B L O G
The Easiest Butternut Squash Soup Ever
If you’re wanting a delicious soup recipe that screams the word “Fall”, then this delicious, mouth-watering soup recipe is for you! It’s super easy with minimal ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. And it will FOR SURE leave your kitchen smelling like your grandma’s house during a thanksgiving dinner.
If you’re wanting a delicious soup recipe that screams the word “Fall”, then this delicious, mouth-watering soup recipe is for you! It’s super easy with minimal ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. And it will FOR SURE leave your kitchen smelling like your grandma’s house during a thanksgiving dinner.
Butternut Squash Soup
First, we recommend gathering all of your ingredients to make the cooking process easier and faster for you. What you’ll need: butternut squash, salt, pepper, chicken stock, fresh rosemary, honey, cayenne pepper, white onion, and olive oil. Also, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Next, combine your Cayenne Pepper, Salt, Pepper, Rosemary, Honey, and Olive Oil into a bowl to form a homemade glaze that’s so gooey and smooth.
Once you’ve made your glaze, set it aside and get to work on slicing your Butternut Squash in half. Gut out the seeds of the core of the squash, and then slice cubes into the meat of the squash, being careful to not slice through the skin. Slicing the cubes allows for an even absorption of the glaze into the “meat” of the squash.
Place your squash on a baking sheet and brush with your delicious homemade glaze. Go ahead and pop them in the oven for about 45-60 minutes. You could cook them faster, but let’s be honest… when it comes to cooking, slower is always much better! While they’re in the oven, baste them in their own juices a few times.
While waiting for your squash to cook, cut your onion and begin caramelizing it in a large pot with your butter. This should be done over a low/medium heat. Again, slow and steady.
Once your squash is finished cooking, scoop into the large pot that your onion is cooking in. Add your chicken stock and blend with a hand blender. (You could also add those ingredients to a regular blender if you don’t have access to a hand blender.)
When you’ve finished blending, season with salt and pepper to taste, and you’re done! See… that wasn’t so bad was it? Basically you just have to cut up a squash, add a glaze, cook in the oven, and puree once done. Super easy, quick, and FULL of FLAVOR that will leave us feeling so cozy and embracing the warmth that this Fall season brings to our lives.
Butternut Squash Soup RECIPE
SERVINGS: 2-3 PEOPLE
INGREDIENTS
1 Butternut Squash
1 3/4 C Chicken Stock
1 T Rosemary
1 T Honey
1/4 t Cayenne Pepper
1/2 White Onion
1 T Olive Oil
1/4 t Salt (also to taste)
Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine salt, pepper, rosemary, honey, and olive oil into bowl.
3. Slice squash in half. Gut seeds out of core. Slice cubes into the meat of squash.
4. Place on baking sheet and brush with glaze. Pop in oven for 45-60 minutes. (Baste in juices occasionally throughout cooking.)
5. Cut onion and begin caramelizing in a large pot with butter over medium/low heat.
6. Take cooked squash out of oven and scoop into pot that onion is cooking in. Blend with hand blender.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
S I D E N O T E
If you do not have access to a hand blender, you can mix/puree ingredients by using a
regular blender instead.
How To Care For Pansies
If you’re needing a show-stopping flower that will give your dull looking landscape some color, then you need some gorgeous Pansies. Not only are they easy to care for, but they will brighten up your landscaping view and leave you with beautiful, colorful blooms lasting for Autumn, Winter, and even into Spring!
If you’re needing a show-stopping flower that will give your dull looking landscape some color, then you need some gorgeous Pansies. Not only are they easy to care for, but they will brighten up your landscaping view and leave you with beautiful, colorful blooms lasting for Autumn, Winter, and even into Spring!
Did you know…
that pansies are edible? That’s right! You can eat them in salads (or whatever you desire). To add some beautiful color and a slightly minty flavor to your next recipe, chop them up and make it unique and full of taste.
HOW TO CARE FOR PANSIES
Pansies are beautiful heart-shaped flowers that can add color to your garden beds, ground cover, or beautiful pots. Follow these easy instructions below to keep them thriving all season long:
Where
Plant in full or partial sun and your pansies will thrive.
When and How
Pansies do not like heat, so plant when the temperatures start to cool down. If local to North Carolina, we recommend planting your pansies in the Fall so that you can enjoy them all Autumn, Winter, and Spring! (If planting in beds, place them 7-12 inches apart to allow for room to spread)
Soil
Plant in moist, well draining soil.
Watering
Water only a few times a week because too much can drown them and cause root rot.
Pruning
Remove any dead blooms and cut them back regularly before they become “leggy”. This helps to keep them healthy and full of vibrant blooms.
WE WANT TO KNOW…
have you ever grown pansies? If not, will you get some this year? We have plenty to choose from at all of our locations. Let us know in the comments below. You can also share your Pansy pride with us by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see!
#gardenvalleyfarmersmarket @gardenvalleyfarmersmarket
Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team
Decorating your Home with Pumpkins for Fall
If you’re looking for last minute Halloween decor inspiration, or you’re needing some inspiration for your upcoming Thanksgiving table setting, this blog post has GOT YOU COVERED. We’re sharing our top seven ways to decorate with pumpkins, and believe us when we say this: you won’t need to go anywhere else. And once you’ve got your inspiration fix, head over to Garden Valley Farmers Market and let us help your ideas come to fruition with our AMAZING selection of pumpkins and hay bells.
If you’re looking for last minute Halloween decor inspiration, or you’re needing some inspiration for your upcoming Thanksgiving table setting, this blog post has GOT YOU COVERED. We’re sharing our top seven ways to decorate with pumpkins, and believe us when we say this: you won’t need to go anywhere else. And once you’ve got your inspiration fix, head over to Garden Valley Farmers Market and let us help your ideas come to fruition with our AMAZING selection of pumpkins, corn stalks, and hay bells.
Tablescape/Table Setting
Whether creating your spooky Halloween centerpiece, mapping out your gorgeous Thanksgiving table runner, or setting your Friendsgiving place card holders, pumpkins are an amazing and unique way to add character to your table for your friends and family to gather around. You can paint them any color that matches your theme, and have the option of any size to fit any space perfectly.
Fireplace/Mantle
Pumpkins are the PERFECT addition to your fireplace, because they can be enjoyed all season long for both Halloween AND Thanksgiving. You can line the mantle, place them sporadically on the hearth, or even stack them IN THE ACTUAL fireplace. There are so many options, and the hard part is choosing just ONE.
Front Porch
The front porch is a very common place to pumpkins, and that’s because it’s the first thing that you and your guests see when arriving home. It’s a place that sets the tone of your home’s environment, and we HIGHLY recommend starting here with your pumpkin decor. Whether you’re lining the front steps, or placing them in chairs or buckets, it’s sure to leave your guests feeling all the cozy vibes this Autumn season.
Shelves
Adding pumpkins to your shelf, kitchen island, or bookshelf are perfect ways to invite Halloween and Thanksgiving decor into your home. Have fun with it by grouping a bunch of small pumpkins into a bowl; you could also place them neatly around a vase with a fall themed floral arrangement. Whatever your style, pumpkins are an easy and cheap way to incorporate an Autumn feel into your home.
Stairwell
Ever thought about adding pumpkins to your stairs? You’re welcome. You can make it simple, elaborate, or somewhere in between, but adding them to this area can really make a huge impact on the sometimes forgotten areas of your home.
Also, this would be a REALLY great statement at a Fall wedding.
Photo Shoots
You can always come to Garden Valley Farmers Market and take some family photos at one of our photo booths. BUT, if you’re wanting to have your shoot at a different location, you can create your own gorgeous styled masterpiece by grabbing a few hay bells, pumpkins, and corn stalks. Pumpkins are a great prop and make great decorations for your styled shoot, family photos, engagement session, or pregnancy announcements.
Parties/Weddings
Last but not least, pumpkins make GREAT party decorations. Whether using them as buckets for drinks, creating a “pumpkin patch” for your one year old, having a “gratitude pumpkin” for Thanksgiving, or setting up a pumpkin carving station of your guests, they are sure to leave your party “the talk of the town”.
WE WANT TO KNOW…
do you have a Monstera Deliciosa? If not, will you get one? We have plenty to choose from at a few of our locations. Let us know in the comments below. You can also share your Monstera moments with us by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see!
#gardenvalleyfarmersmarket @gardenvalleyfarmersmarket
Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team
Growing Gigantic Monstera Deliciosa
If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly houseplant that’s large and in charge, then we recommend the Monstera Deliciosa. This gorgeous plant has beautiful green foliage, uniquely shaped leaves, is easy to propagate, and will leave you wanting one in every room of your house. Here’s how to take care of them and keep them happy for many years to come:
If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly house plant that’s large and in charge, then we recommend the Monstera Deliciosa. This gorgeous plant has beautiful green foliage, uniquely shaped leaves, is easy to propagate, and will leave you wanting one in every room of your house. Here’s how to take care of them and keep them happy for many years to come:
L O C A T I O N
Place your Monstera in a spot where it can receive bright to medium indirect light. If they get too much direct sunlight, this can cause the leaves to burn. But the opposite condition, too little light, will eventually cause the leaves/plant to droop and die off. Let’s keep them happy by placing them near a window that may receive a few minutes of direct sunlight, but mostly will be exposed to indirect sun.
To note- Monstera do like humid conditions, so if you have a bathroom with plenty of space and a window, this a great location to place them. Also, we would be very jealous if you did.
S O I L
Monstera Deliciosa are basic and okay with good ole’ indoor potting soil. Nothing special. To encourage a faster growth rate, you can repot them every spring into another pot that’s an inch or two larger in diameter. This gives them ample space that will encourage new root growth, which means you will get a plant that will become bigger and healthier.
W A T E R I N G
Watering your Monstera is not super tricky. A weekly watering should do the trick for them. If you notice that the top layer of soil is still wet, maybe hold off on watering for a day or two and then proceed as normal.
And as we mentioned before, they do like humid conditions, so if you have a humidifier and don’t know where to place it during the winter months, then we recommend placing near your giant Monstera.
P R O P O G A T I N G
…using stem cuttings, which is the most common method.
1. Find an aerial root on your stem that has a node and, ideally, two healthy leaves.
2. Cut 1/2 inch below the aerial root with sharp scissors at a 45 degree angle.
3. Place cutting into a jar of your choice that’s filled with enough water to cover about 1/4 of the entire stem. (Be sure that your jar is able to keep your stem in an upright position)
4. Change out the water every 2 weeks, and be sure that the cutting is placed in INDIRECT sun.
5. You should begin to see roots growing in about three weeks, but we recommend waiting about one to two months before transplanting into soil. For the first month of them being planted in new soil, make sure to water it every few days to encourage root attachment.
WE WANT TO KNOW…
do you have a Monstera Deliciosa? If not, will you get one? We have plenty to choose from at a few of our locations. Let us know in the comments below. You can also share your Monstera moments with us by using #gardenvalleyfarmersmarket on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see!
Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team
Welcome to
Garden Valley Farmers Market where we strive to
Plant Better.
Eat Better.
Live Better.
To read more about what our company is about, click the photo below. We’re glad you’re here.
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