Thursday, September 17, 2020

Fall - Harvest Time

 Those of us in the northern hemisphere are approaching the fall harvest season.  Crazy I know - it seems like it can't be that time already.
Now is the time to take advantage of many fresh and yummy items that are abundant and cheaper during this time.  
The days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler.  It is that time.  I am not crazy about what happens next in line (winter), but I do absolutely LOVE fall harvest time.
Take advantage while you can.  Visit orchards, farm markets, road side stands - barter and glean.  


Gardens are slowing down and coming close to the end of harvest time.  Tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers will soon be a thing of the past (for fresh and tasty).  Get what you can now.  Can or freeze whatever you can for winter - you will miss them, I can assure you!

Now is the time to reap the benefits of getting beans, greens of all kinds, carrots, radish, sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions, Brussel sprouts (soon), cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, squash and PUMPKINS!!!

I keep hearing people say "pumpkin in cans is no where to be found" this year. (I see it all the time)
FIRST - it isn't the season quite yet - so chill.
SECOND - I read a quote from Libby that said production slowed this summer due to pandemic and they are back and producing and shelves will be stocked soon!!!!!
THIRD - use fresh!!!!  Get small pumpkins and bake them down and use the pulp to make your own.  You can easily freeze it.  You can also substitute sweet potatoes or winter squash in pies and baked goods.  Don't be one of those who creates panic - there are many substitutes and there are worse problems in the world!!!!!!
(OK - off my soap box)

Apples are big this time of the year as are pears.  So many fresh and yummy options out there.  We had a big freeze in May that damaged a lot of buds that had set, but the orchards still have plenty available.  Cider is another wonderful side product of apples.
Now is the time to get apples for making applesauce, for baking, frying, canning, freezing  and plain good time eating!!!!!!
You can use pears in just about all the same ways as apples.


Nuts are starting to fall from trees.  Take advantage of gleaning if you have the chance.  Many folks have walnut or hickory nut trees - get those yummy nuts before the critters do!  It sure will save money come holiday time when even though plentiful they jack up the price.
If you live in the country or around vacant homes - there may be fruit trees that you can glean from.

There are things like persimmons and  paw-paws as well in many areas.  We have both here in Indiana.  Let them be ripe - before trying to use.  You will surely know if they aren't ripe!!!!!  Pucker doesn't even begin to define the result!!!!!!  LOL
Grapes are ready in many areas.
I know every region has their fall fruit options - take advantage while you can.

I don't consider food the only harvest of fall.  Look around at the stores and get whatever deals you can find for yourself or gifts.  Summer clothes and items are marked down, school supplies are being marked down already, camping gear, gear for outdoor activities (games and fun), and gardening items.  Think ahead to gifts you need to get.  A gift doesn't have to be about winter - get something the recipient can use next summer!

It is cookout/campfire  time - so look for deals on hotdogs, condiments, hamburgers and chili ingredients, smore ingredients - the list goes on.

My brother has a cookout each fall - to celebrate fall birthdays - and it is always a fall food delight.  There is a big pot of thick chili, hotdogs and all the fixings, smores and cider - chips, dip, etc.  It is always wonderful!  Sitting around a fire with family and eating good food.


So if you have the opportunity to go visit a farm stand or farm market - now is the time.  Most will end in a month or so.  Healthy, fresh food is available.  Check with your family and friends and see if they have any surplus they can share.  
Get your fall 'harvest' on and stock up for the days ahead.
Enjoy the first days of a new season - winter is around the corner.

26 comments:

  1. I love fall too!
    I'm hoping for some good apples soon. I love anything apple, so many yummy treats. And I'm craving cinnamon too, going to have to make cinnamon rolls. Thanks for the pumpkin update. I'll try to get a few cans or pie pumpkins for Thanksgiving. Even if family can't come, we will have our Thanksgiving meal.
    Your brother's fall cookout sounds like so much fun. What a great idea
    Have a good weekend.

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    1. I love apples too. Cinnamon rolls sound tasty. May have to do that soon.
      His cookout isn't this weekend - but in a week or two - but it will be fun.

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  2. Pickin up paw paws put em in a basket. Gives pictures in my head of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo! I have never seen one out here in the NW, but not to say they may not have some just never seen one before. I am stocked up on canned pumpkin from last year. So I'm good for making chocolate chip pumpkin bread for the holidays. Today I'm on the hunt for more canning jars. Enjoy your day!

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    1. LOL - that is funny - hey, hey Boo Boo! Paw paws are good, kind of a cross between banana and peach in my opinion. I like persimmons too - but they need a good frost.
      Glad you have your pumpkin fix! Hope you find jars! Good luck.

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  3. Fall is certainly showing up in Illinois. I heard on the news this morning that we may get a light frost before the weekend is over. Not quite ready for that!!! But I AM wearing a long sleeve top for the first time since late April. Planing to get some apples this weekend for making applesauce and a pie or two, and also scouting out sources for concord grapes for juice and jelly. Need to research more about storing acorn and butternut squash for long-term storage. I could possibly keep them in my garage, which stays cool. But I don't want to attract any critters that could get inside. If anyone has suggestions, I'd be appreciative.

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    1. Hope you get your apples and find a source for grapes. If no grapes (many orchards have for a week or so) - you can also use bottled pure grape juice - no sugar added. That works great.

      For winter squash I have always kept in the basement - cool and dark. They last for months and months. Do you have a cool, closed off room you don't use - maybe an idea.
      Or place them in a cooler chest in the garage to prevent pests! Just a couple ideas.

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  4. Cheryl, always love your wise words. Pumpkin is well stocked here in Illinois. You make me want to get into baking soon. So far I've just been decorating for fall. I'm so happy the summer is finally over!

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    1. Thank you! I see pumpkin every where in town here as well. I guess some areas harder hit than others.
      I love baking and fall - but not quite ready to see summer end.
      I have only done a little decorating as well.

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  5. My kids have never seen canned pumpkin. It is so easy to cook and freeze pumpkins. I still have 2 containers left from last year. I just bought 10 pounds of apples at the store today. They were 99 cents a pound.

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    1. Good for you. Pumpkin and squash is so super easy to cook up and freeze up. Glad to see others are still doing this.
      Good deal on apples. Enjoy

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  6. I love fall too or Autumn as we call it here. I love pumpkins but we only get them for a little while around Haloween and they are not as good as the culinary ones although still useable. Sometimes shops sell them for about 10pence the day after. I haven't got the freezer space I used to have but pumpkins keep so I stock up. Only Waitrose does canned pumpkin and we don't have that store in our town. I know a couple of apple trees where I can forage the windfalls too.

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    1. You are so right pumpkins keep for a long time - just like winter squash. The little sugar pumpkins are best - but the bigger ones work too. Yep, they are always cheaper right at Halloween or after.
      Hope you go and glean some apples. Free is good.

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  7. I have several cans given to me by my sister, who got it from the food bank at her work. They were going to throw it away . Yum now I want a pumpkin pie.

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    1. Seems to be the season for pumpkin everything!!! I am not a pumpkin person - but I do like sweet potato pie.
      Glad you are supplied. So sad that there is so much discarded in this country.

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  8. I love all the busyness of harvesting and processing the garden. Pretty much all of ours is out now, just have some things that need ripening.

    God bless.

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    1. It is lovely isn't it? Knowing that we are putting up for the future. I pretty much am down to tomatoes.

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  9. I was in the shops this afternoon and did notice that there was only two lonely cans of pumpkin on the shelf! Couldn't carry them but luckily still have a few cans in the pantry.
    My No Frills has 10 pounds of onions, carrots & potatoes and 5 pounds of rutabaga all on sale for $2 a bag this week. I'll take my buggy and try to get some. I don't have a lot of room in my freezer but will try to caramelize the onions, cook, mash and freeze the rutabaga at least.

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    1. What a deal that is. They should last for a while just in the refrigerator or in a cool place. I don't think I have ever had a rutabaga. I like turnips - raw.
      Glad you still have pumpkin and don't have to worry.

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  10. Hi Hippy Chick!.Im loving your blogs,as always and you always give me food for thought.Autumn is on its way here in the Midlands,but yesterday was my Mams 87th birthday and we all managed to sit in the sun in her garden eating fish,chips and mushy peas..with a birthday cake for afters..and all singing Happy Birthday!.A lovely day!.Just a ramdom thought...Do you know that every time I read your blog,the song Indiana Wants Me by R.Dean Taylor starts playing in my head!!Best wishes from the Hippy Chick in Leicester UK,xx

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    1. Debi, please tell your Mam HAPPY BIRTHDAY from me!!!!!! What a wonderful way to spend the day with someone you love.
      Oh that is funny - I haven't heard that song in years - now it is in my head!!!!

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  11. Harvest is a happy time! Unripe persimmons are definitely puckery! Black walnuts are a mess to shell but they are delicious. We have found that Trader Joe's apples are smaller (which we prefer for eating) and they have a wide variety. Price is good too. I love turnips and we raised rutabagas one year. I chop and par cook turnips to put in turnips greens. When Cub Foods was here they had that combination in cans. Have to see if I can find a rutabaga at Meijer. I keep sweet potatoes in the pantry as I bake them and the dogs get a few spoonsful with their breakfast. The little pie pumpkins are so good. The chickens like those. I am not a big pumpkin spice person and prefer sweet potato pie. It's interesting how folks' taste varies so much. I had to Google the song and once I heard it, yeah I'd heard it before. Do you remember Little Jimmy Dickens? He was a local boy.

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    1. You know I have never been to a Trader Joes. I guess I live a sheltered life!!! LOL None around here and I don't do interstates - so.
      I used to love Cub foods They were kind of the first "no frills" store. Before Sam's and Costco and even Aldi. They had such variety. And well before Wal-Mart in my area.
      Hubs used to loved black walnuts - just a bit too strong for me.

      I prefer sweet potato to pumpkin myself. Yep we all have different tastes - apples are my fall FAVORITE.

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  12. I think I have three cans of pumpkin in my pantry, which is a lot for me as I normally have one can. The weather is turning so nice. I was able to sit out several times today and the weather was nice every time. I just love this time of year.

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    1. Good for you on the pumpkin. Being outdoors this time of the year is wonderful. Very chilly in the mornings - but nice during the day.

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  13. We have fig trees that are still producing and a pear tree. Three first year we moved into our new house, a guy came by and just started picking our pears. We asked what he was doing, and he said the previous owners let him feed the pears to his deer. We agreed that was nice of them, but that we would like to use the pears. He didn't come back by that season or the next. This year the tree was loaded and I was so looking forward to having some pears, but it seems he can around while we were at work and cleared the tree. Time to get a security camera. ☹️

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    1. Oh my gosh - you have got to be kidding? That is awful. I can not believe how rude and disrespectful people can be. Yep, I sure would be getting security cameras - my goodness he could have messed with anything.
      I am so sorry that happened.

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