Turn Your Pumpkin Into a Serving Piece + recipes

Turn your "mini pumpkin" into a serving piece in 3 easy steps!

Just slice off the top, scoop, and fill!

I simply took one of my mini pumpkins - the ones that sell for about a $1.00 in most supermarkets or road side stands-, sliced off the top ( this is the tricky part- see instructions below),  scooped out the seeds and filled the pumpkin with dip- turning my pumpkin into a pretty fall "serving piece".

I decorate my kitchen with all kinds of colorful pumpkins and fall squashes this time of the year. I usually have at least 4 or 5 of the mini pumpkins as accents on my shelves. This is the first time I ever thought of actually scooping one out and trying to use it !

I love this idea for a Halloween party, Thanksgiving dinner, Succot, or any fall party. If you entertain a small crowd, you could make one for each person at his/her seat, or for a larger crowd make a few and use them for appetizers accompanied by crudite, GF chips, apple slices, etc. 

My mini pumpkin photo is filled with a simple guacamole 
( mashed  avocado,  diced celery, lemon juice and Himalayan pink salt). Another guacamole recipe is listed below. 

No matter which filling you serve, the presentation will be festive and colorful!

Try One Of These Dips or Fillings

• Homemade Guacamole ( vegan) 
• Homemade Humus ( vegan) 
• Ranch Dressing
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Greek Yogurt 
• Spinach and artichoke dip  
• black bean dip 
• Egg salad
• pumpkin butter spread
• cranberry sauce
• Cranberry Apple Chuntney ( vegan) 

Some of my easy and delicious GF pumpkin recipes: 
pumpkin pie 
pumpkin pudding bars 
pumpkin rice pudding ( vegan) 

Author: Judee Algazi from Gluten Free A-Z Blog
Prep Time: 3-5 minutes for slicing and scooping the pumpkin

Materials Needed:
A large chefs knife
1 mini pumpkin


How I sliced my mini pumpkin

Instructions: 
As easy as it sounds, it could be a little tricky to slice the pumpkin since the pumpkin is extremely hard. I used a large chopping type knife. I read about this on Pinterest, but it didn't give any instructions, so I had to guess. This is how I sliced it.

I couldn't cut it in one blow so I scored the pumpkin in a circle all around and then cut into it at one of the scored openings. When the knife was in the pumpkin, I then proceeded to use the knife to bang the pumpkin on my counter ( gently) until the pressure started to split the pumpkin. I then cut through and ended up with a clean cut. Good Luck!

DIY Craft: How I made my white Decorated Faux Pumpkins in the photo on the top of the page

                          I love to link my recipes to blog carnivals:
             
                             I Will Be Linking this recipe to my Daily
                        Blog Carnival List 

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