Smashing pumpkin

So, now that Halloween is over and you have a jack-o’-lantern forlornly grinning on your porch, what are you going to do with that extra pumpkin? I’ll tell you what: Throw it out, even if you’re the kind of person who saves the bacon grease to reuse. Nobody wants soup made from candle-smoked, mold-spotted, stringy jack-o’-lanterns. But everyone wants pumpkin-flavored goodies, right? If you decide to make your own pumpkin things, make sure you buy a small pumpkin, like the Sugar Pie variety; use puree for curried soups, rich stews, moist cupcakes, silky pies, or whatever you like. Or you can save yourself some trouble and head to the charmingly old-school Burr’s Fountain for a scoop of delicious seasonal pumpkin ice cream, pale orange and flecked with spices—the perfect treat for a warm fall afternoon. Burr’s sign outside may be faded, but the ice cream is vibrant with autumn flavors. 4920 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 452-5516.