Halloween.......Woooooo!

My little Jake is going to a halloween party at his school tomorrow (the school are on half term the actual week of halloween so they are having it a week early). He is to take a pumpkin or lantern so I went to Sainsburys yesterday and had a rummage through the pumpkins to find one that was half decent (I have to say the pumpkins at Sainsburys were a pitiful bunch this year - almost looked like they had been in storage since last year - all dirty and dark and dry looking!)

Anyway here is my effort - I wanted to do something different other than they usual face so I hunted on the internet and found some great templates at Marthastewart.com

Very difficult to photograph (the light inside - torch light so that there is no fire hazard LOL) shines through the window and through the etched stone edging as well.

And with the insides I have made Thai pumpkin soup and homemade bread rolls. Pumpkin soup recipe below......

Thai Pumpkin Soup

2lb (900g) pumpkin flesh

1 dessertspoon Olive Oil

1oz (25g) butter

1 onion - finely chopped

2 inches ginger - grated

2 red chillies - deseeded and finely chopped

14oz tin chopped tomatoes

1pt (500ml) chicken stock

14oz tin coconut milk

1 dessertspoon chopped coriander

Heat the oil and butter in a large pan. When it is foaming add the onion, ginger, chillies and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next add the pumpkin flesh and stir well. Place the lid on the pan and leave to simmer for 8-10 minutes. Give the mixture a stir from time to time to prevent sticking.

Add the tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Replace the lid and cook for a further 45 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat and blitz in a liquidiser. Return the soup to the pan, add the coconut milk and cook for a further 6-7 minutes.

Garnish with herbs and more slices of chilli if desired.