Weekend in New England

Back home, these are some of my favorite places to visit during the fall season.

Bolton Spring Farm
You can pick apples, have some hot cider, take a hayride, select a pumpkin, eat an apple dumpling, buy molasses cookies and stock up on J. Crows Mulling Spices. I prefer to go on a day that's sunny but a little chilly, that way you can truly enjoy your hot cider.
http://www.boltonspringfarm.com/index.html

Idylwilde Farm
My grandparents have been taking me here for years! This is where we stock up on candies, deli meats and cheeses, buy mums and other flowers for the yard. Plus, the drive there is usually very pretty with lots of tree lined roads.
http://idylwildefarm.com/
King Richards Faire
This place can get pricey but it's SO worth it! You can watch jousting, dress up in medieval garb, meet the King and Queen, buy herbs, candles, costumes, giant turkey legs and fairy wings! Again, the ride can be half the fun, Carver, MA is absolutely beautiful in the fall.
http://kingrichardsfaire.net/

Topsfield Fair
This one, for me, tops them all! This is an all-day affair. You have to be up and on the road no later than 6am. You'll get there before most of the vendors have finished setting up but this is how it's done. If not, you will be waiting in traffic for hours, eventually give up and go home, having missed all the fun. Once you're there and all the booths are opened, you'll realize that you're early rising was worth it. There's a petting zoo, a giant pumpkin contest, carnival rides, horse shows, the Beekeeping & Honey show, vendors selling everything from clothes, jewelry, novelty photos, fudge, candies, funnel cake, arts & crafts, doll houses, flowers and more. If you still can't picture it, try this...remember the fair from Charlotte's Web? It's pretty much like that, except more fun!
http://www.topsfieldfair.org/

If you plan on visiting the Massachusetts area, remember...
~Fall is the best season to vacation in!
~ It can get pricey so make sure to plan accordingly.
~Salem, MA IS a lot of fun but even residents are wary during the week OF Halloween. However, if you are planning on going into Salem on Halloween night, I suggest you leave the kids at home.
~If you go to King Richards Faire, you HAVE to buy and devour a turkey leg...it IS the reason to go! :)
~If someone tries to convince you that Witch's Woods (a ScreamPark in Westford, MA) is totally cool for little kids, THEY ARE LYING! Do not take kids under 12, they will be terrified and cry and your evening & money will be wasted.
~When you run into someone with a heavy Boston accent, don't instantly resort to the phrase "Oh you're gonna pak the cah in Hah-vad yad?" Because it's SOOO old AND untrue. Harvard Yard is the center of Harvard campus. I don't think they would appreciate you parking there.

The Dumb Supper

Halloween is known as a time when the veil between our world and the afterlife is the thinnest. It is the night when spirits and ancestors return to our world and sometimes speak to us. The idea of a 'dumb' supper is to be silent so that we may hear these messages.

There are variations of dumb suppers as well. Some choose to make it a part of the regular evening meal, while others plan a more elaborate occasion. Traditionally a place is set at the table for someone who has passed. Sometimes, if there is more than once ancestor being honored, an entire seperate table is laid out altogether. The meal itself is also a matter of taste. In my experience dishes are served that the departed once enjoyed. Of course, during the actual meal the idea is to remain silent, so that we may recieve any messages of wisdom or comfort being sent to us by those that have passed. Once the meal is finished any plates laid out for the departed are left out overnight, preferably outside.

The Festival of the Dead Salem, MA
http://www.festivalofthedead.com/dumbsupper.html


A traditional treat you can make for your own dumb supper are soul cakes. There are a variety of recipes but here are a few simple ones you can try for yourself:

Quickie Shortbread Soul Cakes1 stick of butter, softened
4 TBSP sugar
1 1/2 cups flour

Cream together the butter and sugar. Use a flour sifter to add the flour to the bowl, and mix until smooth. Divide the dough into two parts, and shape each half into a flat circle about half an inch thick. Put them on an ungreased baking sheet and poke lines with the tines of a fork, making eight seperate wedges in each cake. Bake for 25 minutes or until light brown at 350 degrees.

Buttery Soul Cakes2 sticks of butter, softened
3 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. saffron
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
2 eggs
2 tsp. malt vinegar
Powdered  sugar

Cut the butter into the flour with a large fork. Mix in the sugar, nutmeg, saffron, cinnamon and allspice. Lightly beat eggs, and add to flour mixture. Add malt vinegar. Mix until you have a stiff dough. Knead for a while then roll out until 1/4" thick. Use a floured glass to cut out 3 circles. Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while cakes are still warm.

Irish Soul Cakes
4 cups of flour
1 packet active dry yeast
1 cup of milk
2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of lemon zest
1 1/4 cups of golden raisins

Cream yeast with 1 tsp. sugar and 1 tsp. milk, let it get frothy. Blend flour, spices and salt together, then cut in butter. Add the res of the sugar to the flour mix and blend. Add milk and beaten egg onto yeast mixture; combine with flour mixture. Beat until stiff. Fold in raisins and zest, cover with a damp cloth and let rise. Divide in two, place each half in greased 7" round pan. Cover, let rise again for 30 minutes. Bake 1 hour at 400 degrees.