Check those pumpkins!

   Usually during this time of year, you can find pumpkins sitting just about everywhere in the Little Bayou House.  Yep, as seasonal decorations or foodstuffs, you cannot beat a pumpkin.  In fact, they are pretty good for you...not to mention quite tasty.  Like I said, you can normally find pumpkins in just about every nook and cranny...not just for Halloween but throughout the winter.  They are one of those fine things that can last for months just sitting in a cool, dry place....usually.

  Supposedly, there is somewhat of a shortage of pumpkins this year.  Whether this is true or just more media hype is yet to be seen.  Mark found plenty of pumpkins at the store so actually bought dozens!  He had two large (Jack-o-lantern style) ones and three bags of assorted pie pumpkins and the Jack-be-little sort.  I was elated to get them!  Thinking I had plenty of time to let them sit before processing them for food, the pumpkins were set in pretty baskets, on old crocks or simply on a mat on the floor.  In other words, I decorated for fall.   That "plenty of time" was a joke.  Within two days, the smaller pumpkins started rotting.  Ugh!  I began checking all of them every day and would process any that were showing signs of pumpkin rot.  I am now down to the final two pumpkins.  One was processed today and the other will most likely be done tomorrow.   Waste not, want not.

  Folks, if you are like me and actually use your pumpkins as food, you best keep a watchful eye on them.  It seems that this shortage may just have something to do with the rot.  I have a tendency to think the things were put in cold storage for a while before being put out in the stores.  Then, when they started to warm to natural temperatures, rot set in and they started to mold.  Trust me when I say that a rotted pumpkin is not a pretty sight (nor smell) no matter what fancy decorations you have around it. Keep check on your pumpkins, folks!