We all know what Halloween is about. It’s been widely celebrated (and over- celebrated) in the United States, but other countries are not unaware of it either. That said, while I was ‘aware’ of Halloween, this is the first time I’ve witnessed and celebrated it with family in the U.S. We did the whole traditional ‘Trick-or-Treat’ thing, dressed up in character, watched the 1993 classic- ‘The nightmare before Christmas’–  and opened our home to ghosts and ghouls.

We ain’t afraid of No Ghosts! Celebrating Halloween 2016 with my lil Munsters.

That said, let’s get back to the Pumpkin. I have never carved a Pumpkin before and being my first year celebrating this hallowed ritual, I must shamefully admit, I cheated (sad face). I used eyes, nose and mouth cut-outs to create a face on the two pumpkins my lil pumpkin Sebastian, proudly picked from a pumpkin patch during his school trip to Ikenberry Orchards. He lugged his precious pumpkins all the way back home and excitedly placed them on our Kitchen counter one sunny Friday afternoon, a week before Halloween,  as if to say….’ok now. Do your thing, Mama!’ totally oblivious to the fact that I have never been this up close and personal with a (Halloween) Pumpkin before. Well Sebastian, Mama did ‘do her thing’ and she named the bigger one Kayden (our older son) and the smaller one Sebastian

Pumpkins carved, mission accomplished!

Kayden and Sebastian sat on our counter even after the rest of the Halloween decorations came down. Because I had not desecrated the pumpkins earlier, it meant that I could actually use them now and the possibilities were endless — pumpkin pie, pumpkin cupcakes, cookies, dips, shakes, lattes, smoothies. I researched the options online until pumpkins came out of my ears! I finally narrowed it down to Breakfast Pumpkin Pie Smoothie and Pumpkin Spice Latte because I love challenges, variety and everything caffeine! The results were yummy and my biggest tip here would be to use homemade Pumpkin Puree and a lot of store bought Pumpkin Spice like McCormick’s which is easily available and can be used for practically anything that requires that extra zing of Pumpkin flavoring.

I turned my leftover carved pumpkins into Breakfast Pumpkin Pie Smoothies & Pumpkin Spice Lattes

I have to admit, I’m looking forward to my next Halloween. Maybe I will hide and/or eat all the candy my kids bring home, maybe I won’t cheat next time and carve out a real Jack o’ lantern and maybe just maybe I’ll let evil take over and do the rest. The possibilities, especially when it comes to Pumpkins and spice……are endless!

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