So many ideas, so few pumpkins.
Creativty stretches further than just carving pumpkins for the fall holidays.
Decorating pumpkins with paint and other props take them to the next level.
The popular activity of carving pumpkins, however, is not forgotten this October on Auburn's campus.
The College of Architecture, Design and Construction is holding its annual pumpkin carve Friday in the Dudley Courtyard, where anyone can carve pumpkins and show off their creativity.
Eli Groman, CADC Ambassador, suggested using reliable tools when carving pumpkins.
"Those little cheesy ones always break. Not fun," Groman said.
Groman has seen his share of talented pumpkin carvings.
"You name it--I've seen it," Groman said. "There was a pretty nice Obama caricature pumpkin last year."
Groman said traditional pumpkins, like the jack-o-lantern, are easier to carve.
"Purely geometric: two eyes, a triangle nose and a toothy smile," Groman said. "It's just so iconic, easy to visualize and execute for all ages."
Marie Foshee, sales and trip coordinator at Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch, said there are many holiday ideas involving pumpkins.
Because pumpkins begin to rot shortly after carving, painting pumpkins is a cleaner and longer-lasting alternative.
"They don't last a long time, especially if it's warm outside," Foshee said. "Maybe two weeks if you carve them. If you paint faces on them, they will last almost forever."
Pumpkins can also be used for holidays other than Halloween and Thanksgiving.
"My friend paints them white and paints a snowman face on them," Foshee said. "She then stacks them to make the pumpkins look like a snowman."
Other than decorations, pumpkins can also be used in many traditional fall foods.
"We frequently make traditional pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread," Bell said. "I have also had a pumpkin-based soup and a frozen pumpkin ice cream pie. Many pumpkin recipes can be found online."
Leonard Bell, professor of food science, said not all of the pumpkin is edible.
"The edible parts of the pumpkin would be the inner flesh and the seeds, both after cooking," Bell said. "The outer shell and the goopy strings are disposed of."
Since cooking with pumpkin can be tricky, Bell said buying canned pumpkin saves time when preparing dishes.
"The most difficult thing about cooking with pumpkin is getting the inner flesh from fresh pumpkins," Bell said. "It is difficult and time consuming."
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