Don’t let your pumpkins go to waste this Halloween…

Happy Halloween from Roadford Lake Lodges! This year, we encourage you to not let your spooky pumpkins go to waste. As you scoop out your Halloween pumpkin this week, spare a thought for its contents. All too often the squash ends up in the bin rather than on our plates, so we are sharing some of our all-time favourite pumpkin recipes for you to try!

Traditionally, Halloween is celebrated more in the US rather than the UK. However, in recent years the popularity of Halloween has grown rapidly, to the point where an estimated two in five Britons now buy a pumpkin at this time of the year.

Unfortunately, we remain a little behind in some respects. The US pumpkin buyers enjoy all of the contents of their pumpkins by using the scooped-out insides to make tasty dishes. Us Britons have been far more reluctant to use them for cooking, with under a third choosing to do so according to the Pumpkin Rescue campaign.

Thanks to us being too spooked to try something new, 18,000 tons of perfectly edible squash is disposed of into the household waste every Halloween. To put this into perspective, this is the same weight as 1,500 double decker buses.

Knowing this, Roadford Lake Lodges feel it is important to encourage our followers and visitors to try to reuse the fruit rather than throwing it away. As a nation, it’s time we started being more resourceful. To help give you some inspiration, we have selected 3 of our favourite pumpkin recipes to help get you started. If you take on the challenge, please let us know by tagging us in your photos on social media. Or better yet, if you’re staying with us in a luxury lodge this Halloween, send us your images and we will share them on our social pages for all to see!

Making pumpkin pie is a deliciously decadent way to make use of your Halloween pumpkins. A sweet, crumbly pastry filled with a sticky, spiced pumpkin filling, this traditional American treat is always a family favourite. Check out our favourite easy pumpkin pie recipe here.

Pumpkin soup is another heart-warming pumpkin dish we guarantee you’ll love. On a cold winter’s day, there’s nothing more comforting than tucking into a hearty bowl of homemade pumpkin soup. The best recipe to make the perfectly creamy and effortlessly delicious pumpkin soup can be found here.

Last but not least, we have pumpkin cupcakes. Grate the flesh of your Halloween pumpkin to make these terrifyingly tasty cupcakes. With added sultanas, orange zest and cinnamon, these flavoursome treats are perfect for your upcoming Halloween parties. Check out the recipe here.

Once you have carved your masterpiece and Halloween has been and gone, remember the pumpkin itself is still a tasty treat for woodland animals. As an alternative to disposing of your pumpkin, why not leave it in a nearby woodland for animals to enjoy a winter feast? Ensure you remove any candles or props beforehand!