HALLOWEEN MEMORIES

Getting ready for Halloween was an exciting time at our farmhouse when I was growing up. Mother helped us children make costumes for school parties. One year, she cut and sewed a multitude of orange and black crepe paper into a witch costume for me. Another year, she made my sister a pumpkin headed ghost costume, using one of the large pumpkins from the garden for a head.

We carved funny faces on pumpkins, and then put candles inside for lights. The hired man told us scary tales as he sat on the kitchen couch waiting for meals.

Community Parties

Sometimes there was a community party at the local town hall, the gathering place for young and old. One year Mother dressed in costume, too. She later told me she was disappointed because she was recognized immediately. She thought she had created a good disguise. However, there weren’t many women accompanied by four young children in costume.

Since our farmhouse wasn’t located near others, we started from my friend’s home in a more populated area for our “trick or treating.” That custom was fairly new when I was a youngster but was great fun.

Halloween Cooking

Mother also made pumpkin cookies for a treat and decorated them with faces. She baked pumpkin pies, too.

PUMPKIN PIE – Mix together: 2 slightly beaten eggs, 1 can solid pack pumpkin, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1 2/3 cups evaporated milk or light cream. Pour this mixture into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell with a high edge.

Bake at 425 degrees F. for 15 minutes. Then lower oven to 350 degrees F. and bake for 45 minutes more, or until inserted knife comes out clean. Serve cool, whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Pumpkin ice cream is available in some stores. Perhaps you’ll want to try this on top of a serving of pie.

(c) Mary Emma Allen

(Mary Emma Allen researches and writes about family history from her New Hampshire home.)