What to do with the pumpkin guts after you carve your jack-o-lantern
The most delightful of all Halloween crafts, jack-o'-lantern carving, has a less delightful side effect: an abundance of pumpkin guts.
Luckily, there are quite a few things you can do with said guts--so many, in fact, that you won't have to say the word "guts" for long.
Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Make pumpkin juice and pretend you're in Harry Potter.
Pumpkin juice, that stalwart of the Hogwarts Great Hall, is actually easy to make--you don't even need a juicer. Per The Kitchn, simply pour boiling water over your guts, mash the result, then strain. For something that's actually drinkable (no offense, pumpkin juice), add the juice of an apple, a bit of lemon juice, and ice.
2. Toast the pumpkin seeds.
Toasted pumpkin seeds are a tasty, simple fall treat. They're also super customizable--you can adorn them with whatever seasonings you want. Bon Appetit, for example, recommends turmeric and chile powder, Za'atar and lemon zest, Aleppo pepper and cumin, cinnamon sugar, or Szechuan peppercorns.
Of course, you can also just use salt and pepper.
3. Make a pumpkin guts face mask.
You've always wanted to smear pumpkin guts all over your face, right? Well, now's your chance. First, separate out the seeds, then add honey or olive oil to your pumpkin mash for a DIY face mask full of vitamins A and C. Then, blend until the mixture is paste-like--ideal for glopping onto your face. Yum!
4. Try a new pumpkin recipe.
You have all this pumpkin here anyway; why not try something new? It could end up a new fall favorite.
A few ideas:
5. Throw the pumpkin guts at stuff.
Hey. It's been a tough year. You deserve a food fight--even if it's just with the wall.
Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
