How I developed my allergies

    

 Pumpkin carving is a prefect seasonal craft, people of all ages can enjoy getting their hands dirty, and roasting pumpkin seeds. This is my pumpkin from four years ago. I was so proud of this picture I showed it off to all my relatives.This was the last pumpkin I carved trying to make it look good. Next year I wanted to make it taste good. I was going to make homemade pumpkin puree, and use that to make a homemade pumpkin pie from scratch.   

  The first step was to cut the pumpkin into pieces that fit in your oven. I only had to cut in half as you can see from the photo, I was using a large pumpkin. Make certain the pumpkin is not touching the heating elements, as this could start a fire. This pumpkin was carved which is okay as long as you don't leave the carved pumpkin open to air for too long before you begin to process it, or it could grow bacteria. Make sure the tools used to carve the pumpkin were clean and any surface or tool used are also clean. Be prepared for a large clean up afterwards also. I made I big mess. Here where things get interesting. After baking your pumpkin at 350° until soft, time frame depends on size of pumpkin, you should take it out of the oven and let cool then peel the skin off the pumpkin. Next, mash and grind the pumpkin pulp into a puree.

     I was half finished pureeing my second pumpkin when I had a rare allergic reaction to a protein released as the pumpkin bakes. I swelled up and turned red, my mom is a registered nurse thankfully she knew what to do. Over the next few days I recovered under my mom's care. After a few days I went with my dad to the minor emergency clinic, just to speed up my recovery. After this allergy I began to have smaller reactions when I ate things I had eaten 
before, and had never been allergic to before. So if you decide to try to make your own puree, be careful that you don't have a rare allergy to a protein that is released as the pumpkin bakes.