Quote of the Day

This is why I buy local foods.

Close proximity to the source of food affords the best chance of appreciating food as it is born to be. It is no coincidence that fish tastes better near the sea, that wine is at its best when drawn directly from the cellar where it was raised, and tomatoes are the most succulent when pulled from your own backyard vines. When we eat “at the source,” we experience food in its most natural setting and the scents surrounding it blend comfortably and unforgettably with the meal itself. Having had these experiences even once sets a standard that later makes us nostalgic for what is missing. For the cook who knows the difference, the trouble lies in both seeking out and preserving the native quality of food.

-Paul Bertolli (Cooking by Hand)

I think this is why my tomatoes are so tasty, they’re grown 5-25 feet away from the kitchen. I also think this is why my Farmer’s Market produce is so delicious. So what do you think? Does fish really taste better by the sea? I know I’ve had some pretty delicious lobster rolls up in Maine.

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Feels like Fall

It feels like fall here in NE Ohio. Tonight the Weather Channel is forecasting lows in the 30’s. There is a definite crispness in the air and when I look outside I notice my lawn is getting littered with leaves. The coloring of the leaves is definitely the harbinger of autumn.

I’m both happy and sad that fall & winter are coming. Happy because I love fall & winter. I love the colors and tastes of autumn, the beautiful leaves, the smell of cinnamon and apples, pumpkin pies and hot cider and the crispness in the air. I always feel like baking this time of year (Mr Chiots is happy about that!).

I’m sad because it marks the end of the gardening season (at least in theory). I’ll still be gardening late into November, planting garlic, composting, clearing out beds, mulching weeding and planting. But soon enough all those chores will be finished and the garden will be dormant until spring.

What do you like & dislike about this season?

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Down to the Briar Patch

We have a family hunting cabin affectionately called the Briar Patch. My grandparents bought it when I was young and built a small cabin on it. I have many fond memories of spending weekends at the Briar Patch running through the woods, picking wild berries and playing in the creek. We don’t get back as much as we’d like, but this Wednesday we had a chance to go down again (we went down last Monday to cut up some trees that fell on the cabin). This time we walked the property line (44 acres) to see what the damage was like in the woods with my parents.

The woods were littered with small branches and big trees that had come down. At one point my dad said, “It looks like a hurricane came through”. To his credit, he wasn’t in the country at the time of Ike’s arrival to Ohio.

There was still beauty to behold amid the chaos. There’s just something so enjoyable about walking through the woods (probably why Mr Chiots and I are big fans of hiking & backpacking).


We had a truly enjoyable day, much like the old days: we hiked through the woods, roasted up some hotdogs for lunch (over a fire of fallen sticks of course) and true to family tradition we stopped for ice cream on the way home.

The Chiots also enjoyed the day, although I couldn’t get a decent photo. She spent the entire day racing around us while we were hiking, this is exactly what we saw. She collapsed in the back seat and slept the entire ride home.

We were able to pick up some black walnuts and a few hickory nuts while hiking through the woods. Those will be delicious in pies & cookies this winter.

Anyone else enjoying this cooler weather and the beginnings of fall?

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Brooklyn Butler’s Month

October is Rett Syndrome awareness month, since I know a beautiful little girl with Rett Syndrome, I’m going to help raise awareness by highlighting her on my blog. Many of you probably don’t know what Rett Syndrome is. I didn’t either until a dear friend’s daughter Brooklyn was diagnosed. Her mom now works for Girl Power 2 Cure a Rett Syndrome advocacy group, they work hard to raise awareness and to raise funds for researching a cure. Check out Brooklyn’s blog, check it out see what life it like for a little girl with Rett Syndrome.

FACTS
A few facts about Rett Syndrome to consider:
* It is a debilitating neurological disorder that mainly affects girls
* It is the most severe form of AUTISM
* It is the leading cause of severe impairment in females – most cannot speak, walk, or use their hands
* Is caused by a random gene mutation, every baby girl has an equal chance of acquiring
* Another baby girl is born afflicted every 90 minutes
* It COULD be the first childhood neurological disorder CURED!!


Check out Brooklyn’s Girl Power 2 Cure site.

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Tomato Soup Success

I finally settled on a tomato soup recipe, I chose this one for it’s simplicity. On Sunday evening I made up a batch and canned 13 pints (I did can for longer than the recipe stated, I think the canning times may be a bit outdated, I water bath canned my pints for 35 minutes, I also added 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the soup). So how does it taste – deliciously local!

This will be perfect for a quick meal this winter, accompanied by a grilled cheese of course (but no Kraft or Velveeta here, ours are made with local cheddar from Heini’s or from Colonial Classics Farmstead Cheese (raw milk cheese that’s super local, only a few miles away) on homemade sourdough of course)

I will probably still make Roasted Tomato Garlic Soup, but I plan on making a small batch just for eating and perhaps freezing. I was reluctant to make a huge batch and pressure can it for 70 minutes and risk not liking it. If I have a chance I’ll do that this week and let you know if it’s worth the time.

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