I stopped to get a bottle of wine as a thank-you for a friend and as I was walking past the beer I noticed a certain…theme. October is the month for pumpkins, though they’ve been popping up since August. I like an occasional pumpkin latte or a piece of pumpkin pie but I try to restrict my indulgence to the witching month. Pumpkins hold a special place among vegetables even though it’s not really the pumpkins themselves but rather their role as a delivery system for a combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. And that got me thinking that maybe there are other seasonal vegetables that deserve some attention as well. Here are the pros and cons of a few contenders:
Potatoes: We’re spoiled by having potatoes available year-round but technically they’re a fall crop. The fact that you can get your potatoes mashed, boiled, put in a stew, and of course fried at any time of year knocks them out of the running.
Turnips: Although turnips can be harvested in the spring too they’re a cool weather plant which makes them ideal for fall. Both the leaves and the root are edible and the original Jack-o-lantern was a turnip. Carved turnips, a Celtic tradition, are so much creepier than pumpkins. So I’d definitely put them in the category of being worthy of consideration.
Source: The Scotsman
Broccoli: This is another fall crop that’s available all year, most often as an overcooked side dish or taking up space on crudité platters where it begs to be dipped in ranch dressing. Broccoli’s resemblance to miniature trees would make it great for decorating but you can’t really stick a candle in broccoli so I’d give it a pass.
Gourds: Aside from pumpkins there are lots of gourd varieties that are great for turning into birdhouses and other craft projects. Here’s a fun idea for your Halloween porch: get a pumpkin and a tall skinny gourd for a Bert and Ernie theme.
Beets: I think beets are delicious so I’m biased here but there are dozens of varieties in colors ranging from blood red—which is perfect for Halloween—to orange and even striped. If you’ve read Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game you may remember that, before the hunt begins, General Zaroff serves borscht, the soup named for the noise it makes as it passes through you, with a big dollop of sour cream in the middle. It’s very evocative, resembling blood and bone, or an eye with the colors reversed. Why aren’t they more popular around Halloween? Beets me.
Source: Giphy
My favorite season, autumn, has arrived, and along with it, pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. Life is good.
Thomas Slatin recently posted…The Muses Companion – October 4, 2024
Some people put down the pumpkin spice latte but I enjoy them–a simple pleasure and a good way to enjoy the season. I’m glad autumn is your favorite season too.
I love autumn but I am no pumpkin fan. You’re right—it’s only acceptable when drowned in spice. And beets? They’re the devil’s root vegetable! Give me potatoes and broccoli any day!
mydangblog recently posted…Contest Winners; Quince-A-Rama
We may differ on beets but that’s okay. As my late father-in-law used to say when it came to taste, there’s a reason they make chocolate and vanilla. And for people like me they make Neapolitan ice cream. Actually my favorite is Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra.
I love vegging out here, Chris. Thanks for another tasty post.
Ann Koplow recently posted…Day 4299: The last six months
Thank you, Ann–your comments can’t be beet.