Jane's Harlem Kitchen and Garden: October 2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

After Sandy

During the storm

Fence down

It must have been one big gust of wind. The Moon flower held the other part of the fence up

Same Elephant Ears, shredded.

We were very lucky.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Last Friday I took a day off and drove up to Trumball Ct to see my first American family; Kay and Suzanne, Doug was at work. It was amazing to see the leaves change as I drove up the Merritt. Green in the City; red and Green around Mamaroneck; yellows and reds up to about Westport, then further north yellow and bare. Fall was definitely happening. As I pulled into the drive, the flock of Turkeys that Suzanne has been nurturing ran out of the woods. You can see their photo’s and particularly the three that thought I was bearing food and followed me around.

Kay had suggested we drive back to Fairfield for Lunch as The Brasserie had a wonderful Prix Fixe lunch menu. We had eaten at The Brasserie near the train station a few years back and it had been delicious. I was mildly dubious because I have eaten Lunch and Dinner out a number of times recently and been less than impressed and I was feeling rather irksome about the whole eating out experience. I love to eat out, try different things, be inspired etc. Bit it really quite pisses me off if I pay good money and have a bad meal. I know as a cook, that I went it to be at least as good as I might quickly ‘throw’ something together myself.

The Brasserie redeemed eating lunch out for me. A $15 Prix Fixe that was very tasty, just the right amount of food. I had been thinking about French Onion Soup, on the drive to the restaurant Kay mentioned how good it was, so I immediately knew I would have that. Main course, Bay scallops in a lobster sauce in puff pastry jumped out at me and dessert a slice of apple tart. The soup was just right; the Bay Scallops yummy served with rice and ratatouille, perfect. A slither of apple tart with caramel sauce and ice cream, divine. These were not huge platefuls as you get in so many places, but a delicious tasting. I would go back any time for this lunch menu.

Tale of three Turkeys

I went up to Trumball Ct to see Kay and Suzanne. These are Suzanne's Wild Turkeys. The first photo was earlier in the summer

I think of this as the Bishop, Deacon and Rector

Feeding you up. Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Before Sandy

I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours yesterday, cutting back bushes, pulling up the rest of the tomato plants, Mulching the upper bed. All things I had long promised myself to do. This morning we moved the pots closer to the house to give them some little protection.

Also harvested the cauliflower, which we should have picked last week, but had no time to pick and cook it. A few more peppers.

Our neighbors pumpkin

These are knee high Sweet Peas I planted the seeds at the end of August as an experiment

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The garden in October

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A few garden birds

I thought this was a Cat bird, but the beak is wrong?

After eating at the bird feeder and a splash or two in the bird bath the sparrows sit in the sun to dry off

A warbler this morning

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Last of the 80 degree days

Today is a gray, wet, cold day. It seems a long way from last week when we had what were probably the last of the 80 degree days.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Blackberry and Apple crumble

It’s finally chilly enough to start enjoying some Fall foods. Soups, stews, casseroles and fruit crumbles. In England we would have been picking wild blackberries for a month or so, for jams, jellies and to freeze for the winter crumbles. I don’t see the hedgerows full of blackberries here, and when I was looking at fruit farm catalogues and websites for Blackberry vines to plant, I was confused by the varieties. Ours had always just been wild!

Picking the berries could be hazardous too; not just the thorns, but wasps (lots of them) would be flying around the ripened fruit. One time there was a Viper sitting in among the vines, still, silent, coldly watching where I was putting my hands. His forked tongue protruding, tasting the air, it’s movement what alerted me to his presence. A small scream escaping my lips, I removed my arm immediately. The Viper never moved, he was in the sun just where he wanted to be.

In France it had to be explained to me that no one picked the wild blackberries, which were also every where because of the Fox and rabies. Funny because in England when we picked and dropped a few, it was always for Mr. Fox. The windblown apples had been turned into Apple and ginger jelly, Blackberry and apple jelly. Blackberry and apple crumble 3 - 4 apples - I like to mix them up, Granny Smith, Fuji, Honey crisp, russets for the mix of flavor and texture. Peeled, cored and sliced 2 punnets of blackberries or one bag of frozen juice and zest of 1/2 lemon 1/2 cup organic sugar a little water 2 cups of all purpose flour 6oz/12 tablespoons butter Pulsed together in food processor Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 3/4 cup oats, 1/2 cup hazelnuts Pulse briefly. Mix the first 5 ingredients together in oven baker layer the crumble mixture on top of the fruit Bake in 350 degree oven for 25/30 minutes, turn the oven down to 300 for another 10 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. Although I prefer plain runny cream and sometimes custard.