Only November, so where’d all that food go?

daphne on November 24, 2008

Perhaps you remember our good pal, Squiggy? The famous fiend of the savage sunflower attack of ’08? That notorious backyard napper? Well, let’s just say he’s all caught up on his sleep and not wasting his time batting around flowers anymore.  He’s all business.

And I’m kind of falling in awe with the little guy. Such a busy beaver rodent. Scurrying to and fro gathering apples from the tippy top of our tree and pumpkins from doorstops around the neighborhood, all in a thorough preparation to keep his furry family fed.  I’m passing my parent-of-the-year award over to Squiggy.  Perhaps my children as well, since I totally missed the boat on shoring up my shelves for the long cold winter.

It’s November. Only mid-November, and gone are the pounds of delicious strawberry applesauce. Gone are the hundreds of jars of jam.  Of course you remember the freezer full of squash puree that my dear parents put up in my absence? Gone. Every last ziploc baggie of it, gone.  What’s left? Two jars of tomato sauce.  I’ll consider it serendipitous that the kids prefer pasta and pizza sans sauce while I try to configure a lasagna that’ll take us through Spring.

As I gaze into my bare cupboards I think of Barbara Kingsolver.  She made it seem fun and easy to keep her family fed on homegrown efforts.  I think too of Frontier House, a gem of a reality show on PBS a few years back.  The mission: survive out on the homestead.  Those who failed to put up enough food and firewood by the time the snows came got voted off.  (Disclaimer: no families were left to freeze and/or starve in the making of this show.)

This much I know is true:

  1. I worked hard.  I planted. I picked. I pureed.
  2. The food did not last. My family is doomed to starvation (let’s pretend that old nag Nellie is not well enough to make the trip to SuperTarget.)
  3. I am fiercely competitive.
  4. I will not be voted off this homestead.
  5. Squiggy sure is looking plump these days…
  6. Stuffed full as he is with fresh apples and pumpkin…
  7. I’ll just tell the kids he went away for little awhile,
  8. A vacation, a little squirrel sales trip, that’s all. Nothing to worry about kids,
  9. Now sit down and eat your dinner.

Crusty artisan bread with shards of glass

daphne on November 18, 2008

Mmmm, hot, crusty and fresh from the oven. With just a smattering of shattered glass.  Nothing says homemade like fresh bread.  At least that’s what they all say.  The results of my efforts, however, proved otherwise.

If you are dreaming of fresh loaves that look something like this:

You might want to go and check out Farmhouse Greetings. She makes bread the old fashioned way, without glass fragments.

But if you’re not a sissy, stick with me.

I should make one thing clear: my mother is in no way responsible for the events surrounding the spectacular exploding bread caper of ’08.  Really. It’s just that in sharing the recipe over the phone some things got lost in translation, like the fact that her lasagna pan was made of something other than glass.

The gist of the bread baking is this: you create a huge hunk of the dough, keep it in the fridge, and then tear it off and bake as needed.  What keeps the bread soft and fluffy on the inside yet crusty on the outside?  A steaming pan of water, simmering just beneath the baking bread.

Word to the wise: despite the fact that your inner voice might object using only a nagging whisper, LISTEN WHEN IT TELLS YOU NOT TO ADD WATER TO A HOT GLASS PAN.   I’m not saying that I would do anything that insanely stupid, I’m just saying, if you’ve got a little voice, you might want to listen up.

So how do you encrust a warm loaf of artisan bread with billions of tiny shards of glass?  Easy.  Just heat an empty glass pan to 450°.  Lean your head into the hot oven. Pour lukewarm water into the pan and watch the fireworks.  It’s a spectacular show.

Brave reader, here is what your oven may look like after just one shattered glass, bread-baking bash:

Mom got her recipe from a new book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. She loves it. Having pilfered the recipe over the phone I can say that I am not a huge fan of the million shards of flying glass part of the recipe. But Mom’s breads consistently turn out warm and crusty and, most notably, glass-free.

And she tells me that eating bread without risk of blood is just as enjoyable as my way.  So maybe next time I’ll just buy the book.

What about those pumpkins?

daphne on November 13, 2008

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We need to talk about those post-Halloween pumpkins. They are still handy, you know, once the cute pictures have been snapped and the last of the candy has been pilfered from the children’s hiding spots.

The way I see it, once the carving knife has been retired there are a couple of options.

Option Number One: Stage your own Disney-esque critter film festival. I set the bait and then used my extensive techno-abilities to create the following neat-o retro flip-book-style film. Simply wiggle your computer back and forth to see Squiggy in full animated motion.

We first meet Squiggy as he cautiously approaches the treasure,

He gives it a little sniff-sniff,

Then dives in, ass over tea-kettle.

He perches, savoring the fruits of his labor.

Finally we see our hero; leaning in exhaustion and searching for the inner strength to carry on.

I know, I know, it’s touching and sweet. I am a woman of many talents. But for those of you who may be hesitant about challenging Mr. Disney and his world of critter creations, there is another way to go.

Option Number Two: When life rots the pumpkins, make pumpkin puree! That way, with a freezer of golden orange mush and just a modicum of self restraint you too can enjoy pumpkin treats on many a snowy day to come.

I love these muffins but I do recognize that it’s time to branch out. I hereby promise to collect, cook, taste and share recipes for other pumpkin treats. Soon.

Pumpkin is perfect for reasons beyond just keeping muffins moist without adding fat. If you’re into the health thing, or just wish you knew more about our favorite gourd, swing by Kermit’s Corner. We’ve got a list of interesting factoids about what a couple of cups of pumpkin can do for you.

Happy feasting!

Let them eat pumpkin

daphne on November 12, 2008

I’m first in line behind the old rallying call of Let Them Eat Cake. So trust me when I say that adding pumpkin to your cakes, your muffins, your breads, is the way to go. Open up, and embrace all things pumpkin. Why? Well, it’s a great low-fat substitute for oil, plus it makes things taste great. But there are loads of other good reasons. I’ve scanned the web and gathered a few for you here.

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Pumpkin
  • Pumpkin is rich in carotenoids, good for keeping the immune system strong.
  • Beta-carotene, found in pumpkin, is a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. It helps prevent build up of cholesterol on the arterial walls, thus reducing chances of strokes.
  • Being rich in alpha-carotene, pumpkin is believed to slow the process of aging and also prevent cataract formation.
  • Pumpkins have been known to reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a serious eye problem than usually results in blindness.
  • The high amount of fiber, present in a pumpkin, is good for the bowel health of an individual.
  • Being loaded with potassium, pumpkin is associated with lowering the risk of hypertension.
  • The presence of zinc in pumpkins boosts the immune system and also improves the bone density.

The Native Americans were aware of all the benefits in pumpkin. Here’s a handful of random fact, borrowed from HUBpages.

  • Yuma tribes created an emulsion from pumpkin seeds and watermelon to help heal wounds. The seed oil was also used to treat burns and wounds.
  • Catawabas ate pumpkin seeds either fresh or dry as a medicine for kidney support.
  • Menominees mixed powdered squash and water to for urinary support.
  • Modern folk healers believe the pumpkin to be beneficial in ridding the body of intestinal worms and also believe the ground stem of the pumpkin brewed into a tea may help ease women during their menstrual cycle.

Pumpkin puree

daphne on November 12, 2008

Pumpkin puree is a great way to get a dose of beta-carotene while substituting out the fat in many recipes (use in place of the oil.) My favorite recipe using pumpkin is these yummy muffins. Perfect for school lunches and afternoon snacks.

Here’s how it’s done:

  • Microwave a whole pumpkin for a couple of minutes. This is not necessary, but it makes it a whole lot easier to cut in half.
  • Cut the pumpkin in half, and remove as much of the seeds and strings as you can.
  • Tip them cut-side down into a non-glass baking dish with about an inch or two of water.
  • Roast in a 425° oven for about 45 minutes, or until the flesh is very mushy. If the water evaporates before the pumpkins soften, add more water to the pan.
  • When they are mushy, remove and allow to cool. Put into a food processor in small chunks and blend until smooth.

Use right away, or freeze for later.

To freeze for easy use in recipes later on, measure out the puree in 1 cup heaps and place on a wax-paper covered cooking sheet. Once frozen, remove and put in a ziploc or other container for storage in the freezer.

Pick a peck of pumpkins

daphne on November 10, 2008

Disclosure: I don’t know how all those bloggers out there stay on top of things. I write the stuff down, really I do, but then there were election results to check 157 times a day (phew, anyone else happy that that’s behind us?) There’s the laundry to swap out, and then it’s time for swim lessons and dinner, and well, here I am weeks later and that brilliant piece o’ literature I prepared is all yellowed and crinkly.

So for this post I’m going to take you back, back a few weeks when the weather was still on the fence and I was feeling crabby about the sunshiny threat of an eternal summer. Back when the innocent days of early October beckoned our family to the pumpkin farm…

I was thinking pumpkins and spiced cider, but the wishy-washy weather felt differently, rearing its sunny head to the delight of the raspberries and other evil pollen producers that extended my sneezy season well beyond the limits of what a rational person should have to bear.

Lovely, yeah; sweet, sure. Everything coming up floral; frankly, I’m over it. Hello? Ice and snow? I’m bumping up against the legal limits for Sudafed purchases here.

Still, the unseasonable warmth did provide a nice opportunity to hit the pumpkin patch unburdened by heavy coats and muddy boots. The corn maze was high and the wheat was a’waving as we met up with Uncle David and cousin Felix to pick a perfect gourd, or five.

The children frolicked in the corn and fed some chickens. And occasionally gave in to mom’s irritating requests for pictures.

We came. We picked. Maybe we whined a little bit but that’s only because it was really hot and the hay was poking through the flip flops and come on when is it going to be time for lunch? You know, pumpkin patch perfection.

After all, Acadia found this guy, and he kept her pretty busy.

Who is this chick?

daphne on November 6, 2008

Yeah, that one. The one planning for a flowering spring. The one with a song in her heart and a belief in the future. The one dancing with hope.

That’s me, really. With just a few tweaks to the old personality.

I am not known for having patience. A fondness for delayed gratification didn’t make my list either. But hey, if America can climb on board with a big plan for change than the least I can do is try for some changes of my own.

So recently while the girls helped Dave rake yellowing leaves into billowing piles,

I planted something that would not emerge from the soil for 6 month. Talk about delaying some gratification. Talk about hope. I’m talking about lovely ladies that demand a nice six-month nap in the dirt before rearing their pretty faces. Tulips. And daffodils.

I’m never one to jump up and down at the return of warm weather, but I do like the bright colors that litter my neighbor’s yards while our property remains the sole landscape slumbering away beneath a blanket of blandness.

And each year I am reminded that these April flowers demanded attention way back when the first snows were threatening. They require planning ahead. Way way ahead. Which has always been enough to send those tulip-thoughts tiptoeing out of my head.

Not so with the new me. After an eternal election cycle the idea of waiting a paltry six months for flowers seems reasonable. So I read the back of my little packet of seeds. And I dug the holes. And while I may have skimped a bit on the suggested 12 inches of depth and 6 inches of spacing, I remain confident that my yard will look very much like this.

Ok, I can’t say for sure that my yard will blossom like that. But after a long long time I find myself believing in a future bright with rainbows and gilded with hope. My dreams are rich in solar paneled rooftops, electrically-charged cars and daughters bedecked in white lab coats out to change the world.

So why not? Anything is possible. And come springtime I believe we will be dancing in daffodils.

Here it is, your moment of Zen

daphne on November 2, 2008

For those of you who aren’t obsessive fans of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, let me explain.  At the end of each of his faux news shows, Jon Stewart features “a moment of zen.”  Typically it’s a funny quote or a ridiculous image from the day’s news.  The point is to send the viewers off with a smile.

Just the other day I was, as usual, frantically scrolling through polls and predictions. My heart was racing to and fro, so I took a break to read an email from my mother.  She forwarded a link to a blog she reads from the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm, which calls itself the “home of the county’s first fiber CSA.”

CSA, if you remember, stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  Monroe Organic Farms CSA provided our family with farm fresh fruits and veggies all summer long.  Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm keeps my mother and other members in organic wool.  My mother, in turn, keeps her grandchildren cuddly and warm in handmade sweaters.  It works out pretty well for everyone. Well, everyone except those chilly little goats, I suppose.

In the final days leading up to this historic election, I have a challenge for you.  Relax, it is one that does not include knocking on doors or calls to mysteriously undecided voters.

Nope, here’s my challenge to you: I challenge you to click on this link.  Baby Goats Wearing Sweaters. Go on, click it, and try not to smile.

It’ll only take a second.  Positive results guaranteed.  It’s a crowd pleaser, something for everyone, regardless of the color of your state or the state of your mind.

Go on, click it:  Baby Goats Wearing Sweaters. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

My favorite things

daphne on November 1, 2008

When the dog bites, or the bee stings, or the polls show an erratic swing and it feels as if we won’t ever make it to election day, I simply remember my favorite things. You know, my favorite things, plus a bottle of wine and a sack or so of mini-snickers. That’s all a girl needs, right?

And I am a lucky girl. A fact that occasionally gets lost what with all the whiny there is to be done. But I’ll leave the whining for another day. Today, I’m focused on my favorite things…

Here’s a perfect example. Just look what I caught the children doing the other day: each other’s hair.

Really, if they keep pulling this kind of behavior, CNN’s going off for good. It’s enough to make a mom feel a little guilty for eating all their Hershey bars. Well, almost. I’ve got my gripes with this national fascination on seeing how much candy mom can consume once the kids head out for school. But that’s for another day. Today only the positives (or at least the abundant photo ops) of Halloween.

Like pumpkin carving.

We made them cute. We made them scary. We made them hopeful (oops, there I go, slipping back onto the politics bandwagon.

And to answer the question burning in your minds: A witch, scary, and a fairy, magical. Here they are:

The witch spent the day correcting people who dared assume she was a good witch. Our witch is all evil, all the time. And while I’m straightening records, Kira is a fairy who also happens to be a princess. Not to be confused with a fairy princess. Got it?

Now that that’s clear, pass the candy. We’ve got to bulk up a little before hitting the leaves.

Hey, Maria von Trapp was on to something. This favorite things thingy really worked! Just look at how relaxed I am in this picture:

Oh, ok. That is Acadia, not me.

But I’m sure that I am no more than a few more fist-fulls of Halloween loot from being there. Or maybe one more bottle of wine. Right? Who am I fooling? Check back on Wednesday–maybe then I’ll be able to finally relax.