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FUN FALL FOLKLORE & TRADITIONS

I started working for RWT Design & Build when I moved to Los Angeles in 2018 at
about this time of year, following my kids out here from the East Coast. Though not a
native New Englander, I spent the bulk of my adult years living in the beautiful state of
New Hampshire. This mostly rural New England state, having the largest variety of
trees in the US, has deservedly earned the reputation for having perhaps the most
spectacular fall of all the continental states. With the full array of all of the autumnal
colors of reds, yellows, golds and orange, crisp and bright sunny days, a golden light in
the chilly late afternoon, and the most delicious fresh apples and peaches you’ve ever
tasted, the fall was my favorite season. Though I generally love the mild and sunny
weather here in SoCal, every September and October, I yearn to be back in New
Hampshire, with all of the cozy traditions that mark that slow tumble of late summer into
brilliant autumn, before the cold slumber of winter.

I still decorate my place with gourds and pumpkins and hang a bundle of Indian corn on
my door. Although I’ve enjoyed dressing up my home this way for years, I honestly
never knew where these traditions came from.

Hanging corn on one’s door has always been a symbol of the fall harvest and
prosperity. They serve as a sign of gratitude for the sustenance provided by the crops,
as they are gathered.

In European folk magic, grains were often woven into shapes or figures and hung about
the home. These were thought to provide protection, warding off evil spirits, and also to
bring good luck for an abundant harvest.

Native Americans have always regarded corn as a sacred food, providing sustenance,
community and a connection to nature.

Pumpkins have also long symbolized the harvest and the change of seasons. Have you
ever wondered where the custom of carving pumpkins into Jack O’ Lanterns came
from? In Irish folklore, there is the myth of Stingy Jack, a drunken and malicious
trickster, who was bold enough to cheat the Devil himself many times. When he died,
Heaven’s Gates were closed to him, but the Devil also refused to welcome him into Hell.
Poor Stingy Jack was left to wander in eternal darkness as a lost spirit. The Devil
deigned to provide him with a lump of burning coal to light his way, which Stingy Jack
carried inside a hollowed-out turnip, a lantern of sorts. He’s been wandering the Earth
ever since, and his spirit became known as Jack of the Lantern…Jack O’ Lantern. The Irish immigrants brought this story to America, where carving pumpkins became a ritual
to ward off pesky bad spirits.

During the late 1800s, as many Americans moved from the farms to the cities,
pumpkins became a nostalgic reminder of rural life. We still love to decorate with
cornstalks and bundles of corn hung on our doors, pumpkins and gourds, fall-colored
mums and Jack O’ Lanterns as Halloween approaches. It’s a truly lovely time of year,
with the big full Harvest moon, shorter days, long cozy evenings and chillier
temperatures.

While you are deciding where to hang your bundle of corn and arranging the impressive
array of colorful gourds, you can also run through this checklist of fall chores to keep
your home in tip-top shape and ready for the winter:

● Check for signs of rodents, bats, roaches & termites inside & outside your home
as well as your garage and attic.
● Drain outdoor faucets & hoses; clean window wells and check drainage.
● Clean gutters & downspouts.
● No wet surfaces or puddles in your basement, attic & crawlspaces.
● Check the hot water heater and boiler for leaks.
● Check the water main/meter or well pump for leaks or sweating.
● Check the drain and supply line for leaks.
● Check bath & kitchen fans operation.
● Clean air conditioning coils and drain pans.
● Clean and tune furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters.
● Clean and tune ovens and ranges.
● Check for damaged cords.
● Check smoke and CO alarms.
● Check for water damage in your attic.
● Ensure insulation is in place in your attic.

Now, it’s time to enjoy this wonderful time of the year…sending you a delicious recipe
for one of fall’s most popular desserts…pumpkin pie!

Ingredients:
1 9-inch pie crust, homemade or store-bought, deep dish, unbaked
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
15 ounce can canned pumpkin or fresh pumpkin puree
12 ounce can evaporated milk

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and pumpkin together. In a separate bowl,
combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves, and add to the pumpkin
mixture.
3. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Carefully pour the mixture into the unbaked
pie shell.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees;
bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the pie is set. Check the doneness by giving
the pie a gentle wiggle. The center may jiggle just a tiny bit. It will continue to
set as it cools. Or, it is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Serve immediately, with whipped cream
and pecan topping, if desired.
Caramel Pecan Topping
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 Tb heavy whipping cream
1 Tb light corn syrup
1 Tb butter
½ cup chopped pecans
½ tsp vanilla extract
Add the brown sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter to a small saucepan over medium
high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for about 5 minutes,
stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and stir in chopped pecans and vanilla. The topping will thicken as it
cools. Spoon over cooled pumpkin pie slices and top with whipped cream.

Enjoy the fall!

Pumpkin pie filling recipe is from Libby.