Watermelons and pumpkins?

With a chill in the air, I’m loving seeing bins of pumpkins pop up in stores. Does this produce season always cross with watermelons? I just hauled a big melon home from the store and enjoyed this summer treat even as I craved gumbo and chili for the fall table.

Got to love Texas weather.

Orange Hocus Pocus Fizz

McCormick has created an orange drink, rimmed with black sugar and garnished with a spooky worm. Serve it up for adult trick or treaters this Halloween, or remove the liquor for “mocktails.” Makes 6 servings.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup rum
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Imitation Coconut Extract
3 drops McCormick® Red Food Color
2 drops McCormick® Yellow Food Color
1 bottle (750 ml) sparkling white wine

1. Mix pineapple juice, rum, coconut extract and food colors in measuring cup.

2. For each cocktail, pour 2 ounces pineapple juice mixture into beverage glass. Top with 4 ounces sparkling white wine.

How to Rim Glass with Black-Tinted Sugar: Place 2 tablespoons sugar in small resealable plastic bag. Add 10 drops McCormick® Black Food Color. Seal bag. Knead sugar until the color is evenly distributed. Pour out onto shallow plate. Dip rim of beverage glass in water, then into black-tinted sugar to lightly coat.

Tip: This drink may also be prepared in a pitcher. Mix pineapple juice, rum, coconut extract and food colors in 2-quart pitcher. Add sparkling wine just before serving.

For a nonalcoholic version, omit rum, increase pineapple juice to 1 1/2 cups and use 1 bottle (750 ml) sparkling white grape juice in place of the sparkling white wine.

Gourmet pickles

Please chill Lynnae’s Gourmet Pickles. Mrs. Pickles wants you to experience that sweet and sour, garlic and pimento blend that way. Hot Mama has her own story, and you can put some of her juice into a bloody Mary that’s Halloween-worthy. Lynnae’s began with Great Grandma Toots and the women of this family have pickled up a classic business. Mrs. Pickles is headed to my fridge so I can stick a fork in for a crisp, sweet treat. They’re keepers.

ddoiron@panews.com