Garden Goodies: Last Call -- It's Fall!

Posted by Deb Puchalla

I looked up yesterday and it was October. How'd we flash-forward so quickly from back-to-school meet-and-greets to jack-o'-lanterns and comfort food? I blinked and realized it when I took Tuesday off to go apple picking with my friend Amy, her two kids, and two of my boys. From a half-hour north to our orchard destination the trees were creeping from fading green toward the color wheel's autumnal hues. The truth was reiterated as we waited in mile-long (but worth it) lines to park, to take a tractor ride, to pick the fruit, to pay -- all amid a crush of city dwellers seeking out a bag or two of Galas and a taste of the country. We made a day of it, with pumpkins and a petting zoo and cider and doughnuts, celebrating the crisp air even as the sun turned our faces pink.

I still don't want to fully admit it's fall, partially because our summer garden fests with Margaret at A Way to Garden and lots of bloggers have been fun -- and inspiring. The fact is, it's last call, folks.
 

We swapped so many ideas and recipes that highlighted the best ways to use the best produce. Remember the cukes and zukes? And the green beans? And so many others. We'll have to get together some more when the mood strikes. (It's not that there are no more fruits or veggies to be had. Just different ones.) Still, these days signal the garden's slower season, and there's much to do indoors. 

So we got our apples and talked about what we'd make with them, even though the farmhand said Galas are best eaten out of hand rather than used for cooking. I'm thinking pork tenderloin with roasted apples and onions. Embracing apples full-on acknowledged that we were ready to move on. But on our way out, tucked between the decidedly popular apple farm and the highway Amy spotted a couple of much smaller stands still selling the tail end of corn and tomatoes. So the question is: Do I make a freezer-stocking fresh vegetable soup or warm up tonight with roasted vegetable soup? Do I grab that last bunch of basil from out back and freeze some pesto or, since I hear from some pals that grapes are ready to go, make Concord grape sorbet at home? My favorite cohostess with the mostess, Margaret, is talking pears. Look out for some posts on those here soon. For now, tell me: What are you up to -- looking back or looking ahead?

Depending on what the farm stands by you still have, check out our past parties for recipes and ideas, from here on Dinner Tonight and around blogworld. Or tuck into some our our favorite apple recipes. Either way, stick with us as there's always something to talk about and something to cook -- easily -- here at Everyday Food. Happy fall!

SOME HITS FROM GARDEN GOODIES
Pesto
Zukes and cukes
Green beans
Tomatoes
Corn

A FEW APPLE IDEAS
Apple Crumb Pie
Rustic Apple Tart
Applesauce Cake
Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions
Apple and Cheddar Frittata
Barbecued Pork and Apple Kebabs
More Apple Recipes

I hope you'll continue to visit us here and on Twitter.

Comments

[Cate O'Malley]

Oh so cute! Looks like they had a great time.

[Deb Puchalla]

Hey Cate,
They had bushels of fun; so did the moms. Thanks for the link love--right back at ya. http://sweetnicks.com/weblog/

[Mimi]

It's even more Fall-like today and the pork, apples and onions sounds divine! Love the blog!

[napa farmhouse 1885]

oh..the kids are so adorable! it is supposed to rain today, tomorrow and saturday here in napa...then back to 85 degrees on sunday..fall..summer..who knows? so i blogged this week about canning and preserving..
diane

[Colleen]

Looks like a fun day in the orchard!

I'm straddling the seasons with grilled winter (butternut) squash - best of both worlds.
http://foodietots.com/2008/10/02/grilled-butternut-spears/

[Deb Puchalla]

So Mimi, what says fall to you besides pork? What do you order out this time of year (any good restaurant genre suggestions?)

Diane, figs, persimmons and rosemary?? Je suis jalouse, Ms. California--you other folks should check out her blog http://twurl.nl/hsjxfj

And Colleen, can't wait to try those (my big guy might even be tempted)

Thanks for joining in!

[Mimi]

Anything braised, Deb. I like to smell it cooking. How nice to have the oven on again! Soup so thick the spoon will stand up, chicken and dumplings, roast chicken, pork chops and sauerkraut. Like Colleen, I love all the colorful winter squash.

I canNOT wait for my first steaming hot bowl of red pozole, from a favorite Mexican place nearby. It's a pork or chicken and hominy stew cooked slowly in a spicy red chili broth. (You'll be sorry you got me started.)

Ok, that's it! Cheers!

[Mimi]

Almost forgot! In this part of the country, East Coast, Concord grapes are in my farmer's market. Unlike the varieties I'm used to, these seem to be seedless, which is wonderful. They'll probably be gone soon, but this is my newest favorite use for them: To a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, add a good handful of the grapes. Stir them in well. Enjoy!

[Each Little World]

The weather here in southern Wisconsin has cooled off so cooking sounds wonderful. One of my faves is pork loin with potatoes, pears and ginger beer from Molly O'Neil's "A Well-Seasoned Appetite" which has a whole section on pear dishes.

I posted a recipe for pear, marzipan tart with a hidden layer of chocolate on my blog for anyone who might be interested. Looks elegant, sounds fancy but is very easy.

[zestycook]

Hey Deb, great post... so good I had to stumble it... love the pork.. .keep up the great work.

cory