By: Ciara Speller,
Broadcasting Editor-
The month of October brings exciting entertainment, foods and fragrances. For a vast majority of people, this month and the fall season in general cannot come fast enough. From cozy hayrides on your local town farm, haunted houses, long walks against the orange and brown rustling leaves, apple and pumpkin picking, no wonder this month is a crowd favorite.
New England is a perfect place to enjoy this glorious month and season. As plenty of students at Salve are not from this area and are hours away from home, there are places here in local communities in Rhode Island to experience this fun as well as some that are only a short car ride away.
Apple and pumpkin picking are a fall favorite, and just a short drive to Middletown, Sweet Berry Farm at 915 Mitchell’s Lane is the perfect place to do so. Sweet Berry Farm is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from the middle of April through October 31st, and 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from November through December 31st. At Sweet Berry Farm, you have the opportunity to pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, get fresh honey from hives on the farm, and visit the gift shop for other fall specialties.
Not crazy about apple or pumpkin picking? How about a cozy hayride or adventure through a corn maze? Escobar’s Highland Farm offers just that. Located in Portsmouth, a short journey away, the corn maze is open Friday from 3:30 p.m. until dusk, Saturday 10:00 a.m. until dusk and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until dusk. Admission is $7 and coupons for this event are available on their website. Escobar’s hayrides are $4 per ride. On this hayride you can enjoy a picture worthy ride through their dairy farm, and sometimes during the ride they even let you feed apples to the cows.
If you are up for a road trip, head to New Hampshire for Nightmare New England, one of the best and spookiest places this month. Located at 454 Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield, and only 45 minutes from Boston this trip is definitely worth it. With various attractions and personal interaction with the characters, Nightmare New England is the place to go. Ticket prices vary and coupons are available at local Dunkin Donuts.
If you are someone who likes to stay in and create sweet treats during this fall season, here are some short but delicious recipes to make for a perfect October day.
Pumpkin soup is perfect on a nice crisp night and fits the season well. With a few ingredients like pumpkin puree, chick stock, salt, onion, whipping cream, garlic and peppercorn you can create this fall favorite. All you have to do is heat the stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, garlic, and peppercorns. Bring it to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered. Next puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender.
After, return to the pan, and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream and pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if you want, and there is your pumpkin soup.
Ever had a baked apple? This sweet and crunchy snack is quick and fun. All you need for this is apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and boiling water. First, preheat oven to 375°F and remove cores to 1/2 inch of the bottom of the apples. Use a spoon to dig out the seeds and make the holes about 3/4-inch to an inch wide. Next, in a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Place apples in an 8-inch-by-8-inch square baking pan. Stuff each apple with this mixture and top it with a dab of butter.
Finally, add boiling water to the baking pan. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until tender, but not mushy. Remove the apples from the oven and baste the apples several times with the pan juices. To make these apples a little more delicious you can add vanilla ice cream on the side.
If baking is not your thing, visit Jazzman’s Cafe on campus for pumpkin flavored muffins, teas and coffees. These fabulous snacks are sure to get you ready for the season.
All of these things are great for fall and hopefully will make your fall season fun, tasty and exciting!
