Pocketful of Memory Cards

Autumn inspires me in many ways.  The Fall harvest along with the bite in the air, stirs my desire to cook comfort food.  I seem to be iphone photoing a lot of my efforts over the past few weeks.  This post is more about the recipes than quality of the photos.  Hope you find something delicious and comforting. I was inspired to make my version of this traditional Portuguese soup while looking at options for travel next fall.  I used chorizo from the stupor store, kale from our own garden,  walla walla onions and flavourful potatoes from Don-O-Ray . I'm not much of a baker but I will make the occasional pie.  This occasion was an evening of dessert and drinks with friends.  This pie set a high standard for any future apple pies I bake. Darned if I can remember what recipe I used but I definitely recommend apples from Bite Me Organics .  My mom made the best pie crust bar none.  I don't know what her secret was...

Local fruit and vegetable markets are displaying their pumpkins these days. These beauties were tempting me at Don-O-Ray this afternoon. I did buy a pie pumpkin since I thought I'd treat my Dad to a homemade one before he left this week.  I'm thinking I'll wait another week before I grab some for Hallowe'en.

I really enjoyed the Food Network on the flight back yesterday afternoon, particularly the Mexican Made Easy and French Food at Home programs.  Tonight I made most of the French meal that Laura Calder made for her family reunion which was appropriate since Nicole came for dinner.  I skipped the Risotto but I'll definitely try it another day.  We had the aperitif platter, the Ratatouille (without the meat as Nicole is Vegetarian) on Red Thai Rice, and the Strawberry Galette shown here.  I'm usually a disaster when it comes to baking, but I'm proud to say this one worked out so I had to have proof.  Do give it a try!

photo by Mike Ormshaw One day last Fall, my facebook status announced that I had an extra peach pie and would deliver it to the office of the first person to reply.  My friend Sue, in Ontario was the first responder and as much as I would have loved to take the pie to her, I figured it wouldn't be worth eating after a five day drive.  I thought about trying to phone a bakery to deliver one to her, but didn't pursue it.  Then several months later when my husband reminded me I was going to be about an hour away from her for my high school reunion, I thought it would be great to surpriser her at her house, pie in hand.   After a few emails, facebook messages, and cell phone calls to her husband Mike, operation Peachy Reunion was a go.  Mike recently retired from the OPP, but he still excels at disinformation and subterfuge. Sue was very surprised to see me, though we had a change of venue and they came to me.  Thanks go to Mike and Mik...