Underwood Family Farms (Part 2 of 3)

Picking a pumpkin for pie baking is kind of like picking your Thanksgiving turkey. How big? Frozen or fresh? Hen or Tom? Breast or whole? By the time you actually get your bird (or pumpkin) home, wash it and prepare it, you have, indeed, bonded.

I began my initial pumpkin research on the Internet. Unanimously, it seemed, sugar baby pumpkins were the perfect choice for pie baking. But at a recent Farmers’ Market someone told me Cinderella pumpkins being par excellence for baking. Another choice!

I decided that this venture was worthy of a trip to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. Underwood Farms is far more than a pumpkin patch and definitely worth the trip. My husband Kurt joined me on this particular Saturday afternoon. I must admit seeing all of the young families picking out pumpkins was a bittersweet experience. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were there with our three children; going on hayrides and searching for perfect pumpkins. Now our oldest daughter is married, our second daughter is engaged and our son is a freshman in college.

Setting aside my trip down memory lane, I got back to the business at hand. We two empty nesters were on a quest. We strolled past mounds of “field” pumpkins, those regular Joes that end up as jack-o-lanterns on Halloween night. We marveled at the “Big Macs,” super huge, often lopsided pumpkins that the neighborhood Clark Griswald somehow lugs home to sit proudly on his front porch for all to see. Crates and baskets overflowed with mini-pumpkins. And then we saw a hand-painted, red sign that read, “Sugar Baby Pumpkins”.

Our pace quickened as we crossed the field toward the sign. There they were nestled in between dirt rows, resting on large pumpkin leaves; their shiny orange skin soaking up the October sun. Sugar Babies are the little darlings of the pumpkin world. Each little pumpkin feels just right in your hands. Stems aren’t too long, not too short with an ever-so-slight curve.

I picked up one, my husband picked up another. He liked his best and I liked mine. No problem... we’ll take them both! The bonding was instant! My next step... baking the rascal!

-- P.F.

By the way, not only does Underwood Farms offer hayrides, but also, on weekends, pig races and draft horse drawn wagon rides. There are also tractor rides, farm animals to pet, a corn maze and giant hay pyramid. Underwood Farms address is 3370 Sunset Valley Road, in Moorpark. Open from 9am - 6pm until Thanksgiving. For info: (805) 529-3690. Or visit: http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/

Hayrides and tractor rides at Underwood!