THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence LEAF ABSTRACT "How silently they tumble down And come to rest upon the ground To lay a carpet, rich and rare, Beneath the trees without a care, Content to sleep, their work well done, Colors gleaming in the sun. At other times, they wildly fly Until they nearly reach the sky. Twisting, turning through the air Till all the trees stand stark and bare. Exhausted, drop to earth below To wait, like children, for the snow." ~ Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

"Every leaf speak bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." ~ Emily Bronte AUTUMN TEXTURE ABSTRACT "But I remember more dearly autumn afternoons in bottoms that lay intensely silent under old great trees." ~ C.S. Lewis SIMPLE TUSCAN LEMON CHICKEN ~ easy autumn fare 6 boneless chicken breast (or thighs) 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil juice and zest from 1 lemon 1 Tbsp. minced garlic 1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary 1 tsp. minced fresh thyme freshly ground black pepper and coarse salt to taste Combine olive oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, rosemary, thyme, pepper and salt. Pour over chicken and marinate several hours or overnight. Remove chicken from marinade and grill on med-high for 20-30 minuted, depending on size of breast. Turn every 10 minutes and baste with remaining marinade. Cover and let rest before serving. GRILLED EGGPLANT and GOAT CHEESE SALAD ~ From Giada De Laurentiis 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 7 Japanese eggplant, ends trimmed, cut into ...

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence 'AUTUMN QUILT' ‎"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” ~ Emily Bronte MEDITERRANEAN TOSTADA with HUMMUS, FETA, & OLIVES ~ easy carb friendly appetizer from KalynsKitchen.com Ingredients: ( for 2 but make as many as desired) 2 low-carb or whole wheat flour tortillas (cut in half) 2 tsp. + 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup very finely chopped Romaine lettuce 1/4 cup finely crumbled Feta 10 finely chipped Kalamata olives 1/2 cup hummus Preheat oven to 400º, placing cookie sheet inside to heat as the oven does. While oven heats, wash and dry lettuce and finely chiop to make 1/2 cup. Crumble feta cheese and chop the olives. When oven is hot, lightly spray or bursh cookie sheet with olive oil and place flour tortillas on it. Toast until lightly browned and firm, turning over about every minute or so. (Depending on tortillas, takes about 5 minutes or so but watch closely at the end.) Remove tortillas from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Top each crisp tortilla ...

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." ~ Stanley Horowitz FALL ABSTRACTS (AUTUMN LEAVES) _____________________ PEAR TARTE TATIN ~ Delightful and easy autumn dessert from A Taste of the Canadian Rockies Cookbook (Lake O'Hara Lodge, Yoho National Park) _________________ 5-6 peeled, cored and sliced pears 4 Tbsp. butter 1/4 cup sugar cinnamon to taste nutmeg to taste 12-inch pie pastry (1/8 inch thick) Whipping cream On stovetop , in an oven proof skillet, melt butter. Add sugar and caramelize (be careful as sugar burns very easily). Remove from heat. Add pears, sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover with pie pastry and with paring knife stab vents through pastry top. Bake 10 minutes in preheated 400-degree oven, then reduce heat to 375-degrees and bake for 20 minutes. Using oven mitts on both hands, remove from oven, invert large platter over skillet, turn skillet and platter over together sot that tarte ...

"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...

"Change is the end result of all true learning." ~ Leo Buscaglia ~ 'The fall of Freddy the Leaf' _____________________ "Change is a measure of time and, in the autumn, time seems speeded up. What was is not and never again will be; what is is change." ~ Edwin Way Teale

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~ George Eliot ROASTED PEPPER & FRESH BASIL STRATA ~ Wondering what to do with your fresh basil harvest? A lovely easy recipe to tuck away ... ______________ 10 cups dried (1/2-1 inch cubed) favorite hearty bread (wheat, herb, sour dough, brioche, etc.) 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 large thinly sliced red or sweet onion 1-2 cups thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice) 2 cups crumbled feta cheese 2 cups sliced roasted red and yellow peppers (roast peppers yourself or try Trader Joe's jars of combined) 1/2 cup packed thinly sliced fresh basil 5 large organic eggs 1 cup whole milk or sour cream 1 healthy tsp. Coleman's dry mustard 1 tsp. coarse salt freshly ground pepper to taste 1 cup crumbled feta or grated Parmesan cheese freshly chopped parsley or dried parsley Melt butter in skillet and saute onions and mushrooms...

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." ~Elizabeth Lawrence HARVEST GAZPACHO (with or without crab) ~ Serve chilled for lunch or supper on the remains of warm autumn days * cut clove of garlic 6 plump peeled and seeded ripe tomatoes 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 good 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. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Chill thoroughly. Ladle into chilled bowls. (Add c...