Playing with Pumpkins

Playing with Pumpkins

Pumpkin trivia; answers at bottom of page:

1. What percentage of a pumpkin is made up of water?

2. Each leaf on a pumpkin vine can make enough food to produce how many pounds of fruit?

3. How much can giant pumpkin varieties grow in one day?

4. How big was the pumpkin that holds the world record for giant pumpkins?

Kid-Inspired Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Instead of the traditional carved faces, your kids can try other ways of decorating pumpkins:

• Use cookie cutters to trace and then paint or carve different shapes on your pumpkin, such as moons and stars.
• Paint your pumpkin with water-based paints or use magic markers. Choose colors that stand out, such as red and white, for the best effect.
• Choose a flat-sided pumpkin, set on its side, and use the stem as a nose for a goofy or scary painted face.
• Cut vertical crescents around the sides of a pumpkin for a candle to shine through. The cuts don't have to go all the way through.
• Try some squash-carving for a change. Etch a design into the skin of a dark green buttercup squash.

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

When you carve jack-o'lanterns with your kids, save the seeds and help your children roast them for a tasty and nutritious snack. The kids will have fun guessing how many seeds their pumpkin contains -- and enjoy getting their hands messy in the process.

You'll need:

• pumpkin
• vegetable oil
• salt
• large spoons
• colander and bowl
• cookie sheets

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cut the top off a pumpkin and let your kids scoop out the pulp and seeds and spread them on a thick layer of newspapers. Kids can then search for the seeds and drop them into a bowl of water to separate them from the pulp, or rub them in a dish towel. They can rinse the seeds in a colander and put them in a clean bowl.

3. Measure a tablespoon or more of oil (depending on the amount of seeds) into a cup and let your kids sprinkle it over the seeds, along with some salt. Stir the seeds to coat them.

4. Spread the seeds on cookie sheets and bake them for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occaisionally, until they are dry and slightly brown. Enjoy!

Trivia Answers:
1. 90 percent
2. 4 pounds
3. as much as 25 pounds
4. 1,262 pounds (2001 record)