It's Pumpkin Picking Time!
            The smell of dirt beneath my feet, the sound of my children running wildly through the tangled vines loudly proclaiming the largest gourd, the sight of green leaves, orange orbs, & tall stalks of corn in the early morning light...this, to me, has been our Autumn tradition since buying our first home at the turn of the millennium.   There is just something earthy and wholesome about picking your own pumpkins fresh from the orchard!  Usually we come away with bushels of apples, mounds of gourds of all shapes & sizes, large leaves, and even stalks of corn for decoration!  Caked with mud & grinning from cheek to cheek, it is just the best!  One of my favorite things to do that delights me as much as my children, is to place thoroughly washed & dried ornamental corn-on-the-cob into a brown paper bag, spray liberally with cooking spray, and pop it in the microwave!  They really pop right off of the stalk, but not all of them!  When you open the bag there are still some fluffy kernels clinging to the cob, and I love the excited squeals of delight from everyone at the wonderful forces of nature at work... even inside the GE appliances!  Yes, harvest time is the ultimate reward after a couple of seasons of hard work.  What better way to celebrate it than to have a punkin' pickin' party with your truest pals?  Even if you are in the city or suburbs, you can still enjoy a pumpkin party with a few friends, some cider & popcorn!  No matter that you "picked" your produce at the corner market, go ahead & enjoy that autumnal bounty!  Wrap your porch poles in dried corn stalks!  Get some wagons from the neighbors & fill with hay for a harvest ride for little ones.  Hey, don't tell me there's no hay in the city, just jet over to your local craft store, grab a bale of decorative straw, and improvise - those urban kiddies won't be able to tell the difference any how!  For a real authentic experience, throw some cider, apple wedges, & cinnamon sticks in the crock pot & let simmer on low so that the smell fills your home with the warmth of the season.  Next, lay out some drop cloths, carving kits, pumpkins, and watch the fun begin!  It's so funny to watch the personalities emerge from the pumpkins as everyone goes along.  One year my daughter earned a dollar by scooping the pulp from my husband's pumpkin because he didn't want to get it all over him!  The kids are thrilled to dig in, & we're usually covered from ankle to chin by the time we're done, although that could be due to the fact that my son loves to fling the seeds at us...!  Baking your fresh pumpkin is easier than you may think, also.  Clean like normal, slice in half, and place cut-side down in 2 TBS of water inside a 9x13 dish.  Roast at 350* for 30 minutes, then turn over & cover, cooking for an additional 20-25 minutes.  Once cool enough to handle, scoop softened squash from the shell, and you have made pumpkin puree!  I get mine off the shelf at the supermarket, now, because I just love to bake all fall long!  However you choose to enjoy your autumn gourds, happy harvest to you & your scarecrow buddies!  

-Cheers


Punkin' Spice Cakes:
 
*350 degrees

1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup buttermilk or vanilla soy milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger

vanilla frosting & clove spice


    Cream shortening & sugar, add vanilla & eggs & mix it up well, then add pumpkin & milk & blend thoroughly.  I drop the flour on top of the wet ingredients, measure the other dry items on top, then gently mix the dry ingredients together with a fork, taking care not to disturb the wet ingredients underneath.  Next just mix it all up & pour into 2 muffin pans lined with papers.   Bake for 25-30 minutes until firm on top.  Once cool, frost with vanilla frosting & gently sprinkle clove spice on top!  These are wonderful with a hot cup of coffee!