Hank's Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Our director of horticulture is sharing his pumpkin soup recipe with us this Halloween! Pumpkins are one of our favorite Halloween decorations and also makes some great pies...if you've never had pumpkin soup give this simple and delicious recipe a try brought to you by Hank Bruno, DSBG Director of Horticulture.

Hank's Pumpkin Soup Recipe
8 cups chopped fresh pumpkin (about 3 pounds)
4 cups chicken broth
3 small tart apples, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:
1/2 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a 5 quart slow cooker, combine the first eight ingredients. Cover and cook on low for for 8-10 hours or unitl pumpkin and apples are tender. Meanwhile, toss pumpkin seeds with oil and salt. Spread onto an ungreased 15-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 250 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside. Cool soup lightly; process in batches in a blender. Transfer to a large saucepan; heat through. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Yield: 9 servings (about 2 quarts)

New Fall Family-Friendly Event, Bootanical

We are going to kick off a new family-fun event at the Garden, Bootanical on Oct. 30 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Many of the familiar sights of Halloween include pumpkins, scarecrows, and spiders which are based in nature, and form the basis for this fun new daytime event. Families will get a chance to work together to stuff and hang a scarecrow, pot up a spider plant, and mix up a batch of their own unique “bootanical” potion using dried herbs, and take a tour through the Garden in all its autumn brilliance. We have special autumn-themed photo vignettes that feature pumpkins and hay bales which make for a perfect fall family picture.

We encourage children to come dressed in their favorite costume and if they do they will receive a 50% discount with a paying adult.

Bootanical, part of a the Garden’s Fall with a Fourish celebration, is free with Garden admission. Carriage rides will be available for an additional fee through Southern Breezes, weather permitting. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase from Karen Warren Catering. To see a menu for Bootanical just visit our event listing at www.DSBG.org.

Members are free, $12 adults, $11 seniors 60+, and $6 children 4-12. The Garden is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week. For more information call (704) 825-4490 or log on to www.DSBG.org.