Southwest Floridians don’t get the luxuries of fall. The crisp, cool air. The vibrant fall colors. The locally grown pumpkins.
With Halloween approaching, we put a tropical spin on a storied tradition. Instead of a pumpkin, we carved jubilant faces into pineapples.
Follow this five-step process to create your own jack-o’-pineapple.
Step 1: Sketch your drawing
No different than carving a pumpkin, use a stencil or free-hand your artwork onto the face of the pineapple using a permanent marker. Really any side will work here. While pumpkins tend to have dented walls or wart-filled skin, pineapples are pretty consistent. Just be careful of the spikes.
Step 2: Cut off the top
Use a large knife to carefully slice off the top of the pineapple, and set it aside.
Step 3: Extract the fruit
Use a corer tool to pull out the sweet, tropical fruit, and save it for later for snacking or for tasty recipes — salsa, anybody? Use a knife to carve out the remaining core, and discard. Pour out any remaining juices (yum!). Like you would a pumpkin, use a large spoon to scrape out any loose pieces from the bottom and the sides, and wipe down the insides with a paper towel to dry up any wetness.
Step 4: Carve
Pineapple skin is much thinner than pumpkins, so be extra careful with your tools, otherwise the fruit might cave in. A simple kitchen knife will work here; no need for the fancy pumpkin carving tool sets.
Step 5: Illuminate
Place an LED candle (or a real one) on the bottom, and then place the top of the pineapple back in its place. Use as festive centerpieces at your Halloween party, or set out on your doorstep Halloween night.
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