Loving the Fall - Autumn at its Best

I have two favorite seasons...

Spring... for obvious reasons. Long, dreary, cold Winter is over!  Lilac & apple blossoms,

asparagus,

fiddle heads, just to name a few

And then there's Autumn - wait do you think I've forgotten Summer... not really.  Although I love the harvest and travelling through this lovely province that is Nova Scotia, I don't relish heat.  So Summer for me, is just a stopping point between my favorite seasons.

Fall, on the other hand, with its special bounty including a bazillion tomatoes, squashes and, most definitely apples.  I've been going apple picking with my daughter and her (now) husband for many years... even before we moved here.  That's Joanna in an apple tree a number of years ago.

It's always been fun, especially once little ones arrived.  I love the "testing" part to make sure we picked the juiciest, crunchiest apples in the orchard.

So yesterday was no exception.  We headed out to Elderkin's Farm Market & uPik in the Annapolis Valley.    Truthfully, the boys and I pooped out within 15 minutes.  It was incredibly hot out ... think mid-Summer...

 but that didn't stop my Princess from collecting 40  pound - you heard correctly!  The photo only shows 20 pounds and then she just bought 10 pounds of pears for us to do some chutney making.

The boys and I had a different favorite moment - eating ice cream after all the work was done!

Since we're on the subject of apples, I thought I'd share some of my favorite apple recipes

the Apple Crisp that's been in my family for at least three generations

Apple Cake, moist and delicious especially for a mid-morning snack

and my very favorite of all.... Normandy Apple Tart.

Since we'll be making some Pear Chutney this afternoon...I thought I'd share that too.

What's your reason for loving Fall?

Cooking up that Rhubarb

A week or so ago, I wrote about Spring being here and first signs of rhubarb. I also mentioned that I was wondering what, exactly to do with it. My cousin Arlene, who lives in Toronto, read the post and emailed a link for this ...

Country Rhubarb Cake from Epicurious.com

Thanks Ar! Now I'm looking for....just kidding.

So what's your favorite rhubarb recipe? I just discovered that my Honey is not a rhubarb fan...oh well, that means more for me.

Passover's Coming

Short post, because I'm up to my neck in cooking and baking for Passover Seders and visiting in-laws. But I thought I'd share my contribution so far...okay, that was from 2007, but doesn't it look awesome? The lamb is about to go in the oven and everything else is ready.

For years I boycotted making gefilte fish...I love to eat it, don't get me wrong, but it's so smelly to make...at least it was until I found this recipe last year. It's delicious and the house will not smell very fishy either.

Salmon Gefilte Fish Balls with Horseradish Sauce

Tunisian Style Date Cake
(and no flour at all!)

One or two more desserts coming...maybe...depending on when I poop out and then I'm done except for the helping. I used to have 20-25 people for Seder dinners (Often, I would even do both of them), but it's been a while and now I simply contribute to other people's Seders.

Here's the menu for 2007 Seder at Joanna & Ezra's. Boaz was a baby and we (including my other daughter, Sharron) came to Halifax for the holidays.

Passover Seder Menu

ENJOY!

And to all my Christian friends....have a very Happy Easter.

Don't forget that this week's Presto Pasta Night roundup is being hosted by the wonderful Marye of Baking Delights. Send your perfect pastas her way at maudet8816 (at)aol (dot) com and cc me ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com Guidelines to share your pasta dishes.

Who knows, maybe I'll even get in a pasta dish for dinner tonight...nothing does leftovers better than pasta.

A Request I Couldn't Refuse - Cassata alla Siciliana

A while ago, a cassata fan - Patrick, emailed me for the REAL recipe I talked about when I created a South Beach Diet friendly version of this awesome Italian dessert...pound cake, ricotta filling with candied fruit, chocolate and orange liqueur, covered with a deadly frosting of chocolate, coffee and butter

So without further ado...I could have just emailed the recipe, but, you know me...I had to make it so that I could take a photo and share it with the rest of you.

Cassata alla Siciliana

Perhaps if we close our eyes, and eat it standing up, we'll forgo the gazillion calories.

Happy 2009, and a Little Catch-up

Happy 2009!

May it bring you peace, prosperity, good health and the happiest, most productive year ever.

And before I start sharing how our year is starting out, I thought I'd give you all a peak at our very quick trip to Toronto to visit family and friends. I do regret not being able to see more people than we did while we were there. Blame it on the weather, and the difficulty in getting around...lots of snow, rain and challenging driving/walking/public transit. None of these challenges stopped us from eating way too much, though...

I didn't get to take too many photos, but we did enjoy lots of tasty meals... several at the in-laws, a couple of simple meals at Sharron's (I got to have two sleep-overs with my daughter - hooray!), tea and delicious party sandwiches, homemade prune cake, chocolate meringues that my cousin Carole risked her life (okay, but only a slight exaggeration) shopping in a storm to get some essential cream of tartar just because she knows they're my Honey's favorite dessert treat.

We enjoyed a couple of tasty meals out ....Korean BBQ at Sejong Restaurant on Bloor, fantastic Vietnamese (not sure of the name but it's on Dundas just east of Brock and worth the trip), some roast beef sandwiches at the St Lawrence Market and we picked up some Portuguese custard tarts to bring for tea. (Just an aside...too bad there are no Portuguese shops here in Halifax, guess I'll have to find the perfect recipe on line and make my own).

My cousin Arlene"whipped up" a wonderful feast with all the trimmings for us. Here are the only pictures I took all trip, and please disregard the fuzziness and look beyond the poor photography...everything tasted amazing.

Roast Turkey from Donna Hay


Breadcrumb & Pancetta Stuffing also Donna Hay


Rapini & Green Beans with Bacon and yes...Donna again

Unbelievable Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow Icing from Bon Appetit

I don't have any of the recipes yet, but I'll keep bugging Arlene until she sends them and then I'll update this post. Ruth's sheepish note: Arlene sent the links the next day. Enjoy.

Is it any wonder that we're ready to start our only (at least MY only) 2009 "To-Do" resolution - back to healthier eating habits?

Plus one "Not-To-Do" resolution, that I found in this month's Real Simple (1-year)

Quote from Donna Robinson: " Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."

I do hope your holiday festivities were fun and that you're well rested and ready for a great 2009....I know I am!

It's Thanksgiving and the Stores are Closed

Okay...it is Thanksgiving Monday and the stores are closed....so why didn't I think of this yesterday?...too busy having fun at the Maritime Fall Fair with the family. As you can see, Boaz was a little leary of the merry go round even with Grandma. But he really did love all the animals...I digress.

It's rainy and chilly here in Halifax today and perfect weather for soups and stews. I have a huge batch of roasted vegetable broth left over from last week's Puree of Roasted Vegetable Soup . That doesn't count the 8 ziplock bags already in the freezer. I much prefer it to any of the store bought varieties I've tried.

Again I ramble....I decided the Adzuki Stew would be perfect(same link as the broth) which is from one of my fave Vegetarian cookbooks...Fresh at Home. I really do have to write that one up soon.

This time...I thought I had adzuki beans in a can in the cupboard...and perhaps I do, but I can't find them. I did have some cooked chickpeas that I soaked and cooked last week and haven't used yet. So before they go bad...I used those and ...oops...I used double the broth and then realized I only had half the amount of chickpeas. Fortunately I did have a couple of tins of small Navy beans that I added. And, since my Honey likes a thicker soup...I just did a couple of quick pulses with my immersion blender...what a great toy!

Actually we're heading off to Joanna & Ezra's tonight, so everyone will get a bowl of that before the main course that Joanna is making...Roasted Tongue in BBQ Sauce and Potato Kugel with some salad for that green that's required on the table.

I even made an interesting Chocolate Spice Loaf...drier and more like bread than cake, but very chocolatey, I must say,...that's if there's actually room for dessert.

Not bad for a day when stores are closed.

Desserts

Jam Making Tutorial

Apple Ginger Marmalade

Blueberry Jam

Carrot Cardamom Jam

Cakes & Cupcakes

Cornmeal Apple Cake

Everybody's Jewish Apple Cake

"Jewish" Apple Cake

Old Fashioned Apple Cake

Nigella's Apple & Almond Cake (for Passover but great anytime)

Parsnip Cake 

Blueberry Clafouti

Custardy Blueberry Clafouti

Country Rhubarb Cake

Date Cake Tunisian style

Shirley's Honey Cake

Apples, Dried Cherry Honey Cake

Mary Pearl's Mother Millie's Honey Cake

Marcy's Awesome Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Gingery Fruit Tea Loaf

Plum Sour Cream Kuchen

Cassata Cheesecake (South Beach Diet friendly)

Cassata alla Siciliana (definitely NOT South Beach, but awesome!)

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream Icing

Whipped Cream and Chocolate Wafer Cake

Bars, Squares & Brownies Almond Crisp Bars

Chocolate Covered Matzo Crunch

Date Squares

Walnut Squares

Oatbran Nut Slices

Ancho Chili Cranberry Brownies

Better than Best Fudgy Brownies with Pistachios & Dried Blueberries

Brownies

Brownies - A Tribute to Katharine Hepburn - AWESOME!!!

Chewy Chocolate Brownies with Pecans - my Honey's newest favorite!

Chipotle Brownies (brownies with a kick!)

Espresso Chocolate Brownies with Crystallized Ginger

Fudgy Buttermilk Brownies

Mocha Hazelnut Brownies - South Beach Style

Nigella's Chocopots

Skinny Brownies

Oatmeal Shortbread Squares

Cookies

Awesome Passover Chocolate Macarons

Anna's PB & J Thumbprint Cookies

Chatelaine's Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Curtis Stone's Giant Chocolate Chunk Cookies 

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Spicy Fusion Chocolate Crackle Cookies

Triple Whammy Chocolate Cookies

Chewy No-Bake Chocolate Macaroons

Kids Hanukkah Cookies

Shortbread Cookies with a Cherry on Top

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Double Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Muesli Breakfast Cookies

Peanut Butter Oatmeal & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Hamantashen Times Two

Holiday Sugar Cookies Kids Can Make

Honey Cookies

Orange Cranberry Oat Cookies

Lighter, healthier Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Norene's Best Oatmeal Cookies

Norene's Other "Best" Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Nutty, Fruity Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crisps & Puddings
Wild Blueberry Crisp

Chocolate Almond & Orange Clusters - South Beach DietFriendly

Cyndi's Chocolate Pudding -  perfect South Beach Dietdessert

Chocolate Mousse with a Secret (avocado)

Coffee Chocolate & Blueberry Bread Pudding

Lime Budino

Classic Apple Crisp - at least in my house

Ginger Apple Crisp

Frozen Fruit Crisp

Magnolia Grill's Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb Crumble

Vanilla Ginger Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries

Pies & Tarts

Pate Brisee - flaky tart pastry

Alsatian Apple Tart

Blueberry Minted Custard Tart

Caramel Apple Tart

Normandy Apple Tart

Super Strawberry Tart

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Dark Chocolate & Candied Orange Tart

Irish Coffee Pie

Peach Custard Tarts

Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

Sundry Desserts
Dessert Couscous with Rose Water & Pistachios

Strawberry Parfait with Lime Curd

Fresh Fruit Salad with Mint

Fruit Salad with Lavender Honey

Ginger & Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Grilled Fruit with Lime & Ginger Marmalade

David Lebovitz's Amazing Chocolate Matzo Bark

Marcy's Caramel Matzo Crunch - awesome Passover Candy

Minty Berries & Yoghurt

Mocha Ricotta Creme - South Beach Dessert

Nutella Crepes

Pears Poached in Chai Tea

Poires Bourguigonne (pears poached in red wine)

Quick Berry Sauce

Spicy Pear Sorbet

Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar & Fresh Basil

Strawberries with Gabriella's Ginger Creme Anglaise (you have to scroll down to the bottom of the post)

Tropical Fruit Salsa with Mint

Blueberry Mint Granita