There are few things sadder than a jack-o-lantern after Halloween. The eyes slowly close, the mouth caves in, and eventually the whole thing starts to look unsettlingly like your grandparents when they forgot to wear their dentures.

Rather than watching your pumpkin gradually melt away, you could use it for soup, spiced bread, and even cakes and cookies (would you believe I almost forgot to mention pumpkin pie here???).

These all start with one thing: pumpkin puree. You could buy a can of pumpkin, and who would blame you, but if you have the free version sitting just outside your door why not use it?

Ingredients:

• 1 jack-o-lantern who has finished its service to Halloween night and is ready for retirement
• 2 tsp olive oil or vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f
2. Cut the jack-o-lantern in half, and try not to think too hard about how much time you spent carving it into the perfect face, cat, ghost, etc.
3. Brush the pumpkin skin with olive oil (2 tsp)
4. Place pumpkin halves cut-side down on a cookie sheet
5. Roast for around an hour – the exact time you will need depends on how thick your pumpkin was, I suggest checking it after 40 minutes to be safe
6. Remove from oven and let cool
7. Puree in a food processor or blender

Notes:

• You can tell when the pumpkin is cooked by poking the fleshy side with a fork. If it is soft and the fork goes in easily, it is done. If it is still hard, it needs more time. If it pokes you back, RUN!
• If your pumpkin has started to rot or if you got extra creative with the decorating and used paints, don’t eat it. (Hopefully you are rolling your eyes at this warning.)
• Even if you aren’t up for cooking your old jack-o-lantern, there is no need to throw it away. There are lots of organizations that accept donated pumpkins like farms and animal sanctuaries. You can have a fun road trip, help an animal have a tasty meal, and even feel like a bit shot philanthropist in the process!
• I suggest freezing the puree in portions that are around 1 cup each. This will save you from having to chisel parts from a giant lump of frozen pumpkin later on.