you light the candle, your jack-o'-lantern will smell like a pumpkin pie.
