Thoughts on a Pumpkin

It may not be surprising that some pretty cool metaphors and similes were made using the pumpkin, so for day 15 we shall revel in the glory of pumpkin quotations.

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This is Day 15, in my 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. We will be continuing on into November, just like the holidays of old.

Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

Pumpkin Slow Oats

Food made slower tastes better, but it doesn't have to be time consuming. These slow oats can be stirred together then popped in the fridge to be left to do their own thing until the morning...when they are devoured.

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Pumpkin Slow Oats

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons nut butter (hazelnut, almond, or peanut - your choice)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
  1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup milk (I used almond milk)
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon chocolate chips (I used a mix of dark and white chocos)

Note: I used a special ceramic bowl I have that can go from fridge to oven to table and has a lid. It's handy to have just one container for all the steps. A small canning jar will also do the trick - just make sure you can stir easily.

In your bowl (or jar) mix together the nut butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Microwave for about 10 seconds, or until just warmed. You want to heat the nut butter up enough to combine everything easily. Stir.

Add the rest of your ingredients, except for the chocolate chips and stir well. Make sure everything is good and mushed together. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Put the lid on your container and hit the fridge. The next morning, open and enjoy with milk or by itself. Say hi to Zuul while you're there.

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This is Day 14, in my 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice. Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice

7 Pumpkin-y Movies & Shows

It's getting closer to the big day and I'm getting in to the Halloween spirit. Therefore day twelve is a listing of 7 Pumpkin-y Movies & Shows you should see this season.

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The Halloween Tree

We delve into the origins of the holiday as our heroes try to save a boy's life by rescuing his pumpkin soul from the jack-o-lantern filled Halloween Tree at the residence of Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.  

This animated adaption of the Ray Bradbury novel features narration by the man himself. Moundshroud is voiced by the late, great Leonard Nimoy (LLP), in a way that is loveable yet frighteningly sociopathic for a cartoon -- not that Bradbury intended this to be a kid's tale. 

It can be hard to find, but soooo worth it.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas 

Of course a film about The Pumpkin King is going to be listed here, even though EVERYONE knows this classic Burton creation about the towns where holidays come from. 

In the opening scene our hero, Jack, has a pumpkin on his head and self immolates (great kids film, huh?) plus some very rewarding scenes of people tromping through the pumpkin patches. 

You can currently find this on Netflix.

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Poirot - Hallowe'en Party

Perhaps there's something wrong with me, but I don't feel it's a holiday without at least one murder mystery TV show, and this is my pick. 

Hercule Poirot, our fussy yet brilliant detective, dismisses the British way of celebrating Halloween claiming that in Belgium it is the time to light candles for the dead, "not for ze telling of ze stories macabre." However, a macabre story soon unfolds - in real life. 

Hot pumpkin carving action begins and ends this murder mystery from the mind of Agatha Christie. 

You can currently find this on Netflix.

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It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

If you haven't seen this Halloween classic, you have missed out on a part of childhood that can never be replaced. All hail The Great Pumpkin.

And now Robot Chicken has ruined your childhood.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

After hearing the ghost tale of the Headless Horseman from a rival in love, the town schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, rides home alone at night.

This hard to find, but not forgotten Disney tale, was curiously sold as a double feature along with a Wind in the Willows take...'cause they are so similar, I guess. 

Features like Bing Crosby's musical comedy stylings and flaming pumpkin heads being thrown make this a worthwhile show to track down, even if it misses the point of Washington Irving's tale a bit. You can currently find this on YouTube as The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.

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Sleepy Hollow

A big city detective, Ichabod Crane, who is all about facts and science, is sent to solve a murder in the little village of Sleepy Hollow. He might be forced to admit to magical happenings as he finds the facts of the case are leading him to unravel the secrets of his own past.

While having nothing to do with either the Disney movie or the short story -- except for this rather satisfying pumpkin-head throwing scene -- it is a satisfying tale in it's own right, with blood splattered pumpkin scenes, and who can resist a fanged Christopher Walken.

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Pumpkinhead

Yeah, so this has nothing to do with pumpkins and you barely see one fake pumpkin in the entire show, but what a great name for a horror flick! Plus it stars Lance Henriksen, who will later go on to hunt Pumpkinhead in space.

 What, you never noticed that before?

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This is Day 12, in my 31 Day of Pumpkin Spice. I am behind on posting- what can I say? I'm a bad blogger. Rest assured there will be 31 Days of Pumpkin Spice.

Join in the fun on Twitter with your favorite recipes, quips, or (semi)historical facts by using the hashtag #TeamPumpkinSpice 

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Now that's just completely Pumpkinhead...