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
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when provincial fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Avalanche eliminate Winnipeg Jets from playoffs with 6-3 road win
Mikko Rantanen's first two goals of the playoffs propelled the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday that clinched their opening-round playoff series in five games.
A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane
A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine who escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometres (six miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane has been reunited with her family days after they were separated while fleeing to safety.
Protesters clash at UCLA after police clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Columbia University
Dueling groups of protesters clashed Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police carrying riot shields burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
Will an 'out of sight, out of mind' cellphone policy make a difference in Ontario schools?
Ontario’s cellphone ban in schools has been met with mixed reaction, with some teachers concerned about constant policing of kids and experts applauding the change as necessary for student learning.
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Jazz composer and educator Phil Nimmons dies at 100 after influencing generations
Prolific Canadian jazz composer, educator and clarinetist Phil Nimmons has died at the age of 100 after a musical career that included Canada's highest artistic honour.