Green Thumb Sunday - Homegrown Pumpkins.
A pumpkin has been brought into the kitchen from the vegetable garden for Halloween.
The Halloween lantern is created by hollowing out the pumpkin, carving holes in the skin to make a face. A night-light candle is placed inside the pumpkin, to light up the face at night.
The flesh from the pumpkin can be used to make a substantial soup which tastes extra good.
The seeds are very good for you, and take less than 10 minutes to cook in a frying pan. Separate the seeds from the fleshy bits, and drop them singly into warm oil.
Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information



Hi Top Veg,
Pumkins have certainly taken off in the last 10 years.I can remember scraping out a Turnip for mine ’several years ago’.I can still smell the turnip being cooked by the candle.
I can see why pumkins have become so popular though, as they are easier to make and have plenty of uses afterwards.
Cheers Mark
Comment by Mark - October 28, 2007 2:52 pm
My favorite a the little pie pumpkins. You have never tasted pumpkin pie than when it’s from fresh pumpkins. Unfortunately it also takes most of the day to make.
Comment by barbara - October 28, 2007 3:11 pm
You’ve certainly made good use of every part of the pumpkin :o)
Comment by ruth - October 28, 2007 3:27 pm
Hi Mark - yes the smell of the pumpkin as the candle burns is very autumny!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 28, 2007 4:07 pm
Barbara
Thanks for visiting TopVeg and telling us about pumpkin pie - we have never tasted it. It must be good if it takes all day to make - possibly worth a trip to the USA!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 28, 2007 4:08 pm
Ruth
It always seems slightly decadent to make an edible vegetable into a frivilous lantern - so the soup & tasty seeds are a justification!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 28, 2007 4:09 pm
Your lantern is adorable, and everything else looks so tasty! Thanks for sharing
Happy GTS!
Comment by Ann M. - October 28, 2007 4:35 pm
Hi! What a cute pumpkin! I am actually just making a sugar free (Made with Splenda Brown Suger) PIE!!! It is starting to smell good in here! I make it without crust, and put a dollop of lite Cool Whip on top, once it is cold…I like my PP cold.
Happy day to you…
Julie
Comment by Julie - October 28, 2007 5:54 pm
Your pumpkins looks great and so nice that you could bring it straight from the garden. Also, such a useful post about what the pumpkin flesh and seeds are good for. Thanks for voting on my pumpkin decision. I think I am going to leave it as is.
Comment by carver - October 28, 2007 6:44 pm
I love the idea of using the seeds for eating as well. I look forward to your soup recipe. The lantern looks great.
Sara from farmingfriends
Comment by farmingfriends - October 28, 2007 8:26 pm
I’m not a fan of pumpkin pie but the roasted seed are the BEST. Worth every slimy scoop!
Comment by anne - October 28, 2007 9:05 pm
Anne
Thanks for visiting. How do you roast your pumpkin seeds?
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 29, 2007 5:18 am
I’m jealous. We didnt grow pumpkins this year, but my hisband has bought some Atlantic Giant seeds and next year he plans to grow a whopper.
Comment by Mel Rimmer - October 29, 2007 6:52 am
Hi Mel
Lets make that a challenge - we will see if you can grow the biggest!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - October 29, 2007 6:56 am
Wow so great Ilove all things pumpkin
Comment by marcia v - October 29, 2007 9:07 am
For the record, I like my pumpkin seeds roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper and ground cayenne. Yum, can’t wait!
Comment by anne - October 29, 2007 5:59 pm
Sounds great! Thanks, Anne
Comment by TopVeg - October 29, 2007 6:01 pm
A very happy looking pumpkin - much larger than the ones we managed to grow.
Comment by Familynatters - November 1, 2007 11:49 pm