The Great Pumpkin - Part 1

This Saturday is Halloween, one of my favorite holidays! And this year, there are some incredible ideas for alternative uses for pumpkins!

The first one, courtesy of Martha Stewart, is to make a Pumpkin ice bucket!

Simply buy a large pumpkin that can hold a glass or stainless steel bowl. The bowl is important because otherwise the pumpkin will get water-logged and soggy. Cut the top off and carve it out. It helps if you shave the inside with a serrated spoon to get it as thin as possible. Then fill the bowl with ice and your favorite drinks!

Want another great party idea? Use a pumpkin for a serving dish for some amazing Chili or Soup:
Hollow out a large pumpkin, saving the top, and be sure to use a serrated spoon to get the inside nice and clean. Next, spray the inside and outside, as well as the top, with cooking spray, and place both on a greased cookie sheet. Set the oven to 350 degrees and bake for one hour, until the outside has turned a deep orange color. Take out of the oven, fill with your favorite soup, and serve. The warm pumpkin will keep the soup warm too! Thanks to Emmy Lu for this great idea!