Today....

....is the last day of October, and the day to turn those clocks back one hour!

This crew is ready!  Happy Halloween!

The morning sky....

This has been a Full Moon week.  Unfortunately, cloud cover has interfered with our view of that lovely moon here.  It was a pleasure to be greeted with this view this morning....

There were even a few stars!

Happy Halloween Eve!

Perfect....

In searching for good recipes for the fall, I found this one that has been in my files for a number of years.

This is an adapted recipe for pasta e fagioli.

1 Tablespoon olive oil

minced garlic, according to taste

1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

3 cups vegetable broth (chicken broth may be used if not vegetarian)

1 3/4 cups ditalini pasta (or other small pasta)

1 Tablespoon dried basil

red pepper flakes, as desired

salt and pepper, as needed

Saute garlic in olive oil for two or three minutes.  Add beans and vegetable broth.  Bring to a boil.  Add seasonings and pasta.  Bring to boil, then reduce heat, and simmer until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.  Garnish with shredded Paremsan cheese and fresh basil.

Join me in a bowl!

Inside.....

There are some signs of the season inside the house....

This pillow cover is one I won last year in a giveaway on the Home Away From Home blog.  It's perfect to have in place for this season!

The table is set, ready and waiting for serving that fall meal!

The pumpkin is filled with treats for those little goblins!  This is Halloween week!  Are you ready?

The best thing is - the pumpkin decor is still appropriate into November!  

China - Vineyard Season by Noritake, discontinued.

Pumpkin Soup Bowl - Williams-Sonoma

Large pumpkin - ceramic piece done by a friend a number of years ago

Before the wind....

....and the rainy days that are predicted this week, I took just a couple of pictures.

The Burning Bush has completed its change of color, and some of the leaves are already falling off.

The neighbor's trees are at their prettiest this season.

If the rain that is predicted actually does come - along with wind - that will probably send all this color to the ground.  It has been a lovely fall here!

Another "corny" one....

Once upon a time....

....there was an empty baking dish.

Suddenly, a recipe appeared!

It comes from that wonderful Autumn book by Susan Branch!

It was perfect for this baking dish!  Here it is ready to go into the oven!

Out of the oven, ready to serve!

Yum! It would appear that it has been a hit with us here!

Try it!  You'll love it!

Susan Branch's book Autumn is available from her website store - susanbranch.com

Last Saturday....

....we were here -

It was a beautiful day, and a perfect time to share conversation with friends from past years.

For the first time, we were able to watch the Emory and Henry marching band!  There has not been such a band in many years - even before I was a student there - so it was a real treat!  The band played while the choir sang the Star-Spangled Banner!  Very exciting!

Unfortunately, Emory and Henry didn't hold onto a half-time lead, and lost the game to Hampden-Sydney.  They play away from campus today - at Catholic.  Hopefully they will be more successful this week-end.

Sending everyone wishes for a good week-end!

A variation....

I have posted our favorite cornbread recipe earlier on the blog.  While that is the one I bake about 98% of the time, we do like this variation -

The recipe for this one comes from The Table at Gray Gables, compiled by Linda Brooks Jones.  Gray Gables has been a bed and breakfast located in Rugby, a rural area in East Tennessee.  It is a wonderful place to visit.

Try this one!  I think you'll love it just as we do!

Recipes from the previous post....

As I mentioned in the previous post, I had recipes that would be coming for you.

First - for the Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Cookies -

This is as I jotted down the recipe from the TV program on the Food Network.  Yes, that's my scribble.:-)  I hope you are able to read it and understand my abbreviations.  Just let me know if you have a question.

Next, there were those "fingers."

This particular recipe I clipped from an advertising section in the newspaper.

Can't remember when it appeared, but you can see that it is a Gold Medal sponsored recipe.  This is very vesatile, and it is simple to assemble.  No need to use a mixer!

Enjoy!

From the Pioneer Woman....

I think this may be the day that the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook will be issued.  I'm not sure this recipe will be included in that cookbook, as I jotted down instructions from the TV show once quite awhile ago.  It is probably available from her website, or from Food Network.

Chocolate, of course!  These are dipped in melted white almond bark, then rolled in assorted seasonal sprinkles.

They fit in nicely with this assortment - 

Sugar cookie sticks may look a little like witch fingers.:-)  At any rate, the Munchkins really enjoyed these!

Recipes?  They are forthcoming!

Pink in October....

As this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have been seeing a lot of pink.  Such was the case on this past Saturday when we were at Emory and Henry College for Homecoming.

The cheerleaders had pink pom poms!

The nearby ambulance service is even "in the pink!"

Special interest on campus was the opening of the new Fine Arts Center.

This is a view of the auditorium.

The steps inside were even given seasonal color!

The best part of our trip, of course, was working in time before Homecoming to visit with Munchomom, Machoman, and the Munchkins.  This past June, they moved further away, so we haven't seen them quite as often.  It was great to be able to take a bit of an October vacation that would include time with them.

Sending wishes for a good week to all!

Waiting....

....for that spider!

Although, it is just as good without the addition of that spider!:-)

I've been making this for a number of years, ever since I clipped this recipe from a paper featuring Nestle products.

I will mention that I've substituted almond butter for the peanut butter, as there is a bit of a sensitivity to peanut butter for Munchkin the Elder.

Hope you try it!

From the past....

This recipe has been in my files for 43 years!  It appeared in the local newspaper of the town in which we were living in 1972, and I have baked it more than once a year since then!

Out of the oven....

....and ready to enjoy!

Yes!  It's time for pumpkin!  Enjoy!

An announcement!

As promised earlier, today is the day to announce the winner of a year subscription to this -

If any of you follow along with Susan Branch, you know how she is able to keep us in suspense while "Vanna" takes her bubble bath and then dons her special swirly dress and cute sandals.  Well, in this case there was no "Vanna."  The Husband cheerfully filled the role of drawing out the winning name!:-)

And - the winner is Lisa!  Congratulations!

Chocolate - always good!

It is no huge secret that we do love chocolate around here!:-)  So - when Cooking.com sent this recipe out to my email recently, it was a definite keeper!

We even tried it!:-)

Yes, it was good!:-)

Have you tried these?

On a recent grocery shopping trip, I discovered a new item in the produce section of my local super market - organic rainbow carrots!

They were really tasty with that cinnamon sugar butter on them!  Thank you, Land o' Lakes!

Remember - go to the blog for Friday, October 9 and enter for the giveaway!  Last day is tomorrow!

Reminder....

Just a reminder about the giveaway that was mentioned on the blog for October 9!  Be sure to comment there if you want to be considered!

A giveaway....

It seems that it must be time for a giveaway on the blog!

If you are interested in receiving a subscription to this magazine, just leave a comment on the blog!  I will close entries on Tuesday, October 13 and announce the winner on Wednesday, October 14.

I know there are some of you who follow the blog, but do not ever make comments.  If you know how to contact me via email, and you want to be included, just send me email to let me know!

Happy week-end!

Here's what's happening....

Cookies are being baked!  

This recipe has been in my files for a number of years, so I thought it was time to give it a try.:-)

'Tis the season....

....for apples, and that sounds good to us here!

Of course, these have a special role -

They are just for decor, but don't they look very real?

These have a purpose - soon to become applesauce!

After we enjoyed a portion of that applesauce, however, this is all that remained for the freezer!:-)  There is a special appeal of warm, freshly-prepared applesauce!

I believe this recipe may have come from one of my trusty Betty Crocker cookbooks, but I long ago copied it onto a handier recipe card.  Enjoy!

I prefer Granny Smith apples for this.

A day late....

....but perhaps this is something that will help you remember for next Monday.:-)

Do any of you follow the Meatless Monday routine?  Try this one -

Salmon patties are one of The Husband's favorites!

Can't remember the original source of this recipe.  It has been in my recipe files for years and years.  The patties will vary in size, depending on what you wish.  

Oh!  They are also good for that Friday fish meal!

China - Strawberry and Vine by Wedgewood

Remembering....

The older one becomes, the more one has to remember.:-)  What I am remembering today is something from my childhood.

While I grew up in a rural area, it was not actually a "farm."  There were extended family members and other friends of my parents who did live on a farm.  Some of these acquaintances would have a hog that they would raise through the year, and some of us would benefit a bit when butchering time came around.

Considered to be a delicacy in those days was the tenderloin.  It did not become sausage, nor did it become chops, but it was a very tender, tasty cut of pork that sometimes found its way sliced into the iron skillet for breakfast.  That would be an especially memorable breakfast!

These days, that tenderloin is readily available at the market.  Though it is usually pricey, sometimes it is possible to find it at a good sale price.  Such was the case here recently.  

This made a perfect fall breakfast!  The Husband is thrilled to have leftovers!:-)

Such a special breakfast needed a special setting.

Mixing the old with the more recent - perfect for remembering a childhood autumn morning!

China - pink dogwood depression glass small plate, cup and saucer.

            Strawberry and vine - Wedgewood

Bowl - Longaberger

Platter - Strawberries and Cream - Villeroy and Boch

Flatware - Chateau by Oneida