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Archive for February, 2010

When we think of pumpkins, we think of Halloween, Jack-O-Lanterns, pumpkin pie, and perhaps Thanksgiving.

But, truthfully, there are many ways to use a pumpkin!

During October, pumpkins are abundant. Sometimes, they are too abundant. And it’s not uncommon to see excess pumpkins cast aside or left to rot after Halloween, but there’s really no need to let the extras go to waste.

The following are just a few of the great uses for pumpkins:

Pumpkins in Recipes

As food, pumpkins are low in calories, yet high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, protein, and potassium. Dig out your favorite cookbook and search for recipes containing pumpkin.

Pumpkin breads, pies, and pumpkin muffins are favorites, but you can probably find plenty of others. As an impromptu house guest in Paris, I was once served an incredible pumpkin soup (though I never completed my search for that particular). There are more exotic recipes to try as well – pumpkin juice, pumpkin ice cream, and even fried pumpkin.

Pumpkin Seeds

Also called “pepitas,” pumpkin seeds are known to be highly nutritious, and are used in weight-loss diets. They provide fiber, healthy fats, and protein, as well as such minerals as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper. They are also known to strengthen the immune system, and to be good for people with high cholesterol.

Roasted pumpkin seeds make excellent snacks between meals, can be sprinkled over a holiday squash soup, and are a favorite in Mexican cooking. Candied pumpkin seeds are great for parties as well – and even your children might accept them among their Halloween candy.

Pumpkins for Later

If you have more pumpkins than you know what to do with, you can save them for later use in recipes and for winter holidays.

There are several ways to create pumpkin puree which can be frozen for later use. The following are three preparation methods:

1. Baking – Cut the pumpkin in half, place it on a baking sheet with the flat side down, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for about an hour, or until it is tender when tested with a fork.

2. Microwave – Follow the same procedure as above, but instead of placing the pumpkin in an oven, microwave it on high for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender.

3. Boiling – Cut the pumpkin into large chunks and rinse. Then, place the chunks in a large pot, cover with water (fully immersing the pumpkins, plus one inch of water on top), and boil until tender.

After you have used one of the methods above to soften the pumpkin, cool it off, peel it, and mash it in a food processor. You can also use a potato masher or similar device.

Then, simply seal the puree into zip lock bags, or whatever is convenient, and freeze it for for the winter. The puree can be used as a substitute for canned pumpkin, in any recipe.

Pumpkin for Pets

Mashed pumpkin is a great remedy for digestive trouble in dogs. It can be used to combat weight gain or diarrhea, and for resistance to infections. It’s also said to be good for a dog’s night vision and general health.

Simply add a few spoons of cooked and mashed pumpkin to your dog’s food. (Important: it must be pure mashed pumpkin, not a mix!)

Cats may like pumpkin as well, and it can be given to help cats with similar digestive troubles, as well as hairballs.

Remember, if your pet is sick, take him to the vet! Also, ask your vet about using pumpkin as a home remedy.

Pumpkins for the Skin

Pumpkins contain anti-oxidants and alpha-hydroxy, which are said to be good for the skin. You can use pumpkin peels as a facial, to combat wrinkles or other skin problems.

Pumpkins as Dishes

You can clean a pumpkin well, cut it in half, and dry it for use as a serving bowl or a flower vase. You can also use a halved pumpkin to cook or bake other foods in.

Pumpkins as Ornaments

Pumpkins, gourds, and squash can be used to create candle holders, Thanksgiving centerpieces, and other ornaments.

Pumpkins for Children and Games

Pumpkins can be used for children’s drawing or carving contests. If your kids are too little to start carving yet, they can also decorate pumpkins with markers or paint – or even create a pumpkin collage. Another use of pumpkins is as targets for archery practice.

But we definitely don’t recommend any games that involve throwing pumpkins, nor using them as substitutes for foot balls.

Possibly even better, how about a cross between a Jack-O-Lantern, a Snow Man, and a Scare Crow? Your kids might have a great time making a Pumpkin Man – and it’s much better for them than watching TV.

Pumpkins for Crafts

If you’re an experienced craftsman or a devout hobbyist, you might try some more advanced and creative uses of pumpkins. You can make pumpkin leather like the American Indians did, or just settle with a simple pumpkin bird house.

Musical Pumpkins

Yes, that’s right, pumpkins make great musical instruments as well. Or, at least they can if you know how to make (and play) them. You can find a variety of ideas for instruments that can be made from gourds, squashes, and pumpkins. Although many musical instruments are made from gourds, one can easily imagine how a large or small pumpkin would do just as well in several cases.

As you can see, there’s really no need for pumpkins to go to waste, either before Halloween or afterwards.

During economic recessions, it’s not uncommon that people have more time on their hands than they have money. A woman who’s lost her job doesn’t stop looking for work. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have more time on her hands, which she can use for a few creative domestic tasks, that help keep costs down.

Instead of letting extra pumpkins go to waste, the above are a few ways you can stretch your grocery budget a bit further, invest some time in your health, get your kids away from the screen, and have some fun at the same time.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others understand how to utilize existing resources in their lives, reduce waste, and adopt eco-friendly lifestyles. Find out more at her blogs, Source and Resource and Build and Rebuild.

Source Article: Different Ways of Using Pumpkins

How the bridesmaids look is essential to the overall look of the wedding. These ladies should not be overlooked, as they need to be in that stylishness level close to that of the bride herself. What better way to make them look regal but to adorn them with bridesmaids jewellery. The bridesmaids can still look outstanding by adorning them with uniquely styled jewellery. This is because not every cut and style of jewellery will go with all body types and built.

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Brides who are fashion-forward may prefer for the wedding occasion to shift slightly from the timeless designs of conventional weddings. A stylishly-crafted wedding jewellery will definitely offer more glitter to your chosen wedding outfit, and will most certainly go well with the minimalism of the gown and even the wedding settings. If you are a bride to be, you can find a good selection of contemporary items from the best designers in your area or online. A good number of these designers keep track of trends in the wedding industry, and can create a modern design that a bride can tweak to her taste.

Choosing your wedding theme may not be as simple as some think it is. It’s harder when it’s your first time getting married. It’s just as challenging to find the right bridal wedding jewellery. Note that your wedding jewellery must compliment your wedding gown, your chosen hairstyle, your wedding accessories, and your wedding theme. If you prefer a seasonal wedding jewellery option, one is a wedding by the sea theme. You have to think about the jewellery’s shape, size, texture, colour, and the emotions they invoke. You need to match these with the wedding’s over all theme and see how well they go together. Any theme, keep in mind, will offer a range of jewellery choices that are appropriate to the emotions invoked.

One very important piece of equipment for home owners are step ladders. We all need a step stool or a step ladder, for example, to get something from a height. Need to reach something from a high cupboard? Then a step stool will do. For anything higher than the fridge, you can always use a step ladder to change bulbs and dust the chandelier. If you need to paint near the ceiling of fix up the house, then you might need platform ladders. Combination ladders are more versatile – it can be used as a step ladder, an extension ladder, and a stairway ladder.

How the bridesmaids look is important to the overall theme of the wedding. How they look is important because they have to be elegant enough to be presented with the beautiful bride. The bridesmaids jewellery can absolutely bring them to sophistication. Instead of having the same look for every bridesmaid, one option is to have similar pieces of jewellery with the same gemstone made for the entourage to give each of them character and uniqueness. This can work for the bridesmaids because the jewellery can be chosen according to what matches their body types.

A woman about to walk the isle must carefully choose herwedding jewellery sets. Because even though the jewellery selection to choose from is huge, the bride must nonetheless make sure her jewellery set matches with the wedding theme, the wedding setting, the reception, the wedding gown and other accessories. Pearl jewellery, for instance, go well with brides who want a sophisticated look. The best quality pearl jewellery are those of the freshwater and natural formed kind. Pearl jewellery of these kinds should have little or no blemishes on them. Some couples choose to wear simple yet elegant wedding bands. Whatever combination of jewellery you choose, it should reflect your personality on your special day.

When your home has a loft or attic, chances are you use it for storage. That would be an efficient way to keep the house free of unused items. Like most homes, you probably have an aging staircase used to access your loft. You need a loft ladder, and a reliable one, to replace the unsafe ladders often used to access lofts and attics. There are folding, telescopic, and sliding loft ladders. You can choose what suits your home. You may even need, depending on your situation, a bespoke attic ladder. Materials for loft ladder include aluminium, wood, and even steel.

The bouquet and garter toss is always an essential part of UK weddings. The bride shall hide the garter under the gown until the garter toss part, when the garter is taken off by the groom and hurled to a crowd of eager bachelors. From land-based stores to Internet shops, wedding garters come in all designs and sizes. Most garter varieties are created from lace materials and embellished with details. You can also find silk garters from a variety of creators these days, often in a selection of colours. You can also customise the garters for a personalised feel.

The stereotype is that when we give jewellery as gifts, it’s a romantic act. We don’t do that for a friend. Not true at all. Receiving jewellery from a friend, as a gift, can be a gesture of deep friendship. It’s not confined to romance. You will not run out of options for gift for women. Classic pieces that any woman can wear to match her attire, those jewelleries would be appreciated. For this you choose from out selection of fine pendants, bracelets, necklaces and more. Men also love fine jewellery, such as cufflinks, for these highlight any men’s suit, whether it is a simple style or a designer suit.
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