Food Fun -- Dried Apple Shrunken Heads

It's apple season, and getting close to Halloween, so I thought it was a great time to trot out this fun little food/craft project.

The little faces, made from dried apples, can look really nasty and sinister -- the perfect thing to decorate a Halloween party. Tuck them in among the food at your Halloween Buffet. You can also make lots of dried apple heads and string them up like a spooky garland.

Aside from Halloween, another idea is to make apple dolls. Once dry, insert a strong wire to form a body, add clothes or other accessories.

Once dried, these apple faces last and last -- I've had the ones in the photo for years now. So once you make them, pack them carefully away, and use them again next Halloween.

You Will Need:
apples
whole cloves
a few grains of rice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt

Instructions:
Peel a large apple and coat with mixture of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of salt to prevent browning. With a potato peeler or small knife carve out eye sockets, a nose, mouth and ears. Don't worry about carving small details as they will be lost when the apple dries. Go for the big features and nature will take care of the rest. Just like people, no two apple heads come out the same.

Use whole cloves for eyes and raw rice grains for teeth (the faces also come out looking great without these extra props, just carve and let dry if you want to keep it simple). The photo at right shows the freshly carved apples used to make some of the apple heads in the photo above.

Sit apples on a wire rack in a warm, dry place for about 2 weeks. You can speed the drying process a little by drying in an oven set at the lowest possible temperature. However, the process will still take several days. The longer they sit -- months or even years, the better they look!

More on Halloween FabulousFoods.com is one of the net's most popular Halloween destinations, with tons of content. Click here to access ALL of the site's Halloween features, craft projects, costume and decorating ideas, and of course, lots of recipes.

Pumpkins Part II -- Recipes and Cooking Tips

Yesterday we explored carving pumpkins, today we look at the culinary side of this fall favorite.

There's more to pumpkins than great taste. This humble, inexpensive food is also nutritious, being rich in beta carotene, potassium, Vitamin C, calcium and fiber. Pumpkins are a dieter's best friend as well. They are very low in fat and only about 180 calories per cup.

You can get pumpkin puree in cans at the supermarket, which is an easy way to get pumpkin for any recipes you might want to make. It's one of the few cases where the quality of the canned product is about equal to fresh (with a whole lot less hassle). You can also make your own puree by roasting fresh pumpkins.

When buying fresh pumpkins, check for soft spots. This is a sure sign that the pumpkin is too old and is starting to go bad. If you do want to cook fresh pumpkins, look for smaller varieties, especially the "sugar pumpkin" or Kabocha Squash. Those big old monsters used for making Jack o lanterns do not make for the best eating.

In order to cook fresh pumpkin, heat the oven to 350° F. Split the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy pulp. Place pumpkin halves, cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for about one hour or until very tender when pierced with a fork. Spoon the soft pulp out of the shell and use it in recipes.

Unique Serving Idea
Miniature pumpkins, like the ones pictured above, make impressive individual baking and serving dishes. Cut a circle out around the stem (as you would when carving a Jack-O-Lantern) and scrape out the seeds and pulp. Scrape out some of the flesh from the sides of the pumpkin as well, in order to make room for your stuffing. Keep the lids in tact. Place pumpkins and lids in a baking dish and add about an inch of water. Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes. You want the pumpkins to be somewhat cooked, but still firm. Carefully stuff the pumpkins with corn pudding, vegetables, such as green beans or peas or even corn bread stuffing. Return stuffed pumpkins to the oven and bake until stuffing is cooked. Serve each guest their own stuffed mini-pumpkin.

You can also hollow out a large pumpkin to use a soup tureen (as shown in the photo of Mexicali Beef Stew in a Pumpkin Tureen above). This makes a spectacular presentation, and best of all, no dishes when you're done.

Favorite Pumpkin Recipes from FabulousFoods.com

• Ultra Easy Pumpkin Pie Squares (pictured) -- This recipe has been floating around the ladies at my sister Bambi's church for years, so we're not sure who came up with it, but it's fast, easy, (almost foolproof) and delicious.
• Mollie Katzen's Pumpkin Muffins -- You don't need to wait for autumn - create your own holiday season any time of year with these golden muffins.
• Lorna Sass' Pumpkin Tart with Pecan Crust -- This recipe, suitable for a healthy Thanksgiving feast, is vegan and lightened from the original, yet still has great flavor.
• Pumpkin Creme Caramel -- You might consider a change in your Thanksgiving menu after tasting this luscious caramel-drenched pumpkin custard.
• Elegant Pumpkin Cheesecake -- This rich dessert is so special it would make an elegant finale for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding -- This Thanksgiving worthy recipe comes to us courtesy of Beverly Hills' fabulous L'Ermitage Hotel.
• Tofu Pumpkin Custard with Gingersnap Crumble -- his recipe makes an outstanding snack and a great introduction to tofu, which is undetectable!
• Pumpkin Pancakes -- Here's the prefect thing for nippy autumn breakfasts. Canned pumpkin works fine in this recipe, making it easy to make anytime.
• Pumpkin Banana Bread -- This quick bread is very moist and flavorful thanks to the pumpkin, bananas ,and yogurt. It's great for breakfast, coffee breaks, a brown bag lunch addition, or a simple dessert.
• West Indies Style Pumpkin Soup -- This version of pumpkin soup is popular in the West Indies.
• Roasted Pumpkin Risotto -- This unusual autumn risotto from L'Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, would be perfect for a change of pace at Thanksgiving.
• Creamy Pumpkin Polenta -- This rich polenta makes a unique side dish. Use it instead of the typical potatoes or rice.
• Rachel Ray's Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage -- This hearty autumn pasta dish is one of Rachael's famous 30 Minute Meals.

Pumpkins Part I -- Fabulous Pumpkin Carving

'Tis the season, so I wanted to address the subject of pumpkins, but soon realized it was way too big for a single post. Heck, it's too big for the 2 posts, I've allotted to it. But they're worth reading, cause pumpkins are pretty amazing things.

Today we're going to talk strictly about pumpkin carving. There's good sense to this dividing line between pumpkin carving and pumpkin eating -- the perfect Jack O Lantern pumpkin bears little resemblance to the perfect eating pumpkin (more on that topic in tomorrow's post).

How to Carve Pumpkins
Before you can begin to carve your design, you must prepare the pumpkin by removing the seeds and thinning the inner walls. Save the seeds to make Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, a great snack that is rich in fiber as well as vitamins B and E. Kids especially love them. Purists will want only salt as a seasoning, but if you're feeling adventurous, experiment and have fun with seasoning blends. The recipe link in this paragraph will give you lots of options for making gourmet seasoned and flavored pumpkin seeds.

Depending on the complexity of your design, allow an hour or more to make your Jack O Lantern. By the way, the techniques for carving pumpkins will also work for carving turnips, some squash or even watermelons. Get detailed step-by-step photo instructions on how to cut and clean your pumpkin, transfer a pattern design to your pumpkin and complete the carving at the FabulousFoods.com Pumpkin Carving 101 article.


The Next Generation of Pumpkin Carving: PumpkinDesigner.com
I am proud to announce the launch of Enigma Communications' newest online venture, PumpkinDesigner.com. This unique online application(meaning you use it over the internet) lets you create an unlimited number of custom pumpkin carving patterns, sized to fit your particular pumpkins. With PumpkinDesigner.com’s help, the Jack O Lanterns at your house will make those of your neighbors pale in comparison.

The most unique aspect of PumpkinDesigner.com is that it lets you turn your favorite photographs into pumpkin carving patterns, just like the ones you see of celebrities every year at Halloween. Put portraits of the kids, the grandkids, Grandma and Grandpa, your boss, your teacher -- even the dog and cat -- on your carved pumpkins. The Photo Lantern creator changes photos into pumpkin carving patterns in a few easy steps.

In addition, the site's Pattern Maker component let's you have a lot of fun mixing and matching Jack O Lantern elements like eyes, noses, mouths, and extras like bats, witches and bones to create one-of-kind pumpkin carving patterns. Each element can be rotated, flipped and resized, giving you the ultimate control of how your pattern looks. You can even put Pattern Maker elements on Photo Lantern patterns.

It's free (and fun!) to play around and create patterns, when you're ready to print, it costs just .99 cents for a pattern that you can reprint, resize and reuse over and over again (less if you buy a package of pattern credits). To check it out, click the Demo button at PumpkinDesigner.com.

FREE Political Pumpkin Patterns! Why settle for an ordinary campaign sign on your front law when you can show your support by carving a photo-realistic portrait of your favorite candidate on a Jack O Lantern. Whether you carve Barack Obama and Joe Biden, or John McCain and Sarah Palin, these awesome pumpkin portraits are sure to attract lots of attention for your favorite candidates. Show your support by carving Political Pumpkins. Click on the link below to access free carving patterns at FabulousLiving.com. The designs may look complicated, but as long as you have a pumpkin carving kit with a tiny saw, all it takes is time and a little patience. (Note: These patterns were made using PumpkinDesigner.com.) Click here to access the free Political Pumpkin Carving Patterns.

Pumpkin Carving Tips and Tricks

• The size and shape of your design will determine whether you need a tall narrower pumpkin or a round one.
• Decide your design in advance and choose your pumpkin accordingly. Choose a pumpkin that is smooth as possible, and free of scratches, dents or gouges, unless you plan to incorporate them into your finished design.
• You can make the transferred dots of your pattern easier to see by rubbing flour into them. The flour will fill the holes and turn them white.
• To make sharp corners, always remove the saw completely and re-insert it at a different angle.
• To remove cut pieces, push them out from the inside with your finger or a poker. To make removing large pieces easier, and to avoid damage to your design, cut them into smaller chunks before trying to remove them.
• Toothpicks are good for adding extra features like ears or noses.
• If you're having trouble with your candles going out, try using a small oil-burning lamp or liquid candle.
• Plant Hangers make a great way of displaying jack o lanterns. A wonderfully spooky display is to use several plant hangers of different lengths in a grouping, so that in the dark, it looks like several glowing faces floating in mid air.
• Photographing Jack O Lanterns is a bit tricky. A flash won't work, but if the candle in the pumpkin is the only light source, the photo will only show the design and not the pumpkin. To show both design and pumpkin, try using a single light source, slightly forward and above of the Jack O Lantern.
• Washing the inside with a mild bleach solution will slow the process of decay.
• Coat the cut edges of the pumpkins with petroleum jelly to help them last longer. The longer the candle is left burning, the quicker the pumpkin will decompose.
• Electric lights work well instead of candles. Use a 25-watt candelabra bulb for maximum brightness; lower wattage if you plan to leave it on a long time.
• If you really want to make your creations last, put them in a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator when not on display.
• You can re-attach and repair broken pieces with toothpicks or straight pins.
• Discourage squirrels and other critters from making a meal of your pumpkin by sprinkling it with liberally with Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.
• Sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice inside your Jack O' Lantern to give the air a spice aroma!

Volume Pumpkin Carving Tip!
Jerry Squires, a reader from Boise, Idaho who carves at least 60 pumpkins each year (thereby earning his home the affectionate nickname of "The Pumpkin House") sent in this tip for volume carvers:

A shop vacuum can be used to both scrape and remove the pumpkin interior. Place a wand extension attachment on the end of the shop vacuum hose. Then place the other end of the wand into the pumpkin. Scrape the sides and bottom of the inside of the pumpkin with the wand. This saves a large amount of time and effort.