A Few Fall Traditions

Written by: karl

As I'm writing this, it's closer to winter than summer, but I'd like to share a bit about my favorite season and the traditions we try to keep in my household. Autumn is by far my favorite season - the cooler weather (most years anyway), the changing leaves, best holiday Halloween, and of course all the food we can harvest and feast on.

Thanks to the industrial revolution, you can eat basically anything, anywhere, year-round these days, but eating a just-ripened apple straight off the tree is something special. Standing in the garden eating freshly picked berries or ground cherries is always time well spent, and anyone who's ever tasted the difference knows that sweet corn you buy directly from the farmer that grew it is better than anything that comes from a store. It's probably no surprise that many of my favorite autumn traditions also involve food in one way or another.

Making Applesauce

On my current property I'm lucky enough to have a mature Haralson apple tree, one of the nearly 30 varieties developed by the University of Minnesota. The apples tend to be a little on the tart side, so eating them raw is only for those who like a more sour apple, but they make a great ingredient for cooked dishes.

One of the traditions my household has picked up since inheriting this tree is making applesauce after the apple harvest. This is the recipe we've used as a starting point, with a few tweaks over the years. We've found that using 3 tablespoons of lemon juice can be pretty powerful, so replacing that with just 1 tablespoon of lemon juice plus 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar seems like a good balance.

If you don't have an apple tree of your own, I recommend buying a few varieties of apples from the nearest orchard and trying to make a batch of applesauce for yourself. Peeling and coring the apples goes surprisingly quick if you put on some music, and you'll have a large pot of warm, delicious applesauce in less than an hour.

Carving Pumpkins

I've loved carving pumpkins ever since I was a child, though I don't think I could exactly tell you why. I like the act of carving itself and I like the end result - it's one of the few things that I reliably post to my Instagram account. And of course I like eating pumpkin seeds.

There are several guides online that will tell you how to roast pumpkin seeds, but in my experience, it's more an art than a science. You'll need to trust your instincts, but don't worry too much, it's a very forgiving process. The quick rundown of how to do this goes as follows:

Scoop the seeds into a bowl, trying to limit the amount of strings and other pumpkin flesh that tag along.
Transfer into a colander and run under cool water, rinsing the seeds and trying to get any loose strings off. You don't need to be too picky about this part; a few strings aren't going to hurt anything.
Make sure you have a rack in the middle position of your oven and preheat it to about 300-350° F.
Dry the seeds on a baking sheet with paper towels or clean kitchen towels.
Drizzle with the oil of your choice. We tend to use olive oil.
Put together a spice blend. Start with salt and then add whatever calls to you. I like garlic powder, black pepper, and a little paprika.
Sprinkle your spice blend over the oily seeds and toss to coat.
Spread them out evenly and toss into the oven.
Check after 10-15 minutes, toss, and repeat. They will go for a total of 30-45 minutes depending on your oven, how wet the seeds were, etc.
Enjoy!

They should keep on the countertop in an airtight container for a few weeks, but make sure they are completely cool before you store them otherwise they can get soggy.

Visiting Christmas Markets

Following a tradition dating back hundreds of years in parts of Europe, we here in Minnesota have quite a few options for Christmas markets. They vary quite a bit in size which can really change the experience; smaller ones will of course have less vendors, but larger ones can feel quite crowded. And if you decide to visit one, make sure to check whether or not it's an outdoor market so you can dress accordingly!

If you're familiar with the local arts & crafts scene, you'll see a lot of familiar stuff - handmade soaps and candles, jewelry, pottery, hot sauces, engraved wood, etc. But there's often seasonal items as well: gifts, Christmas tree ornaments, traditional items from European Christmas markets, wool hats and mittens, and more!

If you are curious but don't know where to start, I highly suggest visiting the European Christmas Market at Union Station in downtown St Paul. While there, make sure to get yourself a delicious mug of Glühwein, which is like a spiced mulled wine.