Before we leave the subject of pumpkins (see yesterday’s post), I want to tell you about an unusual variety to look for at this time of year.  It’s the beautiful, so-called “true” or French pumpkin, also known as Rouge Vif D’Etampes.  You’ll recognize its classic shape, which artists copied when they drew Cinderella’s fairy-tale carriage. Cooks disagree over [...]

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Got a dollar?  That’s all you need to make a pretty arrangement for your Thanksgiving table. You see, many grocery stores have pumpkins on sale right now—poor, little wanna-be Jack O’Lanterns that nobody bought to take home and carve.  Because the stores need to make room for fresh produce, they’re often willing to sell these orange orbs at bargain prices. Our local [...]

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