Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Don’t look now, but it’s time to carve our Jack-o-lanterns. Traditionally, you’re supposed to carve a scary face into the pumpkin to scare Halloween’s roaming spirits away. But we Bakers aren’t a very superstitious bunch, so I’ll be sticking to my usual happy faces. Whether you decide to make yours happy, scary, or altogether strange, here’s a few tips to make the carving and displaying more fun:

To make your Jack-o-lantern last as long as possible, after cleaning it out, spray the inside and outside with a disinfecting spray. It’ll prevent mold from growing and keep the pumpkin from rotting for a few days. (But don’t ever spray it while there’s a lighted candle inside!)

If you want to carve a fancy pattern into your pumpkin, use a pin or poker tool to draw it out. Then, to make the dots easier to see, rub flour into them.

For a great scent, sprinkle a little cinnamon and ground nutmeg onto the inside of each Jack-o-lantern top. When the heat from the candle reaches the spices, they’ll give off a wonderful pumpkin pie aroma.

And for a lantern-like display, try hanging your Jack-o-lanterns in plant hangers. They’ll be easier to see, and little trick-or-treaters’ costumes will be safe from the flames.