by Joe Dennis, Nostalgia Farms
If you haven’t made it down to the Freight House Farmer’s Market, treat yourself to a cornucopia of fall colors. Pumpkins, winter squash, and Indian corn dazzle visitors. Although we’ve had our frost, there’s still a lot of creative cooking to be done.
It’s definitely pumpkin-time! Market is full of hundreds of different shapes and sizes of pumpkins and winter squash. But it is the waves of orange from pumpkins lined in rows at different stalls, or the piles of pumpkins loaded in front of most grocery stores that speak to me this time of year.
Pumpkins and squash are one of nature’s easiest long-term vegetables. When cured properly in the field, they will store well into spring, actually increasing in vitamins, as it is stored — one of the few vegetables to not lose their vitality over the winter months.
We’ve also had a good year for apples, another fall favorite and actually a great combination with winter squash. My butternut squash soup would not be the same without the addition of apple, pureed into a silky, stick-to-your-bones winter delight.
In the spirit of the season, I’d like to share a couple of my favorite recipes using pumpkin, butternut and acorn squash.
Happy Halloween!
Try These Recipes
Pumpkin and Potato Hash Recipe – This makes a great side dish served with a grilled pork chop or chicken breast.
Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe – stuffed with sausage, celery, onion and rice, then served up in a tasty acorn squash, it’s a meal that’s both tasty and beautiful
Spaghetti Squash with Pasta Sauce – top it with fresh parsley, pasta sauce and parmesan cheese and your kids won’t even know they’re eating their vegetables!
Butternut Soup with Sage and Nutmeg – great for special events, this soup can be served in a small pie pumpkin that has had the top carved off, cleaned and roasted until tender. Festive and delicious!
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Joe Dennis is a farmer at Nostalgia Farms in Walcott, Iowa. Together with his partner, Ed Kraklio, they sell locally-grown, organic produce at the Freight House Farmer’s Market in downtown Davenport, IA near LeClaire Park, every Tuesday (3-6 pm) and Saturday (8 am -1 pm). You can visit the farm’s website at: www.nostalgiafarms.com. Read more of Farmer Joe’s blog posts on MVHNews, or try any of the Nostalgia Farms recipes on this website. |
