THE VILLAGE VOICE

"From morning till night, sounds drift from the kitchen, most of them familiar and comforting... On days when warmth is the most important need of the human heart, the kitchen is the place you can find it; it dries the wet sock, it cools the hot little brain." ~ E.B. White A day at the lake (Hint of a rainbow and remains of the day) Autumn glory _________ MUGSIE'S WILDCAT STEW ~ So easy, so comforting, so good 5 lbs. lean beef stew meat, in 1-inch cubes 6 onions (med) cut into wedges 12 carrots, sliced in big chunks 2 (28 oz.) cans tomatoes (one diced and one stewed) 2 cups chopped celery 2 heaping tbsp. brown sugar 2 tbsp. salt 6 tbsp. minute tapioca 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs Mix all together and bake at 325 degrees for 4 hours. Note: Thanks Kelly for sharing the delicious and now favorite family recipe. 'Cooling the brain'

"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...