Archive for ‘October, 2016’

The frost is NOT on the pumpkin

We’ve had a few nights where the temperature dropped below freezing, but not really a hard, killing frost.

We DID break a 102 year record for the rainiest October and October 2016 is now the rainiest October on record. The exact record amount is yet to be determined as we have 1 more day and it has been and is forecast to be rainy all the way to November 1.

The good news is that since the ground is not frozen, all of this rain is seeping in and giving the trees and ground a very good drink of water – badly needed!

The bad news is that it would be nice to have some very cold temperatures as in “freeze the ground” temperatures, before it snows. Otherwise, too many bugs/wasps, etc. live and potentially make outdoor Summer life miserable. However, much as Auggie believes that the weather is my responsibility, it is not and it will be what it will be.

It has been beautiful between showers with the typical cloudy- small sun-break skies and vibrant Fall colors. Leaves and the gold Larch Pine needles are dropping and likely by next week the trees that lose leaves and needles will be bare.

Meanwhile.

The frost may not be ON the pumpkins, but they are being harvested and I continue to cook them every few days. Some I use and some goes in the freezer for the off-pumpkin season.

After cooking and de-seed/de-pulping, it almost looks like “that’s all???”.

But a three pound pie pumpkin, yields about 4 cups of pumpkin puree.

I use my Vita-mix blender to puree the pumpkin.

Now, one of Vita-mix (and Blendtec) selling points is that you use the blender to clean itself by putting hot water and some dish soap in it and running at top speed: it is its own dishwasher! While that is true, in some cases I clean it another way…

To “clean” the pumpkin, I prefer to use warm milk with some pumpkin spice…

Cleanish blender (just needs a rinse :)), add some coffee to the foamy pumpkin-spice-milk and oh boy!!! – you have a pumpkin spice latte which actually has pumpkin in it! (***and fiber in your coffee … :) !! )

And then !!! …

You dip your King Arthur Flour’s Pumpkin Biscotti in your pumpkin spice latte and you are one happy person!

Or you could have your pumpkin latte with one of Mel’s Kitchen Café: Pumpkin Cinnamon rolls.

That makes for a happy person as well.

All of that sweetness.

All of that pumpkin.

BUT!

… My most favorite pumpkin recipe (prepare to be surprised!):

Dishing Out Health’s Pumpkin Kale Turkey Sausage Spaghetti Pie!

Yes, a pasta dish. I’m more of a savory than sweet kind of person and although the biscotti, the cinnamon rolls and the latte are wonderful, this dish is the pumpkin dish that really makes my day!

Although it is written with kale and turkey sausage, I’ve made it with spinach, with arugula, with chard. And with turkey sausage, ground beef and even with white beans and no meat.

I make 1/2 the recipe in one of my 5 1/2 inch pie dishes and that feeds me two meals plus a large spoonful to be added to a broth and make a lunch soup.

Cheers!

New tricks

Tomorrow, October 24, Bear will be 12 years old! 12 is definitely senior dog but he has been acting like young dog these last six weeks.

Still, the back end is not working as well as it used to. Early in the summer, it was obvious that he couldn’t get in the motorhome. Part of the problem is he does not have stairs in the house, i.e. no practice. Plus the motorhome has large risers and the metal bottom steps and depending on leveling, the first step is not always the same height from the ground.

I looked at various solutions … some options were not doable “on the road”. I needed an option that I could deal with at rest stops as well as overnight. I had a ramp which we’ve used but Bear does not like it and it was somewhat short making for a steep incline.

Not too long ago, I found this longer ramp. It is 87 inches long – 27 inches longer than the old ramp which makes a big deal in the incline.

Since the prior ramp had bad memories, I decided to start from scratch, take it slow and hopefully make this ramp FUN!!

The new ramp arrived last Wednesday and after a day of just letting Bear walk around and sniff it, I laid it flat at the entrance to the house. Armed with very small pieces of hot dog, I coaxed Bear on the ramp and then walking in and out. As he got comfortable, I got a bit stingier with the treats and also no treat if you step off the ramp. By yesterday, in and out of the house on the flat ramp was a piece of cake.

This morning, I set the ramp up on the side of the porch so it has a very slight incline.

“Have you got the hot dogs? Let’s get started!!”

No problem with the small incline.

No walking off the ramp.

Hot dog!!

Enter Auggie.

One man’s ramp is another man’s tunnel.

Once was enough and Auggie left to do something else.

“I don’t care if he plays on the ramp, but don’t give him any of my hot dogs!”

Hunting season

Today was the start of General Deer and Elk hunting: guns.

In the side yard, just past Beardog Hill…

??? An orange vulture ???

No, a cat.

Auggie.

Auggie hunting from a tall stump turned critter condo.

The area around the stump is home to little rodents: mice and vole. I’ve seen both Bear and Auggie pounce out there. This is the first time I’ve seen Auggie on that stump, although I’ve seen him hunt from smaller stumps in the woods.

Aside from hunting season, it turned into a gorgeous Fall day with the larch at their golden peak.

***As far as I know, Auggie had an unsuccessful hunt. No critters were gifted to me and I saw no remnants. That’s the way it goes for many hunters :)

Mel’s Whole Wheat Quinoa Sandwich Bread

A new recipe appeared on Mel’s Kitchen Cafe today. I’d been thinking I’d like to have some sandwich bread … soft bread as opposed to my crispy-crusted artisanal bread … and today: Mel’s Kitchen Café: Whole Wheat Quinoa Bread

A quick post of the photos (I made 1/3 recipe, i.e. 1 loaf pan):

First rise – I got in the middle of a work meeting and it went 2 3/4 hours … a bit of an overrise.

Shaped to go in the pan.

Second rise – ready to go in the oven.

Out of the oven (325 for 30 minutes convection). ***Next round I might let the second rise go a bit longer and bake 5 more minutes.

Ready to cut.

Yea – perfect texture, soft but hearty, made a good sandwich and good toast.

***Update 10/21. I made a sandwich yesterday (day old) and the bread was soft, but held together for the sandwich. I sliced and froze the remaining half loaf and today thawed two slices – again perfectly soft but stayed whole for a sandwich. This is the best sandwich loaf I’ve every made – so happy with this recipe!