Waterloo farm says people can find purpose for pumpkins past peak season
A Waterloo, Ont. farm says people can find a purpose for pumpkins beyond Halloween by bringing the pumpkin patch to their plate.
Good Family Pumpkins says to think twice before taking the pumpkin off your front porch and bringing it to the trash.
"The orange ones are a little tougher and can tolerate a little more cold weather and frost," said Karen Good, the farm's co-owner.
Oct. 31 is considered the end of pumpkin season, but people can still find a tasty use for them.
"Making muffins or loaves or cakes or pies," said Good.
Roasting the seeds are also a great option, she says.
Good adds the key is bringing pumpkins that haven’t been carved or painted inside before it becomes too cold and they get soft.
Then people can dice or purée them, and store in the freezer.
"People want to stock up for the winter," Good says.
Pumpkins are used as a key ingredient in some winter meals that are sure to warm you up, she says.
"I've heard people make soup out of every kind of pumpkin we sell," Good said.
"And if you wanted it a little bit on the savoury side, what you can do is season it and just add it to soups and stews, which is absolutely delicious," said chef Emily Richards.
Richards also suggests cutting the pumpkin into larger chunks in order to sauté it in a skillet with oil, garlic and seasoning. Then add tomato sauce for a nice compliment to a main dish.
"We had it tossed with pasta or even just as a side dish with roast pork or beef," Richards said.
DON'T FORGET THE SQUASH
Squash is also a fan favourite at Good Family Pumpkins.
They have many varieties, which will be sold at their roadside stand well into November.
"The jester, the celebration or carnival squash, starry night," Good said, rhyming off some types of squash they have.
In many recipes, pumpkin is interchangeable with squash.
And it's a food the Good family encourages people to have a year-round relationship with.
"Every day, almost. Almost every day we eat squash," said Good, chuckling.
Click here to check out some of the pumpkin-related recipes chef Emily Richards developed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.