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Halloween is rapidly approaching. Many people will be flocking to pumpkin patches and farms to find that perfect pumpkin to make their masterpiece Jack-o-Lanterns. The story of the Jack-o-Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the Earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern.”

Don’t worry you don’t have to be an artist to get that perfect look to attract those trick-or-treaters. It can be as simple as the one pictured above. But, please remember to be safe when you are carving your pumpkin. You can read about knife safety here. The videos below provide step by step instructions on how to carve a pumpkin. The first video is good for beginners and those of us with no artistic abilities. The second video is for those who want to be challenged in creating the next masterpiece pumpkin.

Don’t toss the seeds; you can make a healthy snack out of those pumpkin seeds. They are a good source of protein, fiber, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and potassium. The seeds also provide essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Some studies have found pumpkin seeds to prevent arteriosclerosis, help regulate cholesterol levels, lower the risk of certain types of kidney stones, and help prevent the onset of anxiety attacks, depression and other mood disorders (Wikipedia, 2009).

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe

• Preheat oven to 325° F
• Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water being sure to pick out all of the pulp and strings. This is easier when you first remove them from the pumpkin before they have a chance to dry.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place the seeds in a single layer and spray them with the non-stick cooking spray.
• Sprinkle with salt or other spice for flavor and bake for about 25 minutes stirring every 10 minutes.
• Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

For additional healthy snack ideas read, Blurt: It’s Snackin’ Time.

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