Wednesday 22 October 2008

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.


8 comments:

Chriss Rollins said...

welcome back you are sooo missed.wowowowowow that pumpkin is amazing and then we get the soup recipe too...yummy.
we all love pumpkin soup but we have to do a different recipe cos jessie cant have the coconut milk.
But i could make this one just for me.
hope Jake has a lovely Halloween party.
chriss x

Linda Vincent said...

Spooktacular post Karen...the pumpkin is amazing (you'll get the best mum award for that) and the soup recipe looks fab. I will definitely try that, thank you.
love Linda xx

Jaqi said...

WOOHOO KAREN.....WOW IS EVERYONE GONNA WISH THAT THIS WAS THEIR PUMPKIN ! JAKES FRIENDS ARE GOING TO TURN GREEN WITH ENVY. WHAT A STUNNING JOB, YOU SHOULD DECORATE LOADS UP AND SELL THEM, YOU WOULD MAKE A FORTUNE.
THAT SOUP SOUNDS DELICIOUS....IVE NEVER COOKED ANYTHING WITH THE PUMPKIN IVE HAD LEFT OVER, ITS ALWAYS GONE IN THE BIN....NAUGHTY I KNOW. WELL DONE KAREN, YOU ARE PUMPKIN QUEEN, JAQI XX

Jaqi said...

Ive just had another look and noticed that the window is actually an arch.......im impressed, Jaqi x

Denise said...

Oh WOW! Best Pumpkin Carver Award is definitely yours! It's great and thanks for sharing the recipe!
Hugs
Denise
oxoxox

Andrea said...

WOW this is just fantastic what a great pumpkin xx

pammyjo said...

You are way creative. Amazing pumpkin. Thanks for the great recipe. Love visiting.

Dawn said...

Love your pumpkin Karen it is gorgeous with the light - I did a similar thing but no light!!!


Dawn