Just a few days ago, we offered our choices for the best pumpkin patches to be found in the Miami metropolitan area. After finding a number of great places to pick up pumpkins, we were left with a curious thought: what should you do with your pumpkins after the fall season ends? We’ve looked around the internet and consulted with our crafty aunts, and we’ve found four great uses for pumpkins. We bet you hadn’t thought of any of these, right?
Four Great Uses for Pumpkins
Roast the Seeds
You can certainly buy the pumpkin seeds that they sell in bags at gas stations, but why not just make them yourself? It’s amazingly easy to do. All you need to do is separate the seeds from the pulp, rinse them off, and allow them to dry. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 300 degrees, grease a cookie sheet, and then coat the seed in a small layer of oil. Bake them for 45 minutes, or until they’re golden brown. Then, if you’d like them savory, you can add some seasoned salt, of if you’d like them sweet, you can dust them in brown sugar.
Feed the Animals
Have you ever returned home and found that a decent-sized chunk of your jack-o-lantern is missing? That’s because many animals enjoy the taste of pumpkin, and they’ve stopped by your porch for a quick snack. If you’d like to reward animals with your pumpkins rather than throwing them out, simply cut them into chunks and place them in places where animals are known to congregate. Additionally, you’re welcome to put pumpkin seeds in your bird feeder, since birds love the seeds as well.
Read More: The Best Pumpkin Patches near Miami
Make Pumpkin Serving Bowls
This is probably our favorite use for pumpkins, and we think you’ll probably agree. You can simply cut your pumpkin in half, and then remove as much of the pulp and flesh as you can, until all that’s left is the rind. Then, brush the inner surfaces with oil, and bake them for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. You’ll be left with a bowl that’s perfect for soup or punch, and anyone who sees them will be envious of your creativity.
Pumpkin Facials
We at Prestige Imports enjoy being pampered, and pumpkins actually help make this possible. Pumpkins boast large amounts of zinc and various vitamins, all of which are beneficial to your complexion. Simply puree a half-cup of pumpkin flesh, and add a little milk and three teaspoons of brown sugar. Once it’s all mixed together, you’ll be left with a puree that is a great exfoliant and antioxidant.
See, there are lots of great uses for pumpkins. If you have any that we may have missed, leave them in the comments below, and come see us soon at Prestige Imports in North Miami Beach!
