What to do with your pumpkins this Halloween?

Halloween is officially here! 

At Huski Home we love Halloween as much as everyone else, but one thing we have noticed when chatting to family and friends is the amount of food waste that comes from pumpkin carving. 

Of course, we carve jack-o’ lanterns ourselves, but over the years we have compiled a shortlist of things to do to reduce the food waste and create some yummy Halloween treats! 

First is the most obvious, roasted pumpkin seeds - which a yummy nutritious and sustainable snack for any Halloween party.  

pumpkin carving seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe: 

  1. Collect your seeds together, rise them and lay them on a baking tray. 
  2. Get some olive oil and run it lightly over the seeds.
  3. You can choose your own seasoning. Our favourites are salt and chilli flakes! If you like a kick of spice you could try them with medium curry spice, chickpeas or peas or for a sweet tooth try coating them in cinnamon – make sure to mix them well so they’re all evenly coated.
  4. Place them in the oven to roast at 185 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes until the seeds are golden brown. 
  5. Leave them to cool before enjoying. Remember, besides being used for snacks, the seeds can be added to soup, used in a loaf of homemade bread or on top of a pumpkin pie. 

Because at Huski Home we’re all about hot drinks, our next recipe is perfect for you to take on the go in your Huski cup.

Pumpkin Spiced Latte: 

This recipe uses all the pumpkin but the seeds, so if you have finished carving and don’t want to waste the pumpkin instead of putting it outside try this recipe. The recipe is split into two parts, the first to make a pumpkin puree and the second is the pumpkin spice latte recipe. 

Part 1: Pumpkin Puree 

  1. Keep the carved bits of the pumpkin to one side, and then slice the pumpkin into two halves.
  2. Put the pumpkin in the oven at 160 degrees for 40 – 55 minutes with the cut side on the tray, you’ll know when the pumpkin is ready as the skin will be easy to pierce with a fork.
  3. You can use a masher and puree the pumpkin by hand or use a blender for a smoother finish. 

Part 2: Pumpkin spiced latte

1: Collect all the ingredients you’ll need.

  • 1 ½ teaspoon of brown sugar.
  • 10ml almond milk.
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
  • 1 teaspoon ground clove.
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger.
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • Cup black coffee. 
  • Pumpkin puree.
  • Cinnamon (to put on the top of your latte).
  • (You can add a vegan vanilla protein powder if you like).

2: Mix the spices into the pumpkin puree.

3: In a blender blend the almond milk until it creates a slight froth. 

4: Heat the almond milk in the microwave for 25 – 30 seconds. 

5: In a cup, pour in the black coffee and the pumpkin puree, and then add the almond milk to the top using a spoon to add the froth after on top of the coffee. 

6: Put in the brown sugar (or swap for an alternative sweetener) and sprinkle cinnamon on top. 

7: Pop it in your Huski Home cup and you’re good to go! 

Finally, if you want to enjoy your carved jack-o’-lantern outside for a day on Halloween there’s one final way to reduce your waste and help local wildlife – make a pumpkin wildlife feeder!

pumpkin field

Pumpkin Feeder: 

Use your pumpkin to make a pumpkin feeder for squirrels and birds if you have a garden, only do this if you have had the pumpkin open and out for less than a day if not compost your pumpkin. 

  1. Fill your pumpkin with seeds for the birds and squirrels to eat (squirrels love pumpkin).
  2. Either leave it at the base of the tree for them to eat from or attach a piece of wood through the middle and a rope either side, then poke a piece of wood through sideways and attach rope to the ends so you can hang it from the tree.
  3. And you’re done! It’s that simple, or if you don’t have a garden and don’t want to waste it in the compost bin cut it into small pieces and place it on grass or a tree near your house for local wildlife to eat. Or give a local wildlife centre a call and see if you can donate the pumpkin!

We hope this has helped a little and will allow you to reduce waste at home. Hopefully, anyone trick or treating will spot the awesome pumpkin you’ve carved! 

Happy Halloween from everyone at Huski Home! 

coral pumpkin travel cup

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