By David Schefcik
While walking down the supermarket isle with bright orange pumpkins catching my eye, the thought always crosses my mind as to how I will cut, gut and carve the living daylights out of them. In this time of year when we do strange things to orange gourds, here are some step-by-step tips to ensure a successful carving creation.
A Choice Pumpkin Above All Others
In choosing a pumpkin that will last, search for a fairly large specimen without bruises with a full and thick stem. Shake the pumpkin a bit and listen for any sloshy sounds that would indicate that the pumpkin is already rotting from the inside. Mold around the stem can also alert you to a bad pumpkin. If you are having children carve jack-o-lanterns, choose lighter colored pumpkins because they are softer and easier to carve. However, they don''t last long. A pumpkin can be an expression of individuality and creativity, so choose a pumpkin with some interesting characteristics you can play with, a decent carve-able area and a flat bottom so it can stand on its own. Be careful not to carry it by the stem, and keep it in a cool place or outside until you are ready to carve it.
Gutting Gooey Gourds
Preparation is the key to carving spectacular jack-o-lanterns. Make sure you cover your work area with newspaper for a quick cleanup afterward. Draw a lid on the top of your pumpkin with a black marker or crayon, including a tooth sticking out to be a guide for putting the lid back on. Very carefully, cut along the lines with a serrated kitchen knife, angling the blade toward the center of the pumpkin so the lid will not fall through. Then with a quick tug, pull the top off, lobotomizing your pumpkin and pulling some of its brains out.
Now, the following part of pumpkin carving is not for the squeamish of weak-stomached. If you need help, please ask for it, as pumpkin related fainting spells have increased this past year. Plunge your hand into the gooey depths of the pumpkin and scrape out the strings and seeds with a large spoon. Save the seeds because they can be cleaned off, soaked in saltwater and baked to make a mouthwatering fall treat. Once all the gunk is out, scrape away at the inner pulp until the area you plan to carve is one inch thick, making carving much easier. Also, make sure the back wall of the pumpkin has been scraped smooth because this is where the light is reflected out of the jack-o-lantern when illuminated.
Impressive Personal Pumpkins
Ultimately, personal creativity is what pumpkin carving is all about. Whether you freehand your design or obtain a pattern from a book or online, express yourself through your pumpkin. Draw out your blueprint on a piece of paper beforehand to ensure you know what you are doing before you gouge out the eyes of your jack-o-lantern. Simple designs can be stylistic and bold, while complicated patterns requiring sculpting can wow audiences. Attach the paper to your pumpkin with toothpicks punched in areas that will be cut completely out, and then trace your design by poking holes along the lines of the pattern. You can also cut out your pattern and trace it with a black marker if you prefer. Pumpkins don''t mind a little makeup every now and again.
Playing With Knives
According to a recent National Retail Federation study, consumers spent over $3 billion on Halloween last year alone, so it wouldn''t kill you to buy a $3 carving kit. Carving with a kit will be considerably easier. But if spending a buck on a pumpkin is still too much for your budget, a small paring knife will do just fine. Start making small cuts toward the center of the design and work outwards, as little cuts are harder as the pumpkin progresses. These cuts should be perpendicular to the pumpkin, allowing as much light as possible to emanate from the opening. Also, by not cutting all the way through the pumpkin and just scraping off the orange outer layer, the yellow pulp can be exposed for a spectacular luminous effect. But overall, make sure that your hand is not inside the pumpkin while you are carving, because it will add an undesired gory effect and an unplanned trip to the hospital.
Showing it Off
Now that your carving is complete, place candles or small tea lights in the bottom of the pumpkin to add an eerie, flickering effect that will make your design come alive. Set your pumpkin in a desired location, light the candle and place the lid on for 30 seconds. Then, look under the lid for a dark circle and carve a hole. This will act as a chimney so the heat can escape from the pumpkin and the flame will have sufficient air. Sprinkling cinnamon and nutmeg on the inner lid will also create a scintillating scent of fresh pumpkin pie. If an open flame can''t be used, a low-watt light bulb will work, as well as a flashlight.
For the overachievers, a flashing strobe light or black light can be used for stunningly scary jack-o-lanterns. Colored plastic wrap can also be attached with toothpicks to the inside of the carved face to created colored eyes or designs. Small designs can be carved in the upper back portion of the pumpkin to cast a shadow against a nearby wall, but the carving must be the reverse of what you want to see on the wall. Also, a bowl with dry ice and warm water can create a smoke-filled pumpkin that trick-or-treaters will love.
Making it Last
Pumpkins are 90 percent water, so preserving your pumpkin is as easy as spraying it with water mixed with a little bleach to ward off mold. Just keep it lit as little as possible. Jack-o-lanterns can also be wrapped in plastic and stored in a fridge to prolong its life. For severely shriveled pumpkins, soak them in a bucket of water for a few hours. Dried out pumpkins can be completely revived by just giving them a needed bath. Dry out the pumpkin with a towel afterward, and remember that the more shriveled the pumpkin, the longer it needs to soak to remove those darn wrinkles. Use caution, however, with this technique on humans - water often causes more wrinkles and raisin-like skin.
Bored of Gourds?
Traditional pumpkin carving never fails, but alternate forms of this Halloween activity can be fun as well. Try painting mini-pumpkins or little white pumpkins known as 'Baby Boos.' Dress up your pumpkin for a Halloween party. Also, try carving other fruit during the off-season. Carved and lit watermelons can be stunning centerpieces for a summer wedding.