pumpkin and apple picking

This past weekend we went on our annual pumpkin and apple picking adventure at Lyman Orchards in Connecticut. It's become a tradition for us to go there to get our pumpkins for the past 5 years and plan on doing so for many more.

It is such as beautiful and tranquil place. It's so clean and everyone there is so friendly. It's also kid friendly. Lots of things for kids, parents, and grandparents to do together, like the corn and sunflower maze and picnics next to the pond.

They also do a lot of great things for the community, such as fundraisers. On October 18 they have "Paint the Pumpkin Pink". October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can paint and decorate your pumpkin and 50% of their proceeds will go to the Middlesex Comprehensive Breast Center. It's events like these and other things that they do to promote and build the surrounding community that makes me love them.

This past weekend we had lunch on the patio overlooking their huge pond, bought their famous cinnamon apple fritters (they are also well-known for their apple pies), picked pumpkins, and then went apple picking. It was a great weekend.

What are some of your fall traditions?

Happy fall!

easy pumpkin pie

I never made pumpkin pie before and so glad I tried and made it. It was so easy. Definitely a great treat to enjoy in the fall. Adding the whipped cream on top is optional, but it takes it to a whole other level. I also enjoyed this with a fruit salad (cut strawberries, blueberries, and grapes) and the fruit with the pumpkin, the crust, and the whipped cream was so good. Now that I am looking at these pictures, I am thinking of adding a scoop of hazelnut ice cream. It's pretty much gone, on second thought..I will be right back...

Okay, it's now officially gone. I just ate the last slice.

Ingredients

1 15 oz can Farmer''s Market Pumpkin
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
(don't have ginger, nutmeg, or cloves? no worries, I used allspice)
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 9" deep dish graham cracker pie shell
1 contained of natural whipped cream (optional)

Mix pumpkin and spices together. Add remaining filling ingredients.

Mix slowly just until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into pie shell.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduced temperature to 350 degrees for an additional 35-40 minutes.

Thoroughly cool pie before adding whipped cream (optional).

 Happy fall and enjoy!

corn with jalapeno-garlic butter

Ingredients 

1/2 cup of unsalted butter
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chipped
1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
4 ears of corn

1. Finely chop jalapeno pepper.

2. In a small sauce pan combine butter, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook over low heat until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Brush 4 tablespoons of the combined butter sauce on corn. Wrap each corn in foil.

4. Place foiled corn on grill and grill for 15 minutes.

5. Once they are tender, remove corn from foil and place on platter. You can cut the cobs in half or quarters and place on a dish and drizzle remaining jalapeno-garlic butter sauce.