Oh Summer, I feel you pulling away like a lover’s goodbye – with a bittersweet wrenching in my heart. My eyes follow slanting light on leaves, on rippling water, witnessing a dazzle of unexpected miracles. My heart soft from sadness in the world today, this hollyhock nearly makes me weep with it’s fragile, exquisite beauty,…
Category: Fall in the garden
Weekly Photo Challenge – Creepy
Creepy… or reason to cheer, if you’re a gardener. Word Press Photo Challenge “Creepy” From September 18, 2012, Praying Mantis Encounter… “But, back to my tale at hand. I was out in the sun, sipping cider, picking green beans, when literally, I almost picked a praying mantis! Blending in with the surroundings, until I looked…
Plums – under a rain soaked sky
I have been eating. Truly. I have been thinking about recipes, and making them, and then sitting down somewhere and actually eating them. But my recent move – back to the countryside ’round Paonia, Colorado from the city, has added fullness and textures and people that are being juggled, and huggled, sifted and arranged. I…
My New Farmhouse Kitchen
My spirit has pulled me this way and that in the last year or so. And I find myself, now, back home again. In the valley. Just outside Paonia, Colorado. It’s a little bit like heaven on earth. And a bit of a story, too. The short version is, my heart won out over –…
Favorite Photographs of the Year
Memories of 2013 from Pachamama’s Beautiful Food archives…from Paonia to Ft. Collins, Colorado. Thank goodness for gardens! Out of the thousands of photos I took, I hope you enjoy these mementoes. Click on the first image to view as a slideshow. I’m beginning to more earnestly focus on the Pachamama’s cookbook, going through recipes, gleaning…
Leek Gratin with Asiago Jarlsberg Mornay Sauce
Late fall and winter actually become easier to bear when it’s finally snowing, and just beautiful to be outside! What eases the early darkness of this season even more for me is, coming back indoors, watching a fire in the fireplace, and – let’s face it – the amazing foods of the season! Freshly pulled leeks are…
Grilled Zucchini Parmesan with Roast Tomato, Smoked Paprika and Basil Marinara
Lovely zucchini. It hasn’t been long since we were all peering beneath your huge leaves, pushing them this way and that, not wanting to miss the zukes of proper proportions, so we would not be, a day or two later, harboring a giant – you know – a Zucchini of Unusual Size. Very Fresh zucchinis…
The Celestial Crepe
O! To the Yin and Yang of life! To these delicious GF crepes! Upon a closer look of this kitchen creation, a deep understanding of stars, orbits and all kinds of celestial goings on takes place when you behold. Do you doubt?! Look! True amazement in a humble crepe! I made just one yin yang crepe (the tail ends of…
Beet Chips with Kosher Salt and Rosemary
The temperature was -4 early this morning, with a very thin, fine powder of new snow over all. The garden is buried, with my popcorn and cranberry garland from the holidays swinging forlornly from some branches out back. Sweet juncos, a chickadee or two, and flickers will soon be flitting about in spite of the frigid…
Buckwheat Elderberry Muffins with Lemon and Ginger ~ November Tea Time
November remembers…..ahhhh….. June in the garden: ….and the months flew by…. right into the last elderberries of the season. I first created this recipe last year, and wanted to pull it out again. If you don’t have access to elderberries, try dried currants, or chopped dried cranberries. Actually, these muffins would be great with a mix…
Butternut Squash Soup with Leeks, Anaheim Chilies and Dried Italian Plums
Fall. I am finally up for it! I made an autumn wreath from fresh sage and fire thorn berry clusters the other day for my front door. Welcome! After a kinda unsettling bout of digestive funk, I am finally comin’ round, I hope, and having some energy to get back into my work, harvest nearly…
The Magic of Looking Closely
I stepped out of my warm dry house early this morning and encountered Love. We have many dwellings – and one Earth home. Whom is, in so many places, still exquisitely beautiful. Like here – Stepping out into the wet morning today was a flooding into all my senses. The incredible layers of scents and smells…
Amaretto Pear Preserves
Pears and almonds go together like childhood friends. It’s true! This pear preserves recipe has a wonderful depth added by flavoring with a little Amaretto (Italian almond liqueur), fresh nutmeg, and honey. So easy, and lushly delicious, like these pears it was made from this afternoon. Assembling ingredients for a recipe like this brings a smile….
the sweet fall harvests
Each day at this point in the garden season is a treasure. Be-jeweled. I feel it. Looking about this plot of ground, October 4th in the afternoon, I feel the gift big time. It makes poignant, clear sense, to truly be present in the moment these days of twirling, fleeting gold and changing season. And I do my best. Looking for beauty, and…
Pachamama's Beautiful Food 