How to Celebrate Pumpkin Day in Style

Pumpkin Day, celebrated on 26th October, is the perfect time to embrace the autumn season in all its cosy, colourful glory. 

Whether you're a fan of pumpkin-flavoured treats or just love the warm, festive atmosphere that pumpkins bring, this day is all about celebrating the humble squash. 

To help you make the most of it, here are some fun and creative ways to mark the occasion.

1. Pumpkin Picking Adventure

Start your Pumpkin Day by visiting a local pumpkin patch. Not only is it a great way to support local farmers, but you’ll also get to hand-pick the perfect pumpkins for your celebrations.

 Many farms offer hayrides, corn mazes, and other seasonal activities, making it a fun outing for the whole family. Don't forget to wrap up warm as the autumn chill sets in, and wear your wellies, as the fields can get muddy!

2. Carve a Masterpiece

One of the most iconic ways to celebrate is by carving pumpkins. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, there’s no shortage of ideas for what you can create. Classic spooky faces are always a hit, but why not try something different this year? Patterns such as cats, bats, or even your favourite film characters are a great way to add some flair to your carvings.

For younger children, consider painting pumpkins instead of carving them. It’s safer, and they’ll still have fun decorating their pumpkins with bright colours and glitter.

3. Host a Pumpkin-Themed Feast

Pumpkin isn’t just for carving – it’s delicious too! Treat your family or friends to a pumpkin-themed feast. Start with a comforting pumpkin soup or roast pumpkin wedges with a sprinkle of sea salt and rosemary. For the main course, try a rich pumpkin risotto or a hearty pumpkin pie.

Don’t forget dessert! Pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin muffins, or even pumpkin-flavoured biscuits are bound to be a hit. Pair your feast with a warm spiced cider or a pumpkin-flavoured latte for the ultimate autumnal treat.

4. Decorate Your Home with Pumpkins

Pumpkins are not only for eating and carving; they make fantastic autumn decorations. Arrange small pumpkins and gourds on your mantelpiece, dining table, or front doorstep to create a warm, inviting feel. You can even hollow out pumpkins and use them as candle holders or vases for seasonal flowers.

If you want to get even more creative, try painting pumpkins in non-traditional colours like white, gold, or pastels for a more modern autumnal vibe.

5. Pumpkin-Themed Games

Why not turn Pumpkin Day into a playful event with some themed games? Host a pumpkin bowling competition using small pumpkins as bowling balls, or organise a pumpkin toss to see who can throw them the furthest (just be careful not to break them!). For a more traditional approach, set up a pumpkin seed-spitting contest – it’s sure to bring plenty of laughs!

6. Bake Pumpkin Treats Together

If you're looking for a cosy indoor activity, baking is a fantastic way to enjoy the day. Get the family involved and whip up some pumpkin-flavoured goodies. From pumpkin bread to spiced pumpkin scones, there’s plenty to choose from. Plus, the delicious smell of baking pumpkins will fill your home with a delightful autumnal scent.

7. Share the Pumpkin Love

Pumpkin Day is a time for fun and giving. Why not share the pumpkin love by delivering some of your homemade pumpkin treats to neighbours or friends? Or, if you’ve got a surplus of pumpkins, consider donating them to a local farm for animal feed or a composting programme. It’s a simple but meaningful way to give back to the community while reducing waste.

8. Enjoy a Pumpkin-Themed Film Night

After a day of pumpkin-filled activities, wind down with a cosy film night. You can watch seasonal favourites like "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or other family-friendly Halloween films. Serve up some pumpkin-flavoured popcorn or pumpkin spice hot chocolate to keep the theme going.

Celebrating Pumpkin Day is a fantastic way to fully embrace the autumn season. From picking the perfect pumpkin to enjoying pumpkin-flavoured treats, there are endless ways to make the day special. So, grab your pumpkins, gather your loved ones, and get ready to celebrate this wonderful autumn tradition!

Cooking with Squash and Gourds: An Introduction

Squash and gourds are versatile, nutrient-rich vegetables that add depth and flavour to a variety of dishes.

Whether you're a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, incorporating these vibrant vegetables into your meals can be both enjoyable and rewarding. 

In this blog post, we'll explore the different types of squash and gourds, share some tips on how to prepare them, and provide a few simple yet delicious recipes to get you started.

Types of Squash and Gourds

Squash and gourds come in many shapes, sizes, and colours, each with its unique flavour and texture. Here's a quick guide to some of the most common varieties you might find in British markets:

Butternut Squash: This popular variety has a sweet, nutty flavour and smooth, orange flesh. It's perfect for roasting, soups, and stews.

Acorn Squash: With its ridged, dark green skin and yellow-orange flesh, acorn squash is slightly sweet and ideal for baking or stuffing.

Spaghetti Squash: When cooked, the flesh of this squash separates into spaghetti-like strands, making it a healthy alternative to pasta.

Pumpkin: While commonly associated with Halloween, pumpkins are also great for cooking. Their sweet, earthy flavour works well in soups, pies, and roasted dishes.

Kabocha Squash: This Japanese variety has a rich, sweet flavour and a texture similar to sweet potato. It's excellent for roasting and adding to curries.

Pattypan Squash: These small, scalloped squashes have a mild flavour and are perfect for grilling, sautéing, or adding to stir-fries.

Preparing Squash and Gourds

Preparing squash and gourds can be a bit daunting due to their tough skins and unusual shapes. Here are some tips to make the process easier:

Peeling and Cutting: Use a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board. For hard-skinned varieties like butternut or kabocha, it's helpful to cut off the top and bottom first, then peel with a vegetable peeler or a knife.

Scooping Seeds: After cutting the squash in half, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy bits. Don't discard the seeds – they can be roasted for a tasty snack.

Cooking Methods: Squash can be roasted, boiled, steamed, or even microwaved. Roasting often brings out the best flavour, especially for varieties like butternut or acorn.

Simple Recipes to Get You Started

Here are a few easy recipes to introduce you to the wonderful world of squash and gourds:

Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients:

1 medium butternut squash

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh herbs (optional, such as rosemary or thyme)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan).

Peel and cube the butternut squash.

Toss the cubes in olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Spread evenly on a baking tray and roast for 25-30 minutes, until tender and slightly caramelised.

Sprinkle with fresh herbs if desired.

Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Herbs

Ingredients:

1 medium spaghetti squash

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped

Method:

Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan).

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.

Drizzle with olive oil and place cut-side down on a baking tray.

Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the flesh is tender and can be easily separated with a fork.

In a pan, sauté the garlic in olive oil until fragrant.

Scrape the spaghetti squash flesh into strands and toss with the garlic oil.

Season with salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

1 small pumpkin, peeled and cubed

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

750ml vegetable stock

200ml double cream

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

Method:

Heat olive oil in a large pot and sauté the onion and garlic until soft.

Add the pumpkin cubes and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until the pumpkin is tender, about 20 minutes.

Use a hand blender to puree the soup until smooth.

Stir in the double cream and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper.

Heat through gently and serve.

Final Tips

Storage: Most squashes and gourds can be stored in a cool, dry place for several weeks. Once cut, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to five days.

Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different varieties and cooking methods. Squash and gourds are incredibly versatile and can be used in everything from salads to desserts.

Cooking with squash and gourds can bring a new dimension to your meals. Their unique flavours and textures, combined with their nutritional benefits, make them a fantastic addition to any kitchen. So why not give them a try? You might just discover a new favourite ingredient!

Morrisons gives you another reason to shop at Morrisons. 75p pumpkins!

Morrisons is making its most popular medium pumpkins available for just 75p this year, helping families to stock up on the spooky season staple for less. 

The lower price of 75p is available for all More Card customers while these standard carving pumpkins are still only 99p for those without a More Card. The move comes as Brits are set to spend a whopping £777 million on Halloween in 2023 – leaving parents’ pockets feeling petrified. 

Whether planning the perfect pumpkin-carving party or looking to avoid pricey pumpkin patch visits, shoppers can find a purse-friendly option for every budget. 

To take the stress out of paying for Halloween, Morrisons is helping families by offering the market’s cheapest price for a medium sized pumpkin this year; it is part of the wider frighteningly fantastic pumpkin range at Morrisons which includes munchkin pumpkins (59p), ghost pumpkins (£2.99), large pumpkins (£1.99) and even giant pumpkins (£8.99).

Morrisons has also introduced QR code stickers on all pumpkin displays in stores this year, which take customers to information on how to get the most out of their pumpkins and avoid them simply going to waste. Tips include: saving the pumpkins seeds for planting in the spring with cleaned pumpkin skins - an ideal household compost.

Chris Smith, Fruit Buying Manager at Morrisons, commented: “Any seasonal moment can be a cause for celebration but with budgets also top of mind this year we hope that by offering these cut-price options parents and little shoppers don’t have to compromise on carving the perfect centrepiece this Halloween.” 

For more information on the Morrisons Halloween range please visit: https://groceries.morrisons.com/browse/halloween-189047

For information on how to limit pumpkin waste visit: https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/morrisons-sustainability/planet/making-the-most-of-your-pumpkin

That's Food and Drink recommends delicious pumpkin pies and pumpkin soups, etc.

Good Housekeeping Magazine has 20 favourite recipes you can try for yourself:-  

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/halloween/g28373702/pumpkin-recipes

Great news for Halloween fans – pumpkins will be even bigger this year

And the reason why pumpkins will be larger this year? It’s a result of Britain’s unpredictable weather over the summer.

While many Brits may have been cursing the rainier than usual mid-summer months of July and August, the inclement weather was actually good news for the UK’s pumpkin farmers.  

And now Tesco's bracing itself for stronger demand than ever when this season’s crop of pumpkins go on sale at stores across the UK this week.

Tesco pumpkin buyer Lucy Moss said: “The good news for Halloween fans coming from our main pumpkin growers is that the fruit will be larger than normal in all size variations this year as a result of very good growing conditions during the summer months.

“This year we have six different sizes and based on last year’s demand, the carving variety is still the most popular. Each of the six different size categories will be larger than usual this year so fans will get good value for money.

“The good news, from a food waste point of view, is there's been an increase in customers seeking out recipes for their delicious versatile pumpkin flesh on our Tesco Real Food website.” 

Oakley Farms, which is based near Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, is one of Europe’s biggest suppliers of pumpkins, growing around five million annually. 

The farm works hand-in-hand with Tesco to ensure there is as little pumpkin waste as possible. 

Steve Whitworth, Commercial Manager at Oakley Farms said: “We had a pretty good growing season for pumpkins this summer with a really hot June which really helped the plants along.

“The rainy July and August may not have been great for sun lovers or BBQ fans but from a growing point of view for pumpkins, it was perfect. 

“The weather gave us the right amount of rain with sunny intervals especially compared with the challenging conditions we encountered during last year’s heatwave which was officially the hottest UK year on record.” 

Tesco’s pumpkins range this year is as follows:

Carving – standard size 

Culinary 

Munchkin 

Novelty including devil (red) and ghost (white) types 

Large 

Giant 

And here are some pumpkin recipes from Tesco for readers of That's Food and Drink to get their teeth into!

Sweet pumpkin pancakes with blackberries

These seasonal pancakes use pumpkin to give them a warm glow and sweet, squashy flavour. Stack 'em high with syrup and blackberries!

Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Toss the pumpkin with the oil and spread out in a single layer in a roasting tin. Cover with foil and bake for 20 mins, then remove the foil and continue to cook for 10 mins until the pumpkin is tender, with no liquid remaining in the tin. Leave to cool for 10 mins.

Meanwhile, mix the flour and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Crush the pumpkin in the tin with a potato masher or fork. Put in a jug with the milk and eggs, and whisk to combine evenly.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the centre of the flour bowl and whisk to make a smooth batter.

Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat and use a piece of kitchen paper to wipe ¼ of the butter over the surface of the pan. Spoon 4-5 heaped tbsp of batter, well-spaced out in the pan, to make 4-5 pancakes. Cook for about 90 secs until golden underneath with bubbles forming on the surface; flip and cook for another 1 min. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm while you cook the remaining pancakes.

Stack the pancakes and serve with the blackberries, a little yogurt and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

Tip: Make your pancakes into pumpkin shapes. Spoon an extra 1 tsp batter into the pan while cooking to create stalks. Once cooked, spread half the batch with hazelnut chocolate spread, and cut faces out of the other half. Sandwich the halves together, and colour the stalks with green writing icing.

Pumpkin latte

If you're in need of a warm me up then get cosy with this wonderfully spiced pumpkin latte. This spicy and frothy hot drink is so simple to make at home, it's the perfect drink to snuggle up to and works wonderfully with both espresso coffee and instant coffee.

Put the pumpkin purée, sugar, spices and milk in a microwave-proof jug. Mix the contents to combine. Cover with clingfilm, then carefully pierce the surface two or three times, to allow steam to escape. Microwave on full power for 1½-2 mins, until the milk is hot.

Using an electric milk frother or whisk, whisk for 30-45 secs or until milk is really frothy. Pour the hot coffee into a latte glass or mug, then add the spiced pumpkin milk. Top with cream, if using, then dust with a little more mixed spice and some cocoa.

Tip: If you have a coffee machine, use two shots of espresso to make the latte. If not, use an instant espresso coffee or your usual cafetière. You will need 50ml strong coffee made from about 1 tbsp ground coffee.

https://realfood.tesco.com/gallery/10-best-pumpkin-recipes.html?id=1b1694dc-d4e0-4eaa-8a37-a4dd01265fb5

www.tesco.com