THE VILLAGE VOICE

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are crisp as autumn air. " ~ Eric Sloane OVAL BEACH in NOVEMBER ~ LAKE MICHIGAN ( SAUGATUCK MI) __________________ CRANBERRY GINGER SALMON ~ Great use for leftover cranberries ___________ 2 6 oz. salmon fillets (or whole salmon fillet) 1 Tbsp. fresh minced ginger 2 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1/2-3/4 cup whole cranberry sauce Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Lightly spray shallow pan with cooking oil. Combine ginger, honey, soy sauce and cranberry sauce. Place salmon on prepared pan and spoon mixture evenly over top of each piece. Bake 15 minutes or until fish flakes with fork. (2 servings) ________________________ CRISP MASHED POTATO CAKES ~ Another great use for those leftover potatoes adapted from Nov 2007 Cooking Light ______________ 1/2 cup chopped green onions 2 cu...

"O Lord that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness." ~ William Shakespeare THANKSGIVING PRAYER We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us, We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squashes, which give us life. We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases. We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone. We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children. Iroquois Prayer (adapted) _______________________ "God has two dwellings; one in heaven and the other in a meek and thankful heart." ~ Izaak Walton

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." ~ Ovid WICKWOOD INN Saugatuck , Michigan (CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE) _________________________ Owned by Julee Rosso co-author of the Silver Palate Cookbook and her husband Bill Miller, the Wickwood Inn in quaint Saugatuck is a historic treat in many ways. November garden Please sign the guest book! Living Room (dressed for the holidays) Welcoming brownies, cookies, hot tea, coffee & cold beverages ______________ BROWNIES ~ Traditional brownies from the Silver Palate Cookbook _____________ 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) 4 (oz.) unsweetened chocolate 4 eggs 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 cup coarsely chopped shelled walnuts Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease and flour 9 x 12-inch baking pan. Melt butter and chocolate in top part of a double boiler over boiling water. When melted, set aside to cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, beat eggs and sugar until thic...

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." ~ Emily Bronte November mum (flower of the month) _____________________ SIMPLE FALL MINESTRONE ~ Fresh autumn veggies and herbs make for a cozy soup _____________ 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 chopped onions (1 red, 1 sweet) 4 minced garlic cloves 1 small chopped head bok choy , napa , or savoy cabbage 3 quarts organic chicken or vegetable broth 1 cup white vermouth (optional) 1 diced red pepper 1 diced yellow pepper 4 cups cubed sweet potato or butternut squash 2 cups diagonally sliced green beans 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (2 tsp. dried) 2 tsp. dried oregano coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste 2 (16 oz.) cans rinsed and drained cannellini beans 4 cups chopped kale or spinach grated fresh Parmesan cheese Heat oil in large stockpot. Add onion and saute until wilted. Add garlic and chopped cabbage and saute until tender. Add broth, wine, peppers, potatoes (squash), and green beans. Bring to a...

"After the leaves have fallen, we return To a plain sense of things. It is as if We had come to an end of the imagination, Inanimate in an inert savoir ." ~ Wallace Stevens (The Plain Sense of Things) 'Melding November' (leaves & mums) _______________ ROSEMARY GARLIC TENDERLOIN ~ Classic and easy for the holidays (from an old Southern Living ) _____ 1 5 lb. trimmed beef tenderloin 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup balsamic or red wine vinegar 2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary (4 tsp. dried) 8 cloves minced garlic 1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper Combine olive oil, vinegar, rosemary, and garlic in either a large zip-lock bag or large shallow dish. Add beef, cover or seal. Marinate at least 8 hours in refrigerator, turning occasionally. Remove beef from marinade and place in roasting pan; sprinkle evenly with cracked pepper and let stand 30 minutes. Bake at 500-degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Lower temperature to 375-degrees; bake 20 more minutes or ...

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal." ~ Elbert Hubbard Golden November sunset ( Hubbard Lake) ________________ FRESH APPLE CAKE with CARAMEL GLAZE ~ The spicy smell of autumn fills the air ... each bite, the gift _________________ 2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 organic eggs 3 cups AP flour 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. mace 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. real vanilla extract 3 cup pared, cored, and diced Michigan apples juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts Caramel Glaze Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Grease and flour bundt or large tube pan. Combine sugar and vegetable oil in large bowl. Beat until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, mace, lemon zest and salt. Gradually add to egg mixture, beating constantly. Add vanilla and combine thoro...

"The Indian Summer of life should be a little sunny and a little sad, like the season, and infinite in wealth and depth of tone, but never hustled." ~ Henry Adams ' MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES' _____________________ BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP ~ Rich in antioxidants , a delicious soup that looks and tastes like autumn (adapted from Nov 2006 Food & Wine ) _____________ 8 cups organic chicken broth 1 butternut squash (quartered, seeded, peeled & cut into 2-inch squares) 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 minced garlic cloves 2 sliced (well-cleaned) chopped leeks 1-2 diced celery ribs 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (2 tsp. dried) 1 finely diced carrots 1 finely diced red pepper 1 finely diced orange pepper 1 cup corn kernels 1 can rinsed cannellini (white kidney), garbanzo (chick) peas, or pinto beans 2 cups chopped spinach, collard, or kale coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper crisp thick crumbed bacon (optional) garnish In large stockpot, heat olive oil. Add gar...

"November always seemed to me the Norway of the year." ~ Emily Dickinson CHRYSANTHEMUM (November Flower of the Month) _________ APRICOT MOUSSE ~ Sweet Decadence from an old Southern Living, perfect for the holidays _______________ 20 ladyfingers 3 (16-oz.) cans undrained apricot halves 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin 5 organic egg yolks 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1/8 tsp. salt 1 cup milk 2 Tbsp. apricot brandy (or light rum) 1 (2-oz.) package slivered almonds 1 1/2 cup whipping cream 3/4 cup whipping cream 2 Tbsp powdered sugar 1/8 tsp. almond extract Garnishes: apricots sliced toasted almonds fresh mint sprigs Cut a 30 x 3-in. strip of wax paper; line sides of a 9-inch springform pan with strip. Split ladyfingers in half lengthwise; line sides and bottom of pan with ladyfingers. Drain apricots, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Set aside 4 apricots for garnish. Add remaining apricots to food processor and process 1 minutes. Set aside. Sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup juice and set ...

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence * * Autumn Memories (Bloomfield Village MI) ___________________ "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) ___________________ Please join Carolyn for NOVEMBER MUSE DAY @ Sweet Home and Garden Chicago ___________________ For viewing peak color during this stunning season, please join Dave on his Fall Color Project