Bismillah

Autumn, a favorite season of many. The change of season brings cooler temperatures and a color burst of orange, red and burgundy leaves on the trees. When the shops overflow with pumpkin spice goodness and the smells of cinnamon and apple fill the air. The Indiana community is bustling with fall festivals, apple orchards and pumpkin patches and the last bit of entertaining outdoor opportunities present before we hibernate for winter.

Looking for fun ways to enjoy the fall season? Here are some suggestions.

Watermans Family Farm Fall Harvest Festival

7010 E. Raymond Street, Indianapolis, IN

Featuring a pumpkin eating dinosaur, corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch petting zoo, bounce houses and so much more. This annual festival is a favorite destination for many. Please call or visit Watermans Family Farm website for fall festival hours.

The Apple Works

8157 S. 250 W. Trafalgar Indiana

Featuring a children’s playground, pony and train rides, corn maze, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and delicious treats, this apple orchard is not only fun, but the property is absolutely beautiful. Festival fun is on weekends only. Heads up, this is not an orchard where you can pick your own apples but still worth the trip.

Nashville IN/Brown County State Park

Located about 60 miles south of Indianapolis is the most charming town of Nashville Indiana. Known for its quaint little shops, restaurants and unique handmade offerings, Nashville is more than well worth a day trip. Although enjoyable during every season, Nashville is just minutes from Brown County State Park and the hills full of the fall-colored forest is a sight to be seen. Additionally, the town of Nashville goes all out decorating for the season and offers seasonal treats.

Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

October 10-19

This 10-day annual festival showcases the county’s historic covered bridges and features vendors selling unique arts, crafts and food.

Anderson Orchard

369 E. Greencastle Rd. Mooresville Indiana

This apple orchard allows you to pick your own raspberries, apples, plums, pumpkins and more. In the Apple Barn, they sell already picked and bagged apples as well as a large variety of fresh produce. The store also sells apple butter, jams, and other fruit preserves. The concession stand sells a varitey of fall flavors from hot apple cider to cider slushies, caramel apples, elephant ears, hot biscuits and apple butter. There’s a hay pile for kids to climb on a petting zoo and an educational center.

This month’s recipe comes to us from Autumn Mitchell of Indianapolis, for her delicious Macarona Bechamel.

I had Autumn’s Macarona Bechamel for Iftar during Ramadan several years ago and it was not only delicious after fasting all day but delicious anytime!

This recipe was so tasty I asked her for the recipe to prepare for my family, and she was happy to share it. With this combination, you can’t go wrong.

Macarona Bechamel

Ingredients:

1 box penne pasta

2 lbs. ground beef

1 medium onion chopped

cinnamon

salt

black pepper

7 spice

½ tsp nutmeg (optional)

garlic powder

6 c. milk

1 ½ c. heavy cream

6 Tbsp. butter

6 Tbsp flour

Black olives (optional)

Bell peppers

Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bechamel Sauce Instructions:

To assemble the dish:

Enjoy!

created by an anonymous Muslim youth community member

Across

1 A fun thing to do in the fall

3 A sport that many people play or watch in the fall

8 Round fruits that many people eat in the fall

9 One of the most popular fall flavors

10 A “goofy” fall bird

11 In the fall, the weather turns this

12 A color that represents fall

Down

2 This sweet treat is toasted over a campfire

4 These fall from trees as the weather gets colder

5 A garment that keeps you warm

6 A producer of light and warmth, fe by wood

7 A sweet tangy drink served hot or cold

9 An autumn dessert filled with fruit

MOTW Now in Avon!

9263 E Highway 36 Avon Indiana 46123

Sahara Restaurant

832 Broad Ripple Ave.

Indianapolis, IN 46220

Dear Hafsa,

I’d like to try to do some volunteering somehow, but I don’t attend any one masjid, and I don’t know of anyone I could contact to seek out any opportunities. Another challenge is that I have 3 kids who keep me very busy. How can I find a way to do some volunteering or community service and balance that with my home and family responsibilities?

Thanks,

Busy Mom

Our columnist prefers to stay anonymous so we will call her Hafsa. Send your questions to [email protected]

Subject line: Dear Hafsa

Your name and email will be kept confidential, and your question will always read from an anonymous title.

Assalamualaikum Busy Mom,

Allah bless you for your intentions. 

Some volunteer ideas I would suggest:

Pick up a lady or two to go with you when grocery shopping. Many families are either new to the area or don't have a car. So taking a few ladies with you to the store helps them be able to buy food with out using Uber or the bus. 

It's also helpful to teach new comers to America about which foods my not be halal (sometimes pork gelatin is slipped in where you lest expect it)

Also, you can show them where to find good deals, the freshest produce and even introduce them to Muslim ran businesses.

Side note- be sure to ALWAYS vet the sister you would be picking up. How you can do that is by confirming with the masjid or organization that is linking you up with the sister. Also, I suggest bringing your husband, a friend or relative with you the first time or two if you can until you feel totally comfortable.

You could also do once a month volunteering. An example of that would be a food bank at a masjid or helping to set up or cleanup for an event at a masjid near you. The good thing about helping set up or cleanup is that you don't have to really even tell anyone you want to volunteer. Show up a little early and just start helping or stay after and start cleaning. You'd be surprised how helpful that really is!

Also depending on your children's ages I highly encourage you to get them involved in the volunteering too, even if it's just setting up chairs or sweeping.

As far as not knowing who to contact:

Message masjids nearest you on Facebook or simply go there for Friday prayers and ask to speak to someone who can point you to the volunteer coordinator. 

Also keep in mind volunteering doesn't have to be at the masjid. There are organizations all over Indy that need volunteers to help coordinate things for refugees, the unhoused population and at-risk youth. Food banks, like Gleaners, are always looking for volunteers to help organize the pantries and even help in food bank open hours. We can help anywhere we are needed and that is also a form of dawah.

Salam,

Hafsa

IMCA/Masjid Al Fajr

2846 Cold Spring Rd

Indianapolis, IN 46222

Alhuda Foundation

12201 Lantern Rd.

Fishers, IN 46038

Masjid Al Mumineen

4088 Millersville Rd

Indianapolis, IN 46205