A Trip into Sleepy Hollow: The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze!

Earlier this month I ventured out to the Historic Hudson Valley Region to experience the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze for the first time.  This magical fall celebration takes place at Van Cortland Manor every year from October to the beginning of November.

As I approached the property, I was immediately overwhelmed by glowing faces, some smiling, others growling, forming a sea of sparkling lights.  I felt as if I had walked right into the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, looking around for the Headless Horseman who might be galloping by at any moment.  The meandering pathway was lit with lanterns, and carved faces lined stone walls.

The artistic craftsmanship and attention to detail in the displays was stunning.  Walking into a garden of glowing sunflowers, little spotted toadstools, delphiniums, and foxgloves lined the ground.  Tall cornstalks stood proud, while butterflies and blackbirds soared in the trees high above.  There was even a sparkling bee hive, and if you looked really closely you could spot fairies in the trees, and tiny mice in the grass!

As the path wound around the main house, I managed to tear myself away from the magical garden.   I was overwhelmed by a sea of Jack O' Lantern faces on the ground, spooky spiders flashing in front of a giant spiderweb, and 3 Jack in the boxes who took turns popping out of their boxes, somehow seeming like they enjoyed every minute of surprising the audience.

Witches and a graveyard made for an impressive and spooky Halloween display.

And the tunnel of pumpkin love was a fun place to travel through a world of carved, glowing faces!

Down the path monkeys, elephants, and other zoo animals, mingled with prehistoric dinosaurs.  The details were amazing, making it difficult to know where to look first!

A sea of fish and an aquarium display along the river ended at an impressive Chinese dragon, with beautiful blue light contrasting the orange glow and textural details.

Finally, one of my favorite displays of the show were the ornate and delicately carved lace pumpkins.
The shadows and light coming out of these designs were as intricate as stained glass, and the white and tan pumpkins provided a nice stylistic contrast to the grins of the goblins and shrieking Halloween cats. 

A great way to experience the true magic of Halloween and the fall season...I can't wait to see what they have in store next year!

Apple Picking Time!

A break from Venice for now....it's fall, and time for pumpkins and apple picking!

 

Picking out the perfect pumpkin is an art form for sure.

 

 Stayman Winesap has great flavor and a balance of sweetness and crisp acidity.  I like to eat these fresh and use them in apple pies.

The perfect Granny Smith....just out of reach.
 

I found the perfect one!

After a day of apple picking, the Granny Smiths and Stayman Winesaps were piling up.  One of the things that I love to do when I find myself with too many apples...I make apple butter! 

 

I usually start by peeling and cutting up my apples into chunks.  I saute them in butter in a deep pot, until they begin to get soft, and then add spices.  Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Brown Sugar, and Pumpkin Pie Spice.  I also add 2 cinnamon sticks for a more intense flavor.

I cook the apples on low until apples begin to break down, and then I add water.  I then cover the apples and simmer for 5-6 hours, making sure that they don't burn, stirring occasionally and adding water when necessary.  I also add sugar and honey to taste.  After testing the flavor, I add more cinnamon, and sugar if necessary. 

Once the mixture has cooked, I use my immersion blender to smooth out the apple butter, and then spoon it into jars.

This apple butter is great on toast with butter, on pop overs, or on muffins and will keep in the refrigerator for months.  Yum!