THE VILLAGE VOICE

"I trust in Nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant and Autumn garner to the ends of time." ~ Robert Browning ~ Outdoor anthurium ___________________ CARAMELIZED ONION MAC & CHEESE ~ Delicious twist on old favorite adapted from Southern Living (September 2006) ______________ 1 8-oz. package large elbow macaroni 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 2 thinly sliced large onions 1 lb. shredded white cheddar 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 32 finely crushed Ritz crackers 6 large organic eggs 4 cups milk 1 tsp. coarse salt 1/2 tsp. white pepper 2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter 1/2 cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Prepare macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in large skillet over medium -high heat. Add sliced onions and 1 tsp. sugar. Cook, stirring often, 15-20 minutes or until onions are caramel-colored. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Layer with half each of cooked macaron...

" Lord, it is time. The summer was very big. Lay thy shadow on the sundials, and on the meadows let the winds go loose. Command the last fruits that they shall be full; give them another two more southerly days, press them on to fulfillment and drive the last sweetness into the heavenly wine." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~ Autumnal Equinox (Hubbard Lake)

"But thy eternal summer shall not fade." ~ William Shakespeare ~ Vibrant gerbera daisy _____________ COFFEE INFUSED GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN ~ Lingering robust summer flavor ( adapted from Cooking Light) __________ 2 (1-lb. trimmed pork tenderloins 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1/4 cup finely ground coffee 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. Hungarian paprika 2 Tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper 1 tsp. coarse salt 1/4 favorite barbecue sauce 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar Combine coffee, vinegar, mustard and brown sugar in large zip-lock plastic bag; add pork and seal. Marinate in refrigerator 2-12 hours, turning occasionally . Remove pork from bag; discard liquid. Prepare grill. Combine ground coffee, sugar, paprika, cracked pepper & salt. Rub over pork. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup barbecue sauce and 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar . Reserve 2 Tbsp. of barbecue sauce mixture; set aside. Place pork on grill...

~ Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) _______________ "This important culinary herb, with its warm spicy flavor, send cooks into poetic raptures . A native of Africa and Asia, basil is held in reverence as a plant imbued wit divine essence, and therefore the Indians chose this herb upon which to swear their oaths in court. Basil was found gr owing around Christ's tomb after the resurrection , so some Greek Orthodox churches use it to prepare the holy water, and pot of basil are set below church altars. There are many varieties of basil, including shrubby basil, which is a tropical species. In Haiti, it belongs to the pagan love goddess Erzulie , as a powerful protector, and in rural Mexico it is sometimes carried in pockets to magnetize money and to return a lover's roving eye." ~ The Complete Book of Herbs ________________ PISTACHIO PESTO PASTA with GRILLED LEMON SCALLOPS ~ Before the frost hits, harvest basil for this deliciously sweet meld of flavors ___________ PES...

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." ~ Emily Dickinson ~ Early life ~ 'In the now' ~ Tomorrow's joy _________ "The Oakleaf hydrangea is a dramatic, white-blooming shrub with four seasons of interest. It blooms best in areas where summers are somewhat hot, but it is winter hardy farther north than the macrophylla ( mophead ). A tremendous advantage of the Oakleaf is that it can thrive in much dryer locations than its cousins. Mopheads struggle in my sandy soil, but the Oakleaf hydrangeas thrive with very little attention." ______________________ PEAR NUT BREAD with LEMON MINT BUTTER ~ A hint of autumn is in the air ... enjoy this favorite 'fiber' treat while pears are 'sweet' and at their peek. ____________ 2 fresh ripened pears 2 large beaten organic eggs 1 cup bran 1 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. ginger 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. soda 1/4 cup soft shortening or...

"Clouds in my coffee" are the confusing aspects of life and love. That which you can't see through, and yet seems alluring...until. Like a mirage that turns into a dry patch. Perhaps there is something in the bottom of the coffee cup that you could read if you could (like tea leaves or coffee grinds). ~ Carly Simon ~ Clouds in my coffee ____________________ MOCHA VELVET TORTE ~ Heavenly rich, truffle-like EASY dessert and, like clouds, always a delight (from a December 1992 issue of Southern Living) * 1 Tbsp. instant coffee granules 1 cup boiling water 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels 1 1/2 cups melted unsalted butter 6 large eggs 1 tsp. vanilla extract Ganache Cream Preheat oven to 225-degrees. Grease bottom of 9-inch springform pan; line with greased waxed paper and set aside. Dissolve coffee granules in boiling water. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved; set aside. Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add chocolate morsels. Process 1 1...

"The great wonder, in gardening, is that so many plants live." ~ Christopher LLoyd ~ A few lovely September faces (Hydrangea macrophylla)

"Listen to the falling rain, Listen to it fall." ~ JOSE FELICIANO ~ Afternoon downpour _________________ CHOCOLATE MUD PIE ~ Don't wail till it rains to enjoy this longtime retro-favorite ________________ Crust: 1 (8 1/2 oz.) box crushed chocolate wafers 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool. Fudge Sauce: 1/2 cup cocoa 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup whipping cream 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract Combine cocoa, sugar, cream and butter in 2 quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until smooth and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool completely. Filling and Topping: 1 quart good coffee ice cream (softened) 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 Tbsp. powered sugar 1 Tbsp. Kahlua cocoa 1/4 cup toasted silvered almonds Spread 1/2 cup Fudge Sauce evenly over baked cooled baked cookie crust. Top with softened ice cream. Spread evenly over crust. Top w...

There is life in the ground: When it is stirred up, it goes into the man who stirs it. ~ author unknown ~ Rainy face dahlia (American Dahlia Society) _____________ GRILLED SHRIMP with WALNUT PESTO ~ A bumper basil crop treat from The Great Big Barbecue Cookbook ______ 12-16 jumbo raw (shelled and deveined ) shrimp 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces 4 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 4 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil 2 cloves chopped garlic 3 Tbsp. fresh grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp. walnut oil (or olive oil) coarse salt & freshly ground pepper Combine toasted walnuts, parsley, basil, garlic, cheese and oil in food processor. Process until finely chopped. Season with salt & pepper. In a bowl, add half the pesto to shrimp and toss well. Refrigerate at least 1 hours or overnight. Thread shrimp onto skewers and cook on hot grill for 3-4 minutes, turning once. Serve with remaining pesto and mixed green or tomato salad. (4 servings) _______ B...

"There is greatest relish for the earliest fruit of the season." ~ Martial ~ Japanese Anemome (Anemone X hybrida ) MICHIGAN WALDORF SALAD with SWEET & SPICY PECANS ~ Delicious salad hints of autumn (adapted from Bon Appetit Sept. 1999) _________ 1 cup dried Michigan tart cherries (can soften in boiling water if preferred) 1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 Tbsp. sour cream 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 Tsp. sugar 4 cored Granny Smith apples (cut into 1/2 inch cubes) 1 1/3 cups thinly sliced celery 1 1/3 cups halved red seedless grapes salt & freshly ground pepper Romaine or mixed greens for autumn color Sweet & Spicy Candied Pecans Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and sugar in large bowl. Add apples, celery, grapes and cherries; toss. Season with salt & freshly ground pepper. Arrange on greens and spoon salad over. Top with Candied Pecans . (6 servings) Note: If substituting red apples, use green grapes. _______ Sweet & Spicy Candied Pecans 3 tablespoons Mi...

~ Bee snuggling in sedum blossom

" The best kind of rain, of course, is a cozy rain. This is the kind the anonymous medieval poet makes me remember, the rain that falls on a day when you'd just as soon stay in bed a little longer, write letters or read a good book by the fire, take early tea with hot scones and jam and look out the streaked window with complacency." ~Susan Allen Toth (England For All Seasons) ~ Good reading for 'cozy' rainy days (A peek out 'streaked' window at beloved Oakleaf Hydrangea) _____________________ APPLE PECAN MUFFINS ~ A treat to nibble on a 'cozy' rainy day ... don't forget the cup of tea ____________ 1 1/4 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. salt 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 large organic egg 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (and zest of lemons) 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups coarsely grated peeled Granny Smith apples 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease muffin tin. Sift flour, baking...

"With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy." ~ Lope de Vega ~ From a September bouquet ____________ GRILLED TEQUILA LIME CHICKEN SALAD ~ Big and bold like the sunflower ... perfect for a warm September day (adapted from Pamela Morgan's Flavors ) ________________________ 6 large boneless chicken breast halves Marinade: 3 chopped green onions 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp. tequila 6 cloves minced garlic 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. soy sauce * 3 ears of shucked corn 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 roasted red peppers, cut in strips 1 diced medium red onion 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro 3 Tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 Tbsp. lime zest freshly ground pepper to taste 1/3 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil coarse salt 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. Tabasco Sauce 1 ripe avocado 2 ripe tomatoes cut in chunks cilantro sprigs Combine green onions, lime juice, olive oil, tequila, ...

"Happily we bask in this warm September sun, Which illuminates all creatures..." - Henry David Thoreau ~ Basking in the morning sun _______________ HUBBARD LAKE BREAKFAST ~ Fit for a king and large enough to feed his army __________ 5 lbs. well scrubbed red skin potatoes 3 lbs. favorite seasoned bulk sausage 2 large chopped sweet onions 1 large chopped red pepper 1 large chopped yellow pepper 1 large chopped orange or green pepper 2 dozen large organic eggs 1 lb. shredded Pinconning cheese (or mixed cheddar & colby ) 1/2 lb. cubed Pinconning cheese vegetable oil coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste Par-boil red skins in salted water and slice into wedges. Coat lightly with vegetable oil. Brown sausage in large skillet or paella pan . Add chopped onions and cook until limp. Next add chopped peppers and continue cooking until soft. Add potatoes and combine well with other ingredients until heated through. Season with salt & pepper. Whisk eggs and ad...