Over the fields and through the woods to pumpkin pick we go!
YES!
As you guys know, I love pumpkin picking but wasn’t able to go last year. It totally bummed me out, so this year I made it a point to fit a trip to the pumpkin patch into my schedule. There was no way I would skip my favorite fall tradition two years in a row (especially since I didn’t have any watermelons to back me up haha)! Saturday was absolutely gorgeous, and it honestly felt a summer day. I even got to wear shorts and flip flops. Loved it.
Anyway, I took the pumpkin patch by storm with none other than fashion blogger extraordinaire, Jennifer Hsieh. That’s right, she made the trek down from NYC to spend the day with me running around farms, playing in hay, picking pumpkins, and zipping through corn mazes. She had never picked pumpkins before (ah!) so I knew it would be fun.
After getting to the farm, we hoped on a hayride (with about 20 excited 5 year olds) that drove us through the woods and out to a field. The hayride trail was marked with wood cut outs of various cartoon characters and some “haunted” shacks with ghouls and spiders hanging out the windows. As quirky as that sounds, it was exactly like I remember growing up. We drove through a small corn field before the tractor left us at the pumpkin patch. Once there, Jen and I spent a good amount of time snapping pictures, joking around, and finding the perfect pumpkins to decorate our houses. In our mini adventure, we got covered in little sticker bush/bramble/thorny things. It was pretty funny even though it made us itch!
We paid for the pumpkins in a barn that was filled with local produce, pies, and products. They had SO many types of honey and pumpkin snacks lining the shelves. Since I was low on funds, I picked up 5 flavored honey sticks for a dollar (big spender, huh? haha). Jen loved all the pancake and bread mixes, but wasn’t sure why anyone would need a giant chunk of honeycomb. To be honest…I’m not sure either! So if anyone knows, please fill us in haha.
We took everything back to my house, painted some of our finds, and then drove to ANOTHER farm to munch on apple cider donuts. Once there, we took the donuts to their corn maze, and then headed to the train to ship Jen back up to NYC.
So…to tie this post back to food – Pumpkins are such a cool vegetable. They’re huge, brightly colored, smell amazing, and I’ve always liked cooking with them. Being at the pumpkin patch this weekend inspired me to make a few pumpkin related recipes, so be on the lookout for some in the weeks to come. ;)
Yours Truly,
– Stephen
5 comments
Apple & Pumpkin Picking 2013 | Feeding My Folks says:
Nov 1, 2013
[…] we’re on the topic of Ms. Jennifer Hsieh…last year we went pumpkin picking together! We wanted to make it a yearly tradition, but sadly our schedules just didn’t align. Maybe […]
Jen says:
Nov 6, 2012
WHY DID I ONLY JUST SEE THIS POST? It passed right under my radar, yo. That day was so much fun! My little green pumpkin that I painted is actually turning orange, so right now it’s both colors. Rob and I ended up carving the big pumpkin and roasting the seeds! I’m not sure we roasted them right though because they don’t really taste that yummy. Any pumpkin seed roasting tips?
And thanks to Bill for discovering the mystery of fresh honeycomb!
Stephen says:
Nov 6, 2012
I had a lot of fun that day too! I carved my big pumpkin and it’s lookin’ a little droopy this week…so sad haha.
To roast pumpkin seeds, bake low and slow with salt/butter. Check out this post for detailed instructions: http://feedingmyfolks.com/recipes/appetizers/roasted-pumpkin-seeds/
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds | Feeding My Folks says:
Oct 29, 2012
[…] loses power during hurricanes, womp womp). So I went outside, scooped up the pumpkins I picked two weekends ago and started […]
Bill says:
Oct 24, 2012
To answer your question on Honeycomb
Honeycomb that you see for sale at health food shops or a farm market is fresh, brand new comb that has just been made by the bees and is full of honey, not cocoons. The honey is not removed from the waxy cells, and is instead sold intact as “comb honey” to be spread on bread, muffins and pastries.
Many honey enthusiasts contend that old-fashioned “comb honey” aka honeycomb is the only true unprocessed honey – a food put into its container by the animal that made it. Taken directly from the hive and usually cut by hand, honeycomb in this form preserves more of its wild flavor and nutrients. Honey in the comb is how most of our grandparents ate it, and the wax can be chewed like a natural gum, a sweet treat that’s popular with kids.
With minimal processing and maximum taste, honeycomb is a health favorite, and finding natural comb honey is easier than ever. Spread it on your favorite breakfast toast, enjoy on its own, or free honeycomb to prevent crystallization and keep it fresh for months on end. One of nature’s most toothsome gifts, honeycomb has always been an important ingredient on human menus and will no doubt continue to sweeten our lives and our desserts.
(from an article on website organicauthority)