Joyful Jack-o-Lanterns!

What do you use to mend a jack-o-lantern? A pumpkin patch!

It’s that time of year again when we get to carve pumpkins to make spooky and fun jack-o-lanterns! I don’t know about you, but I love to reach my hands in and scoop out the ooey gooey pumpkin guts and take out the seeds!

You can trace a funny or scary face on a pumpkin and carve it out. Be sure to have a grownup do the cutting! When you finish, coat your jack-o-lantern with Vaseline to keep it from drying out and shriveling. If it does shrivel up, soak it in water overnight.

Did I mention that I love roasted pumpkin seeds? Here’s my friend L’il Pinky’s recipe for roasted seeds. Make sure you always cook with a grownup!


L'IL PINKY'S ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups pumpkin seeds, cleaned and rinsed
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions
Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the pumpkin seeds with the garlic powder, salt and black pepper on baking sheet and toss to combine.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until seeds are crispy and light golden brown.
Remove from the oven and stir with a spatula to release any stuck seeds and cool completely before serving.

Yum! Decorate some snack baggies and share them with family and friends for a scary good treat!

Next week, I'll give you some spooky and funny jokes to tell while you're trick-or-treating!


WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Make a Thumbs Up Johnnie-o-Lantern! Carve a pumpkin with a Thumbs Up Johnnie face!

Step 1: Have a grownup help you print out the attached template.
Step 2: Carefully cut out the eyes and mouth.
Step 3: Tape or glue the paper eyes and mouth to the side of a small or medium size pumpkin.
Step 4: Using a marker, trace around the eyes and mouth to make cut lines. You can remove the paper pieces now or leave them on.
Step 5: Have a grownup carefully cut a large round hole in the top of the pumpkin around the stem.
Step 6: Scoop out the seeds and pumpkin pulp. Separate the seeds for roasting.
Step 7: Have a grownup cut around the eyes and mouth.
Step 8: Remove any extra pumpkin pulp inside the eyes and mouth.
Step 9: Print out the attached Thumbs Up Johnnie hat and tape it to the front top of the face.
Step 10: Have a grownup place a light or candle inside your Thumbs Up Johnnie-o-Lantern and enjoy!


Click on the links below for the templates to make your own Johnnie-o-Lantern!
Thumbs Up Johnnie Jack-o-Lantern Template
Thumbs Up Johnnie Hat Template