Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Autumn Happenings


Good Morning

We are in the 50s F this morning. Cloudy and blustery. Sort of how I've been feeling these days. To be a cat, with the only thing on the mind is the birds eating berries off the dogwoods. 



I took advantage of the cooler weather yesterday. I made bread, biscuits and....

 

stuffed zucchini, using a large zucchini Neighbor Bill gave me. The second time this year he's brought me a large one. He doesn't use those that get lost under the plant and get big. Different culinary tastes, which often works in my favor. I will be preserving a lot of tomatoes this year, as Bill has been bringing me boxes full and I have five plants just now starting to ripen. Roasting and freezing is happening. Some will be dehydrated and turned into pesto rosso. I've already made and froze six small jars of pesto genovese. It's that time of year. It's said traits often skip a generation. I am very like my grandma, bib apron, food preserving and all.


31 comments:

Miss Merry said...

I have switched from tomatoes to salsa and now that my cucumbers are gone - I wish I had put up more pickles! We do have a glut of green peppers and inspiration struck. I put them in a box and took them to the food pantry where they were very popular. We need to share more next year.

Sandra said...

When I had a large garden I took produce to the local food shelf, too, Miss Merry. I may be taking tomatoes this year. I have always been given cukes from Bill but not this year. No pickles for us.

Boud said...

Sadly our local food pantry can only handle non perishables. Several of us have offered tomatoes, etc., but it's sorry, no. I think there's a concern about timing. They distribute twice a month, so you have to offer, and the produce has to be ready, at exactly the right time.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Your bread looks great! Cool here too and it is said that it froze in some spots:(

Anonymous said...

The food shelf is open daily so they take fresh produce. At least they did, Boud.

Sandra said...

That was me.

Sandra said...

Thanks, Far Side. I am enjoying the weather.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

All of the foods you mentioned sounded delicious, Sandra, and now I am thinking about getting back to bread baking which was suspended during the summer and in hopes of weight loss (still working on that). Large zucchini are the best for stuffing and Patrick has a recipe that looks similar to yours. Nice to have Bill bring you boxes of tomatoes. They have so many uses like all those you described.

Rita said...

When it's in the 50s in the morning it's perfect for firing up the oven! Your baked goods always look so perfect. Can almost smell them! The zucchini looks great, too. Hope you are having a wonderful day, Sandra. :)

nick said...

We're too lazy to make pesto. Our favourite pasta recipe includes courgettes, tomatoes, onions and cheese.

Sandra said...

I make bread on my gas grill when it's hot, Dorothy. It works well. I don't have a recipe per se, but it always has some form of ground meat. This was Italian sausage, farro, onion, tomato, gruyere with strips of provolone on top. Easy to prep in advance and quick to bake. Bill is my supplier!

Sandra said...

I'm really enjoying the weather, Rita. I need to get myself back outside but have been dilly-dallying inside for a couple of days. I'm roasting more tomatoes, picked and froze rosemary and picked more basil. I have that in water until I get around to making more pesto.

Sandra said...

Pesto is so simple, nick. A food processor or blender, the ingredients popped in and Presto......Pesto!! I like that pasta, too. Very good stuff.

CheerfulMonk said...

What a cozy feeling post! 😊

Lori Skoog said...

Yum! Your cool weather is headed here for tomorrow. We had poor peppers and cucumbers this year but we've frozen over 30 bags of sauce. Tomorrow I am going to make some gazpacho. Fortunately we were able to make dill pickles with Scott and Jenny....we always get the small pickling cucumbers from a local market. 2 pecks make 24 quarts. I've been thinking about our mutual friend in Wisconsin. Tough times.

Anvilcloud said...

I have noticed that you do not starve your cats. 🤓

peppylady (Dora) said...

Food looks great.

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

Your bread 🍞 looks great 👍 and your cats 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ are adorable.

Sandra said...

Thank you, Cheerful.

Sandra said...

That's a Loy of pickles and sauce, Lori. It's downright chilly this morning. Very tough times.

Sandra said...

HA! Gatto is a stocky fellow and Frieda has that large swinging pouch that jumping cats have, AC. It sways from sight to side when she trots. Makes he look very rotund when she lays dow, That's here story and she's sticking to it!

Sandra said...

Thank you, Dora. We have two more for tonight.

Sandra said...

The bread is good, Linda. Gatto and Frieda were both stray kittens that I brought into the house. Frieda in '19 and Gatto in '21. Gatto is a demon!

Sandra said...

a lot

Dreaming said...

It's not that cool here, but I overheard a gal who was giving away sourdough bread she had made, as she had been "in the mood" and made a lot! I love your zucchini "boats"!! They look yummy!

Jane said...

So much warmth in one post—good food and happy cats

Sandra said...

It's 64 F in the house this morning, Dreaming. I have always called them stuffed, don't ask me why!

Sandra said...

There is the saying 'happy wife, happy life'. Around here we substitute wife with cats, Jane!

DeniseinVA said...

What a sweet photo of your cats. I love the view by the way. I am coveting your planters and your stone frog. Yummy meal photo and how very nice of your neighbor to give you his larger zucchinis.

DeniseinVA said...

Almost forgot the bread, it looks wonderful! Nothing like a slice of fresh bread warm out of the oven with butter melting on top. Yum!

Sandra said...

It's your soda bread recipe, Denise. I make it often.