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6 ways to incorporate pumpkin into your life

6 ways to incorporate pumpkin into your life
 
Ways to incorporate pumpkin into your life
 
 
Pumpkin is such a versatile ingredient and can be used in pies, stews and salads, but there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of heart-warming soup on a chilly autumnal evening. Here is a simple and delicious recipe for you to tuck into this month: As we head into pumpkin and Halloween season, many of us will be left with remainders of the ingredient for days into November, not knowing what to do with it. Well, now you have all of your answers in one place! From simple, easy to prepare pumpkin recipes to luxurious homemade pumpkin facemasks, you will no longer have to waste this thoroughly nutritious fruit.

Pumpkin Facemask

Alongside the wonders of the luxurious spa beauty treatments offered at spa hotels Yorkshire, there many ways in which you can continue the pampered feeling at home with your very own homemade pumpkin facemask.

Method:
  • Combine pumpkin puree (1 small pumpkin), honey (half a tablespoon), milk (half a tablespoon) in a small bowl and mix to a smooth paste. <
  • Apply the mask with clean hands or a brush for an even distribution, avoiding the eyes as much as possible.
  • Leave the mask to set for 20 minutes
  • Rinse of with warm water and dab your face dry with a clean towel or cloth.

 

If you want to try something even a little more different, there are plenty of recipes online such as the honey and pumpkin facial mask from omlivin.com.  

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin is such a versatile ingredient and can be used in pies, stews and salads, but there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of heart-warming soup on a chilly autumnal evening. Here is a simple and delicious recipe for you to tuck into this month:

What you will need:
 
  • Olive oil
  • 2 onions
  • 1kg of pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks
  • 700ml vegetable or chicken stock
  • 140ml of double cream

 

Method:

  • Heat two tbsp. of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the two finely chopped onions until soft but not coloured. Once the onion is of the right consistency, add in the pumpkin and cook for 10 minutes and stir until it is soft and golden.
  • Pour the stock into the pan and season. Bring this to the boil and simmer for an extra 10 minutes until the pumpkin is soft enough to blend. Add the double cream, bring all back to the boil and blend with a hand-mixer.
  • Last of all, enjoy!

 

Smoothies

 

Just like soup, smoothies are easy to prepare with the added bonus of getting the essential nutrients you need for the day ahead. Whether you are a sweet or savoury smoothie lover, pumpkin can be combined and experimented with other vegetables or fruit.

Sally’s Baking Addiction has a fantastic recipe for a creamy pumpkin spice protein smoothie which is packed in vitamins and nutrients to help the nourishment of your skin.

Pumpkin Seeds

 

Seeds and nuts are one of the best sources of healthy fats there is and getting your daily handful of pumpkin seeds couldn’t be easier.

Toasting pumpkin seeds offers the perfect on-the-go snack for the busy day in the office, or an alternative to the usual packet of crisps for lunch. Simply boil the seeds for 15 minutes, remove them from the water and scatter them onto a baking tray. Sprinkle your desired seasoning (we recommends paprika and salt) and toast until golden.  

Homemade Hair Mask

Dry and dishevelled hair is very common in the winter months and can cause unneeded stress before the festive season. Luckily, leftover pumpkin can be used in hair masks to rejuvenate the hair from root to tip. Many commercial hair masks are chemically enriched, however if you decide to try this wonderful hair recipe, you’ll know exactly what you are putting in!

Method:

Mix together a cup of cooked and softened pumpkin, half a cup of plain yogurt and one tablespoon of honey. Once it is to a smooth consistency, rub it gently into your scalp and hair and leave for 30 minutes. Shampoo and condition as normal to reveal amazing results.

Pumpkin Candle

Perfect for those cold autumnal evenings spent around the fire, this homemade cinnamon pumpkin candle by Hello Glow is a treat for yourself or your friends as an up-coming Christmas present and will leave your home smelling of the season! 

Alternatively, you can create a simple yet effective pumpkin candle, perfect for decorating with around the home:

Method:

  • Boil one cup of water
  • Break up old candle wax to small and dissolvable pieces (approximately four) in a jug
  • Add the cup of boiling water to allow the wax to melt and turn to liquid.
  • Prepare two, small rounded molds and hold the candle wick in place whilst you gently fill the molds with the wax.
  • Leave the wax to cool and set. Take the candle out of the mold and, using a knife, carve small grooves into the sides to replicate a whole pumpkin.