This display is from my friend Judy’s house. Her husband Dan grew the pumpkins and candyroasters, sharing half of one with me. After cooking down the pulp in the crockpot I had four quarts to use and freeze. Candyroasters are usually sweeter than most pumpkins, and are preferred in these mountains.

Other than this fun use for pumpkins,

these pumpkin bars are my choice. Pumpkin Bars Recipes

This year I used the candyroaster in the filling. I also doubled the filling, except for the sugar

and butter. It has twice the servings of a pumpkin pie, and is easier to make. With a little whipped

cream on top they go fast!

Pumpkin Bar

and volunteer gourds from the garden in the basket

The garden keeps going in the fall, some plants the same, others best for this time of year. The frost improves the taste of kale, mustard and turnip greens. Turnips will also last to the end of fall, protected by the soil. Beets can be kept until after a frost or two. Green onions left from the year before are ready to harvest at this time.

beets and second year onions

kale

mustard greens

turnip greens

the last of the green peppers

Fourth of July and Red Lightning tomatoes waiting to ripen before frost.

Juliets

If frost is predicted the tomatoes can be covered, but sooner or later some will be picked green. Many times there will still be tomatoes for Thanksgiving that have been picked green and ripened inside.