Pumpkins: More than just pies and jack-o-lanterns

The pumpkin is a ubiquitous symbol during this time of year. Pumpkins, both the plastic and real kind, are everywhere, and yet at the same time are underrated. There seems to be just a few uses for pumpkins in our national psyche…jack-o-lanterns, pies, and maybe soup.

And no, I don’t count pumpkin spice products. Those are often just something with nutmeg and cinnamon in them to make them taste sort of like a pumpkin pie with zero actual pumpkin.

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Tags: pumpkins | recipe |

Ardry Farms’ pumpkin butter recipe is a must try

Ardry Farms in Howard is well-known by farmers market fans, as well they should. They have been a farmers market presence in Central Pennsylvania for more than 80 years, selling a wide variety of local produce and wonderful baked goods.

This time of year, you can find pumpkins sold by them at North Atherton Market, Bellefonte Farmers Market, and Boalsburg Farmers Market, including varieties that are good to eat. Along with pies, you can also make other tasty things with pumpkins, including pumpkin butter. Many people rave about Trader Joe’s pumpkin butter, but Andry Farms has a recipe for it that is even better than ol’ TJ’s. And, it’s very easy to make!

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Pumpkin chili…yes, pumpkin chili

First things first…if you are one of those who run screaming from anything pumpkin because you’re sick and tired of the pumpkin spice world we’ve been living in the last three months, take heart. There’s no “pumpkin spice” in this recipe, just pumpkin. Because let’s be honest, most of the “pumpkin spice” products out there have no pumpkin in them.

Second, pumpkin chili sounds strange and counter intuitive, but it’s actually quite tasty. You can’t really taste “pumpkin” in this recipe, just a subtle sweetness, and a very nice thickness added to the chili.

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Tags: recipe | chili | pumpkin | fall |

Local Food Notes for Oct 16

This week, check out Friends & Farmers Membership Meeting (open to all), learn more about how our area is celebrating National Cooperative Month, head to the Way Fruit Farm Apple Festival, sip wine among the fall finery at Mt. Nittany Winery, and go pumpkin crazy at the Hollidaysburg Pumpkin Festival…

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Tags: LocalFoodNotes | pumpkins | apples | festivals |

Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Patties offer a unique take on a classic fall flavor

Now, you probably shouldn’t ask how these patties came to be. It’s one of those stories that you only tell the people you really know won’t judge you. Let’s just say too much time+ abundance of produce + friends + late night hunger = Spicy Pumpkin Patties

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Tags: recipe | pumpkin |

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Carving pumpkins is a great family activity, but if you’ve had experiences like mine, the large mess it leaves behind is such a hassle to clean. After all the time spent effortfully cutting and sawing, usually, the inner guts are gratefully tossed into the trashcan.

Thankfully, my mom taught me this salty little secret when I was growing up and it led us to having yearly masterpieces on the porch and in the kitchen. It’s so simple and delicious how the flavors marry to create an Autumn-style sunflower seed.

The best thing about this recipe is that it will work with plenty of other seedy seasonals – in my opinion, most tastefully with butternut squash.

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Pumpkins - not just for pies and front stoops anymore

The humble pumpkin at one time was known for being just two things - a front porch decoration and a pie. Also, unless you lived in Pennsylvania Dutch country like I did as a kid and saw “neck pumpkins,” pumpkins were always orange and round.

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Pumpkin and Gruyere Fondue

Turn the final pumpkins of the season into vessels for rich Gruyere fondue. This recipe comes form farmer and cook Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

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Tags: recipe | fall | pumpkins |

Stuffed Pumpkins

I love October. I love the leaves, the Halloween decorations, and most of all, the pumpkins. Every year, on October 1st, I embark on a quest for the perfect pumpkins. Once I have found them, I try to come up with innovative ways to use them for cooking, outside of the typical pumpkin pie. Here is the perfect recipe for entertaining this fall. It is simple, quick, and the finished product is cute and tasty.

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Tags: recipe | fall | pumpkins |