In the Season of Everything Pumpkin ... It's all about the Spice

Although Halloween has past, the Season of Everything Pumpkin continues. After all, a staple of the Thanksgiving meal is the luscious rich finish with Pumpkin Pie. 

  Everywhere you turn you find Pumpkin Spice everything: Pumpkin Chai, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin spice muffins and breads and cookies, puddings, marshmallows, ice cream, yogurt, gum.... you name it and there's a pumpkin spice version of it. It makes you wonder though - is this frenzy really about the pumpkin? Or is it about the spice?

I love pumpkin, don't get me wrong. I have pumpkins all over my yard. Some turn into jack o'lanterns for Halloween. Others get roasted and then frozen. A few get chopped and added to stews or sauteed like other vegetables. Several of them get sliced and dried and ground to be used in some of our products as well as tossed into sauces and such.  Pumpkin is full of vitamins and nutrients, but on it's own it is not a strong flavored fruit. It needs a little something. These autumn gourds handle savory flavoring very well, like rosemary, garlic, and sage. But the biggest draw is for that sweet spicy zing.

 I really believe that most people aren't enamored of pumpkin so much as the spice blend typically associated with it. Most blends are a balance of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. Maybe a dash of allspice or cardamom. Below is a basic recipe for Pumpkin Spice.

PUMPKIN SPICE BLEND
1/3 cup ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons ground clove
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg (or a mix of nutmeg and mace)

Mix everything together and store in an airtight container. Use the blend whenever pumpkin pie spice is called for. Or even apple pie spice.  Mix a teaspoon or two with some sugar or maple syrup and sprinkle over pancakes and waffles. Yum!

This blend is so warming on a chill autumn or winter night. These spices are part of so many things we associate with the warmth and coziness associated with the season. They help with digestion, ease pain, and improve circulation. All of those are important for the more insular, colder time of the year. Even the fragrance is a spirit lifter.

What do you think? Is the Season of Everything Pumpkin about the pumpkin? Or is it about the spice?

It's almost time!

Lá Altaithe Sona daoibh!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

May your day be stuffed with fun and food,
and may your heart be full of love and thanks.

Now let the holiday season commence!

Where do you find the best treasures? In Granny's Attic!!

It's a holiday tradition that sets the mood for the season. Join us this Saturday at

The 31st Annual Granny's Attic 

Saturday, November 19, 2011 

9 am to 4 pm 

Thompson Middle School 

1001 Middletown Lincroft Road, Middletown 

100's of crafts fill the halls, rooms, gym and just about ever nook and cranny of this wonderful event. Bring your holiday shopping list with you. You'll probably be able to finish it all off in about 1 day!

This is a juried craft show, presenting the finest in hand crafted arts and crafts. We're proud and excited to be a part of this event again this year.

You can find Celtic Chairde Creations in room 135. Say the secret word, and we'll give you a holiday gift! Almost inviso text follows: The secret word is Slainte (pronounced slan -cha).

Come by and rummage through Granny's Attic. You'll be thrilled with the treasures you find there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be filled with laughter and love,
good food and good company.


And may you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving.

Get into the holiday spirit by rummaging through Granny's Attic

It's time to get your jolly on at the

30th Anniversary Granny's Attic
Saturday, November 20 9 am to 4 pm
Always the Saturday before Thanksgiving
Thompson Middle School
1001 Middletown-Lincroft Road
Middletown, NJ

This is probably one of the best craft fairs we have ever been to - let alone worked at! We're very excited to be a part of this enormously successful and popular holiday tradition. We'll be in the same space as last year - 135D, which is in a classroom off of the court yard.

It will be like a treasure hunt - come and find us!

Vendors come from all over the tri-state area and only the best are selected for a spot at Granny's Attic. People come from hours away to get that one-of-a-kind item that can't be found at any retail shop. This year, they are bringing back the tradition that started it all by having a few antique vendors selling their original and treasured items.

It you can't come and shop at Granny's Attic, we still have two other events coming up this season. Check here or on our website. And you can always order online! Look for special gift baskets coming soon!

It's almost here - The 29th Annual Granny's Attic craft fair!

Celtic Chairde Creations is delighted to be a part of
the 29th Annual Granny's Attic Craft Fair
Saturday, November 21, 2009
9 AM to 4 PM
Thompson Middle School, Middletown, NJ

We have heard about this event for a number of years, but have never participated. We've very excited to be a part of this enormously successful and popular holiday tradition. We'll be in space 135D, which is in a classroom off of the court yard. It will be like a treasure hunt - come and find us!

There are over 100 vendors presenting their hand crafted items for you to peruse - including, of course, Celtic Chairde Creations. From what we understand, there are also many shoppers, so the atmosphere is festive and fun. Just the right thing to kick off the holidays.

Happy Thankgiving!

Cindy and I, and our families, wish you a Happy Thanksgiving full of good food, family, friends and memories!

Lá an Altaithe Shona!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!