I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m a fan of pumpkin spice. Yes, that includes the infamous pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins … You name it, I’ll enjoy it. I also adore going to the pumpkin patch each year and carving (or painting) jack-o’-lanterns. And, that’s my favorite thing about October; the overwhelming amount of pumpkin-infused products and happenings.
Back in August, I had already stocked my coffee cart full of pumpkin-inspired syrups and pumpkin-covered mugs; in September, I filled my closet with pumpkin-toned sweaters; and this month, I’m going after all the pumpkin-flavored goodies that I can get my hands on. One snack I can’t get enough of? Pumpkin seeds—I’ve always enjoyed my mother’s homemade recipe, but we also have a delicious recipe for you, courtesy of Schiltgen Farms.
This October, we’re celebrating the tasty gourd with third-generation farmer Brian Schiltgen, who offers all sorts of pumpkin tips—for gardeners, how to grow diverse pumpkins; for the home decorator, how to keep your decorative pumpkins fresh all season; and for chefs, how to preserve your harvest throughout year. Find all of Schiltgen’s tips, plus a few tasty recipes, in Craving and Carving All Things Pumpkin.
Also in this issue of St. Croix Valley Magazine, we’re traveling back in time to the ’90s with restaurateur Dariush Moslemi’s newest eatery, The Wild Hare. Complete with a vinyl record wall—featuring albums such as Spice, Janet and ’N Sync—retro arcade games, graffiti-covered walls, payphones, classic tunes and more, The Wild Hare goes above and beyond teleporting customers to another time period.
I’ll see you next month, readers!
-Hailey Almsted
