Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
‘Tis the season for pumpkins, and that means it is time to start digging out the recipe books for your fall baking! While Price Chopper and Market 32 offer a variety of pumpkin puree, have you ever contemplated experimenting with a genuine pie pumpkin in your recipes? If this idea has crossed your mind, you might be seeking guidance on the proper approach. Fear not! We have some answers on which pumpkins to choose and proceeding steps.
Sugar Pumpkins:
Choosing the correct pumpkin is crucial. While those massive pumpkins you see outside our stores are perfect for carving scary faces, they are not ideal for baking. These pumpkins have a higher water content and are stringy inside. Sugar pumpkins are your go-to for baking. These pumpkins are much smaller, drier, and a deep orange color. Oh, and most importantly, they are very sweet which make them perfect for baking.
In addition to choosing a sugar pumpkin, you will want to ensure that the stem is very sturdy, intact, and dry. These pumpkins should be stored in a cool, dry place prior to baking. Avoid sugar pumpkins that appear to have rotting stems.
Let’s Bake!
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Step 2: Cut sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, and place on a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Step 3: Allow the pumpkin to bake for approximately 35 – 40 minutes, noticing how the flesh naturally separates from the skin during this process.
Step 4: Once baked, proceed to puree the flesh until it achieves a smooth consistency.
Step 5: To keep the pumpkin puree fresh, store it in the refrigerator.
Super easy, right? Make baking this season a fun, beautiful memory.
Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: This spice cake is sure to be a hit!
Pumpkin Soup: Where are all the soup lovers out there? Try out this recipe today!
Pumpkin Cheesecake: Thanksgiving just got a whole lot sweeter! Your guests are sure to love this delicious recipe.
Pumpkin Pie Roll-ups: With only seven ingredients, this recipe is easy, delicious, and full of flavor.
Pumpkin Carving, Spooky Snacks, & More!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Halloween night is always exciting for the little ones. They get to dress up as anything or anyone, load their bags with more candy than they can possibly consume, and enjoy many laughs with friends. Oftentimes, the days leading up to Halloween are even more fun. We have some ideas for pumpkin carving and snack recipes that we want you to try! Keep reading if you dare…
Pumpkin carving is a great way to spend time with your family, friends, or partner. Friendly pumpkin carving competitions are also very common this time of year. Have you ever wondered why we carve pumpkins? Well, we researched this exact same thing and are here to give you answers!
While many may think that pumpkin carving began in the United States, that is actually false. Turnip carving (yes, turnips!) originated in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Carving turnips was a symbol of death and was used to scare neighbors. It was not until the 1800s when people from England and Ireland began immigrating to America that pumpkin carving began in the United States. Since there is such an abundance of pumpkins here this time of year, these groups of people began to carve pumpkins instead. Now when you carve your pumpkin for Halloween this year, you will know how this tradition started! Want to learn more? Check out this website Halloween History: Why We Carve Pumpkins
This Halloween, we want to inspire you to try some new treats that the family will love. Whether you want to make a new dessert with the kids, or if you have a Halloween party to attend, we have you covered. Check out some of our fun, easy-to-make Halloween recipes from our Pinterest page!
Reese’s Bats : Reese’s and Oreos? Who can say no to that! With only a few simple ingredients, these are sure to be a fan favorite!
Mini Mummy Pizzas: Try these Mini Mummy Pizzas for an appetizer at your next party! But beware, these will go fast!
Rice Krispie Treat Monsters: These super easy Halloween Rice Krispie Treat Monsters are the perfect snack for the kids or addition to your Halloween get together!
Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers: These cute Halloween peppers are perfect for lunch or dinner! Even better, you can season the meat with any kind of spice. There is no right or wrong way to create these peppers.
Check out our YouTube page for more Halloween inspiration!
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
home.grown. The Perfect Pumpkins - We Have 'em Here!
Mia Teal
E-Commerce Marketing Department
Happy pumpkin season! Now is the perfect time to have a friendly pumpkin carving competition with friends and family or decorating the house with mini pumpkins and gourds. At Price Chopper and Market 32, we are proud to source all our pumpkins from local farms in our region each season. We get our pumpkins from many of the same farms who supply us with favorites like sweet corn and tomatoes in the summertime. Additionally, we also source our hard squashes, gourds, and ornamentals from local farms here in the Northeast during the fall. Find out below which farmers we are highlighting this pumpkin picking season!
Reeves Farms, Baldwinsville NY
Reeves Farms has been a partner for over 30 years, growing everything from organic zucchini to pie pumpkins. By using sustainable farming methods, Reeves Farms is proud to offer fresh berries and vegetables as well. Be sure to grab some fresh produce before heading to the pumpkin patch!
AJ Farms, Melrose NY
The Wertman Family Farm began in Colonie, NY four generations ago. As the business started to prosper, the family decided to move to Melrose, NY where much more farmland is present. Not only do they have fresh produce and stunning flowers, but they are also experts in growing pumpkins and hard squashes.
Hoover’s Produce, Port Trevorton PA
Hoover’s Produce are Pennsylvania pumpkin professionals, and we are proud to have been a partner for over 25 years! They have an array of pumpkins for carving and decoration that are perfect for this pumpkin season.
Plainville Farm, Hadley MA
A third-generation farm in Hadley, Massachusetts, Plainville Farm specializes in pumpkins, asparagus, hard squash, and their famous butternut squash! We are proud to be partners for the past seven years!
Interested in learning more about these four partners? Visit their websites below!
Next time you buy a pumpkin from your local Price Chopper and Market 32, you know that it was grown locally. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a pumpkin carving kit while you are here!