Halloween. The night when one can dress up as anything one wants to be, knock on the neighbor’s door and ask for candy, threatening to ‘trick’ the occupant if your confectionery demands are not met. This seems a bit removed from the origins of honouring ancestors, while frightening off evil spirits, and wasn’t the way I was introduced to the holiday. My first memories of Halloween come from my early days of attending an Amsterdam Waldorf school. In keeping with older traditions, I carved root vegetables, placing a lit candle within and then proceeded along a dark path in a local park with my fellow excited classmates, voices echoing in united song. It was a lovely tradition, which I enjoyed a great deal.
For my first remembered Americanized Halloween, my grandmother, with whom I was living at the time, went out and purchased my first Halloween costume. I was going to be Strawberry Shortcake and I was really excited about it! Then I saw my costume! lol The plastic mask with nose holes and slits for eyes which in no way matched up to my own eyes and nose and an ill-fitting vinyl dress was far from what I had imagined, and left much to be desired. It’s probably pretty fortunate that grandma would only let me go around the block (no streets to cross)! Hey, cheers to GenX! We somehow managed not to suffocate or get hit by cars despite those dreadful masks *and* we survived the razor blade in apple/poisoned candy scare, for which there was very little basis and have since been deemed “false” at snopes.com! Anybody else remember that fears ran so deep that local hospitals volunteered to x-ray our candy? Yeah, ’cause what’s a little radiation? haha 
I turned my dislike for mass-marketed costumes around in the seventh grade. I must have spent a month making a faux bath tub out of a cardboard box, which I painted inside and out, lined with plastic, and filled with shaving cream around the top. Donning only a nude leotard, it looked as though I was naked in my tub. hehe I have a vague memory of singing, “Splish splash I was takin’ a bath…” Did I do that?? lol Perhaps.. ummm, okay, likely!
When a girlfriend invited me to her house for a Halloween party last year, I chose to embrace the old tradition of honouring ancestors with my own enjoyment of costume making. I got out my great-grandmother’s long blue slip, of which I am quite fond and very grateful to be in possession. I thought of her as I dressed, lighting a candle in her honour. Around my neck I wore a picture of Sigmund Freud. haha Get it? Yep, I went as a ‘Freudian Slip’! 
This year my girlfriend and I drove to a local Halloween store to check out the costumes. The first thing we noticed was that the adult costumes were in the front, the children’s costumes reduced to a mere back corner. Okay, perhaps not that surprising in LaLaLand, nor was the fact that the name of almost every costume we came upon began with the word “naughty”! There was the Naughty Doctor, Naughty Nurse, Naughty Schoolgirl, Naughty Nun.. Naughty Nun?!?! Oh, my! Feel free to substitute that word with “sexy”, and you can go as a Sexy Witch, Sexy Ghost, etc. So, we’re still dressing as Ghouls and Goblins, as in years past, we’re just doing it in far less fabric! Then again, I can see how being able to wear anything one wants without fear of judgment is appealing. The costumes.. still not so much! lol After trying on some outfits, I decided to put my costume together with my talented actress friend, which is far more fun for us both! What are we going as?! Well, she’s going to be a Sexy Vampire, and I’m going as a Sexy Black Cat, of course!
When I relayed the above to my mom in a recent phone conversation, she suggested I go back to my old roots of Waldorf traditions, and upon googleing “Waldorf and Halloween” was led to dressing as Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf, the costumes for which were very risque! Ahhhh, yay! Point made! lol But when I did further research on my own, I found different Waldorf schools around the globe and the celebrations they were holding really touched my heart. One will come together honouring the Earth by discussing sustainable living. Another by holding festivities such as bobbing for apples, and of course singing. Here is a sweet video of Waldorf children trick-or-treating, which brings back happy memories for me and made me smile.
However you dress and celebrate, enjoy your Halloween!
YAY! It’s pumpkin time! The emblematic symbol for Fall, I do so love these gourd-like squashes, which pretend to be vegetables, but are in fact fruits. Did you know that they are one of the most popular crops in the Unites States? Over 1 billion pounds per year are grown, 80% of which is sold in October! They range in sizes from 1 pound to over 1,000 pounds, but the average weighs between 9-18 pounds. These big orange gems grow on every continent but Antarctica!
Their name has been changed a few times, but the word “pumpkin” originates from the Greek word pepõn, which means “large melon.” The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pumpion or pompion, and was later changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin” by American colonists. While the origin of the pumpkin seems uncertain, they are indigenous to the Americas, and were completely unknown to Europe prior to the time of Columbus. It is known that when the Pilgrims arrived, the Native Americans were making good use of the squash, pounding strips of pumpkin flat, drying them, and then weaving them into mats for trading. They also cooked strips of it over the fire and dried pumpkin for food. The sweet fruit was readily embraced by the New Americans, who used it in everything from soups to desserts, from which our Thanksgiving customs arouse. Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops, removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie. Mmmm… good call!
Pumpkins aren’t just yummy, they’re good for us too! Despite being 90% water, that bright orange colour should be a dead giveaway that it is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene, which helps to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and lowers the risk of heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging, which almost explains why it can be found listed as an ingredient in certain wrinkle creams. Then again, perhaps it makes about as much sense as pumpkins once being recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites? They are fiber-rich, contain zero cholesterol, but are a source of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, are a good source of vitamins C, K, and E, and lots of minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and iron! Pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds, known as pepitas, are a good source of zinc and unsaturated fatty acids which are effective help for prostate ailments.
The History of the Jack-o-Lantern
People have been making Jack-o-Lanterns from turnips, mangelwurzel, or swede, (yellow) turnip, Swedish turnip or rutabaga for centuries. The custom of making Jack-o-Lanterns arose from an Irish myth about a crafty farmer named Jack. The mischievous fellow, referred to as “Stingy Jack” tricked the devil, not once, but twice, making the devil promise not to take his soul. So, when Jack died, he was turned away by heaven for being an unsavory character, and was also rejected by hell, per his agreement with the devil not to claim his soul. Instead he is sent into the night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the lit coal into a carved turnip and has been roaming the world with it ever since. The Irish called his ghostly figure “Jack of the Lantern,” which later was shortened simply to “Jack O’Lantern.”
In Ireland and Scotland, people began making their own versions of these “Jack-O-Lanterns” using turnips and potatoes. The Irish would carve scary faces into the gourds and place the lanterns on their window sills on All Hallows Eve (October 31) to welcome home the spirits of their ancestors while warding off evil spirits. Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from root vegetables. When immigrants from these countries brought the custom to North America, they discovered that the native fruit pumpkin made perfect Jack-o-Lanterns and so our current custom came to be. Growing up in Holland, I remember using various root vegetables, lighting them up and carrying them through the dark night with my fellow students. It was a lovely custom, the unique shapes of gourdes providing a scarier effect, their smaller sizes more easily managed by small hands.
Oh!—fruit loved of boyhood!—the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
Almost all of the pumpkin is edible, including the flowers, which are frequently stuffed with a cheese mixture, lightly beer batter dipped and fried to make fried squash blossoms. This versatile fruit can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted. If you are one to bake using fresh pumpkin (bless you!), avoid field pumpkins which are bred to be perfect jack-o-lanterns and are often too large and stringy for baking. You want a pumpkin that is heavy for its size. The lighter ones are drier, with a bigger open space in the middle. For the most part, stay away from the large pumpkins when selecting a pumpkin for eating; 2 to 5 lbs is about right. Use sugar pie pumpkins or other flavorful varieties which are small and have sweet, dark orange-coloured flesh perfect for baking up pie, breads, muffins soups, and such! It’s going to take about a 4 pound, medium sugar pumpkin to yield 1 and 1/2 cups of mashed pumpkin. I hear that well-seasoned chefs rely on the crook-necked pumpkin, which looks like a neck cushion and has bright orange, nearly string-less flesh that makes a perfect puree for baking. I love those mini pumpkins too! While most are not good for cooking, they make festive serving dishes for soup or custard.
Here it is, beloved readers!! My mother’s amazing pumpkin bread recipe!!! Aren’t we lucky?
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Kathryn’s Fabulous Pumpkin Bread!
Warning: when you first read this, it sounds like a lot of steps and can seem
overwhelming. What it really is is a lot of BOWLS. If you follow each step
it’s really quite easy and you will reap the rewards of something very yummy
that your whole family will love you for.
Now. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. And grease a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with
olive oil.
Whisk following in a medium bowl:
1 cup wholewheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is better)
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Combine in a cup:
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (use only real vanilla)
Then, in a large bowl, beat for about 30 seconds:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (use only real butter)
Gradually add and beat on high speed until light in color and texture (about
3 to 4 minutes total):
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar (or 1/3 cup molasses–take your pick)
Beat in, one at a time:
2 fresh eggs from free-range chickens (don’t cheat)
Then, add and beat on low speed until blended:
1 cup pumpkin puree (if you can do fresh, even better–you just steam an
organic pie pumpkin; it’s easy)
Add the flour mixture to the big bowl in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture in two parts, mixing it all up with a wooden spoon. Don’t overmix.
Fold in:
1/2 cup raisins (make sure they are a bit plump)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I like pecans)
Now pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake until a fork comes out clean when inserted into center, about one hour, sometimes longer. I slide a knife around edge when it emerges from oven, then allow it to cool before taking from pan. Then I usually wrap it in a colorful cotton cloth into which I’ve laid white cotton napkins, which will wash out easily later, and put the entire lovely concoction in a nice basket. What could be more festive? And it smells just delicious! Your whole house and household will thank you.
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They will, indeed! It’s Delicious! Thanks, mom!!!
Don’t forget to roast those yummy seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds have a nutty flavor and are packed with protein and fiber. Pumpkin seeds are delicious toasted and salted, but they’re even better flavored with sweet and savory spices.
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you’ve removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)
2. Spread out seeds on paper towels to dry.
3. Toss seeds in olive oil, butter and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, or your choice of seasonings. I always use tamari in lieu of salt and it’s delicious!
3. Bake at 250 degrees F, about 1 hour, tossing every 15-20 minutes, until toasted golden brown.
4. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.
Pumpkin Seeds with Cinnamon and Salt
INGREDIENTS
* 4 cups pumpkin seeds
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* vegetable oil cooking spray
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Grease a cookie sheet and spread the seeds out in an even layer. Lightly sprinkle with salt and cinnamon.
3. Bake for about 5 minutes, then stir the seeds. Season with salt and cinnamon again. Continue baking, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until seeds are toasted.
Well, I don’t know about you, but the order of the day for myself and many of those I know is spelled R-E-S-T. And with strong winds blowing outdoors, I’m content to wrap a down comforter around myself and watch Nature’s show of trees tossing to and fro, the many Fall leaves fluttering a mad dance to the already littered ground, cozied up indoors. Wind advisory, indeed! With the many weather changes we’ve seen the past couple of weeks, I wasn’t surprised as each of those around me, one by one became sick. I suspected my symptoms to be allergy related, but regardless of the causes, we’re all being called to take better care of ourselves and to rest.
I admit that I have an old belief system locked away in my mind that links cold weather, a chilled body or wet hair with getting sick. Every study I have read clearly shows that there is no correlation between chilling the body or hair and colds, and to say so would be erroneous. However, it has been my personal experience that when my body gets cold, it makes me very uncomfortable. My body has to work harder to keep me warm, and to reduce the stress caused by the discomfort. I therefore have found that I stand a better chance of staying well this time of year if I do things which keep me warm, such as putting flannel sheets on the bed, along with an extra blanket, and always carrying a warm sweater or coat, for those inevitable unexpected temperature changes during the day. I also highly recommend hot baths, to which one can add salts to relax aching muscles, eucalyptus oil for respiratory issues, or lavender to de-stress, and of course some bubbles for relaxation and pure indulgent fun!
There is no question that our ability to cope with stress is one of the major factors in our body’s immune system functioning well and our ability to stay well. With fewer daylight hours, many of us are experiencing a decrease in energy levels, and are realizing that we cannot continue pushing ourselves as we did throughout the Summer. It’s time to slow down, get a full eight hours of sleep, and continue our healthy habits such as exercise, meditation, and breath work. The fuel we put into our system is also of the utmost importance, as our bodies can only do so much with what we provide. By intaking nutritious foods, such as fruits and veggies, and by flushing our system with plenty of pure water, we stand a far better chance of keeping strong and healthy.
There are some other natural ways that we can assist our bodies in staying healthy and/or healing faster. Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and can be liberally added to food to give the immune a boost. In my family, we have a “feel better” cold recipe using chopped up onion, garlic, and ginger, to which we add hot water, lemon, honey and a touch of cayenne pepper. It doesn’t taste good, but after drinking the liquid and eating as much of the goodies at the bottom of the cup as can be stomached, there is usually a relief of symptoms and the duration of cold is often reduced. As a preventative measure, take a good high potency multivitamin-mineral from a health food store, naturopathic physician or other natural health practitioner, daily, with at least 1000 mg. vitamin C, 50,000 IU vitamin A (unless pregnant), 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg. zinc and 25+ mg. of the B vitamins. Studies concur that vitamin C reduces symptoms and duration of colds, so be certain to include this in your regimen. There has also been positive results with zinc use, but it seems to be most effective when taken at the onset, so take at first signs of cold symptoms. To be effective zinc must be sucked on, not swallowed, and should be taken in frequent, smaller doses, such as a quarter lozenge every half an hour. Stop taking immediately if nausea occurs.
Herbal remedies are popular in my household. I would much rather rely upon a tea made of marshmallow root, licorice root, and elm bark to soothe my sore throat than to use chemical sprays. I enjoy chamomile for my upset tummy, to relax and soothe me, or to help me sleep. Peppermint tea is a mild stimulant, but also soothes the tummy and nasal passages. Herbs high in mucilage, such as slippery elm, mallow, and marshmallow, are often helpful for symptomatic relief of coughs and irritated throats. Red raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry leaves contain astringent tannins which can be helpful for soothing sore throats. I’ve also heard of sage tea being gargled to soothe a sore throat. And, of course we cannot forget the honey, propolis, and slippery elm lozenges to soothe that throat and cough. These remedies all have substantial anecdotal evidence, and many have been used for centuries in other cultures.
I will make mention of a couple of other herbs I have used. Echinacea is believed to work primarily through immune stimulation and while studies have shown that regular use is not effective in prevention of colds, 3-5ml every two hours can be taken at the onset or to speed recovery of symptoms in both adults and children. It’s been my experience that echinacea is a worthwhile herb in which to invest, and seems to help my immune system when it needs some extra help. I do not recommend goldenseal. While it can be effect in reducing sore throat, the alkaloids from which our immune would benefit occur in small quantities, it should be taken for only short periods of time, and goldenseal is threatened in the wild due to over harvesting, so it’s best to take Oregon grape or another berberine-containing herb in its place for those cold symptoms. Besides, I just gave you my family ‘cure’, what more could you need?
The answer to that is REST! Well, okay, and washing your hands a whole heckava lot! Need I remind you that we get sick by touching germs and putting those germ-infested fingers into our eyes, nose, and mouth? Ick! I know! So, wash your hands often, but not with an anti-bacterial soap because that is causing more harm than good. Then apply a good hand cream, because it’s that time of the year too! Hey, I love Fall and the upcoming Holiday Season a lot, and just want to enjoy it with the people I hold dear in my heart. We will take greater pleasure if we’re rested up and feeling our best! Healthy Fall All!
It’s a crisp Fall morning, with little hint of Sun from under a thick blanket of fog, but the birds and squirrels are busily going about their morning’s activities. Nests long ago built, they reinvest their energies into Winter preparations, just as Mother Earth returns what is not harvested back into Herself prior to Her dormancy. I, too, have been reinvesting my energies into myself, by taking up a new exercise regimen! I couldn’t have chosen a better time of year to start hiking my neighborhood trails, as it’s cooler, there are fewer people, fewer bugs, more wildlife, including migrating birds and I am going to be so grateful that I got my internal furnace burning higher come Wintertime, especially come Holiday cookies! *giggle* Let’s face it, starting that New Year’s Resolutional exercise program in the dead of Winter stands as likely a chance of success as Palin in Mensa. Hehe
We all have different reasons for moving our bodies; the motivation need only matter to you, as it’ll be your driving force. Whether you wish to lose weight, strengthen and tone, prepare for an event or race, or look great when Holiday Season arrives, you have to find a form of movement that you will enjoy and for which you will be motivated to participate in. I have found that the best way to enjoy Fall is to exercise outdoors, but I also know that it needs to be convenient and enjoyable for you. Make it fun! There are so many different forms of exercise out there from which each individual, with their different personalities and motivations, can enjoy. Would you prefer walking/jogging/running/hiking/biking, and would you prefer to do it solo, or with a friend? Are you more comfortable at a gym? Or at home? Perhaps you used to do yoga or pilates and have always meant to get back into a routine. Maybe you can only get motivated by using a personal trainer. Find what you will enjoy, is convenient and will drive you. Remember that it takes at least 21 days to establish a routine, so start now and during Halloween, chocolate bar/candy time, you’ll already be there!
My girlfriend and I both took up our exercise routines with partners and we’ve found this to have many benefits. She and her boyfriend enjoy working out at the gym together after work, both doing their own respective routines and then meeting up in the jacuzzi before heading home. It has not only been a lovely bonding experience, but they keep each other motivated, have mutual appreciation for the strengthening and toning occurring, and ummm, I hear it may have some other benefits as well. I have found that hiking the local mountains with a friend has helped move me into new comfort zones. The first time we hiked one of the local trails we heard a decent size snake slither by us, had a fox cross our path, and saw the cutest bunny hopping along! Okay, that last example doesn’t really illustrate how I broke through my fears, but he was very cute and deserving of mention! When my friend’s busy schedule wouldn’t allow time for hiking this week, I put on my tennis shoes and headed out for the local hill by myself. Man, saying that it’s steep just doesn’t explain its vertical ascension, but I assure you that it’s a great workout which is getting me into shape quite quickly. One is rewarded upon reaching the top by sweeping views and a great sense of accomplishment!
For those who wish to join me in re~investing in their neighborhood streets/hills/mountains/trails, there are a few things to remember in order to make your trekking more enjoyable and safe. First of all, be comfortable! When that morning chill gives way to the bright sunshine, you’re going to be grateful you wore comfortable, light-weight layers. Don’t forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat which can keep you warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon and lip balm. Perhaps you want to take binoculars. If you’re really hiking trails, be prepared with raingear which will protect you from the wind, carry water and healthy nibbles to keep the furnace running nice and hot. Just because it’s dark out doesn’t mean you can’t go for a walk, but be safe by knowing your neighborhood, putting on a reflective vest and carrying a flashlight. When cycling, affix a light to your helmet or bike. You can also hit the trails just prior to Sunrise and you will be rewarded by a symphony of songbirds singing and the bustle of wildlife activity! It’s quite lovely! Happy Fall Re~Investment!
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