THE VILLAGE VOICE

( Click above to view all 2009 winners ... ) _______________ BEST MICHIGAN BLOG _______________ ~ fellow honored BLOTANICAL Michigan finalists ~ Garden Fairie's Musings , Dirt Simple , Thyme for Herbs , In the Garden Online __________________________________ "At times our own light goes out and it rekindled by a spark by another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~ Albert Sweitzer TIME ... FOR GIVING THANKS SEPTEMBER GARDEN GIFTS _______________ "If the only prayer you say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." ~ Meister Echhart _________________________ "Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have." ~ William Arthur Ward

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller UPSIDE-DOWN PEAR SKILLET CAKE ~ Another treasured autumn treat from 1991 issue of Bon Appetit ('Baking a cake in a skillet is a time-honored tradition. French cooks use one for tarte Tatin, which this dessert resembles; here in the U>S> it was the way to go with pineapple upside-down cakes back in the fifties.") ________________ 1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter cut into 4 pieces 1 1/3 cups AP flour 1 1/3 cups sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 2 large eggs 1/2 cup corn or vegetable oil 1 small, unpeeled, coarsely grated pear 1 Tbsp. grated peeled fresh ginger (1 tsp. ground) 4 peeled, cored pears (cut into 6 wedges) good vanilla/vanilla bean ice cream Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350-degrees. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of heavy 12-inch ovenproof skillet (preferabl...

"The leaves of brown came tumblin ' down, remember In September in the rain The Sun went down just like a dying ember That September in the rain. To every word of love I heard you whisper The raindrops seem to play a sweet refrain." ~ September in the Rain (Lyrics by Warren & Dubin ) SEPTEMBER RAIN (a gardener's gift) _____________ PEASANT SOUP ~ Simple Saturday night supper ... harvest rich and autumn friendly on a chilly day ___________ 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/2 cups chopped red or sweet onion 1 1/2 cups chopped (well-washed) leeks 1 cup chopped carrots or sweet potato 4 minced garlic cloves 1 quarts organic chicken broth 1 cup white wine 1 28-oz. can diced Italian tomatoes 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (1 tsp. dried) 2 bay leaves 1 16 oz. cans rinsed and drained cannellini or garbanzo beans 3 cups baby spinach leaves coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese Heat oil in large...

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on." ~ Robert Finch TOAD LILY ( Tricyrtis 'variegata" ) _____________________________ SESAME PORK TENDERLOIN ~ A long marinade and quick grilling make for a lovely simple supper, perfect for warm autumn evenings ____ 2 well-trimmed boneless pork tenderloins 1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup soy sauce 1 Tbsp. sesame oil 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar 1 Tbsp. minced garlic 1 Tbsp. grated ginger (1 tsp. powdered ginger) 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Combine orange juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, vinegar, garlic, ginger and olive oil. Pour over pork tenderloins (either in glass container or large plastic bag) and marinate overnight, turning frequently. Preheat grill. Remove pork from marinade. Place marinade ...

"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 __________ 'HEAVENLY WINE' SUNSET (Hubbard Lake, MI) _____________________________________ AUTUMNAL EQUINOX (Hubbard Lake, MI)