Pick The Perfect Produce
While most supermarkets and local grocers offer a great selection of pumpkins
in October (many of which have already put their pumpkins out, so be sure to
snag yours early to get the pick of the patch), pumpkin and apple picking is a
great, engaging fall activity to share with kids. Lucky for us, there are tons
of nearby locations that make finding the perfect pumpkin a memorable
experience, perfect for an autumn Saturday.
At the Queens Farm Museum every weekend during the
month of October, kids can pick their own pumpkins from the planting field at
the QueensFarmMuseum. Admission is free and the pumpkins
are reasonably priced (determined by their weight.) While you’re there, make sure to check out the Amazing Maize Maze, an interactive cornfield adventure for kids!
Soon’s Orchards in New Hampton, New York (about an hour’s drive from the city) offers tons of festive fun for families. Kids can dine on fresh-picked apples and real apple cider ( as well as other homemade goodies, like pies and apple cider donuts) and even take a hayride to the pumpkin patch on weekends.
Stuart’s Farm is one great institution to try. The oldest working
farm in WestchesterCounty, kids will love picking pumpkins there, straight off the vine!
Sun High Orchards in Randolph, New Jersey, is another festive destination; families can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch during the weekends. Parents will also love stocking up on ripe heirloom tomatoes and other home-grown vegetables, as well as homemade bread, pies and more.
Terhune Orchards:This orchard in Princeton, NJ is a family affair, run by the
Mount family since 1975. Apples and pumpkins abound on this 185-acre farm, and
they host Fall Family Fun Weekends full of music, food, an Adventure Barn,
pumpkin painting, barnyard animals, and other seasonal delights.
Pennings Orchard & Farm Market in Warwick, New Tor has it all: fifteen different kinds
of apples to pick from, as well as hayrides and a petting zoo known
affectionately as the Barnyard Buddies. Kids can also make their own scarecrow,
get lost in the corn stalk maze, and ride a pony! To round out your autumn
excursion, there’s also a varied farm market, a continuously blooming garden
center, and old-fashioned ice-cream stand.
Voted Best Pick-Your-Own in the Mid-HudsonValley, Dubois Farms has a wide
array of fruits to choose from besides apples and pumpkins if you’re so
inclined, like plums, nectarines, grapes, gourds, pears, and peaches. Until
November 7th, you can take advantage of their free kids activities,
like games, tractor pulled wagon rides, a corn maze, pony rides, and playing
with farm animals. You can also check out their upcoming festivals and
jamborees online.
Applewood Orchards: Don’t let the name fool you! You
can pick both apples and pumpkins at this charming orchard, also in Warwick, New York. Kids will also
enjoy wagon rides, face painting, and puppet shows, and you can indulge in the
relaxing scenery of the farm’s surrounding ponds, and maybe even sample their
famous cider and wine.
Creative Carving
You can find free carving templates
and instructions pretty easily online with a Google search – just be aware that
following templates can be tricky without a sharp knife, and often requires
some adult intervention.
The go-to jack-o-lantern tool is
usually the biggest and sharpest knife in the drawer, so kids often get left
out of the carving process. Encourage your children to get creative with their
carving designs, and they will be able to try a wider variety of instruments
that are more kid-friendly than the butcher knife.
MarthaStewart.com has a photo
gallery of unexpected pumpkin-carving tools, some safer than others. Two
childproof suggestions: use a melon-baller to scoop shallow holes in the
pumpkin’s shell – the candlelight will glow through. Also, have your kids try
cookie cutters to cut fun shapes out of the pumpkin. They can use a rubber
mallet with the cutters to break through the shell.
For more traditional carving tools,
Pumpkin Masters offers a great array of kits for different age groups, for sale
on Amazon.com and starting at around $3. Its website is also a
helpful resource for patterns and for tips on carving.
If you’re working on a pumpkin
masterpiece and plan on doing the cutting yourself, try the Creative Versa
Tool, a heated tool with interchangeable points. For $29.99, it’s available on
Amazon or you can pick it up at a crafts store like Michael’s. The store’s
website also has detailed instructions for some elaborate pumpkin carving
projects, like this lion.
Make Some Savory Seeds…
There are plenty of recipes
available to make use of all the seeds you’ll have after carving your pumpkins.
The Food Network website has a pretty varied assortment of recipes using
pumpkin seeds—we particularly like this tasty (and portable) pumpkin seed and
dried cherry trail mix recipe, perfect for an on-the-go snack.
If you have a bit more time, try
this recipe from Real Simple for sweet and salty roasted pumpkin seeds.
Or add a minimalist twist to a
seasonal favorite – pumpkin pie-spiced seeds! Less calories and less mess, this
treat from The Chow.com is nonetheless just as sweet as the real deal. (Check out The Chow’s website more great modern takes on delicious seed seasoning ideas)
All Recipes also offers an addictive
caramelized and spice option for your seeds. With just enough of a cayenne kick for mom, it’s
still kid-palate approved.
…Or An Apple Sweet Treat
The first bite of a crisp, freshly
picked apple is the most delicious reminder that Fall is finally here. If you
do happen to pick more apples than you can bite into, there are fun and healthy
cooking options for those leftover fruit besides caramelized apples.
Why not
try these warm and rich Baked Apples from the Food Network? They won’t stick to
your kids or their clothes!
Or keep crunching on these
super-easy to make Cinnamon Apple Chips from Rachael Ray.
Epicurious offers an alternative to
the usual breakfast fare: this Puffed Apple Pancake recipe is treat for both
the eyes and the stomach!
by Rachael Horowitz and Cris de
Oliveira
