Bring pumpkin to the dinner table with a savory curried soup for your October meal plan. This Cherry Buzz recipe feature uses Oregon State University’s Food Hero ingredient quantities and method, rewritten for the newsletter, with the optional honey omitted.

The Food Hero recipe lists 10 minutes of preparation, 30 minutes of cooking and a yield of about 6 cups. That gives six 1-cup portions or four 1½-cup portions.

Mushrooms and onion cook in vegetable oil before flour, curry powder and broth are added. Plain canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper finish the soup; chives are optional.

The recipe is also available through MedlinePlus. Food Hero allows about 1¾ cups of cooked, mashed pumpkin or winter squash instead of canned pumpkin, and regular milk instead of evaporated milk.

Serve with bread, toast or a side salad if you like. The method leaves the mushrooms in the soup and does not include blending. Cherry Buzz has not independently kitchen-tested the recipe, and accompanying photographs are illustrative. Use a saucepan that holds at least 4 quarts.

For leftovers, follow USDA storage guidance: refrigerate promptly in shallow containers, use within 3–4 days and reheat to 165°F. Bring reheated soup to a rolling boil.

Families near Boyne City have a free outdoor Halloween option on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Spooky Hike at Postle Farm Preserve is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m.

The organizer’s event page advertises candy stations along the trails, a warm fire and nature arts and crafts at the historic red barn. The outing is described as family-friendly and open to all ages, with costumes welcome.

The event lists 1383 Country Club Road with a Boyne City mailing address. The preserve itself is in Melrose Township, Charlevoix County, so plan for a Boyne City-area trip rather than a downtown stop.

The preserve guide describes moderate terrain and offers directions and a map. Wear practical walking shoes, build layers into costumes and ask about the specific event route if accessibility will affect your visit.

The event page has an RSVP option. Check its current details and ask the organizer about weather arrangements or registration expectations instead of assuming a capacity, deadline or backup plan. Bring a flashlight if useful for your group, and leave enough time to enjoy both the trail stops and the barn activities.

For questions, contact the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy at 231-535-6112 or [email protected]. Revisit the event page before leaving so your group has the latest information for the trail outing and barn activities.

Glen Arbor is planning a Halloween outing in daylight on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Participating downtown businesses will offer trick-or-treating from noon to 3 p.m., or until their treats run out.

The chamber’s 2026 event listing describes the outing as free, public and family-friendly. Costumes are welcome, though a complete participating-business list is not provided in the description.

There is a separate same-day option at The Mill Glen Arbor. The hog-roast listing gives hours of noon to 8 p.m., with live music from 3 to 8 p.m.

Entry to the roast is free, and dinner is available to purchase. The listing does not state the dinner price, menu or music lineup, so confirm those details before building a meal plan around the event.

The Mill is at 5440 West Harbor Highway. Families can visit downtown during the candy window and choose whether a second stop for food and music fits their day. Arriving earlier in the candy window leaves more room to enjoy downtown, especially because treats may run out before the scheduled finish.

One sentence on the trick-or-treating page contains an old year; its heading, event date and current chamber calendar identify October 25, 2026. Recheck the calendar for participation updates and contact The Mill at 231-835-2069 for roast questions.