The Smashing Pumpkin
Jack o'Lantern!
Not long now and thousands of pumpkins will get stabbed and carved up rather nicely during All Hallows Evening. On October 31, both residential and shopping areas will transform into scary amusement parks, cotton wool ghouls appear on door knobs and the neighborhood kids run around Trickin & Treatn. But it is that one particular orangy vegetable I am interested in, the pumpkin...carving and cooking it.
Before we even get our slice set out, it is of the utmost importance to choose the right pumpkin before creativity starts taken over. Let me start with a few tips:
- When choosing your pumpkin, go with the lightest option - meaning its walls are thinner and therefor easier to carve.
- Rather than carving around the top, scoop out your pumpkin from the back, leaving the stem intact to extend freshness.
- Cut outlines for larger shapes with a bigger blade and use the smaller blades for finishing delicate details.
- Squeeze on a bit of lemon juice to prevent mold - or give your pumpkin an ice bath to restore moisure.
A Pumpkin Primer
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form.
Armed with 20 years of experience, Marc Evans and Chris Soria, founders of the Brooklyn-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers studio, carve a few hundred pumpkins a year. Still, it’s not just about quantity. “We used to measure success by how many pumpkins we carve a year, but now it’s more about the quality,” explains Marc. A particularly intricate carving can take them up to 10 hours to complete. (During the nine-month off season, they sharpen their artistic skills by painting murals and taking on larger illustration projects.)
We asked them to share some pointers for carving the ultimate jack-o-lantern.
PUMPKIN CARVING IN 5 STEPS
1. Select your pumpkin as you would a fruit. (It is one, afterall). You want the ripest and strongest of the bunch. Avoid ones with nicks, bruises or dry and brittle stems. A healthy stem is the lifeline of the pumpkin, and will continue to provide moisture and nutrients long after it’s cut from the vine.
2. Pick the right size. The bigger the pumpkin, the more work you have ahead of you. Sculpted, three-dimensional designs require heavier pumpkins with more density and thicker walls to sculpt into – whereas lighter and therefore more hollow pumpkins are better suited for traditional jack-o-lantern styles.
3. Arm yourself with the right tools. Rather than cutting around the stem and carving from the top, use a sharp knife to cut an opening in the back of the pumpkin. Scoop out the meat with a large spoon or a sturdy ice cream scoop, and begin drawing the details of your design onto the surface with a sharpie pen or any ink that’s waterproof. By keeping the stem intact, your pumpkin will maintain its freshness and shape longer.
- See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Now, what to do with the leftover bits? After emptying the poor pumpkin's inside, you normally will be stuck with a little bit shy of one kilo of fresh pumpkin meat (depending on the size chosen of course).The seeds for instance can be roasted for a very tasty snack while watching Ernest scared Stupid. The flesh can be cooked and transformed into a lovely soup, american style.
Lazy Evening Pumpkin Soup
1 cup cream
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin, cooked and mashed
1-1/2 tbsp melted butter
1-1/2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
Combine milk, onions and bay leaf in saucepan. Slowly bring to a boil. Strain, then combine strained ingredients with chicken broth and mashed pumpkin (save the milk). In a separate pan, make a roux by combining the butter and flour and cooking over low heat for 5 minutes (come on guys, give it a try!!). Add milk mixture to roux slowly and whisk until the soup is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to bring out the flavors.
Enjoy your meal!
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form. - See more at: http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/pumpkin-primer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_pumpkin_carver_halloween_story_10_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pumpkin+Carver+Story&utm_content=Pumpkin+Carver+Story+Version+B+CID_9d22bf50e56ac3e162315641e30fe473&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=09_NLjpg#sthash.AjFgKmrj.dpuf
A Pumpkin Primer
Associated in folklore with mischievous ghosts and fairies, “jack-o-lanterns” have been at the center of haunting myths as far back as the 17th-century. The Celtic tribes in Ireland believed that malevolent spirits rose from the graves to walk among the living on one night of the year, prompting farmers to carve faces on turnips and gourds as a way of warding off evil spirits. More than 300 years on, the custom of pumpkin carving has evolved into an art form.
Armed with 20 years of experience, Marc Evans and Chris Soria, founders of the Brooklyn-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers studio, carve a few hundred pumpkins a year. Still, it’s not just about quantity. “We used to measure success by how many pumpkins we carve a year, but now it’s more about the quality,” explains Marc. A particularly intricate carving can take them up to 10 hours to complete. (During the nine-month off season, they sharpen their artistic skills by painting murals and taking on larger illustration projects.)
We asked them to share some pointers for carving the ultimate jack-o-lantern.
PUMPKIN CARVING IN 5 STEPS
1. Select your pumpkin as you would a fruit. (It is one, afterall). You want the ripest and strongest of the bunch. Avoid ones with nicks, bruises or dry and brittle stems. A healthy stem is the lifeline of the pumpkin, and will continue to provide moisture and nutrients long after it’s cut from the vine.
2. Pick the right size. The bigger the pumpkin, the more work you have ahead of you. Sculpted, three-dimensional designs require heavier pumpkins with more density and thicker walls to sculpt into – whereas lighter and therefore more hollow pumpkins are better suited for traditional jack-o-lantern styles.
3. Arm yourself with the right tools. Rather than cutting around the stem and carving from the top, use a sharp knife to cut an opening in the back of the pumpkin. Scoop out the meat with a large spoon or a sturdy ice cream scoop, and begin drawing the details of your design onto the surface with a sharpie pen or any ink that’s waterproof. By keeping the stem intact, your pumpkin will maintain its freshness and shape longer.