Last year I read about people giving their girls pumpkins and thought it looked fun. It keeps the girls occupied and they are full of goodness for them. I had seen piles of pumpkins at half price after Halloween on previous years and decided to wait to get a bargain as they seemed more expensive than usual.
I was so disappointed when after Halloween there wasn’t a pumpkin to be found anywhere. I even asked in one of the supermarkets and was told that they now only stock what they know they will sell so that there are none left over. I was determined not to make that mistake again.
This year I have been waiting for the pumpkins to appear in the shops and yesterday was the first time I saw them. They were on offer: two large ones for £3.00. I thought this was a bargain and bought two for the girls. They will not miss out this year!
Pumpkins for the girls
We are snowed under with work at the moment but when I get a bit of time at the weekend I will give the girls their first chunk of pumpkin and be ready with my camera. Watch this space!
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If you start cutting one you can slice the rest and freeze it on a tray .Bag up when frozen and take out when needed. You can also wizz in a food processor skin and all that way as long as it is fine they will eat that as well.
..Don’t forget to scoop out the seeds .I give these separately as it gives a different treat as far as they are concerned .
I have read that the seeds are good for them and there are theories that they can stop internal parasites but that may be unproven. They certainly love the seeds from melons.
I don’t have a food processor (or microwave), we are quite old fashioned here! I hadn’t thought of freezing as I thought they would keep for a long time anyway but as I have two maybe I should freeze some. I wonder how long they would keep unfrozen. They are really hard.
I am going to give the girls some today. I can’t wait to see how they get on with it.
They will keep most of the winter in a dry place with ventilation but once you have cut into the first one it won’t keep.
You can chop and cook the rind to soften it and chop into small bits and give with their treats .
P.S you can also buy small butternut squash which will keep just as well.
Would they keep in the fridge once cut or is it just best to freeze it?
I keep mine for a couple of weeks once cut .Usually it does not last that long .
As you know I grew my own and I eat most of the flesh and they have the thick peel either cooked or raw and they peck away at it for ages .