Once you’ve halved your pumpkin, you’ll see a horror movie inside: a tangled web of slimy strings and flat, white seeds. Grab a large metal spoon—the bigger the better. You are now a gourd archaeologist, excavating the disgusting treasure inside.
Scoop out all the guts with aggressive enthusiasm. Do not be gentle. Think of it as revenge for every time a pumpkin sat on your porch and stared at you. Surprising fact: pumpkin seeds are technically pepitas and are perfectly edible—roast them later with salt and chili powder. But the slime? That’s pure compost.
