happy day of thanks...

happy day of thanksgiving to everyone... a wee bit early.

just finished baking a loaf of cranberry orange walnut bread.  not sure, anymore, where this recipe originally came from?  it is one which was hand written several thanksgivings ago into my special notebook of favorite recipes (it is quite a select group... only recipes that result in at least a few dozen enthusiastic "mmmmm"s when served will see the inside of this book)

it was six years ago today that i first tried out this recipe... for a road trip thanksgiving in boston.  that loaf was carried in mittened hands, as we walked through the blustering cold winds.  quite different from this seventy degree weather we're having down here this year, south of the mason-dixon line

cranberry orange walnut bread:

1/4 c. butter

1/2 c. honey

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 c. orange juice

1 tsp. grated orange rind

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 c. chopped cranberries

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

preheat oven to 350.  butter and flour loaf pan.  in large bowl, cream butter and honey.  add eggs, o.j., and rinds.  mix flour with baking powder.  add to butter mixture 1/3 at a time, blending after each.  stir in cranberries and walnuts.  pour into pan.  bake 50 to 60 minutes.

** mine is always done a bit earlier... around 40 to 45 minutes

well, i'm thankful for many, many things as this whirlwind year winds down... many new and old thanks this holiday, which i hope never to take for granted.  and the biggest thanks, as always... spending a simple day of cheer with family (and these two kiddos, my niece and nephew, who always keep things ridiculously interesting and comical!)

happy holiday!

blackened salmon ~ a delicious mistake

here are a few meals made using ingredients from this week's trip to the decatur organic farmers market:

first up, one of my very favorite summertime meals (you'll find this one in my house at least once a week during the season) broiled salmon, green beans (deliciously combined with fresh tomatoes and onions), and red potatoes

i have to say, this week i had a blackened salmon... a delicious mistake! quite the drama in my kitchen as the aluminum foil the fish was cooking on somehow caught fire! of course, i naturally assumed it was simply one of my neighbors ("hmmm... someone must not be a very good cook!", i thought), only to open my oven to flames growing by the second! fortunately, i was able to keep my head (while screaming... with images of my charred apartment, gone up in flames, racing through my mind), and instead of whipping out the fire extinguisher and ruining the fish, i grabbed a cup of water and splashed the aluminum... after a few last bursts of flame, the fire went out with a hiss. the salmon was now a little blackened, but actually quite yummy. i may have to try my hand at blackened salmon again... but, perhaps without the fire next time ;)

the salmon was seasoned with fresh basil, rosemary, and garlic chives from my garden (oh how lovely it is to finally have a space for growing herbs!). these herbs were all purchased from my local community garden. the green beans and heirloom tomatoes are from the farmers market

tonight, i made a lovely eggplant casserole, made using this recipe (only substituting with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella) , with the gorgeous local purple japanese eggplant, also from the organic farmers market... no fire tonight ;) so yummy, and i think left overs will pair nicely with a bit of pasta

(oh, and the milk i scored this week is positively scrumptious!)

freshly roasted peanuts

today was peanut roasting day... these were the raw peanuts i picked up from the decatur organic farmers market this week. here they sit awaiting their oven roasting ;)

oh, that smell, that delicious aroma... the scent of autumn has entered my home!

i used this recipe i found (incredibly easy!)... i didn't have any peanut oil on hand, so i used olive oil instead, which worked really well

the deep purple color of the peanut is just gorgeous

i have another batch in the oven now, so i may make a bit of peanut butter... if i can keep from eating them all first!

*** one more reminder, tonight (sept. 6th) is the last night to enter for a chance to win the lovely handmadecharlotte skirt giveaway below! good luck everyone! i'm enjoying reading all the entries

local food - 9/2

another week at the decatur farmers market... another delicious crop of food!

my sister, niece, and nephew came along this week, making it all the more fun... the kids enjoyed some yummy honey sticks while we perused the selections. and who knew how helpful a six year old could be... my nephew had fun helping me select the produce, as well as handling the weighing and money... although, he did ask each time if he could keep the change, which one time came out to be sixteen dollars... it was worth a try ;)

found this lovely bunch of raw peanuts, which are delicious as they are (well, not apparently to my niece and nephew!), but i think i will try roasting them... looks super easy, here's a recipe i found. i may even try my hand at making peanut butter!

i'm also excited that i made it in time to pick up some eggs this week. so deliciously farm fresh... they even had a few chicken feathers still attached! i'll have to try again next week for the milk... they were sold out in the first half hour and were awaiting more!

i've also added a few new autumn pieces to the shop:

acorn wreath

acorn branch

*** don't forget to enter the lovely handmadecharlotte skirt giveaway below! goes through sunday, september 6th... good luck everyone! i'm enjoying reading all the entries

bread and butter

1. smoky sea, 2. Fresh homemade butter, 3. Chenille, 4. scout, 5. home, 6. new, 7. Griffin Dyeworks Dye & Fiber Retreat 2009 - Mud Dyeing, 8. r e l a x, 9. Spore print, 10. faces faces faces, 11. up a tree, 12. loveliest rainfall, 13. Springtime Bird

thirteen images and creations, capturing so many aspects of life, by thirteen different folks... all so lovely individually. together? ... they go together like bread and butter... just scrumptious

and speaking of mouth-watering deliciousness, the photo on the top left hand corner ('fresh homemade butter'), was captured by geninne... a feast of bread and butter she made for her family. here is a link to the organic homemade butter recipe she used, from 'the habit of being' blog. i really must give this a try!