Anyone carve any jack o' lanterns yet?

[moshquerade]

Myself and a couple of friends did these:

 

[Homerboy]

Nice work!
We were supposed to do them last night, but time slipped away from us (kid were BUMMED). We plan on doing them Saturday during the day before trick or treat.

 

[moshquerade]

Nice work!
We were supposed to do them last night, but time slipped away from us (kid were BUMMED). We plan on doing them Saturday during the day before trick or treat.

It does take a bit of time... You guys roast the seeds too?

 

[Homerboy]

It does take a bit of time... You guys roast the seeds too?

Of course! It's my job though, as my wife hates em.
My son is addicted now too though, so he has to help.
It's all about the liberal use of popcorn salt.

 

[moshquerade]

Of course! It's my job though, as my wife hates em.
My son is addicted now too though, so he has to help.
It's all about the liberal use of popcorn salt.

salt and a little coating of real butter. ()

 

[Homerboy]

salt and a little coating of real butter. ()

this is true.
Do you "toss" the seeds in the butter? Like in a bowl?

 

[Wyndru]

Wow, those look really nice! Mine always look like a 5 year old did it.

Bought them last night, great selection, and they were practically giving them away (15 pumpkins for $24). We are doing them either tonight or tomorrow night, that way we don't have to worry about hangovers at work....which is also why my pumpkin always looks like a 5 year old did it.

 

[moshquerade]

this is true.
Do you "toss" the seeds in the butter? Like in a bowl?

here's what i do...

i simmer the seeds in hot water for 5 mins (cleans them up and soften them for roasting)
then i drain them and put them on paper towels to dry
toss them in a bowl with a 1/4-1/3 stick of melted butter
spread them on a cookie sheet to roast; sprinkle some sea salt on top
turn a few times while roasting and sprinkle just a little more salt on

 

[Homerboy]

Wow, those look really nice! Mine always look like a 5 year old did it.

Bought them last night, great selection, and they were practically giving them away (15 pumpkins for $24). We are doing them either tonight or tomorrow night, that way we don't have to worry about hangovers at work....which is also why my pumpkin always looks like a 5 year old did it.

That's a steal. I don't even want to tell you what I paid for ours... but that's the price I pay for going to the pumpkin farm with hay rides and all that.

 

[Homerboy]

here's what i do...

i simmer the seeds in hot water for 5 mins (cleans them up and soften them for roasting)
then i drain them and put them on paper towels to dry
toss them in a bowl with a 1/4-1/3 stick of melted butter
spread them on a cookie sheet to roast; sprinkle some sea salt on top
turn a few times while roasting and sprinkle just a little more salt on

Hmmm never thought of the simmering part to clean them up. That may just work. I just ran them in a colander under warm water swishing them around. I may just have to try the simmer trick.

what temp in the oven? 350? How long?

 

[moshquerade]

Hmmm never thought of the simmering part to clean them up. That may just work. I just ran them in a colander under warm water swishing them around. I may just have to trim the simmer trick.

what temp in the oven? 350? How long?

350 for 30 mins or little less, 'til light golden brown. i turn them every 10 mins

 

[Homerboy]

350 for 30 mins or little less, 'til light golden brown. i turn them every 10 mins

Yeah that's what I do as well.
I just give the cookie sheet a good up-and-back shake every 10 mins or so to flip the seeds around.

 

[Joemonkey]

That's a steal. I don't even want to tell you what I paid for ours... but that's the price I pay for going to the pumpkin farm with hay rides and all that.

i hear ya, its all about the experience though, and we go to an orchard that has some kick-ass cider and homemade doughnuts so it isn't all bad.

Our punkin's:

 

[Homerboy]

i hear ya, its all about the experience though, and we go to an orchard that has some kick-ass cider and homemade doughnuts so it isn't all bad.

Oh yeah. I know. I'm not really complaining. We leave there with seriously full bellies (hello pulled pork sandwhiches, doughnuts, caramel apples) and a shopping cart full (popcorn, cookies, pecks of apples, summer sausages etc etc). It just stings when I then see pumpkins at the grocery store for like $2, when I paid 8x or more for ours. But I got good memories for the extra price.

 

[Wyndru]

Oh yeah. I know. I'm not really complaining. We leave there with seriously full bellies (hello pulled pork sandwhiches, doughnuts, caramel apples) and a shopping cart full (popcorn, cookies, pecks of apples, summer sausages etc etc). It just stings when I then see pumpkins at the grocery store for like $2, when I paid 8x or more for ours. But I got good memories for the extra price.

True, I wish I had more time to go hang out at one of those places and get the pumpkins, I used to when I was younger and enjoyed it. Maybe when my daughter gets older we will get back in the swing of things.

We got ours off of a rickety trailer at some local farm near us, and the vines were all broken off the tops, but they look healthy so it will do for this year. I think they were so cheap because they had a ton of them and it's getting close to the date.

 

[meltdown75]

Myself and a couple of friends did these:

awesome!!

 

[Homerboy]

Enjoy my pumpkin seeds RIGHT NOW!!!
(needs more salt )

 

[lozina]

wish I had time to do fun stuff like that again....