Free Essay

How to Carve a Pumpkin

In: English and Literature

Submitted By tnlewis
Words 982
Pages 4
Tonya Lewis
Professor Neissner
English 100
12 February 2015 How to Carve a Pumpkin!
Ah, Halloween…it is that wonderful time of year when everyone in the neighborhood comes together to adopt new identities, gorge on free candy, and frighten small children. Littering their yards with cheap Styrofoam gravestones. There is nothing more representative of that crisp autumn night than the sight of a plump Pumpkin grinning merrily on one’s front stoop? People get very creative when carving pumpkins some people choose not to carve them but paint them. No one is born wise in the ways of goo and knives. These are learned skills. With this handy guide, a person should gain the ability to carve a wonderful looking pumpkin. To carve a pumpkin a person needs to pick out the one he or she chooses, clean all the goop and seeds out of it, and then carve and display it.
First of all, the size, and shape of the pumpkin are very important. Be sure to choose the right size pumpkin to go along with whatever design they wish to create. People will be going to the grocery store or the pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin suitable for a Jack-O-Lantern makeover. One of my favorite memories as a child was going to the pumpkin patch and I would run through the fields looking for the perfect one along with my siblings. Keep in mind that the bigger the pumpkin, the longer it will take to clean it out. So choose a pumpkin that is between 12 and 20 inches in diameter, with a strong, intact stem would be the best bet. Also, a person needs to have an idea of how he or she wants him or her Jack-O-Lantern to turn out the color and shape play big roles in a person’s final product. A particularly natural-looking pumpkin, say, with blackish-green spots and bumps, is not necessary a bad choice. Consider that such imperfections can make a “cute” Jack-O-Lantern “ghoulish” one.” Whatever a person is into.
Second, after a person has chosen his or her pumpkin, take a medium sized kitchen knife and remove the stem from the top of the pumpkin. An easy way to do this is by cutting around the top of the pumpkin about two inches away from the stem all the way around. Making sure to cut at an angel to the lid does not fall inside the pumpkin. Next, take a large spoon and remove all of the seeds from inside the pumpkin. If a person does not have a small carving knife at home, it may be a good idea to purchase a pumpkin carving kit. The kit comes with two to three carving knives, and a spoon to remove the seeds. Now that a person has cracked open the cavity and now it’s time to remove all of its slimy unmentionables. Either with a large metal kitchen spoon or own one hands, dig in and remove all the seeds, membrane, and whatever else this stuff is. Do not throw anything out! Put the seeds in a bowl. Use the spoon to scrape down the insides of the pumpkin, just enough to get all the seeds, loose bits, and moist parts out of there, but do not scrape too deep as to damage the walls of the gourd! Now scrape down the lid, and, if incised from the bottom, make sure to scrape down the base to as level a surface as possible. Toasted pumpkin seeds are a tasty Halloween treat if a person wants to take the time to cook them.
Finally, get ready to pick out a design and carve the pumpkin, but first prepare the work station by laying down newspaper. Now that the pumpkin is hallow, a person is ready to choose the design, or face of their pumpkin. If they choose to use a stencil to aid with their design, first take a damp cloth to the surface of the pumpkin to remove any dirt, then pat the pumpkin dry. After they have the face, or design, they can began to carve their jack-o-lantern. Be sure to use a small, thin blade for this process. This is the most important part of the pumpkin carving process, making sure to take their time. The slightest mistake, or slip of the knife could potentially ruin the outcome of one’s design. Make sure when using a knife that it is long enough to get through the shell of the pumpkin, but not so long as to go too far in or require extra effort to yank it back out of the gourd. Make a face with eyes, nose, and month on it and carve out the pieces. Try to be creative. When the carving is done, then people can put a tea candle in them and display them for all to see. : Wherever a person chose’s to display his or her Jack-O-Lantern rather in his or hers windowsill, on the balcony, or on his or her porch everyone will enjoy seeing the pumpkin displayed.
Pumpkin carving, while it is a delightful activity, it is one of the best things about Halloween night along with getting out there and buying a costume, slather ghoulish makeup across a person’s face, bob for apples, beg strangers for candy, set up tacky decorations and copious amounts of fake cobweb. Well, if a person really want to do a great carving, there are only a few simple rules to follow. Choose the right pumpkin for the right design. Cleaning out all the goo from inside the pumpkin. Deciding what design will be carved out on the pumpkin and start carving. Once the pumpkin is carved out put a light inside and sit back and enjoy the wonderful art that was created. Enjoy!

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