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Sinnick
offlineMember
Yes, I've been conned into converting a perfectly good vegetable into an evil mask, in recognition of an American celebration. But, all is not lost.
While delving into the 18" monster, I realised that what I was doing was not dissimilar to what a gynaecololgist does for a smear test. This amused me somewhat.
Then I had my brainwave - use an ice-cream scoop !!
For the pumpkin, obviously, not the other thing ...
[I can already sense Mary writing out an invoice for yet another PC]
rikkor
offlineMember
"While delving into the 18-inch monster" caught my eye. Turned out it what just about pumpkins. You'd be better off cleaning it with a large, sturdy metal spoon.
Did you know that you could make a huge effort to dry and roast the pumpkin seeds? The result is a snack almost no one wants to eat.
It is a favorite prank of young hooligans here to smash neighbors' beautifully carved pumpkins. Was in my day, and still is today. Nothing little boys like better than destroying somethng nice. Especially if the destruction leaves a big mess.
The All New Jeni B
onlineMember
Up here in the wind-blown and frozen north, we've been carving lanterns for years, but traditionally we've used ginormous turnips. A lot more time consuming to do than a pumpkin, but all the more satisfying. Especially as the turnip isn't wasted, but is used for soups, mash etc.
Hallowe'en used to have much more significance up here because of the Pagan symbolism, and 'Guisers' were expected to perform some kind of 'party-piece' to earn their reward.
Nowadays, we switch off the drive and outside light, leaving any children to face a long and scary journey up our unlit drive, with only the sounds of creaking tree branches for company.
Funnily enough, not many come to our door.
The All New Jeni B
onlineMember
I was thinking of offering them either carrot sticks or celery, or take sweets from a bucket filled with cold custard.
Best bet is to just ignore the door.
shitsu_tonka
offlineMember
Try growing up in a vicarage where the doorbell rings all night as kids dare each other to yell 'trick or treat' at the vicar.
I hate Halloween to this day.
Apart from the year a bunch of hysterical wanna-be wiccas turned up on the doorstep at 02:30 all in a tizzy because they'd done a ouija board, believed themselves to have spoken to Hitler, and now thought he was going to kill them from beyond the grave.
That was hilarious.
Why Hitler though, of all the dead people you could have a chat with were ouija boards not a pile of kak why would you want to talk to him? And how come he'd learned to speak English in the spirit world? Always struck me as the sort of chap who wasn't that keen on other languages and cultures.
Hunter F. Thompson
offlineMember
Thank you Mr S. Croat: that is exactly how I feel about punkings [received Merkin pron.]. Mother used to serve them roasted, burned on all the edges: each forkful was an utterly revolting mouthful. The caremelised part, which forms a sort of indigestible husk, is bitter and the inside softness fibrously mushy, the combination of which makes each grudging mouthful an ordeal.
I have since invented Punking Soup, a culinary contrivance which renders this abundant curcurbacé palatable. Skin and steam the punking pieces. In the meantime, you will have prepared a broth from prime cuts of beef and tasty bones like ribs, with thyme, bayleaf, carrot, onion, some leek, coarse-ground black pepper, salt, a wodge of roasted garlic (do that before starting the broth) and have been extremely vigilant in observing the recommendation not to let it boil. You will have removed all the floating fat, scum and solids from the juice, and might have decided to add some aged brandy or, better yet, how about some Wild Turkey (just a shot)?
Mash the punking and carefully stir it into the broth, making sure that the mixture is fluid, but not thin. Serve in heated dishes with a glug of sour cream and a sprinkling of flat-leaf parsely. Some people add a grating of nutmeg, but only Merkins add cinamon to everything: so don't do that. Cinnamon only qualifies as an ingredient when sultanas, raisins or corinth raisins are mentioned in the list of ingredients.
Travel advisory: If travelling to the United States, British and French citizens are advised that the seasonal Hallowe'en feast is observed by serving, among other items, Punking Pie with tiny, multicoloured marshmallows on top. Travellers are advised to respond accordingly to invitations to participate in these events.
Sinnick
offlineMember
Brilliant picture, scroat, a work of art !!
My original post was intended to be a gag on the smear test, of which younger Biscuiteers will hopefully be unaware.
However, it seems I've unwittingly started yet another cookery post. Is it too early to start threads on the best way to cook turkey ? Or how best to stuff rabbits with chocolate eggs to celebrate some famous guy dying 2000 years ago ?
I think there's just not enough cookery on TV.
rickwestwell
offlineMember
Dammit to hell! Where can I possibly get "Essential Waitrose British chicken thighs" around here?
rickwestwell
offlineMember
Ah - I can stretch to that. Will let you know how it goes - I'm a big fan of all those ingredients,
so my hopes are high. :-)
The All New Jeni B
onlineMember
Stunts, that was painful. Especially the result of snorting a well-know brand of carbonated soft drink out of my nose.
The All New Jeni B
onlineMember
I know, typical blonde though, I'm snorting it out rather than in.
rikkor
offlineMember
Hunter has never been to the US. There is no Halloweeen feast. Especially not one where pumpkin pie with marshmallows is served.
Some people in the US (mostly the hoi polloi) serve a disgusting sweet potato casserole topped with melted marshmallows at Thanksgiving and Cristmas. The exact same menu is served at both holidays.
rickwestwell
offlineMember
try it - bet it'll be an unkoalathighed success
Beautiful! ROFLMAOMYASSHURTS!
rikkor
offlineMember
Sorry, I put an extra "e" in Halloween. I don't think the spelling Hallowe'en has been used here since about 1945. I am currently vy. amused by the constant use of "whilst" in a biography of E. Waugh I am reading written by a British author. Sounds vy. 19th-century to the American ear. "Amongst" has almost completely died out here as well.
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