Good Morning, Im craving Sat. Morning, raining here, and my lovely cuppa. My cat is smart enough to be back asleep.

Good morning Christy and thanks for the recipes.

Our farmers market re-opens today after being closed for the month of August and I have been thinking about apples all week because CBL is a great pie maker. Nothing like a good apple pie.

Morning all — am making a big pot of steel cut oats with grated apples, walnuts and a bit of maple syrup for breakfast here. Made myself hungry writing the post. *g*

The leaves are starting to turn and there is a chill in the air.

Ah Fall.

Just satisfying my craving for SW hashbrowns and eggs, here. With strong CostaRican coffee, tho don’t yet grind it myself every a.m. like some of my family used to.

yes, we’ve gone from serious drought to let’s-build-an-ark!

I spiked our coffee with a bit of cinnamon this morning. It’s seriously nummy.

Wow, that sounds good. Good Morning to you.

Please send us some of that rain — we could use it.

Yep, I got seriously wet yesterday when the rain came up in a fast minute….

Good morning Christy. That sounds delicious!

It seems like the seasons have been screeching around corners this year. Long mild winter drifts into a cold spring but then makes a violent right turn into hot humid summer for a few short weeks and now, suddenly, it’s cool, wet fall and you’re making oatmeal.

Time marches on.

But then I saw Tucker Carlson on Fox with the teabaggers this morning and it’s completely killed my appetite.

LOL…that’ll do it…and NPR had Newt this am. What’s going on?

Watching Fox is your big mistake, I have all channels of the like deleted here.

RevBev and Christy, yes, needs my sustenance, hmmmm, cinnamon would do nicely too. Maybe tomorrow.

I was just flippin’. That’s all it took!

I’m heading to a day of presentations about 9.11 down at St. Mark’s church in the village.

Rainy Nor’easter and a good day to be inside.

Summer seems gone. FDL endures and grows as the seasons pass.

Ugh. Tucker Carlson — the world’s most uninformed, whiny “news” commentator. Aren’t his 15 minutes up yet?

It’s nice when your well-connected, Cheney-loving daddy can get you a job with a station owned by a wealthy GOP donor, isn’t it?

GM, Christy. Oh, yum.

I’m going to the Farmer this morning for sure, just for apples. And if there is anyone with corn, I’m getting that too.

I have been sick for a month with giardia, which I finally got diagnosed on Thursday. Once the medicine started, relief. So I am looking forward to eating again.

I have bowls of tomatoes that I just could not manage, but now am feeling like I can make some nice sauce for pasta, and I have some little pie pumpkins too.

We have a State Central Committee meeting this afternoon, and I saw all of our three reps last night as well as staff for one of our Senators. They are all much more optimistic about our health care fortunes than we are here. I am told every time that we just need something to come out of Finance so we can get on with actually getting the bills written. This is very early in the game, they say.

I remain frustrated, but I am told that Harry is not a weakling, even though he is no LBJ. So I am going to try to let up a little, if just for my mental health, and I am going to keep the faith. And keep making calls.

Morning all,
Speaking of Neutered
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/11/gingrich-porn/

i’ll ask my God if S/He’s willing to share. i sure am.

meantime, i really appreciate the food inspirations. i’ve got butternut squash on the counter and ginger in the frig – sounds like it’ll be a soup before the weekend’s out.

i’m getting ready for a trip to albuquerque for a 9-day workshop on non-violent communication, then 3 days in santa fe visiting my brother and sister-in-law. anyone know any good hikes? or other places i must be, must see? i’ll have more free time in santa fe than albuquerque.

There are some town halls going on today too, worth turning off the teabagnut express for.

I just ground up some Costa Rican and put some almond flavor in it. I was so dead tired I went to bed at 930 last night, so I’m up early for once. It’s a glorious early fall day in Central IN. I’m gonna smoke 3 racks of ribs with some corn on the cob from the farmer’s market, and OD on college football. My own little tailgate party! Helps keep my mind off the depressing news of the day.

and I’m with you Ruth, I deleted Fox and most of the other obnoxious channels long ago. Go Blue, beat the Irish!

Train ride from SF to Alb is supposed to be good, and it’s NM State Fair soon, isn’t it? Indian crafts and dancing is worth a visit.

You’ll have to pardon me if I don’t cheer for MI. *g*

Good morning all. No crisper or cooler here but we are finally getting some real, sustained rain after the endless drought. It’s kept me from walking most of the past week but I’ll take the trade.

I am told that Harry is not a weakling, even though he is no LBJ. So I am going to try to let up a little, if just for my mental health, and I am going to keep the faith.

excellent idea.

and Twisted M, the Delete on my set is a bit of a blessing. Don’t even have to be jarred when I flip channels.

Maybe I’ll make my own fall favorite today: Yummy pecan pie. It’s a relatively easy project and I’m never short of pecan huskers. People who have had it are always more than willing to help speed the process but the real joy is in watching others enjoy it.

While in Albuquerque, Olde Town is a must do. Santa Fe the Bishops Lodge is a great do. Great ambiance and food.

Ooooh — anything special in your filling recipe? Am always on the lookout for a new variation on pecan pie.

A friend does sweet potato casserole that is as good as pecan pie, and used nuts in it.

Now there are so many good ideas going, I have to go get some cooking started. thanks, all.

Understand. Although Coach Stew has the ‘Eers looking pretty good as well.

greenwarrier, there is hardly a better time for hiking in NM than now. It is true that the State Fair is open today for 2 weeks, but the balloons are not until October.

Who is doing the workshop? I live in ABQ, and I am not a big hiker, but SF has beautiful hiking places, and Bandelier is near by. The whole area is surrounded by forests, not all of which have burned down in the last decade.

You could hike up Virgin Mesa at Jemez Springs. Not too terribly far from either Santa Fe or Alberquerque and it’s just stunningly beautiful up there. It’s a long hike though and only for people in reasonably good shape.

My daughter lives in Santa Fe. It’s beautiful. Take a ride up to the ski basin for a fantastic view.

And be sure not to miss your daily dose of green chili!

And the Jemez also has lovely hot springs that are mostly pleasant hikes, some longer than others, the reward for the hike is quite nice.

And I echo the suggestion for the train between Abq and SF. Wonderful.

I’ll tell you my secret then Christy: A dash of honey mead. Don’t overwhelm with it though. Just a couple of tablespoons per pie.

Michigan in the 50’s & 60’s had apple orchards everywhere. You were never far from an orchard for a Saturday excursion to purchase fresh cider, apples just off the tree, apple butter and often homemade donuts. Many were lost to developers who put up subdivisions of McMansions or just plain ticky tacky that all look just the same.

Good morning all. Love the “fall” post and comments. Am ready to segue into a new season.

Am still in a bit of post wedding exhaustion and letdown. My tonic today will be watching football all day with my favorite uncle. (He’s only nine years older and more like a big brother.) Told him he’s in charge of the remote. I just plan to veg in front of his flat screen and enjoy their view of the river.

the Center for NonViolent Communication is putting on the workshop. the workshop is at the Madonna Center run by the archdiocese. i’m really looking forward to it. i’ve learned a little bit about non-violent communication in a peacemaking class i was taking when i was in healing school.

Good morning everyone. Unsurprisingly, I don’t have a recipe to share. But I do have a question. I’m headed to Detroit 10/4 (the hubby has meetings to attend) and I’ve been looking for things to do. Anyone know the city? Any suggestions?

Never would have thought of that! Thanks mucho — will try that instead of bourbon the next one I make.

Mmmm….Sounds tasty. My mom died before she could pass on many of her recipe’s but I’ve got the one for her famous coffee cake and my grandmother’s pecan sandies. Might have to make this a baking day. I’ll drive everybody ravenous with the mixed aromas ;-)

I tried that while looking for a sunstitute for bourbon as a matter of fact Christy. I’m not a huge bourbon fan and this is more subtle and much more mellow than bourbon.

That post-big-event exhaustion is tough, isn’t it? Hope you have many snacks and lots of good football today for some relaxation.

i’m loving getting all the responses to what to do in albuqerque and santa fe. thank you everybody.

bgrothus, any chance we could get to say hi to each other? i’m arriving albuquerque at 3 pm this monday, the 13th of sep and the workshop is over around noon on the 23rd of sep.

Sorry solai, I’ve never been there, even though I have some distant cousins in the area. Have fun and be safe though.

this monday the 14th of sep

Query: I saw a small blurb about possible upcoming immigration reform….gives me this opening. Does anyone have resources/suggestions for work in the immigration arena? I think it is very important….supposedly that’s what “set off” Wilson.

OT: Obama in MN today….all about health care.

Oh yeah! And extremely important Christy: Try to find a mead that has been aged in oak containers. It’s fairly common, though a little more expensive. It compliments the already woody flavor of pecans extremely well.

Check with Marcy — I bet she’s got some great ideas.

Ok…thanks.

Re apple crisp … made a batch the day before yesterday … we ate in in 2 hours. Made aother batch yesterday afternoon… ate it last night. (remembering there are 7 people in this house, I didn’t eat it all).

Have enough apples to make another batch today. shall we? Then back to the apple orchard when I go out to the farm. Ahhhh… fall. And last time I went riding in the sherburne National Forest, it was changing color rapidly… light gold with red sumac with a touch of bright maple orange.

If the mosquitoes would leave, it would be perfect.

Well folks, time to dig out my big bag of last season’s pecans and get to work making some pie crusts. I hope everybody has a wonderful Saturday! :-)

You could always go to Greenfield Village in Dearborn just outside of Detroit. A great transportation museum and a wonderful collection of 19th early 20th Century buildings. There’s always Greektown in the city that has the best Greek restaurants in the midwest. Take in a Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park, a really great new stadium that. The Detroit Institute of Arts is an under appreciated world class museum with a great Diego Rivera mural in the entry. The Guardian Building is a class art deco skyscrapper with beautiful Pewabic tiles on the exterior and the entry lobby. Stunning. Motown Museum and the Museum of African American History are also worth looking into. Just a few suggestions.

Mornin’, Christy, pups

Kismet actually let me sleep in later than usual for a Sat morn. Been rainin’ all night so if and when the sun makes its appearance it’s gonna be a sauna.

Haven’t made coffee yet. Kismet’s still eating so the rest are waiting. Don’t ask, it’s quite the operation twice a day. Once the tigers are fed then I can stand in the kitchen deciding what I want to stuff in my face.

Baseball, college football (Go Gators!). Got 2 AM radios so I can listen to baseball while I read and football while I’m on the intertoobz. Yay, Tebow hit a triple and is down to the 6 yard line.

I envy you. Those are two of my favorite places. I think I could spend a day just sitting in the plaza at Santa Fe, watching people, light and shade, and breathing cool, clear air. If you’ve never seen it, the Loretto Chapel,with it’s spiral staircase, is very interesting and is only a couple of blocks off the square.

In Albuqureque, if you’re lucky, you might get a view of the Sandia’s at sunset. I sat in amazement one evening, looking out my hotel window, as they went from glowing red gradually to purple with cold highlights. This photo captures someof it. Anyway, have a nice time.

greenwarrior, the Madonna Center is a good place. Please call me when you have a chance. I can pick you up and take you for green chile or coffee.

I will be out of town overnight on the 14-15, but the rest of the week should be available. 505 two …

While in Detroit you could also take the Ambassador Bridge or the tunnel to a foreign country, Canada. Windsor is a nice town and it’s always uplifting to be in a country that actually has universal healthcare for all it’s citizens and is not in the clutches of xenophobes and know nothings.

Good morning everyone.

Honey Crisps are my new favorite apple. They are so cris, sweet and juicy. I just picked some up this week. And caramel apples rule. I never got the candy apple with the hard coating but I love the red color.

that’s a beautiful photo. did you take it?

i’ve only been to new mexico twice before, passing through on the way to colorado with the sierra club for camping and hiking . we never stopped and saw or did anything. however, the quality of the light, while we were there, was completely captivating to me. i’m glad i’ll have the opportunity to explore it more.

Good morning, Christy. No apples here, but we are getting close to you-pick for persimmons (our trees are still too young…). For us, “cooler” means it’s in the high 60’s a few mornings a week instead of mid 70’s, but I did go ahead and make a big pot of veggie soup this week anyway.

We dropped our youngest off at a walk for ALS and then hit the farmer’s market at the same spot.

Looking forward to a lazy weekend.

yippee! i’m looking forward to it!

I’ve been partial to Fuji apples the last coupla years. They are seriously yummy with peanut butter. *g*

i’ve got pecans on my two young trees in the back, but i’m not sure about getting any. the squirrels are already in the trees, bringing some of the leaves and green pecans down.

We have tickets for a Tigers game and I read about Greektown so we’ll probably go there. Was hoping for a quaint little shopping area but I’m not finding anything like that. And, since we’re staying at MGM Grand, I’m trying not to have it become a gambling vacation.

Yea the Fujis are really good, and until I tried the Honey Crisp, they were my choice. As long as it’s fresh it’s good.

It has to be crisp however. Nothing worse then going to bite and an apple and there’s silence, and and mouth full mealy mush.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless.

Keats, Ode to Autumn

Time for Saturday morning soccer games. Must be fall! I’ll catch up when I return — always like PUAC.

If you want a “quaint” shopping area go to Birmingham, northwest of the City. Woodward Ave. will take you right to Birmingham, about a 15-20 minute drive. Lots of “trendy” shops and the downtown has a bit of a European feel.

there’s a hiking trail out by Bishop’s Lodge you might try.

Corollary to apple recipes:

roasted tomatoes. Slice and place on parchment on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper and chopped garlic. Slow bake at 250 for a coupla hours. Keep an eye on ‘em, though. I did the high temp version the first time and ended up with black crispies.

A splendid bag in the freezer now for flourishes on winter soup and salads and pastas.

No, I didn’t take the photo, just googled to find something like what I saw. What I saw was actually much more dramatic. Also, I was staying in Old Town, which would be in the mid distance of the linked photo, and the moutains filled my windows.

You are right about the light, as the Santa Fe School of artists and many later practitioners have noted.

OK, greenwarrior, we’re set.

SD, did I miss tiger talk last week, or was there no Caturday?

stayed at Bishops Lodge for a writers conference some time back. A wonderful place. There’s an interesting art glass workshop a ways up the road, too.

Thanks, that’s what I was looking for.

I’ve been busy drying heirloom tomatoes and making duck confit this morning, but now I may have the diversion of making tarte Tatin. Thanks, Christy, for the extra project that I hadn’t planned! LOL

If there is anything scheduled at the Michigan Theater, right across the street from Comerica Park, go! It’s a beautiful theater that has been restored to it’s 1920’s/30s splendor. It’s what theaters used to be, ornate, comfortable and an experience. Shopping in the downtown hasn’t been the same since they imploded the old Hudson’s department store. It took up an entire city block and the holidays were made special with a trip to Hudson’s. Although it’s really not much of a transportation alternative the People Mover will wisk you around the core quickly and efficiently. The stations are little works of art.

I see a sour cream apple pie in my future.

You missed it but you can catch up. A really neat encounter at PetsMart yesterday will be included in tomorrow’s edition.

i love the tips. thank you.

If you want to do something auto related, the Ford Rouge tour is cool. You actually see how cars are assembled. And the technology of manufacturing will spin your head. Very few people understand what the US automotive industry has brought to the world as it relates to inovation and technology. This will put a little light on it.

Out for the chores….you know they are serious. Still rainy here. Thanks all. Later

There are still places here and there like that in Michigan; there’s an adorable family-owned place not three miles from my house which will be loaded today with apples and cider and doughnuts alone with a mess of people from around the county.

Their pies are to die for, especially the apple-caramel-walnut.

I’m headed this morning to a family-owned farm market, only two miles in the other direction; there will be crates and crates of squashes now, along with other veggies like Michigan-grown cabbage and carrots. And apples, more apples.

Beautiful morning here, too, temp about 65 deg and clear with a few clouds dotting the sky; almost regret not going to a tailgate party at the local university which started at 9:00 am.

Apples from this season haven’t arrived, in San Diego, except for yellow goldens. Can anyone tell me what has happened to Winesaps? they don’t seem to exist any longer, always my favorite pie apple. Probably have been replaced by a variety that is hardier to ship. I do like the Honey Crisp but sure miss those winesaps that suddenly were not offered any longer. Looking forward to the arrival of apples and cool enough weather to allow for baking! It is the time of year I really miss my Mom and the best apple pie in the world!

I just finished watching MadMen on DVD and one of the special features on the 2nd disc (I think) was a demonstrated recipe for “Alsatian Apple Tart” by the original chef of Lutece (sp?) restaurant that all the couples go to for dinner in NYC cause it was the trendy place of the time. I am just waiting for fresh crisp 2009 apples to be on the market, rather than last year’s mushy storage apples. There was a woman from France who used to come to holiday dinners at a mutual friend’s house and she made this delicious apple tart and WOULD NOT GIVE THE RECIPE TO ANYONE. I think this is pretty similar to what she made. So Nyah Nyah Nyah to her!

There are several factors which might explain why you don’t see as many Winesaps.

Flowering — not all apple varieties bloom at the same time; if one variety blooms early and when there’s a heavy frost, there will be a small number of apples that fall. A later blooming apple which misses the same frost could be more bountiful.

Growing season — depending on the weather in your region during the growing season, there may be a smaller crop of apples. Less popular or more delicate varieties may not be shipped in as sellers may only want to buy apples they can be sure will turn over.

Popularity — as more, newer and increasingly popular varieties reach the market, growers may put more energy into those apple crops which command more money at the market rather than older varieties.

Attractiveness, keeping — some of the older varieties were not developed for their appearance but for their taste, texture and their ability to be kept. Consumers encourage this by purchasing more of newer, attractive varieties instead of older mainstays. It could be that Honey Crisps have now replaced some growers’ Winesaps for this reason.

Timing — We haven’t had a light frost here yet, means some of my favorite apples aren’t yet ready; could be the case with Winesaps. Early crop apples include Macintosh and many other softer apples, but later season apples with firmer flesh aren’t ready for picking until just before first frost and later, until the first hard frost.

I don’t usually see Winesaps offered in our local grocery stores either. I learned how to graft fruit trees, and I grafted a Winesap scion onto a mini dwarf apple rootstock, so it should take off in a few years with some Winesaps in the backyard. You could go to a nursery and see what they have available, or try Googling Home Orchard Society and see what you find in your home state.

I drove from Sacto to Sebastopol CA last Saturday and scored two cases of Gravenstein apples. Amazing fragrance, heirloom variety with a short shelf life but good for eating, baking and sauce. Shared a case and a half with friends and food pantry and made a pie for my father in law’s 88th birthday today. The house (home!) sure smells good when somethings bubbling away in the oven.
Apple time blunts the sudden arrival of fall.