Picking out a pumpkin from a patch, carving the orange bulbous squashes and eating so many of the seeds I make myself sick are my favorite Halloween traditions.
Luckily, no one is too old to take part in those traditions, unlike Trick-or-Treating and going to massive parties with libations and inappropriate costumes. People of all ages should enjoy Halloween this year, pick a pumpkin, make caramel apples, see a parade and have a good time.
When I was in kindergarten my class took a trip to the pumpkin patch where each of us got to pick out our own pumpkin for carving slaughter. It was fantastic.
I haven”t hunted through a real pumpkin patch in years, but I take pride searching though Safeway bins and hay bale-decorated nooks to find the perfect pumpkin. Finding a squash that”s just right for friends or family can be fun if one knows how to make decisions. Would they like round, tall, bumpy or smooth? My mom likes pumpkins that sit well on their side with a twisty stem so she can turn it into a face with the stem as a nose. I imagine my brother likes tall bumpy ones. A big pumpkin for dad. Almost spherical is my style.
Sitting down to the dining room table covered with newspaper to cut up a pumpkin warms my heart. Having a design idea helps me to know to start to carve an opening at the top, side or bottom.
Be sure the bottom is stable so it doesn”t rollover when lit and start a fire. Hundreds of carving designs are posted online and can be found at stores and some libraries.
I usually carve a jack-o”-lantern or something involving a witch. A plethora of designs, including words, faces and artistic designs, make the best porch or window decorations.
Some people use spoons and some use plastic tools, but I like pulling out all the orange goop with my hands and separating seeds for baking.
Once finished with my carving, I find a bag of tea lights, set up my jack-o”-lantern on something nonflammable like concrete and carefully light the candle and marvel. Many times I”ve taken my masterpiece back into the house to fix problems.
Pay attention to lit jack-o”-lanterns to avoid fires and make sure they”re put out before going to bed. Beware of crazed pumpkin breaking teenagers.
This year I plan on picking out a pumpkin, maybe two, whether they are from a patch or Safeway, carving and displaying them.
The Lakeport Elementary Halloween Parade on Oct. 30 on Main Street sounds adorable, so I”ll try to escape from my desk to see the show.
Lake County residents should take the time to celebrate the holiday traditionally, because I bet those are the good times they will remember.
As for Halloween night, my friend plans to have a party in Chico with caramel apples, pumpkin carving and maybe a few libations. I”ll be dressed as a ladybug, wings and all.
Here”s a standard recipe for pumpkin seeds:
Ingredients: pumpkin, salt and olive oil, butter or cooking spray.
Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut open the pumpkin scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.
Toss pumpkin seeds in olive oil, butter, or cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, or choice of seasonings. Toss to coat.
Bake until golden, 10 to 25 minutes depending. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating.
Katy Sweeny is a reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at ksweeny@record-bee.com or 263-5636, ext. 37.
