Garden Salad with Chick Peas, Grilled Corn and Nasturtiums, London Broil and Apple Crisp

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

80°F...  what a delight...  with low humidity and bright sunshine it was a day to enjoy being alive.  Between work and chores made time to play outside... Mr Sam sprawled on the warm boards of the deck soaking in the sunshine...  I swear he smiled at me as I walked back and forth on the deck tending to the plants...  reveling in the warmth...  the sun on my face.

By supper time feeling energized... apples beginning to show softness were peeled and cut...  ready for baking...  the scent of cinnamon and allspice filled the kitchen... the crisp bubbling away.  The hubs grilled our london broil...  a quick salad came together...  greenhouse tomatoes...  chick peas...  grilled corn...  radish,  arugula and nasturtium leaves giving a peppery spice to the base of romaine.

We continue to monitor the wildfires in the west hoping for cooler weather  and rain to ease the heat and dryness...  the gulf coast endured another monster storm dumping enormous amounts of rain on communities still not dry from the hurricane just a few weeks back...  and amidst it all the covid crisis flaring up once again in the US passing the devastating mark of 200,000 lives lost...  please mask up and stay safe 💞😷

The US Census ends in a week...  have you been counted?  41 more days until the Election ...  are you registered to vote?

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?  Thoughts?

Grilled Za-tar Chicken Thighs, Grilled Peppers, Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes & Baked Orange Marmalade Plantains

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was bright, sunny high of 72F...  light breeze...  perfect day for running errands and doing outdoor activities.  Tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse slowly but surely as the days shorten and the temperatures slip into the 50’s at night.   

Five neighborhoods in NYC have seen a slight uptick in covid infections since Labor Day...  gives me the willies...  hoping the track and trace folks can get it under control.  Today’s awful milestone of 200,000 lost to the virus...  so many families...  such devestation...  our hearts ache for them.

Tonites supper...  (inspired by the NYTimes Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Thighs) grilled za-tar chicken thighs with roasted peppers, mushroom stuffed roasted tomatoes and plantains baked in orange marmalade...  the counterpoint of the sweet plantains against the savory flavors of the chicken and tomato worked particularly well.  

Following our supper the hubs built a small fire in our fire pit...  we relaxed on the deck for an hour enjoying the warmth...  a delightful end to our day.

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Roasted Eggplant, Pepper and Cauliflower tossed with Cacio e Pepe

Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was another cool blustery fall like day...  bright blue skies graced the Big Windy Apple...   the sun shining down in all her glory warming the greenhouse and our chilly souls.

Spent some time in with the vegetables today nipping off dead leaves...  checking hydration... humidity...  temperature.  Using one light bulb in a reflector next to the tomato planters keeps them above  50°F at night... today was delightful and warm...  a moth fluttered away each time another plant was examined...  shy fellow.  Incredibly...  the cool nights (mid 40’s) and mild days (mid 60’s) tomatoes are still producing...  beyond pleased with results thus far...

Researched cold weather growing...  found many vegetables that love the winter...  lettuces...  cabbages...  root veggies...  peas... chard... parsley...  thrilled to keep growing as long as possible.

Today’s dessert was a use up of nectarines in a delightful clafoutis by Julia Child (link:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12688-julia-childs-berry-clafoutis) the custard was steeped in vanilla and we both found its perfume truly enhanced the dish (always make dessert first...  right?)

Supper was another successful meatless Monday...  roasted eggplant, peppers and cauliflower tossed with Cacio e Pepe (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017304-cacio-e-pepe)  delightful...  no disagreement  from the hubs this time...  necessary after our grilled hamburger and chips meal last night...  our son and a few of his friends spent the day disassembling a dead maple tree we had taken down on Saturday...  they want the firewood...  huge sawing job...  three of them plus the hubs... 16 burgers later... 

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts

Zucchini Onion Mozzarella Bake & RBG Passes

Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...  

update...  RBG wouldn’t have wanted me to quit so here goes...  

This is one of the hardest posts to write...  

Just as supper was brought to the table we found out that RBG had passed.  Isn’t it the truth that everything in life can change in an instant?  And so it has...  an indomitable soul has shaken off her mortal coil...  it is said that when someone passes on Rosh Hashanah they have been a special blessing to those who knew them...  we certainly can say that about our beloved RBG...  she was a champion for human rights...  women’s rights...  she will be sorely missed...  rest in power RBG 💔

Our neighbor gifted us a humongous zucchini a few days back and although we used much of it...  half remained...  tonite’s supper brought to you by ginormous zucchini...  a bake...  shredded the beast, added one shredded red onion, salt, pepper, dill, eggs and shredded mozzarella...  topped with panko and Parmesan...  baked the 9X13 almost overflowing pan at 350°F for about 75 minutes till done...  probably enough left for another two dinners at least.

It’s windy tonite...  temperatures descending into the 60° range...  tomorrow’s high near that same mark.  Autumn has arrived and brought her blustery days...  seems fitting for tonite...  

How was your day?   What on your plate?   Thoughts?

Greek Chicken Stew with Cauliflower, Kalamata Olives and Eggplant & Baby Brussels Sprouts

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was a warm 80°F and humid...  a reminder that summer is still with us here in the Big Muggy Apple...  tomorrow the temps dive into the high 60’s with rain possible and by Sunday will hover near 63°F as the cool air arrives from Canada.

Found teeny little Brussels sprouts growing on the stalks of my plants in the garden...  they’re so small but have time to get bigger as fall weather encourages their growth.  Incredible how they grow right out of the side of the stalk underneath the rosette of leaves at the top providing shade and protection as they get larger.  

Had an invader in the greenhouse this past week and couldn’t catch the little thief...  a cricket found his way in... probably when I left the door open during watering and pruning...  and was munching away on the tomato leaves...  turnip greens and generally making himself a nuisance.  Today I saw him against the wall of the greenhouse resting on a tomato leaf...  the hubs caught him and we released him into the wild to find his own food and stop scrounging off our labor!  😂  He flew off into the neighbors yard...  so glad to see him GONE...  what a muncher! 

Tonite’s supper Greek Chicken Stew with Cauliflower and Kalamata Olives by Martha Shulman...  so delicious...  the taste of the cinnamon against the acid of the vinegar is mind blowing...  used the leftover grilled chicken kebab meat...  added eggplant, since we had them...  why not...  and used fresh tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes...  such a simple recipe...  but the taste complex and warming.  Served with whole wheat pita...  the hubs must have loved it...  he ate four bowls!  Needless to say...  will make it again.

How was your day?    What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Vanilla Skies, Spicy Chicken Kebabs and Veggie Kebabs

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today we had Vanilla skies...  high level haze from the smoky fires in the west infiltrating the jet stream...  all the way to Europe...  temps in the low and mid 70’s...  the sun a blurry orb trying its best to shine through.

Left the light on in the greenhouse most of the day to generate heat and light for the plants...  they’re certainly getting the chill at night as the temps dip into the 50’s.  High 70’s tomorrow then the temps fall into the 60’s...  fall fell...  summer didn’t even have a chance to cool us down a bit...  just gone.

Supper tonite was kebabs...  spicy chicken kebabs...  veggie kebabs...  grilled by the hubs...  served alongside leftover slaw, farro, tomato jam & applesauce...  a glass of Sauvignon Blanc along for the ride.   Made enough to have leftover chicken for some kind of repurposed dinner tomorrow.  Going to have to think about that one... maybe a hash.

Funny story...  ran into a friend at the market yesterday...  she laughingly said... “Hey there Julia Child”...  I thanked her for the compliment...  what a nice thing to say...  she accused me of having waaaay too much fun with food...  loved it 😅😂🤣

With five named storms in the Atlantic hurricane season is churning along...  so far the Northeast is not in the crosshairs...  finger crossed 🤞 

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Hot Cocoa and Apple Crisp

 It’s getting colder out there tonite...  57°F...  

Hot cocoa and warm apple crisp to ease the chill 💞😷