October To Do List

My normal October plans are many and varied, including a lovely upcoming visit from my parents, and a potential trip to Houston to visit B and K and do a murder mystery party. However. This post is about the things I want to watch, eat, and read in order to celebrate pumpkin month, especially now that I have both an Ann and a Lindsey hole in my heart where Halloween celebrations ought to be. So here's an initial list, but I encourage recommendations from all corners.

To Eat:

This version of dinner in a pumpkin, recommended to me by my sister-in-law, Katie. Ann made a version of dinner in a pumpkin when I was in Indiana, and it was always delicious. I might make that one too. But I'm excited to try something new. 

image source: melskitchencafe.com

Pumpkin roll. Always pumpkin roll. 

Pumpkin Flan with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds from Epicurious. I might have to work to get this one past the husband, but I think it looks like it could be kind of divine. 

This Autumn Trifle. Holy cow.

Ina Garten's Pumpkin Roll (thanks Matt!)

Pumpkin Pancakes (thanks Lauren!)

Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate (thanks Melissa!) 

To Read:

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach. What could be more fun that Mary Roach and scientists investigating ghosts?

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. The Haunting of Hill House was lots of fun last year, AND this is one of my friend Ann's favorite books. (Ann really is the authority on all things Halloween.) Just the title is creepy.  I just ordered it from hpb.com for $2. (Such is my lack of faith in the local libraries, and I couldn't find it at the bookstore closing sale, and I don't think Shirley Jackson needs my $11, since she died in 1965.)

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Seems like it's about time to read that one.

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (thanks, Ben!)

All Souls by Edith Wharton (thanks, Greg!) 

To Watch: 

Attack of the Puppet People on Instant (because seriously, it looks ridiculous) 

The Stand, which is very long, but highly recommended by my brother-in-law. It's on Instant Watch too, so I'm thinking about it. 

Dream House, coming out the end of this month. I love Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, and the concept looks potentially neat.  I'm kind of hoping it's going to be good.

The newer version of The Haunting, because I've heard it's not as good as the awesome original, but I still think it would be fun to see how it got ruined by our modern horror movie culture.

The Innocents, which is on its way here via Netflix.