Happy Halloween! It's cat-o-rama around here... and Bodhi and Lucy aren't the least bit impressed, but I am having the time of my life. Cats, candy and costumes--life is GOOD!!!!

Seen here trying to catch a spider at Casa de las Aranas (House of Spiders)tonight!

Getting in the SPIRIT with Gingerbread Ghosts...

Fall, Friends and Farms

Ione and Winonie! Gamma Cousins.

Ione, Winona and Linden... So much cuteness, this pumpkin's about to POP!



Hot dog and deep convo with Gamma Emmy. She's funny.
LOST!

Fall Comfort Foods...

Tigerlily Tinkering is looking for comfort food, and I, finding much comfort in food, thought my mom should post her recipe for split pea soup. I love it. Here it is:

1 1/2 C green split peas

2 T oil

1 onion, chopped finely

1 medium carrot, finely sliced

1 stalk celery, finely sliced

1 T ground cumin

1 T ground coriander

2 T fresh grated ginger

5 cups veggie (or chicken) stock

2 C frozen green peas

salt and pepper

Chopped fresh mint & Yogurt or sour cream for the top...

1. Soak split peas in cold water, about 2 hours (or skip this step and use pressure cooker)

Drain peas well. Heat oil in a large heavy-based pan and add onion, celery and carrot. cook over medium heat about 3 minutes, until soft but not browned. Stir in cumin, coriander, ginger--cook one more minute.

2. Add split peas and stock to pan, brink to boil, reduce to low. Simmer, covered for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally (if using pressure cooker, bring to high pressure, reduce heat and cook about 8-10 minutes).

3. Add frozen peas to pan and stir to combine. Set aside to cool. When cool, puree in batches in blender or food processor until smooth. Return to pan, gently reheat. Season with S & P, stir in mint. Serve with a swirl of yogurt or sour cream and yummy bread.

We took the dogs on a walk through the neighborhood yesterday, between rains, and stumbled upon a "donation only" mini-farmer's market in a neighbor's yard. In addition to the corn, beets, tomatatoes, zuccinni, and greens, they had homemade cookies and a hand-cranked apple press churning out gallons of yummy apple cider! mmmmmmmm... I love fall. Here we are at home, shucking the corn from our fun neighbors!