How To Drill A Pumpkin Lantern!

Last year my mom gave me a great idea when it came to carving my pumpkin.  Instead of the traditional jack-o-lantern we instead made a beautiful lantern out of a fantasy pumpkin.  This is such an easy project that yields a unique and beautiful holiday decoration.  Using a power drill and simply making holes in your pumpkin you can create whatever type of design you want.  It doesn't matter what size bit you use either.  Large or small works, and you can even use multiple sizes to create a fun look.  The best thing about this project is there is no right way to do it.  If you want you can create a design with your holes, make symmetrical lines or just make holes at random.

 
What you need:
A pumpkin
A Serrated Knife
A Large Spoon or Scoop
A Bowl
A Power Drill
A Candle



Using the serrated knife carve open the top of your pumpkin on a diagonal angel, this will keep the lid of your lantern from falling into the pumpkin once its scooped out.  Then scoop out the "guts" and seeds into your bowl.  Make sure to save your seeds so you can make ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS. Once you have removed all of the insides, using the side of your spoon try to even out the inside lining of your pumpkin.  This will help the light to escape later.

 
 Using whatever size drill bit you choose begin making holes.  Larger bits, are the easiest and will produce more light.  If you want a smaller more delicate look i would recommend making more holes. I used a 1/4 inch drill bit to make my holes in a random pattern going around my pumpkin.  If you want to be more methodical in your design I recommend using a marker to make a stencil on your pumpkin.

 

Once you are through drilling holes you will want to wipe of your pumpkin and remove any debris that may have fallen inside your pumpkin.

Now you are ready to light up your lantern.  I used a large votive in my pumpkin but you can also use one or more tea lights depending on how much light you want to shine through.

Now place outside for all your neighbors to see and be in awe of.

 

I didn't get a picture of my pumpkin lite up at night but here are some great photos of what drilled pumpkins look like!

How To Make Chicken Stock!

This is a simple and easy stock recipe using your leftover chicken bones.  I tend to roast whole chickens often and I always try to get more bang for my buck by using the remnants from one nights dinner to stock up on this basic kitchen essential.  What's great about making homemade stock is that it's one of those "set it" and "forget it" kind of recipes.  All you need to do is basically throw all the ingredients in a pot

Ingredients:
Leftover chicken bones and skin
3 or 4 carrots (quartered)
1 large (unpeeled) onion (quartered)
3-4 pieces of celery (quartered)
A handful of fresh parsley with stems
2 bay leaves
8-10 peppercorns
2-4 garlic cloves (crushed)
cold water 
Thyme (fresh if possible)
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper

Optional ingredients:
Other herbs
1 Parsnip (quartered)
1 leek, white part only(cut in half)

What you need:
Stock pot or Large Pot
Strainer
Mesh strainer or cheese cloth


Place the chicken, vegetables, and herbs in your pot and fill with cold water. 
I usually follow this basic recipe, sometimes depending on what I have I may add the parsnip or leek to the mix. If I have fresh herbs I will add a few stalks of thyme and even a little oregano or basil.  If not I always add a large pinch of dried thyme and maybe a pinch of the other spices as well.  I have a spice blend "Mural of Flavor" and "Herbs De Provence" that I usually add as well. Really you can tweak the basic recipe however you like.

 

Bring the water to a boil and then reduce to a slow simmer.
Allow it to simmer uncovered for at least 4 hours, 6-8 hours will yield the best results and flavor. Add hot water throughout as needed to ensure the water level stays above the bones and vegetables. You can also skim any fat off the top occasionally with a spoon or fine mesh strainer if desired.

Strain the stock.
 I like to strain the stock through a colander into another large pot first.  I find it makes removing all the bones and veggies easier.  Once the solids are discarded I rinse out my original pot, then pour the liquid back into it through a fine mesh strainer. If you want you can strain it even more by passing it through the mesh strainer again or even pouring it trough the mesh strainer lined with cheese cloth.

Store the stock.
You can store your stock in a glass or plastic container with a lid in the refrigerator for a few days.  If you don't plan on using it right away the stock can be stored in your freezer for a few months in a plastic container or bag. I sometimes make "stock cubes" for an easy way to add flavor into recipes. 

Tip:
If you want to remove more of the fat from your stock, simply place it in the refrigerator before portioning it into containers for storing.  Once the stock fully cools the fat will rise and solidify on top making it easy to skim off with a spoon.

Chicken stock is a great base for soups and sauces.  I also love using it as the liquid when making quinoa and couscous.  It also comes in handy when I make gravy, mashed potatoes or I want to steam vegetables.  For even more ways to utilize your stock you can check out this list of 25 tasty ways to use chicken stock from Wisebread.com.

What is your favorite way to use chicken stock?

Beef Bones For Dogs!

I have some beef bones left over from a recipe and decided to up-cycle them into a new treat for my dog.  The bones weren't backed or broiled so they wont crack and splinter.  They came from a stew so not only are they still strong but they have flavor cooked in already.

I pulled them aside and then just boiled them in water to remove the rest of the marrow and meat that was attached

 

After I removed them from the water I rinsed them under running water to remove any pieces that were still attached.  I had pulled three large bones from my recipe to turn into dog bones but ultimately only kept two.  One of the bones had a lot of course splinters that could not be removed and would be harmful if my dog ingested them.  I DO NOT recommend giving your dog any bones that may break or splinter off.  The bones I kept were both strong, smooth and appropriate for his size.

It is a very quick and easy process and now Ozzy has two new beef bones that will keep him busy for a long time.  This is the first time I have "made" bones for him.. I think he likes them!

Would you up-cycle beef bones for your dog?

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