Re-Pupose Your Halloween Decorations and Candy

Recycle all things Halloween. Yes, even your perishables!

I wrote a post for the Crofton Village Garden Club website about this time last year that was a brief "how-to" for re-purposing one's Halloween pumpkin. I was reminded of that today in a conversation with a colleague about this very topic.

So before you throw away or put away all things Halloween, let me share this with you:

PUMPKIN:

Turn your pumpkin into a decorative container for a fall flower arrangement:

• Cut the top off your pumpkin and set it aside.
• Scoop out the inside of your pumpkin and discard it (or set it aside for making pumpkin pie, pudding, muffins or soup).
• Place an autumn arrangement of flowers, grasses and leaves in a plastic or glass container into your pumpkin.

It's as simple as that!

Wouldn't the arrangment in the photo look beautiful on your dining table or sideboard?

Home sellers take note because this would be a nice touch to help buyers fall in love with your home.

CANDY:

Who says you have to eat Halloween candy from now until you're sick of it, however long that might be? Here are a few ideas you might consider:

• Melt those chocolate bars in a double boiler, a fondue pot, or over a low heat on your stove. Use them as topping on an ice cream sundae, or perhaps as a fondue sauce for dipping fruit, marshmallows, or cake-squares. Hmm, hmmm, good!
• Crush those hard candies and fruit-flavored Lifesavers, and sprinkle them in the windows of gingerbread house parts before you bake them. The candies will melt and create a stained-glass look for your gingerbread house. (Yes, I have done this!)
• Cut up candies and nuts (candy corn, for example) and store it in a plastic bag until you need some candy sprinkles for ice cream, cookies or cake... or maybe substitute them for chocolate chips the next time you bake cookies.

Recycling doesn't just have to be about newspapers, bottles and cans.

'Would love to have your ideas, too, so please add them in your comments.

(Photos: istockphoto.com)