YOU’RE IN FOR A FRIGHT! If You Don’t Heed These Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips
Just because some parts of Halloween are scary doesn’t mean your pumpkin carving experience has to be. Every year at the end of October, people show up at the hospital with hand and finger injuries, and it’s not from the teeth of their new jack-o’- lanterns. If you and your family want these All Hallows’ Eve essentials on your porch for this year’s batch of trick-or- treaters to admire, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
All it takes is one slip of the finger, and any moisture can put your pumpkin carving hand out of commission until it’s time to carve the Thanksgiving turkey. You also need to clearly see what you’re carving, so make sure your space has proper lighting. DON’T LET KIDS CARVE Use your best judgment on the exact age to let your kids actually carve the pumpkin. But until then, there are still some fun ways to keep your youngest kiddos in on the Halloween fun. Let them pick out their pumpkins, and they can draw whatever pattern they want you to carve on its face with a marker. While you’re carving their design, make sure to model safe carving techniques, holding the pumpkin steady and cutting in small, controlled strokes. DON’T USE YOUR KITCHEN KNIVES Pumpkin carving kits, which contain small, serrated pumpkin saws, are specially designed for cutting into the rind of a pumpkin and minimizing the risk of injury. While a kitchen knife can get stuck and is sharp enough to cause some serious injuries, using a pumpkin saw will ensure that all your digits make it through the night of fright in one piece. Don’t let a fun night of showing off your artistic flare turn into a trip to the emergency room. Be smart when you’re carving this year’s jack-o’-lanterns so that the only things that scare you are their spooky expressions when you light them on the porch.
CARVE IN A DRY, WELL-LIT AREA Pumpkin carving tools that are still wet after they’ve been cleaned pose a danger for even the most experienced pumpkin carving veterans.
WORD SEARCH
This recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers. LEFTOVER CANDY SNACK MIX
• 2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken ingredients
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/3 cup dry milk powder • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2- inch pieces
instructions
Autumn Candy Carve Costume
Scarecrow Halloween October Orange
Pumpkin Football Harvest Leaves
1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.
888-314-6671 3
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker