After the last of the trick-or-treaters make their final rounds tonight, the costumes are piled in the closest and the candy is nothing but wrappers, the only remains of Halloween will be the pumpkins sitting on the front porch.
But just because Halloween has come and gone doesn't mean orange goes out of vogue on Nov. 1. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, pumpkins can be found in everything from meals to decor.
Depending on whether you carved Mr. Pumpkin into a Jack-O-Lantern or left him intact, here are some ways to reuse this seasonal favorite throughout the fall.
Carved pumpkins
If your pumpkin has been lighting the way to the front door for the past week or so, it is no longer safe for consumption. However, there are better options than just tossing it in the trash can this week.
Although the pumpkin will decompose in the landfill, if you are a gardener, put it to good use in your own lawn or composting pile.
Remove candles and any wax or other additions to the pumpkin from the decorations.
At this point you can either channel your inner rock star by smashing the pumpkin, cutting it up into pieces or leaving it whole.
If you are going to add the pumpkin to your garden, dig a hole in your garden and bury the whole pumpkin or its pieces.
Rich in potassium and vitamin A, the pumpkin will enrich the soil to, hopefully, produce a fruitful garden next year. Make sure there are no seeds still in the pumpkin when you bury it or that vegetable garden could quickly turn into a pumpkin patch.
For composting, either add the pieces - which should be in a mushy state - to your existing compost heap or create a new one.
If you are creating a compost pile for the first time, you can either use a bucket outside, if you are planning to use the compost for your springtime gardening, or find a place kind of out of the way in your yard with leaves and other natural materials - preferably a place that will not disturb your landscaping, such as near the side of your house or in the backyard. The area should drain well and get lots of sunlight throughout the year.
Add pumpkin as well as other vegetables and organic materials to the compost pile. This can later be used as fertilizer.
You can also turn the carved side of the pumpkin to face the wall. This will keep your porch looking fall-festive without still feeling like Halloween - however, it will only last for a short time because carved pumpkins rot quickly.
Uncarved Pumpkins
If your holiday plans didn't include some creative carving or you ran out of time, harvest these ideas for those leftover Halloween pumpkins.
For those of you who enjoy cooking, the pumpkin is the gourd of the season when it comes to holiday treats. Many people buy pumpkin-smelling candles and room fragrances to recreate that familiar scent, but by baking with pumpkin that fall smell comes with a tasty treat.
Although most people make pie with the filling from the can, you can use your pumpkin for some real made-from-scratch pumpkin pie.
To make the filling part of your favorite pie recipe, simply cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the guts and remove the stem before cooking in a little bit of water either in the microwave or oven. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the thickness of the pumpkin.
Once the meat is soft, it should be easy to peel off the skin and blend into a smooth puree.
Remember to save the seeds you removed for roasting and eating later. Of course, you can also use them to grow your own pumpkin patch.
The pumpkin itself can also make for a decorative and useful centerpiece during a holiday meal by turning it into a serving bowl for soup.
To make the bowl, cut the top quarter of the pumpkin off and clean out the insides. Then leave the pumpkin to dry out and line.
Now you can fill the bowl with a warm holiday soup, such as pumpkin or butternut squash soup. This dish is sure to impress both the eyes and taste buds.
Use pumpkins of varying sizes throughout the home from the mantle to the porch to decorate throughout the holiday season.
If you painted the pumpkins for Halloween, either turn them around so the bare side is showing or paint over the design. You could do some fall-inspired designs, such as leaves or acorns.
Mix with gourds of other colors, such as green and yellow, to make the orange pop.
If you need more pumpkins, they will be the cheapest after the holiday, as stores try to sell the last of their stock to prepare for the next holiday. Just don't wait too long, or they will be nothing more than ghosts of Allhallows Eve.
•Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
