THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape; Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow AUTUMN HARVEST SOUP ~ adapted from Fine Cooking 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 large diced yellow or red onion 3 diced carrots 2 minced cloves garlic 2 chopped yellow/orange peppers 2 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash pinch cayenne pepper or more to taste coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste 1 quart organic chicken broth 1 lb. chopped fresh tomatoes (or 14.5 oz. can diced) 1 Tbsp. fresh chopped thyme 2 cups chopped kale 1 cup well-rinsed chickpeas Heat oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add squash, cayenne, salt & pepper. Ad...

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” ~ G. K. Chesterton WINE SUNSET (Hubbard Lake, MI ) HARVEST GAZPACHO (with or without crab) ~ Serve chilled for lunch or supper on the remains of a warm summer day 6 plump peeled and seeded ripe tomatoes minced clove of garlic 2 peeled and seeded cucumbers 1 chopped red onion 1 chopped sweet onion 1 coarsely chopped red pepper 1 coarsely chopped yellow or orange pepper 2 cups tomato juice 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil juice of 1 fresh lemon coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste dashes of Tabasco to taste 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill sliced black olives to taste 1/2 lb. good lump crab chopped fresh parsley for garnish Into a large glass bowl rubbed with cut garlic, place chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers. Combine tomato juice, olive oil, lemon juice and Tabasco. Pour over chopped garden vegetables. Add dill, olives, and crab...

“It is the hour when from the boughs The nightingale's high note is heard; It is the hour when lovers' vows Seem sweet in every whispered word; And gentle winds, and waters near, Make music to the lonely ear. Each flower the dews have lightly wet, And in the sky the stars are met, And on the wave is deeper blue, And on the leaf a browner hue, And in the heaven that clear obscure, So softly dark, and darkly pure. Which follows the decline of day, As twilight melts beneath the moon away.” Lord Byron (George Gordon Noel Byron) April Sunset (Hubbard Lake, MI)

"Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories." ~ From the movie An Affair to Remember MOONSET/SUNSET (January 21, 2011) __________________________ RYE BRISKET with VEGETABLES (30 year old recipe adapted from Bon Appetit) Whole brisket (8 pounds) 2 large chopped onions 2 cloves crushed garlic 2 packages onion soup mix 1 bottle chili sauce 1 can beer 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 3 slices rye bread 8-12 large carrots cracked pepper chopped parsley Rub brisket with garlic and place on bed of chopped onion in tight covered roasting pan. In order over brisket sprinkle fresh pepper, Worcestershire sauce, soup mix, chili sauce, and beer. Lay carrots around brisket. Tear bread in small pieces and tuck under brisket so liquid is covering bread. Cover and place in oven at 350 º for 45 minutes. Reduce oven to 275º and cook for 2 hours and 15 minutes or until done. (Check to see if bread is covered by liquid). Remove and cool. Slice and arrange meat and carro...

"There is a harmony In autumn, and a lustre in its sky, Which through the summer is not heard or seen, As if it could not be, as if it had not been!" ~ Percy Bysshe Shelle y Hubbard Lake Sunset ( Autumnal Equinox ) _____________ "Equal dark, equal light Flow in Circle, deep insight Blessed Be, Blessed Be The transformation of energy! So it flows, out it goes Three-fold back it shall be Blessed Be, Blessed Be The transformation of energy!" ~ Night An'Fey ( Transformation of Energy)

"The summer night is like a perfection of thought." - Wallace Stevens Hubbard Lake Sunset FROZEN GRAND MARNIER SOUFFLE ~ Delightful 'remains of the day' summer dessert slightly adapted from The Lark ( Savor Michigan Cookbook ) __________ 2 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup water 18 organic egg yolks 2 quarts whipped cream (from 1 1/2 cups heavy cream) 1/2 cup Grand Marnier cocoa powder Framboise Sauce Mix sugar and water in a saucepot and bring to a boil. Cook until mixture reaches 250º on a pastry/candy thermometer. While sugar is boiling, whip egg yolks until light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar mixture while whipping on low. Continue whipping til cool, approximately 10 minutes. Fold into whipped cream. Add Grand Marnier . Gently pour or pipe filling with pastry bag into soufflé pan (like springform ) or individual flan pans lightly dusted with cocoa powder Freeze. Remove from pan and serve with Framboise Sauce. Wine Suggestion: Kir Royale (Champagne and Frambo...

"Forever is composed of nows." ~ Emily Dickinson Summer Abstract 'Two different worlds' (sunset & garden )

“Every friend is to the other a sun, and a sunflower also. He attracts and follows.” ~ Jean Paul Richter Hubbard Lake Sunset and Brunch Sunflowers

"The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it." ( The Remains of the Day) Hubbard Lake July Sunset "If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

" Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape; Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together. " ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow EARLY APRIL SUNSET (Hubbard Lake, MI)

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away. ~ The Song of Solomon, 2:11-13 VERNAL EQUINOX (Hubbard Lake, MI) PENNE PRIMAVERA ~ ' Primavera ' means 'Spring' in Italian _________ 1 lb. penne pasta or bow-tie ( farfalle ) 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 large sweet ( Vidalia ) onion 2-3 minced garlic cloves 1 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 lb. diagonally cut asparagus spears (woody stems snapped off) 1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms 3 diagonally sliced carrots 1 matchstick sliced yellow pepper 1 matchstick sliced orange pepper 1 hefty cup frozen peas 1 pint grape tomatoes 10 oz. fresh stemmed baby spinach 1 bunch chopped fresh basil coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper freshly grat...

“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...