A Fun and Easy Jack O’Lantern Punch Bowl for Halloween Festivities

Step 1: Materials Needed:

1 Medium – Large Pumpkin
1 Large Serrated Knife*
1 Pumpkin Scoop**
1 Pumpkin Carving Tool***
1 Spigot (with washers and nut)
Paper Towels
Colored Permanent Markers or Craft Paints
Newspaper or Plastic Bag
(to lay out for a messy workspace)

* - Any Large Kitchen Knife Should Do
** - Any Large Ladle or Spoon Will Do, Even A Table Spoon
*** - Any Small Knife, Such as Paring Knife Would Work
Pumpkin Should Be Large Enough to Hold Desired Volume of Beverage
Spigot Should Have a Nut and Rubber Washers (As Shown)
Can be found at Home Depot/Lowe’s or a liquor store.

Step 2: Drawing the Cutting Line

Take a pen or marker and mark a circular cutting line around the top of the pumpkin, about 2 to 3 inches away from the stem.

Step 3: Removing the Top

Take your large cutting knife (serrated works better) and cut along the line that you made at a slight angle to remove the top. Use a sawing motion up and down with the knife as you cut along the line.

Step 4: Extraction of the Innards

Take your pumpkin scoop or large spoon and remove all the seeds and guts of the pumpkin. If you are going to keep the top as a cover for the bowl, clean the seeds and guts off of the top piece as well. You may use a knife for this piece. Dispose of the seeds or keep them for eating.

Step 5: Cleaning the Inside

Make sure to scrape out the pumpkin until the inside walls are smooth and free of pulp. Clean out any remaining debris by rinsing inside with water and/or wiping the inside walls with a towel.

Step 6: Spigot Placement

Remove the the washers and nut from the spigot. Place the spigot towards the bottom of the pumpkin (this is where the drink will be dispensed). Rest the spigot on the side of the pumpkin and trace around the threaded end with a pen or marker.

Step 7: Making the Spigot Hole

Use a small pumpkin carving knife to make the hole along the line you drew. Any small paring or kitchen knife should do as well. Use your finger to push the hole through if necessary.

Step 8: Spigot Installation

Push the spigot into the hole, and fasten the washer and nut to in the inside end of the spigot to insure that your punch wont drip out.

Step 9:

If the walls of the pumpkin are too thick to push the spigot through and fasten the washer, shave down the area around the inside hole with a knife or spoon.

Step 10: Decoration

Decorate the outside of the pumpkin with markers or paint for festive Halloween spirit.

Step 11: Try These Drinks in Your Pumpkin!

Beers:
Lakefront Pumpkin Lager
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin
Shiner Oktoberfest
Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale
Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
Hooker Octoberfest Lager
Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider

Punch:

Pumpkin Punch
1/2 gallon orange sherbet
      1 gallon orange juice
      1 liter ginger ale
      1 liter clear rum

Brew Ha Ha Punch
2 cups sugar
      2 quarts water
      2 (0.13-ounce) envelopes lime drink mix
      1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
      1 quart ginger ale
      1 liter clear rum or vodka

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/spooky-halloween-punch

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brew-ha-ha-punch-10000000257698/

http://www.binnys.com/blog/tag/halloween-beers/