Carve a Pumpkin Lantern Out of a Pumpkin This Halloween
Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I were invited to a pumpkin carving party. Instead of lugging heavy pumpkins across Brooklyn, our plan was to simply grab a couple along the way, along with the necessary libations and sweet corn. Forty minutes and four stops later, we were still empty-handed and realized that we had grossly overestimated the prevalence of pumpkins in wine cellars and supermarkets. Instead of throwing that towel, we improvised. We searched for options at a corner store near our destination and bought the most pumpkin items we could find: zucchini spaghetti and honeydew.
The items were only a hit because of the newness, but things got really interesting when we really started carving. Both items were actually pretty easy to see, although there has been some controversy about how best to maintain them and where the covers should be. However, our spontaneous purchase really paid off when we lit the candles. The honeydew looked completely made for Halloween – it glowed with neon green light and made everyone wonder: why isn’t it? (For reference, my boyfriend cut it out, and this is a sketch of a snowman from Snowman . I’m afraid you guys will think it’s Pepe the frog. It’s not Pepe the frog.)
So while you’re slicing your favorite pumpkin lantern this year – or if you’re also having trouble getting a seasonal pumpkin – consider putting your knife skills to the test with another spherical food item. Watermelon, pineapple , oranges, apples, courgettes, zucchini , potatoes, turnips and peppers are all good options, but there’s no limit as long as, you know, it’s not a fire hazard. The shelf life may not be as long as a pumpkin depending on your choice, but if you want to add a little bit of zest to your Halloween night display, this might just be the way to go. The best? In some cases, there is a built-in snack.