THE VILLAGE VOICE

"We only part to meet again." ~ John Gay ~ 'But beautiful' ____________ "Yea, I have looked, and seen November there; The changeless seal of change it seemed to be, Fair death of things that, living once, were fair; Bright sign of loneliness too great for me, Strange image of the dread eternity, In whose void patience how can these have part, These outstretched feverish hands, this restless heart?" ~ William Morris (November)

~ November beauty (flower of the month) _________________ THANKSGIVING WEEKEND STRATA ~ Delicious use of several leftovers ... stuffing, turkey, rolls, and cranberry sauce (old Free Press clipping from Whole Foods Market) _________ 4 cups leftover Thanksgiving bread stuffing 4 cups cubed bread (any will do like leftover dinner rolls a great option) 2/3 cup whole milk 2/3 cup half & half 6 organic eggs 1 1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp hot sauce (optional) 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 Tbsp. butter 1 1/2 cups white or assorted quartered mushrooms 2 1/2 cup cook leftover diced turkey 1/3 lb. shredded cheddar cheese (or favorite melting c heese like Pepper Jack and Gorgonzola) 2 cored and diced large apples, sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning 1-2 cups leftover cranberry sauce Butter 9x12x2-inch baking dish. Combine leftover stuffing and cubed bread in large bowl. Place half of mixture at bottom of baking pan and set aside. Whisk together milk...

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and and the new." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ November mums ___________ TURKEY SALAD with CRANBERRIES & TOASTED PECANS ~ Yes ... leftovers are delicious! _____________ 2 cups shredded or diced turkey 1 diced and cored Granny Smith apple 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup chopped green onion 1/4-1/2 cup dried cranberries 3 Tbsp. coarsely chopped toasted pecans 1 (11oz.) can drained mandarin oranges coarse salt & freshly cracked pepper 1/2 cup light mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. sour cream or plain yogurt 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley 8 Red leaf lettuce leaves additional toasted pecans Combine turkey, apple, celery, onions, pecans, and oranges. Season with salt & cracked pepper. Whisk mayonnaise , sour cream, mustard, and parsley. Pour over turkey mixture and gently fold in. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Line 4 plates with 2 lettuce leaves each. Mound 1/4 cup of salad on top of leaves. Ga...

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~ Marcel Proust ~ Thanksgiving Roses "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John F. Kennedy

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~ H.U. Westermayer THAI PUMPKIN SOUP (unusual spicy twist from traditional) 2 32-oz. boxes of organic chicken broth 1 28-ounce can pumpkin 1 quart mango nectar 1/2 heaping cup chunky peanut butter 4 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar 6 Tbsp. minced green onion 2 minced cloves garlic 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger 1 heaping tsp. crushed red pepper flakes juice of 1 lemon plus zest chopped fresh cilantro Combine chicken broth, pumpkin and nectar in large saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Process 2 cups pumpkin mixture, peanut butter, green onion, garlic, pepper flakes and ginger in blender until smooth. Return to remaining pumpkin mixture in pan. Whisk in vinegar, lemon juice and zest. Correct seasonings. Thoroughly heat and ladle into soup bowls. Sprinkle with cilantro. (10 - 12 servings) _______________ ...

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." ~ Eric Hoffer ROAST TURKEY with HERB BUTTER & CARAMELIZED ONION GRAVY ~ Delicious, easy and rich favorite bird (adapted from Bon Appetit -Nov 2002) ____________ Onion Base for Gravy: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 4 large thinly sliced onions 1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme 1 1/2 Tbsp. flour 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 3 Tbsp. honey Turkey: 6 Tbsp. (3/4) stick room temperature butter 1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 21-22 lb. turkey 1 large quartered onion 3 1/2 cup organic chicken broth 1 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth) 2 large fresh rosemary sprigs 2 large fresh thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour coarse salt & freshly ground pepper Gravy Base: Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until deep brown, about 40 minutes. Mix in rosemary and thyme, then flour; stir 1 minute. A...

"There are several theories as to the origin of the name 'cranberry.' One is that the open flowers look like the head of a crane; another is that cranes like to these sour berries. The Pequot Indians of Cape Cod called the berry ibimi , meaning bitter berry. Algonquin Indians were among the first to harvest wild cranberries. They used them for food, medicine, and as a symbol of peace. Native Americans pounded cranberries into a paste and mixed with dried meat, and called this mixture 'pemmican.' One of the first references to cranberries was made in a letter written by Mahon Stacy to his brother in England dated April 26, 1680." ~ Cranberry Facts & Trivia ~ American cranberries meet English flow-blue ______ SPICED CRANBERRY RELISH ~ Another favorite cranberry sauce recipe ( Wolfgang Puck 1993 on Good Morning America) _______ Peel and juice of 1 medium orange Peel and juice of 1/2 medium lemon 3 cups port 1 package (12 ounces) fresh cranberries, washed 1/...

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey ~ November ___________ CREAMY MUSHROOM CHESTNUT SOUP with THYME CROUTONS ~ Rich autumn flavors in each creamy spoonful. Adapted from Cooking Light Nov 2007. ________ 1 1/2 lbs. assorted stemmed and sliced gourmet mushrooms ( cremini , shiitake , oyster, baby bella , portabella ) 3 Tbsp. minced shallots 1/2 tsp. coarse salt, divided 1 large clove minced garlic 5 cups organic chicken broth 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup roasted chestnuts (bottled chestnuts like Trader Joes are fine) 2 thyme sprigs 4 Tbsp. light sour cream freshly ground pepper to taste 2 slices cooked and crumbled applewood -smoked bacon additional sour cream thyme croutons (prepare while soup is cooking or make ahead) Coat large stockpot with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and saute 15 minutes until liquid evaporates. Add shallots and saute 1 minute. Add 1/4 tsp....

"The true essentials of a feast are only fun and feed." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ Muted mum ___________ CARAMEL PECAN TART ~ Sensational easy twist on traditional pecan pie ... shortbread-like crust meets buttery-rich brown sugar-honey topping. A favorite clipped from Southern Living 2007. ________ 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans 2 cups flour 2/3 cup powdered sugar 3/4 cups cubed unsalted butter 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 2/3 cup unsalted butter 3 Tbsp. whipping cream Arrange pecans in single layer on baking sheet. Bake at 350- degrees for 5-7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup butter in food processor 5-6 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of lightly greased 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes or un...

"The Indians and English use them much, boyling them with Sugar for Sauce to eat with their Meat, and it is a delicious sauce." ~ John Josselyn (while visiting New England in 1663) ~ Cranberry _______________ CRANBERRY PEAR PIE with OATMEAL STREUSEL ~ Save room for a piece (or least a forkful) of this delightful seasonal dessert (from stockpile favorites Cooking Light - Nov 2007) ____________ STREUSEL : 3/4 cup regular oats 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg dash of salt 2 Tbsp. chilled butter, cut into small pieces FILLING: 3 cups (2 large) 1/2-inch cubed, peeled Anjou pear 2 cups fresh cranberries 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 2 1/2 Tbsp.cornstarch ________ 1 unbaked 9-inch deep dish pastry shell Preheat oven to 350-degrees. STREUSEL : Combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. FILLING : Combine cranberries, pear,...

"Was there ever such an autumn? And yet there was never such a panic and hard times in the commercial world. The merchants and banks are suspending and failing all the country over, but not the sandbanks, solid and warm, and streaked with bloody blackberry vines.You may run upon them as much as you please--even as the crickets do, and find their account in it. They are the stockholders in these banks, and I hear them creaking their content. " ~ Henry David Thoreau ( Journal, October 14, 1857) ~ Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (Sleeping Bear Dunes) ________________ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Large, diverse, and unique, this National Lakeshore is one of the crown jewels of Michigan's natural resources. Here you will find 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, including dunes, bluffs, rocky points, and protected bays. North and South Manitou Islands add another 30 miles of shoreline. These remote islands offer pristine backpacking experiences from May through October...

"Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked against the sky, How beautiful it is? All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness There is a poem, there is a song. Every leaf is gone and it is waiting for the spring. When the spring comes, it again fills the tree with The music of many leaves, Which in due season fall and are blown away. And this is the way of life." ~ Krishnamurti ~ Naked tree against the sky (Hubbard Lake) ________________ "Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life - perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it. It has no technique and therefore no authority." ~ Krishnamurti

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content." ~ Lin Yutang ~ November beauty ~ Early autumn ~ Summer ~ Aging cycle __________________ MAPLE ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS with CHESTNUTS ~ Delicious bittersweet autumn taste to enjoy now and tuck away for Thanksgiving ( from Food & Wine /Nov 2005) ______________ 1/2 cup canola oil 2 1/4 lbs. baby b russels sprouts or regular halved lengthwise brussels sprouts coarse salt & freshly ground pepper 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter (cut in tablespoons and soft) 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar 1/4 cup Grade A pure maple syrup 1 1/2 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1 cup coarsely chopped vacuum-packed roast...

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools." ~ Henry Beston, Northern Farm ~ Hubbard Lake (November)

"The spirits of the air live on the smells Of fruit; and joy, with pinions light, roves round The gardens, or sits singing in the trees. Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat; Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load." - William Blake ( To Autumn) PUMPKIN CHILI ~ An adventuresome autumn twist on traditional chili, rich in flavor and ... the simmering smell ... simply d ivine! _______________ 2 lbs. lean ground beef 2 large chopped onions 1 chopped red pepper 1 chopped green pepper 4 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes with juice 2 cans rinsed black beans 1 large can pumpkin puree 1 can sliced black olives (optional) 1 bottle (12 oz.) Pumpkin Ale (e.g. America's Original Pumpkin Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery or Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale) 2 heaping Tbsp. chili powder (or more) 2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 pinches of brown sugar coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste sour cream chopped gre...