Roasted Cinnamon Orange Pumpkin Seeds 橘香肉桂烤南瓜籽

There are so many different methods for how you can roast pumpkin seeds. I have done it several different ways myself and would like to share with you my favorite way of doing it. I know that it's a bit of work to separate the seeds and the stringy guts, and then have to wash, dry, and roast, but the taste makes it really worth it! 

 

Pumpkin Puree 南瓜泥

When we think of autumn, we naturally think of pumpkin, autumn's mascot. Not only is it seasonal, but the color, the smell, and the taste somehow give us the comfort and warmth of the season. It's a must! Therefore, I thought I'd do a post on one of the most basic uses of pumpkins: pumpkin puree. You can make a big batch of it, freeze it, can it, and use it for your soup, sauce, or baking all winter long!

No Fuss Roasted Tomato Sauce 簡易義大利烤蕃茄醬汁

Just had the Daylight savings time change over the past weekend and the days are getting shorter and shorter, colder and colder now. It's only early November, but I have been wearing my winter coats for nearly a month (while everyone else still has their thin fall jackets on)!

I also noticed that the farmer's market now has fewer vegetable stands. Besides apples, potatoes and a few other vegetables, one thing I still see a lot of is tomatoes (see photos below). The end of the summer and fall season are the best time to buy fresh tomatoes and to make your own homemade tomato sauce. The result tastes better and is healthier than using canned tomatoes or buying canned sauce. The cost of fresh tomatoes here from the farmers' market is really affordable compared to what I used to pay at NY farmer's markets. You can get about 7 lbs. of tomatoes for only $6 (Canadian dollars)! It would be hard not to take advantage of such a good deal!!

  

Simple Home Canning 自製罐頭

Canning is one of the ways you can preserve food for the winter. I do that a lot here since the winter is so long, and I like seeing some of my favorite summer/fall vegetables and fruits sitting on top of my pantry shelves throughout the winter. To me, the best reason to can my own food is that it's a healthier choice and I know what I put in there. Especially nowadays when there are so many food recalls, you just never know what the real ingredients in the can or jars you buy from supermarket shelves. Also, it's a fun food project and it enables you to share your canned-love with friends and family. 


 

Autumn in Cap Tourmente

 

I love the color of autumn. Late September to mid October is a big tourist season in Quebec. People come here from all over the world to see the maple leaves fall and the colors fade from red to orange, orange to yellow. There are other attractions, however, besides the autumn leaves. One place we were told we had to see was Montmagny, a well known town for watching migrating snow geese in early October and late April.