Tag: fall

Hiking the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

Fall is the perfect time for a Metro North train ride up into the Hudson Valley and worth spending a full weekend day outside the city.  With apps like All Trails you can get information on a number of hikes to easily plan your trip in advance.

Croton Gorge Park: Half Day Adventure Outside New York City

Wanting to escape city living, at least for a couple hours on the weekend can be pretty straightforward in New York.

Case in point, Croton Gorge Park is 40 miles north of Manhattan (if you have a car) or you can take the Metro North Train to the Croton on Hudson stop.  Note: if you take the train you will then need to take a car service for the remaining 2.5 miles to the park (and remember this because I will revisit it later.)

Raccoon State Park Fall Adventures

It’s mid October and the air has begun its inevitable plummet into the cold of winter.  However, first we get to experience the beauty of fall when nature dawns her gown of golds, oranges, yellows, reds and browns.  As she dances through the chilling days she paints the trees with a picturesque luster to steal your breath.  Being locked in the city, however, can leave you separated from this unfolding glory.  And yet, a short 30 minute drive can deliver you to Raccoon State Park.  I can think of no better time of the year to enjoy this state park than the fall season

3 Squash Soup: Calabaza, Amber Cup and Kabocha

There are so many varieties of squash in season right now.  I am most familiar with a handful such as Butternut, Acorn and Delicata.  However, there are many other’s I always look at but then walk right past.  I decided to make a squash soup using different squash I don’t normally buy and the end result was great.

These three squash; Kabocha, Calabaza and Amber cup work really well together. There is a natural mild sweetness in this soup which I really enjoyed.

fried squash

Fried Cucuzza Squash

You go in your your local grocery store and see a 2 foot long squash.  It is thin, green and says “cucuzza.”  If you had Italian grandparents growing up you might be familiar with this food.  I called my mom for suggestions on preparation and was told when she was a kid her family would dip in a light batter and fry them up.  Below is my easy to prepare recipe for Cucuzza squash.

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