Got Pumpkin? Here Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Jack-O-Lantern
Basically, my favorite thing about Halloween is all the leftover candy! On the other hand, maybe you enjoy the costume parties. Or you love seeing all the little trick-or-treaters in their disguises. No matter what you love about Halloween, the fact is, you probably have some leftover jack-o-lanterns. So, what are the best environmental pumpkin disposal methods?
Whole, Uncarved, Undecorated Pumpkin Disposal Methods
Did you know that we Americans throw away over 1 billion pounds of pumpkin each year? That’s according to an article by Jen Panaro on HonestlyModern.com. Unfortunately, most people just throw them in the trash. Subsequently, they head to the landfill. Organic matter like raw fruit, vegetables, and food scraps release methane while they rot in landfills. So, now that you have leftover pumpkins, what are some of the best ways to get rid of them?
Whole pumpkins that have not been carved up or decorated can certainly be used to create some great dishes. Even if you don’t particularly enjoy pumpkin dishes, other folks do. See if a neighbor would like your old pumpkins to make one of their favorite culinary creations. By the same token, you can donate the pumpkins to a food pantry. Someone will cook up a delicious dish with that nutritious gourd.
If you do enjoy eating pumpkin delicacies, then cut that gourd in half and bake it. Panaro says you can turn it into pumpkin puree which can be part of many dessert recipes. Additionally, you can also roast those pumpkin seeds and snack on them.
Here’s What You Can Do With Carved And Decorated Pumpkin Scraps
Of course, those ideas above are great for whole pumpkins. But what about the ones you’ve carved up, painted, and decorated? Those pumpkins will not last as long as a whole pumpkin.
Therefore, as long as your pumpkin scraps are not covered in mold, Panaro’s article recommends collecting it all. Then, you can donate the scraps to an animal rescue, the local farms or zoo, or a neighbor raising backyard chickens. Animals will love feeding on those pumpkin scraps.
Best Rotting Pumpkin Disposal Methods
Certainly, if you know someone who composts their organic matter, get those rotting pumpkins to them. They can add them to their compost heap. Conversely, if you don’t know any composters, there are a few services that will collect your pumpkin scraps. The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has a couple of companies here in Southern Nevada who will provide that service. Click here for that information.
Finally, although digging into Southern Nevada soil can be very difficult, you can always bury your pumpkin scraps. Whether they are whole, carved up, or rotting, just dig a few inches into the soil. Then, break up all the pumpkin into little pieces. Bury those pieces and cover with the soil. The pumpkin scraps will provide a delicious meal “for earthworms, bugs and other soil life” according to HonestlyModern.com.
5 Delicious Desserts To Make With All That Candy Corn
1. Candy Corn Hot Chocolate
Candy Corn Hot Chocolate
This recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth looking for a hot drink. It’s mixed with white chocolate chips and cream. And you can do it in a slow cooker with this recipe. Or make it in less than 15 minutes with this recipe.
2. Candy Corn Rice Krispy Treats
Halloween Rice Krispy Treats
There are two ways I recommend doing these. You can either mix the candy corn in the batter before you lay it all out in the pan. Or you can melt the candy down and drizzle it on top of the pan of treats before you cut. Either way, it’ll be tasty. Here’s an easy recipe to use.
3. Candy Corn Cookies
Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
Mix candy corns in the batter of your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Or for a real sweet treat, add it to this white chocolate chip cookie recipe. Yum!
4. Candy Corn Ice Cream
Candy Corn Ice Cream
This recipe takes just candy corn, milk and cream. And you can make it even sweeter by sprinkling more candy corn on top. Here’s the recipe.
5. Halloween Snack Mix
Halloween Snack Mix
This is the easiest thing to do with leftover candy corn. Make it the sweet ingredient in any snack or trail mix. You can add any mixture of popcorn, pretzels, cashews, peanuts or any other salty favorite. Try out this recipe to get you going.
Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.
