Mary, Mary and other Garden Thoughts

I watched the temperatures plummet last night, knowing this was the beginning of the end. We didn't really get fall and I already had started the garden, being part of the advance team in this house. Okay, to be fair, plummeting meant it was in the fifties, Fahrenheit.

Cabbage definitely lends an entirely different texture to my winter garden. There! I said it. Winter. Gone are the golden, carefree days of summer. Here is hoping that the beautiful backdrop for the inevitable pansies will be enough to keep me on board with the impending cold and colder that will be showing up anytime soon.

Yesterday, I brought in the last of the pumpkins. Pumpkin guts... Making pumpkin seed brittle. Yes, indeed. No, I am not kidding. You can't make that kind of stuff up.

Have you ever tried it? I use a recipe I found a couple of years ago from the Tasting Table.

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup of sugar

¼ cup light corn syrup

3 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛ teaspoons cayenne

¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a wooden spoon, stir the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a medium heavy-bottom saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar melts, about 3 minutes. Adjust the heat to medium-low and continue to stir until the sugar has become a light golden brown color, about 12 to 14 minutes. Add the butter and allow it to melt, then add the pumpkin seeds. Cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne and stir for 1 minute.

2. Pour the brittle mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet coated with nonstick spray. Spread the brittle into an even layer using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the coarse sea salt on top of the brittle and allow it to cool at room temperature until completely hardened about 1 hour. Once cooled, break into bite-size pieces. Make ahead: Brittle can be made 1 week in advance and stored in an airtight container.

As always, a flower to color your world. May there be @alwaysaflower for you. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a most wonderful day!