Month: October 2015 (Page 1 of 2)

Fall Harvest Soup

October 28, 2015 / Jenny / 6 Comments

I love it when food captures the color and feeling of a season. This fall harvest soup does just that. It is warm and nourishing, and its color is a beautiful combination of deep orange and gold, much like the leaves that are falling off of the trees. With butternut squash, potatoes, and carrots being the main ingredients, it if full of necessary vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to help us stay strong as the weather turns cold and damp. Curry, ginger, and nutmeg give this soup a subtle flavor, along with a generous amount of ground peppercorns. Because it is pureed in the blender or food processor, the texture is smooth and creamy, and you can serve it either in bowls or little glasses. The garnish possibilities are endless, including chopped walnuts, roasted pumpkin seeds, shredded cheese, or sour cream.

Though I have made some changes, the recipe for this soup is based on one I found in one of my favorite cookbooks, simply called “Autumn,” by Susan Branch. My cousin gave me this cookbook a few years ago, and I have enjoyed many of the recipes in it, along with beautiful illustrations and quotes. This cousin is actually more like a sister to me, since she and I both grew up with three brothers and no sisters. We are so different, yet so alike in many ways. Food has the power to connect people, and every time I use a recipe from that cookbook she gave me, I think of her. We live far apart now (the Atlantic Ocean is between us), yet we are able to stay connected. She recently called me to wish me a happy birthday, and along with catching up about our families and our career accomplishments and aspirations, she told me about her latest favorite way to make butternut squash (which I want to try soon). The love of food is something we have shared for a long time, a love rooted in our shared past and our shared ancestors, and our shared favorite recipes.

No matter how much modern life seems to isolate us, or how much our busy schedules threaten to overtake our souls, food can bring us back to earth and connect us to those we love. A humble vegetable like squash can make us feel like we have crossed continents. Allowing time for washing, peeling, and chopping vegetables gives us time to think, to reminisce, or to talk with whomever is in the kitchen. Homemade soup cannot be rushed. Somehow soup that is not rushed tastes the best to me. This soup is delicious–in its taste, in its color, and with all the associations it brings. Wishing you all the beauty of fall.

Fall Harvest Soup

Servings: 8-10
Time: about
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Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced
2 medium potatoes or 4-5 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
about 5 cups of butternut squash (one medium-sized squash or about 2 and 1/2 pounds), peeled and cubed, with seeds cut away
6 cups of chicken broth or stock (I like the Better than Bouillon brand)
1 teaspoon of curry
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dried ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
chopped walnuts, roasted pumpkin seeds, shredded cheese, or sour cream for garnish

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Over medium heat, saute the onion and carrot until soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and squash. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for about 40 minutes. Add the curry, nutmeg, and ginger. Let the soup cool for a few minutes. In a food processor or blender, puree the soup in batches. Return the soup to the pot and add salt and pepper to your taste. Adjust the other seasonings if you wish. Serve in bowls with spoons, or in little glasses to sip. Enjoy!

Chocolate and Chia Oatmeal Cookies

October 16, 2015 / Jenny / 13 Comments

These cookies are moist, rich in flavor, and full of good things like oats, chia seeds, chocolate chips, cinnamon and vanilla. They somehow bridge that gap between healthy and luxurious, and they always disappear quickly at my house.

The weather has definitely turned in the past few days, and it feels more and more like fall and less and less like a lingering summer. The blustery wind is blowing leaves off the trees, and the trees themselves are becoming so colorful, seemingly overnight. The sunsets have been stunning and dramatic lately, and they are occurring earlier and earlier. Now I get to watch the sunsets as I am walking with my soccer-mom walking buddies, and our kids end up practicing soccer in the twilight, not stopping until dark. Last night’s sky was especially dramatic, with windswept clouds turning from gray to dark orange, making the colorful leaves look even more vibrant in the glowing light. There is something cozy about spending time with friends outside in the dark, while our kids run and chase and laugh.

Chilly days and nights call for jackets, hats, gloves, and cookies! This cookie recipe is a favorite of mine, because the cookies turn out so delicious, and there are some healthy ingredients in there too. It is based on a recipe I found on the inside of the lid to my Quaker oats container, though I have made a few changes, including adding chia seeds and chocolate chips. I have noticed an improvement in the taste and texture of my baked goods since I have been using butter from grass-fed cows (I have mentioned this before), and the nutritional value of such butter is improved. The oat and whole wheat flour provide fiber, vitamins and minerals, while the chia seeds contain vitamins and minerals, protein, antioxidants, and Omega-3 (good) fatty acids.

Just like with everyone, there is a lot going on right now, a lot of balls in the air, so to speak, and sometimes I find myself worrying about things I cannot control. Although I know I am not supposed to do that, sometimes I do it before I realize I am doing it. That’s when it’s important to be aware of my thoughts, take a step back, and get some perspective. We all have different ways of gaining perspective. For me it helps to go outside and exercise, bake, talk to a trusted person, or read. And this dramatic weather is really something that can make a person feel emotional. It is sometimes essential to just drop everything and get out into the gorgeous autumn and be in the present moment. There is nothing like the present moment to give a person some healthy perspective. I always turn to one of my favorite poems at this time of year to put this feeling into words, and I know I shared this excerpt last year in October. But I will share it once again, because I love it so much, and it is so fitting right now. It is the third stanza of “A Vagabond Song” by Bliss Carman: “There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;/We must rise and follow her,/ when from every hill of flame/ she calls and calls each vagabond by name.” I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you get a chance to get out and experience the beauty of October, along with the comforts of warm cookies and a cup of your favorite drink.I am sharing this recipe over at Angie’s Fiesta Friday, co-hosted this week by Effie at Food Daydreaming and Lindy at Lindy Mechefske.

Oatmeal Cookies With Chocolate and Chia

Servings: about 4 dozen cookies
Time: approximately 20 minutes preparation, about 40 minutes for baking
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Ingredients:

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) plus 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour
1 cup of unbleached all-purpose flour (you can also use whole wheat pastry flour if you prefer)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt (optional)
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
3 cups of old fashioned rolled oats, uncooked
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large mixing bowl, mix (I like to mix them by hand, but you can use an electric mixer if you like) the butter and the sugars until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir vigorously, until well-combined.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the flours, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and chia seeds.

Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the butter mixture. Stir until well-combined. Then stir in the oats. Mix again until the oats are incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips, until well-combined.

Drop the dough by rounded spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake in your 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Let them cool 1-2 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, store them tightly covered. Enjoy!

Apple and Pear Mini Galettes

October 9, 2015 / Jenny / 13 Comments

Apples and pears are so delicious and abundant this time of year. These little galettes are full of the quintessential fall flavors of succulent baked apples and pears, surrounded by tender pastry. Because they are mini, they are just the right size for one person, and great for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast. Because the fruit is so fresh and flavorful, these galettes do not need a lot of ingredients.

At the height of autumn, there is so much beauty and bounty from nature. And there are people who love the bounty and want to share it. My daughter and I were at a farmers market in a nearby town recently, where we encountered a farm stand I had never seen before at this market. The woman there had piles of pumpkins and squash, and baskets heaped with red, ripe tomatoes and beautiful pears. Her prices were so low, she was almost giving the produce away, and I could tell she really wanted people to use and enjoy her fruits and vegetables. I bought a basket of ripe, golden pears from her, though the price was so low it truly felt like a gift. A couple of days later, my mother brought us a bag of apples from the iconic cider mill in the town where I grew up. I have so many memories of going to that cider mill as a kid, of sitting along the river and drinking that fresh cider from paper cups and eating doughnuts from a paper bag.

Anyway, I knew I had to do something with this fruit to honor its goodness and the generous spirit in which it was given. Since I am slightly obsessed with galettes this year, I wanted to try these two archetypal fall fruits in galettes. I am so glad I did, because they tasted wonderful, and my kitchen smelled amazingly good while they were baking. Also, since galettes are considered rustic, I don’t feel a lot of pressure to make them look perfect. The taste is of paramount importance though, and the fruit stands out nicely. My family smiled and ate them up. Good thing I captured them in photographs before anyone else got home!

I hope you are enjoying the abundance of fall and the joy of generosity. Small acts of kindness can make someone’s day. A beautiful basket of pears, a bag of fresh apples, a pear or apple galette, or even just a smile. It makes me think of that bumper sticker that says, “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty,” or something close to that. Receive graciously. Pass it on. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

I am sharing these seasonal galettes with the lovely bloggers at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #89, co-hosted today by Mila @ Milk and Bun and Kaila @ GF Life 24/7.

Apple and Pear Mini Galettes

Servings: 8
Time: about 20 minutes preparation and about 15 minutes for baking
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Ingredients:

For the apple filling:

2 cups of apple, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of flour
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (or to taste)

For the pear filling:

2 cups of pear, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of flour

For the crusts:

2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 to 7 tablespoon of cold water

For the egg wash:

one egg, beaten
1 tablespoon of water

Directions:

Wash, peel, and thinly slice the apples. In a small mixing bowl, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Wash, peel, and thinly slice the pears. In another small mixing bowl, combine the pears, sugar, and flour.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Gradually cut in the butter with a fork or a pastry cutter, combining until the mixture has the consistency of peas. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cold water over the dough, and gently toss with a fork. Repeat until the dough is moistened, but not so wet that it is slimy. If you add too much water, add a little flour. Work the water through just until the dough is a nice, soft texture, but don’t over-work it. Divide the dough in half, forming two balls. Set one ball aside. Divide the other ball into four smaller balls of about equal size. On a lightly floured surface, flatten a small ball with the palm of your hand. Then roll the dough from the center to the edges, forming a circle of about 6 inches in diameter. Do the same thing with the remaining 3 small balls of dough. When you have four 6-inch circles of dough, spoon the apple mixture onto the center of the circles, distributing it evenly and leaving about a 2-inch border of dough around the circles. Gently fold the edges of the dough around the fruit, pleating all the way around the edges. Transfer the galettes to one of the baking sheets.

Clean any residual dough off the floured surface, and sprinkle more flour on it. Take the second large ball of dough and repeat the above process, making 4 six-inch circles of dough. Spoon the pear mixture onto these four circles. There may be a lot of pear juice at the bottom of the bowl, so try to spoon out the fruit, leaving as much juice as possible in the bowl. Repeat the folding and pleating process and transfer the pear galettes to the other baking sheet.

In a small bowl, beat the egg and add a tablespoon of water. With a pastry brush, brush the edges of the galette crusts with the egg wash.

Bake in a 425-degree oven for 15 minutes, or until the crusts are lightly golden and the fruit is bubbly. Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired. Enjoy!