November 21st, 2012
| 3 Comments »
I’ve not always been an ardent fan of wild rice. As a kid, I don’t recall eating it much, and then in my early 20’s, I had an extremely dangerous case of food poisoning that involved shrimp and wild rice and since then? Yeah, you can imagine the aversion I’ve held. And the aroma of this native grass (please don’t call it a whole grain- it’s not even close) is so pungent and strong that I often run the exhaust fan and open windows if I can while it’s cooking to avoid the old, musty-shoe smell of it.
In spite of all that, I keep wild rice on hand regularly, because what it can create in it’s finished state, with it’s firm, chewy and hearty texture is a dish worthy of any gathering, or simply a treat for your every day meal. And I’m grateful to have learned of it’s merits, growing beyond turning my back on such a nutritious and healthy food. One of my most favorite soups, this Wild Rice & Mushroom dish, is one of the best reasons to keep a bag in the pantry, and of course, once Thanksgiving is over, a simmering pot of Turkey Wild Rice soup always makes an appearance, as it makes my boy’s eyes shine like the sun. I love seeing that in his face.
And for Thanksgiving this year, in an effort to bring more non-meat options to our family table, I’ll be making a huge bowl of this Wild Rice Harvest Salad, and as I take up a spoonful, I’ll be saying thanks to the earth for producing this gem, and raise a glass of Famiglia Meschini Carmenere to toast alongside our meal.
I’m really enamored with the Famiglia Meschini wines; every one I’ve tried is full of bold flavor, true to it’s varietal and best of all, so affordably priced. I tend to get bent out of shape over wine pricing, and the perceived idea that to enjoy good wine you’ve got to spend a lot of money and the Famiglia wines turn that on it’s ear, thank goodness. If you are at all interested in getting a first-hand dunking in to all that the family stands for, they are hosting an amazing food and wine dinner in Minneapolis in January, and you can find all the information for that on this page.
The Carmenere wine is deep red and full of rich plum flavor. The taste is smooth and supple, owing to the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in it to tame the Carmenere grape a bit. It brings an earthy nose and finishes forever, but never over-powering. Although traditionally paired with beef, it sits nicely next to this heavily flavored Wild Rice salad, resplendent with kale and sliced Brussels Sprouts, snappy apple slices and crunchy pecans. A spritely vinaigrette blends it all nicely together.
Wild Rice Harvest Salad
1 c. cooked wild rice (according to package directions)
1 Golden Delicious apple, sliced thin
1 c. Brussels Sprouts, thinly sliced
1 c. kale leaves, chopped fine
1/2 c. good quality olive oil
3 T. Apple Cider vinegar (or if you can find any type of pecan or other nut vinegar, use that instead)
1 t. deli style spicy mustard
Roasted pecans for garnish
In a small bowl or measuring cup, blend the oil, vinegar, spicy mustard and a few shakes of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Combine Brussels Sprouts and kale in a large bowl and drizzle a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette over it. With your hands, blend the vinaigrette and greens together, massaging slightly to help soften the kale leaves. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. Add in the wild rice, apple slices and a handful of broken pecan pieces. Toss to coat and drizzle a bit more vinaigrette over it, then more salt and pepper to taste. Allow to stand at room temperature before serving, adding more vinaigrette as needed.
This salad leans heavily on the greens and less on the wild rice. You can swing it easily in one direction or the other, adding more wild rice and less greens if you prefer it that way.
Additional items that you could add to this salad would be endless: roasted sweet potato or carrot chunks, sliced celery, dried cranberries….. it’s a blank slate for your own personal taste. Explore! Enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I was provided a bottle of Famiglia Meschini wine in exchange for this post. All words and opinions are my own.
November 5th, 2012
| 3 Comments »
I’m a total rebel.
It’s November, and everywhere you look is pumpkin. In everything. Or butternut squash. In everything. There’s sweet potatoes lurking over there; an acorn squash holding an adorable filling, perfectly browned edge glinting just so. It’s the season for all things roots and orange.
People are already gearing up for Thanksgiving, too. Decorations for Christmas have come out in certain stores. WHAT!!? Gah.
And here I am, dreaming of gooey dates and a crumbly oat bar.
Sarah at The Yellow House recently wrote a post about her Mother’s recipe box, and a particular recipe memory she was seeking, in the stumbling way that a motherless daughter tries to find answers to the questions that can never be solved. Sarah’s post, even in it’s despair and sadness, triggered something in me because I know all about that bitter walk after your Mother dies, the questions you wish you could ask, the reassurance like an anchor, that a Mother brings. She sought answers about a particular barbecue sauce recipe, and for me, the always unattainable answer I sought from my Mom’s spirit was for a treasured Date Bar recipe.
I’m pretty biased towards these iconic baked goods as they’ve been a favorite ever since I could remember stepping up to a kitchen counter, reaching up to place my hands on the worn edge and leaning hard around my Mom’s arm to see what she was doing. A recipe box open, the mass of dates simmering on the stove, the bowl of oats and sugar standing silently, waiting. The small pan ready. A kitchen warmed by an oven.
But then in a flash, I’m grown up, and my childhood kitchen dissipates. I’m a parent now, too. When my tiny boy reached his own chubby fingers towards that kitchen counter, I pulled up a chair and got him situated. We stirred together. We mixed and measured, my hand over his as his blue eyes watched closely. I gave him a knife and he carefully trimmed vegetables. He pushed his luck against my stern warning that yes, indeed that stovetop is still hot even though the burners are no longer red. I dried those tears and soothed the burns. We soldiered on. Pans of Brownies and chocolate cake came and went. Chocolate chip cookies- of course!- and Oatmeal Raisin, Snickerdoodles and Dark Chocolate Drops; Oatmeal Scotchies and Applesauce Cake, cookies every Christmas. Full bellies and full hearts, him and I. His interest wavered, waned and often, he was absent as he grew too cool to stand by my side. Then, in some great moment of clarity, he returned to the kitchen again, a young man. Now he cooks his own food. Experiments. Expands. Still, if he said to me ‘Can you please make ______ ?’ I would likely tell him ‘Yes.’ and reach for the flour canister.
Because when I would sidle up next to my Mom as she thumbed through a cookbook, or pulled out her recipe card file for inspiration, often she would turn to me and say ‘Got any requests?’ and in my little girl, eager way, I would say “Please make those Date Bars!” And she would, smiling as she pulled the corner piece out of the pan to hand to me, it’s edges chewy and firm and we’d eat ’til our bellies were full, her and I. Eighteen years after her passing, her words still ring strong in my mind, for her baking was her love language, her moment to tell us how much she adored our faces, upturned and eager towards her as she pulled down worn metal tins of flour and sugar, turned the knob on the stove and sought out the warped, old cookie sheets, the favorite baking pan, drawing the aging cookie tin from the cupboard, the big round one with the roses on the top. I still have her recipe box, and I’ve poured over her it in vain, searching for that Date Bar recipe that she made for me, the one that was always just perfect, but I never found it. I poured pan after pan of warm date puree over an oat crust, trying to replicate the taste, seeking her smile in my memory and the love from a chewy corner piece but every time I bit down, the past wasn’t there. I wanted it to be, so badly. I reach for a container of flour, a sack of sugar, thinking it will restore the dull ache in me that still echoes after nearly two decades. Sometimes the very act of baking will quiet the roar; other times, those first bites just make it more acute.
Then I find this one, a perfect Date Bar with a crunchy oat crust that browns and crisps in the oven, snapping apart to shower on the plate, crumbs falling in your lap that you happily pick up on moist fingertip, the rich dates cooked to a tender chew, gooey edge and all.
And the taste, smell and memory all come together in a tiny piece of cookie, too undeserving to be saddled with the burden of answering the questions of our past, but when I shut my eyes and bite, it’s all there. She’s all there. It’s swift and sharp, a nick of knife metal, barbed hooks caught against the heart. A moment meshes between child and adult, past and painful present wrapped in one oat crust, me as Mom and then, my Mother, with so many similarities between.
Oat and Nut Date Squares
1 8-oz package chopped dates (or equivalent of fresh)
1/4 c. black raisins
1 c. water
Zest from half an orange
2 t. orange juice
1/2 c. ground almonds ( sub in walnuts or pecans if desired)
1/2 c. each whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour
1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/8 t. ground cloves
1 c. packed brown sugar
1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter, diced, softened but still fairly cold.
1 c. old fashioned rolled oats
Preheat oven to 350° and spray an 8×8 baking pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper so that it hangs over edge of pan, then spray the paper.
In small saucepan, combine dates, raisins and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until all liquid has been absorbed and fruit is a thick, concentrated paste. This should take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in orange zest and juice and blend well. Scrape onto a plate and spread to cool.
In the bowl of a food processor, place ground almonds, both flours, salt, soda and spices. Pulse to combine. Add in brown sugar and pulse to blend. Scatter butter over top and pulse until mixture is like coarse uneven meal. There should be lumps of butter in all sizes. Pour this into a large bowl and stir in the oats.
Press 2/3 of the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing down firmly. Spoon cooled date mixture over, spreading it to cover crust completely. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over the top. Bake until top crust is golden brown and crisp, 30-40 minutes.
Cool bars completely on a rack, still in the pan. Once bars are at room temperature, gently lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper. Slice into 2″ squares to serve. These bars are delicious when chilled. Keep in airtight container or refrigerated.
{{adapted from an original recipe, author unknown}}
October 22nd, 2012
| 31 Comments »
I’ve saved the best for last. This week, it’s the Magazine Edition!
That’s right; THREE cookbooks culled from cooking magazines, including the long-gone, but never forgotten Gourmet magazine.
Congratulations to last week’s winners:
On a Stick- Kristin Dannecker
Real Stew- Ann Matthiesen
First time here? Not sure what’s going on? Let’s get the scoop, one last time.
THE DETAILS:
~~Each week in October, starting on Monday, I will put up a post offering cookbooks to give away.
BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO ACT FAST! Each cookbook offer will be up for only FIVE DAYS.
~~At the end of the day on Friday, each week, I’ll close out the current giveaway, choose the winner and notify them quick as a wink.
So in order to be eligible- YOU MUST leave comments on these posts that contain your contact information.
Don’t go through all the work of commenting without that!
~~If you are chosen as the cookbook winner, you will be asked to provide a mailing address so I can send you your book.
If you’re local, I’d be happy to meet up with you to hand you your winning cookbook in person!
Unfortunately, given the expense of mailing books, I have to limit these giveaways to US residents only.
Aaaand….. without further ado:
THE BEST OF GOURMET: Sixty Five Years, Sixty Five Favorite Recipes
I loved Gourmet magazine and just mourned when it stopped publishing. This book is as good as it gets to the classic fare of that classic magazine. Plenty of photos and beautiful recipes, spanning the 65 years that Gourmet held our fascination. This is as much a coffee table book as it is a cookbook and it’s definitely worth treasuring. I hope you will love it as much as I did.
FOOD AND WINE: The Magazine’s Annual 2010 Cookbook
The best part about Food & Wine magazine is that you can purchase their annual cookbooks with EVERY recipe from the past year in it. No need to save magazines! This book has over 600 recipes in it, all from 2010. It’s full of amazing dishes to serve for any occasion. One book, every recipe, every dish. You could spend months cooking your way through it.
THE ESSENTIAL EATING WELL COOKBOOK
Eating Well magazine is one of my favorite food magazines. It’s always stuffed with delicious, healthy and easy to prepare recipes, plus cutting edge information on health news and the purveyors and people who are passionate about eating well, and eating right. This book is a wonderful option for anyone wishing to enhance the nutritional value of their food without losing any of it’s flavor.
Eating Well recipes have never failed to disappoint me.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Leave one comment on this post, telling me which cookbook you’d like to have and why.
It’s THAT easy.
(and remember…. in order to WIN, you MUST have contact information embedded in your comment
or I won’t have any way to reach you.)
DO YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES?
~~Come on over and hang out with me on Facebook!
Leave one more comment telling me that you did!
~~Follow along with me on Twitter! And share YOUR Twitter account.
Leave me another comment about this!
~~Want even MORE chances? I LOVE Instagram. You can find me there under @kate_selner.
Follow along with me, leave me a comment here that you did and share YOUR Instagram account so I can follow you.
I sure hope you enjoyed these giveaways.
And CONGRATULATIONS to ALL the winners!!
As for our Monday Fun Day Cookbook Giveaways…….
October 19th, 2012
| 1 Comment »
I’ll just let the photos do the talking. It’s been a pretty busy week.
{{you can hover over any photo to see a description of it….}}
{{I apparently have a big thing for single, perfect deep red leaves all laying alone}}
And the good stuff……
More vegetarian burger options…. this time a Millet, Kale and Yam variety
Coconut Oat Banana Muffins.…. I must make these again, and soon.
Apple Cinnamon Mini Monkey Breads. WHAT!??
Soups Galore. Knock yourself out.
Nicole’s Moroccan Vegetable Barley Soup. In a crockpot, no less. {{I adore Nicole….. }}
Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Swirl. Oh. With Eggnog. *sigh*
Penne with Roasted Eggplant, Chile and Mint. Cold nights?? We’ve got them covered.
Spring Rolls, with a definitive Autumn twist. Gotta love this.
Apple Streusel Bars. Get. On. These.
October 15th, 2012
| 19 Comments »
Sticks and Stews. That’s the theme this week.
Once again, here are the details on our Monday Fun Day cookbook giveaway. If this is your first venture to this site, welcome!
I’ve got two cool books for you this week, but watch out! Next week is EPIC!!
Congrats to our winners from last week!!
Jen Hjelle- Pizza & Flatbread in 5 Minutes
Val Stanley- Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes
Elle Strike- Desserts in Jars
First, let’s go over the rules once more so everyone knows what’s going on.
THE DETAILS:
~~Each week in October, starting on Monday, I will put up a post offering cookbooks to give away.
BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO ACT FAST! Each cookbook offer will be up for only FIVE DAYS.
~~At the end of the day on Friday, each week, I’ll close out the current giveaway, choose the winner and notify them quick as a wink.
So in order to be eligible- YOU MUST leave comments on these posts that contain your contact information.
Don’t go through all the work of commenting without that!
~~If you are chosen as the cookbook winner, you will be asked to provide a mailing address so I can send you your book.
If you’re local, I’d be happy to meet up with you to hand you your winning cookbook in person!
Unfortunately, given the expense of mailing books, I have to limit these giveaways to US residents only.
All right. Ready??
ON A STICK! by Matt Armendariz
I was given a copy of this to review and this is one fun book, folks. Party perfect recipes for entertaining, or just making every day meals that much more fun. Matt is the talent behind the blog Matt Bites, and is a renowned food photographer. This book is gorgeous, small, simple to use and everything goes on a stick. Kids will love it. Adults will squeal. Love to entertain? This one’s for you.
REAL STEW by Clifford Wright
Do you love a good stew? Crave thick chowders, chilis and gumbo so hearty that a fork will stand up in them?
This book has it all; a dizzying array of soups, stews and the like from all over the world. You’ve heard of some, but likely not all of them, and therein lies the fun of this book. From the simple to the complex, you can’t find a more comprehensive guide to everything that simmers in a pot. With the impending winter, this book will become a favorite of yours.
{{DISCLAIMER: Your book will have a different cover than the one shown above, but it’s exactly the same.}}
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Leave one comment on this post, telling me which cookbook you’d like to have and why.
It’s THAT easy.
(and remember…. in order to WIN, you MUST have contact information embedded in your comment
or I won’t have any way to reach you.)
DO YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES?
~~Come on over and hang out with me on Facebook!
Leave one more comment telling me that you did!
~~Follow along with me on Twitter! And share YOUR Twitter account.
Leave me another comment about this!
~~Want even MORE chances? I LOVE Instagram. You can find me there under @kate_selner.
Follow along with me, leave me a comment here that you did and share YOUR Instagram account so I can follow you.
And HOLD ON to your seats, everyone. Next week is our last Monday Fun Day cookbook giveaway.
AND IT’S BIG!!
October 12th, 2012
| 2 Comments »
It’s Friday!?
{{We went a bit muffin crazy this week. Did you notice?}}
Mike and I stopped to gaze at this amazing sunset on Saturday as we drove home from church. The day had been blustery and raw, but late afternoon brought a break in the dark heavy clouds, enough to catch this glorious sight over the farm fields near our house.
And wonders of wonders, Monday morning started off with this beauty, captured as I lay in bed sipping coffee. The best of both worlds!
I spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon with a friend, and stared in awe at this tenuous smokestack across the street from his loft.
A delicious weekend breakfast
The new week started out in a proper way.
I’m enamored with hand-made gifts, especially when you get a permanent snapshot of it, embossed on a silver disc.
Something good is about to happen in my kitchen.
There was warm Apple Crisp with Brown Sugar glaze.
The week included baking a Honey Whole Wheat Pumpkin bread, stuffed with crunchy millet.
It was divine. I’m so glad I doubled it and put one in the freezer.
And there was a bubbling risotto too, casting a warm glow over a chilly day.
There was A LOT of scenic Fall color. Again. But it’s fading fast.
{{i’m cheating just a tad, and throwing in some great shots that Clara took on a few of our walks}}
I came upon an upended tree that held fast to a secret within it’s roots.
{{if you can’t tell…. it’s a huge rock that the tree simply grew around}}
And there was the discovery of a secret waterfall that sent my heart skipping in joy.
I definitely will be going back to this spot. The sound of that waterfall was mesmerizing.
What else has been running through my head this week?
Butternut Squash Nut Burgers. My stack of meatless burger options keeps growing.
Multigrain Risottos. It’s not just about Arborio anymore.
Baked Hush Puppies. Baked?? Say no more……
There is no end to the deliciousness you can create with Kale.
Crock pot delight for a cold Fall day- Curried Vegetable & Chickpea Stew
More amazing whole grain goodness– Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
Incredible Avocado and Tomatillo Salsa from Herbivoracious
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!
And be sure to stop back on Monday for Round Three of my Cookbook giveaway!!
October 10th, 2012
| 1 Comment »
I adore muffins.
But I should clarify something; I like real muffins, not cupcakes masquerading as muffins. While there are those in the camps of muffin lovers that think sweet muffins are perfect, I’m generally not one of them. I like a hearty muffin. Small in stature but huge in flavor. I like them to be full of grains, nuts, fruits and the good stuff that makes me feel all right about eating them. And apparently, given that there are more than half a dozen recipes in this blog (and wayyyy more that never made it long enough to be photographed and talked about), one could stand to reason that if given a choice of what to bake on a very chilly, rainy October morning, it would be muffins.
And even though I likely would LOVE to re-make all these muffin recipes, frankly, it wouldn’t be so hot for my waistline. So I’ll just re-visit some of my favorites instead. You’re ok with that, aren’t you?
{{Before moving in to Muffin Mania, have you checked out this week’s Cookbook giveaway yet??}}
Songs and soundtracks make up the background for this indulgent Fig Muffin with Honey Lemon Cream Cheese filling.
Just right for the season, Pumpkin Maple Muffins. Sorry the photo is missing……
Butternut squash, November light and Whole Wheat Muffins with Quinoa & Squash.
Whole Wheat Muffins, a blank palette for so much imagination and flair.
Another good choice for Fall; Oatmeal Sweet Potato Muffins. *sigh*
And of course, there has to be something with Apples. The Apple Cheddar Muffin recipe is tops, but quite frankly, these Apple Streusel Bars just had to be snuck in because they are SO darn good.
How about a Blueberry Bran Muffin? This particular creation had a handful of fresh cherries tossed in as well.
And finally, a Chocolate Graham Muffin that thinks it should be a cupcake. Add marshmallows and it might be S’Mores.
Next time, I’ll tell you all about my love for Tea Breads. And of course, share that bounty of recipes as well. 🙂
October 8th, 2012
| 62 Comments »
Rapid fire, wasn’t it? Whew….. that first giveaway went quickly.
{{Congratulations to Kelli Abrahamian who won the Canning cookbook,
and to Liz Paul who won the Thanksgiving cookbook!}}
Thanks for entering, everyone!!
ARE YOU READY FOR THE SECOND WEEK? IT’S A BIG ONE!!
But first, let me repeat the details, ok? Some of you may not have been here last week.
THE DETAILS:
~~Each week in October, starting on Monday, I will put up a post offering cookbooks to give away.
BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO ACT FAST! Each cookbook offer will be up for only FIVE DAYS.
~~At the end of the day on Friday, each week, I’ll close out the current giveaway, choose the winner and notify them quick as a wink. So in order to be eligible- YOU MUST leave comments on these posts that contain your contact information.
Don’t go through all the work of commenting without that!
~~If you are chosen as the cookbook winner, you will be asked to provide a mailing address so I can send you your book.
If you’re local, I’d be happy to meet up with you to hand you your winning cookbook in person!
Unfortunately, given the expense of mailing books, I have to limit these giveaways to US residents only.
Ok. Now…. Part Two. These are the big guns, folks. Local authors. Signed books. Here we go!!
DESSERTS IN JARS by Shaina Olmanson
It’s entirely possible that everyone has this cookbook by now, but then again, maybe not. Shaina is a Minnesota blogger, cooking up delicious and healthy fare for her four children at Food for my Family. She’s one of the hardest working bloggers I know, and on top of all her commitments, she created this beautiful dessert cookbook. I was blessed to receive a copy of this book, signed by Shaina herself and am excited to give it away as part of Monday Fun Day. You’ll love the photos, the simple and delicious recipes and if you’re like me, the section of Gifts in Jars will delight you.
HEALTHY BREAD IN 5 MINUTES by Zoë Francois and Jeff Hertzberg
Zoë and Jeff’s quick dough method has revolutionized home bread baking. You make a big batch of dough, keep it in the fridge and use it as needed to make lovely, fragrant and crusty homemade bread. This hard-copy book is full of healthier options for your daily bread, all with the same, easy 5-minute method. Wouldn’t YOU love to have fresh baked bread every day??
ARTISAN PIZZA AND FLATBREAD in 5 MINUTES A DAY by Zoe Francois and Jeff Hertzberg
An entire book of gourmet pizzas, flatbreads and other thin, crusty delights, utilizing the same quick 5-minute dough method designed by Zoë and Jeff. The recipes are mouth-watering and delicious, and the method couldn’t be easier. I was fortunate to attend a local event with Zoë and watch her demonstrate the techniques involved, spin and twist a disc of pizza dough in the air and make one of the best pizzas I’ve eaten recently. I received this signed hard copy as a participant in the event. Win this cookbook, and you’ll be flipping spinning pizza dough over your head in no time!!
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Leave one comment on this post, telling me which cookbook you’d like to have and why.
It’s THAT easy.
(and remember…. in order to WIN, you MUST have contact information embedded in your comment
or I won’t have any way to reach you.)
DO YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES?
~~Come on over and hang out with me on Facebook!
Leave one more comment telling me that you did!
~~Follow along with me on Twitter! And share YOUR Twitter account.
Leave me another comment about this!
~~Want even MORE chances? I LOVE Instagram. You can find me there under @kate_selner.
Follow along with me, leave me a comment here that you did and share YOUR Instagram account so I can follow you.
And stick around….. next week will arrive quickly. I know you’ll want to see what’s in store then!!
October 5th, 2012
| Comments Off on instagram friday
Back to routine, life, cats, food, drink and for now, Fall color.
It’s glorious, and everywhere on Instagram. I will never get tired of the blazing red and bright orange of Fall.
I was blessed to be able to get very close to this lovely creature on a hike through Otter Lake Regional Park. It had no fear of me at all.
I brought home three Montana microbrews from our trip.
Picked up at the base of the monument, this was an impulse purchase that I loved. It’s a darker hued ale with sour notes, mostly lemon, good toasty malt tones.
The Bayern Dancing Trout Ale, a German Wheat Ale, a filtered version of a true Bavarian Hefeweizen. It’s mild and slightly hoppy, with a smooth finish.
The Beltian White Ale, from the Harvest Moon Brewery was a perfect balance of malt and hops, flavored with a hint of coriander and orange peel and it was delicious. By far my favorite, I cracked it open and sat under the true Harvest Moon as it rose on Saturday September 29th. It was a perfect match.
The cats were very happy to have us home, and spent a lot of time underfoot and snuggled close by us the first few days.
There was hot tea to enjoy…..
A dark and dreamy Spice Molasses Cake……
Cold weather gear to re-acquaint myself with…..
Not to mention, a familiar sunrise over my own sky.
The weather turned cold and blustery on a dime, but inside, humming away at the stove in the twilight, it’s almost easy to forget that chill on your skin.
I’m pretty excited to share with you the amazing honor that I was named one of the Top 10 Foodies on Instagram.
Are you on Instagram? Share your daily life with me! {{ @kate_selner }}
And hang on to your hats, folks; next week’s Monday Fun day Cookbook giveaway is a real winner!! Or winners, be that as it may.
HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEKEND EVERYONE!
October 3rd, 2012
| 2 Comments »
Fall began while I was away, on Mountain Time, amidst soaring majestic peaks and deep pine canyons. The Summer season passed in our initiation to a storied national park, and Autumn came on a cliff, crossing steep trails worn down by hooves and hiking shoes; it came through the sunrises over a new sky, shrouded with wildfire smoke, on a white water rafting excursion, over 3,000 miles and 9 days straight with my two most favorite guys. It was the longest vacation I’ve ever taken and it felt strange to clean up the house for the cat sitter, pack a container of veggie chili in the freezer to welcome us home, go over the lists again (and again and AGAIN) making sure that we had good snacks for the car, and lunch on the road (hello peanut butter), packing items like hand wipes and paper towels and extra plastic bags for trash, searching for good audio books to keep us occupied for the 10+ hour drive, and trying to remember all the quirky little things we should tell our cousin about caring for our silly cats. Among all the final frenzy of planning and packing, I kept running the whole thing over in my head, thinking “Can we really DO this? Can we drive across three states and explore the West and be sane enough to still say ‘I love you!’ every day and mean it while cramped inside a 4-door sedan?”
Truth is, yes. We can. And we did. I was never more excited to drive away from home on that glorious Sunday morning while most of our neighborhood still slept, nor was I more thrilled to return home as the sun set on the following Tuesday. To everything familiar and easy, to my bed and my home and my cats.
Even as all the unfamiliar became easy, the roads that I started to learn around my Uncle’s home, their wonderful hospitality, to the pines and peaks I stared at in awe, cementing them in my soul, even with everything that was so perfect about the entire trip, coming home felt better than I could have ever imagined. I couldn’t wait to get away and the anticipation was so richly rewarded, but I yearned for home the moment we turned our car Eastward and headed over the Interstate. Re-entry was simple; familiar, easy, calm, happy.
It’s nice to come home.
{{psssst….. I’m giving away cookbooks. Go check it out!}}
It wouldn’t take much beyond scrolling through my blog reader to know that Fall has most definitively arrived. Soups, stews, braises, pumpkin, squash, brussels sprouts and potatoes adorn the photos and fill the pages, hearty fare to shore ourselves up for the cold, the snow and the darker months to come. For me, Autumn needs two things: color blazed Maples and dark Molasses Cake.
Gingerbread. Molasses Cake. Whatever you refer it as, what name you prefer to call the dense moist crumb of such a perfect Autumn flavor, this recipe is the bees knees for anyone who loves molasses, deep and dark. It’s evokes the perfect memory of past seasons, where the deep reds and oranges of Maple burned bright against the rich blue sky, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the chill in the air as the sun drops it’s golden curve low on the horizon. The whiff of memory is bittersweet; of Gingersnap cookies that my Mom loved, the recipe that came out after school began for everyone, a welcome home with cold milk.
I still love those cookies, and all things ginger and bread and molasses. This cake has made a few other appearances in our kitchen and home, always against that perfect Fall backdrop of blaze and blue. Even with our warm days, bright sunshine and comfortable nights, after a few frosty mornings and finding the familiar in old and cozy sweaters and jeans, it welcomes you home whether you’ve been away, or just greatly anticipating Autumn. We all love Autumn; it’s universal in it’s daily changes of color, of temperatures and air and the gradual slide to Winter.
Ginger Spice Cake
adapted from several sources
2 c. AP flour
1 t. baking soda
1 T. ground ginger
2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. allspice
2 T. espresso powder (optional, but it adds an amazing depth)
1 egg
1/2 c. molasses
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted
1 c. buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350 and coat a 8″ square pan with cooking spray.
Stir together dry ingredients. With electric mixer, blend egg, molasses, sugar and melted butter until thick and very smooth. Gradually mix in dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, mixing each addition thoroughly. Mix for one minute after everything is in the bowl. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake center comes out clean.
NOTE: This cake is wonderful with fresh cranberry sauce and a spoonful of yogurt. Or ice cream. Of course.
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