Fall

This past weekend we visited with my parents north of Port Hope, Ont. I always love spending some time wandering around this property in the country. I arranged the flowers etc in this still life with my moms help.

 I took photos of faded flowers, birdhouses and grasses, all on a dismal drizzly day and loved ever moment.

Something Sweet

Today while shopping in our local Zehrs store I was very surprised to find these Vanilla Diva Cupcakes from Dufflet Pastries in Toronto and they were on special for 1.99! I could not resist...they were so beautiful. Tasted quite good as well, although I could not finish all of the frosting. I was happy to see the ingredients were all good, no additives, only a few items which included butter, flour, eggs and vanilla.

Going into the Past

Last night we saw Joan Baez at Centre in the Square in Kitchener. I love that intimate venue! It was a lovely concert, relaxed and cozy. Thisis the music that we listened to while we were dating way back in 1971!

The review:

http://news.therecord.com/arts/article/793544

emmas blogg

Recently I discovered a blog that I am totally in love with. It is mostly a design blog with lots of fabulous photos, from  around the house, lots of soothing spaces. http://www.emmas.blogg.se/

The photo I have posted is by Danish photographer Mikkel Adsbol. I love this room, love the tablecloth, love the lighting. I just can't say enough about it. Oh how I would love to sit at this table with a glass of wine or even a cup of herbal tea or a perfect coffee and a pastrty!

In the Middle of the Night

Still finding myself unable to fall asleep peacefully, I continue to play with paper

Beet Cake Recipe

                        as requested by Susan


1 cup butter or margaine, softened
1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

2 ½ cups shredded beets.

Put beets in a pot, add 1 1/2 cups water and 2 Tbs butter, saute on medium high for 20 minutes or until water is gone.

In mixing bowl cream ¾ cup butter with brown sugar. Add eggs, mix well. Blend beets and vanilla into creamed mixture. Combine flour, baking powder and soda; add to creamed mixture. Por into greased and floured fluted tube pan. Bake 375 degree 45-55 minutes.

Glaze

2 Tbs butter
1 Tbs corn syrup or milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup icing sugar

Heat on low while adding icing sugar until desired texture, then spread while warm
Notes

I baked only 45 minutes, worked well, I added raisins and would add even more next time and also some nuts. Would also be good with dates. You can replace some beets with carrot if desired. Perhaps some cinnamon would be nice too.

Fall

It is fall and not a good time  of year for me. My mood starts to slip. Oh I know fall is very beautiful and I do love the food. I am such a sunshine, warm weather kind of person that summer always seems to have promise to me. Fall always feels like an ending, not a beginning, so I will try to work on that.

I do love the food of fall, the markets, the changing leaves etc.

 Yesterday I took my good friend Lori out to lunch at Rain Tree Cafe in Waterloo. It was fun, she had never been there, it was a mystery lunch and she really liked it. Lori just celebrated her 50th birthday on Saturday then did a 10k run on Sunday! 

We stopped at a market on the way home, such abundance!

Today I played in my kitchen, baked a beet cake, made a great pasta dish with fresh fennel and a lovely sheeps milk cheese called Pecorino Toscano which I had purchased here in Stratford at Monforte Dairy. It was all so delicious, relaxing and fun to make. I was just in that kind of mood.

The Pasta Dish

The Beet Cake

the beet that I used from our local slow food market, a candy cane beet weighing at least a pound!