10/21/12
Wow, what a gorgeous day! Blue skies, sunny, warm (69 degrees), slight breeze - why can't I live somewhere where the weather is always like this? Well, I suppose I'd start to take it for granted, whereas this way - man, do I appreciate it. This is particularly true when contemplating the coming winter... Even if the predictions are for a warmer-than-normal and drier-than-normal winter, that could mean 10 below rather than 30 below, and maybe a couple blizzards rather than a dozen! Though, after last winter's non-occurrence, I don't know... With the drought this summer, I think I have to hope for a very snowy winter, in spite of personal inclinations to the contrary!
The last of the tomatoes in the basement are ripening up nicely, with only an occasional failure to be tossed. The basement-ripened ones are more tart than the vine-ripened ones were, but still very enjoyable. I've just been eating them sliced, with crumbles of feta and chopped walnuts on top, salt & freshly ground pepper, and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. Very yummy! We also made several batches of stewed tomatoes (peeled, simmered with onion and garlic) which were then frozen in smaller units for use this winter. The tomatoes were definitely a success, as were the squash. The other veggies.... not so much. I think the rabbits got more use from them than we did! That's okay; small compensation for Henry's depredations earlier in the summer!
Speaking of squash, I made a very tasty soup from some of Fred's already-cooked butternut squash. It was basically squash, pureed with some cream, chicken broth, and your choice of spices (I added a bit of pumpkin pie seasoning, but I couldn't taste it at all - too stingy, I guess!). I used the blender I've had forever and never thought I'd use again! Had to do it in small batches, but worked fine. Now I wish I'd kept the Cuisinart I sold when I moved to the first farm... I added more broth once I had it all back in the pot because it seemed really thick, and then it was wonderful. I broiled an open-faced sandwich of cheese, dried tomatoes, and onions to go along with it. I felt very "harvest dinner"-ish! Well, a small harvest dinner...
I froze the leftover soup, with some trepidation because of the cream, but it thawed nicely. The reheating and whisking made it totally creamy again (I was worried that it would remain porridge-y). I'm feeling pretty pleased with my first summer of growing veggies.
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