Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
31st October 2020
Soup-ah Pumpkins
I always carve a pumpkin and display it on my front gate post for Halloween, partly because I enjoy the creative side, but mostly because I enjoy pumpkin soup.
My pumpkin this year is not only ‘bang on trend’ but was also far easier to carve than in previous years. The soup will be the same as last year though. I found a great Thai pumpkin soup recipe that will encourage you to carve the flesh out of a few pumpkins of your own, and not just for Halloween.
Add 1 tbs minced galangal (or ginger), 1 tbs minced lemongrass, and a small bunch of coriander (or just use a Thai curry paste instead) to a saucepan with a couple of chopped onions. Cook in a little coconut oil for a minute or two before adding the chopped pumpkin flesh. Toss to coat, then add some stock and simmer until the pumpkin is soft. Blend, season to taste, stir in some coconut milk. Garnish with a squeeze of lime, some sliced red chilli and coriander leaves (if you can be bothered – I am normally tucking into mine well before the garnish stage).
Hen-joy Pumpkin Pie
And whilst I am in a ‘Bake Off’ mood, I also cook up a ‘cake’ for my chickens. Pumpkin seeds are thought to be a natural wormer for chickens. Whether it’s true or not, it is still a tasty treat for them.
Blend a little pumpkin flesh, a chopped apple (loads of windfalls at the moment) and all the pumpkin seeds in a blender, then add a handful of porridge oats, and a little garlic powder, mix thoroughly and that’s it! If you are not carving your pumpkin, or have a spare, you can serve the ‘pumpkin chicken cake’ in the pumpkin shell and they’ll peck out the remaining flesh from that too.
Please keep your Halloween pumpkins up off the ground, as they are not good for hedgehogs. The hogs love them as they are sweet, but the trouble is they don’t know when to stop. Too much pumpkin flesh or skin will upset their tummies and act as a laxative. Squirrels on the other hand have much tougher constitutions, so putting a pumpkin up in a tree, or on a wall, for them once Halloween is over, will keep them happy.
Apple Heads
A few years ago I made some shrunken apple heads (as you do). They are a fun way to use up the intact windfalls and make perfect Halloween decorations – although I think they’re great at any time of year, not just for Halloween.
Start by peeling your apples – experiment a little, leaving a stalk and bit of peel at the top will look like a hat when dried – then get all creative with the carving. There are some great ideas on the Internet. I used cloves for eyes and rice grains for teeth.
Then brush your apple with a lemon juice and salt solution (2 lemons to 1 tbs salt), taking care to get the solution into all the nooks and crannies you have carved. This will prevent, or at least slow down, your apple from going mouldy. And then dry the apples in the oven very slowly on a very low temperature, or ideally in a dehydrator.
Fire Work Fears
I’m not sure what the situation with fireworks is this year, as Bonfire Night falls in the middle of Welsh Fire-break lock down. I have heard that they are not available for sale as they are not considered to be essential, but I have already heard several fireworks being let off locally in the past week.
Yogi, my ‘terrier-ist’ is terrified of them and gets extremely stressed, which in turn obviously stresses me. As the firework explosions have got bigger, and louder over the years, I have been compelled to campaign for silent fireworks to be mandatory in Wales. I am currently trying to obtain a list of ‘real-life experiences’ in order to present the proposal to the Welsh Assembly. You can find out more at www.lynneallbutt.co.uk/your-story/
On their advice, I am not campaigning for a ban, as this is deemed to infringe on people’s rights, but I absolutely fail to see the need for the horrendous and terrifying explosions that the larger fireworks create these days. Parma, in Italy, has been using silent fireworks for public displays for a number of years with positive effects. The displays can also be set to music, which adds another dimension entirely.
Each year I hear of the most horrific episodes that happen, with pets being lost, injured or even worse, killed as a direct result of being terrified by fireworks. Accidents are called accidents because they are deemed to be unpreventable. These tragedies are not accidents as they are preventable.
Of course, humans will benefit from quiet fireworks too. The young and the elderly alike are often distressed by loud noises, especially children with autism and adults with PTSD. Even people on shift work would benefit by not having their sleep disrupted.
There are no disadvantages to switching to silent fireworks, with none of the visual effects, celebratory aspects or enjoyment being compromised.
In the meantime, I am often asked what I use to help Yogi cope with her fear of fire works. I use a Thunder Jacket (or Shirt), which definitely helps a little, but the most effective thing I have found is the Relaxopet. A small device which plays soothing music or a high pitched sound which only dogs can hear, I was very sceptical of it’s abilities before trying it but it has proved to be an absolute blessing. Last year Yogi even fell asleep next to it whilst the local displays were lighting up the skies. You can contact Liane at info@pettradeinnovations.com and mention Yogi to get a 10% discount.
Of course, if the fireworks are particularly close or loud, I don’t think anything will override the fear they inflict. Which is why we should be evolving to find ways in which everyone can enjoy fireworks, and not have to deal with any of the horrendous consequences. Please help me make his happen.
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