Fall at Silverock Cove is one of the best seasons to savor the Smith Lake life. If you’re headed to Silverock this week or this or weekend, why not stop at a farmer’s market on the way and grab a few pumpkins. Southern Living has a ton of creative carving ideas (31 to be exact). And when you’re content with your creation, roast the seeds and enjoy them with a cold one while you take in the breathtaking view.

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you’ve removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)

Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Chili season is here, and in our humble opinion, the lake is the best place on earth to savor a big bowl of the stuff.

Beautiful views, roaring fire, football on the flat screen. Seriously, what could be better?

Everybody has a great chili recipe. And we would love for you to share yours with the rest of us at Silverock.

To start, here’s a super-spicy recipe made in the slow-cooker.

HERE IT GOES:

Ingredients

1 lb bacon cut up in small chunks

4 lbs ground beef

4 (1 lb) cans kidney beans

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

12 ounces tomato paste

2 onions finely chopped

2 ounces chili powder

2 ounces cayenne pepper (dry powder)

2 (15 ounce) cans beef broth

2 fresh tomatoes chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

3 garlic cloves

1 T ground cumin

1 T oregano

1 ½ T paprika

Here’s what to do next:

Fry up the bacon and add to slow-cooker.

Brown ground beef in bacon drippings.

Add beef, beans, crushed tomatoes, tomatos paste, onions, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and beef broth in the slow-cooker.

Puree jalapeno, garlic and tomatoes in food processor, add to slow-cooker.

Puree jalapeno, garlic and tomatoes in food processor, add to slow-cooker.

Top with cheddar and sour cream and dig in.

Please send your favorite chili suggestions to wendytatum@me.com and we’ll post them for an blog-style Chili cookoff.

Join us this Saturday (October 17th) at the Silverock Cove pool and clubhouse from 4 pm until, as we kick off our first official fall season SRC style. Enjoy dinner fresh from the new poolside grill. Compete in the ping pong tournament. And show off your pumpkin carving skills. See you there!

The Silverock Cove canoes were delivered last week and are waiting for you at the new Canoe Hut. It is very important to note that life jackets are required and are not provided by Silverock Cove. Please be careful with the canoes and return to them to their proper place when your are finished enjoying them. Stay safe and use your best judgment in operating the canoes.

Here are a few tips from canoecoutry.com to help keep you and your family safe while canoeing on Smith lake.

Please read through before using canoes.

Canoe Safety Tips:

Above all:

- Always wear an approved PFD
-  Do not overload the canoe
-  Stay low and steady
-  Canoe together as a group on apposing sides
-  Bring one extra paddle along for each boat or canoe

Loading and Unloading
Load the canoe while it is in water, making sure the load is balanced and kept low in the canoe with slightly more weight to the rear. Do not overload. Be sure to keep all gear plus people within the canoe’s weight limits.

Shoving Off
When shoving off, the person in front should get in first. Likewise, when landing, the person in front should get out first, stabilize or brace the canoe and remove the gear. Do not pull the canoe out of the water until the person in back is out.

On the Water
Always remain with the group when canoeing. It is also much safer to stick to the sides of a lake rather than paddling through the middle. The person in the rear of the canoe does most of the steering, so, if you are not an experienced canoer, take the front seat. It is important that the two paddlers act as a unit. Not only will you travel faster when paddling in sync with each other but you will be able to steer better and keep your energy levels higher. In order to paddle in sync, the two paddlers must find a paddling speed and rhythm that works well for them both. Often, the person in the stern (the rear of the canoe) takes longer to execute each stroke than the front person. This is because the person in back is steering with each stroke and compensating for the strength of the front stroke. Find a speed which works well for both of you. Also, when the person steering instructs the other paddler to execute a stroke, do so without hesitation. The person in front should also promptly notify the steerer of upcoming obstacles. Usually, the paddlers are paddling on opposite sides of the canoe. If you get tired of paddling on one side of the canoe or want a change, ask your partner if you can switch sides. It is a good idea to switch sides every so often in order to reduce muscle tension and stress. You should be able to paddle well on both sides of the canoe.

Last But Not Least
Do not stand in the canoe, suddenly turn around or suddenly reach out or lean. All movement in the canoe must be low, steady and slow to prevent tipping and capsizing.