First Time Using a Crock Pot

I recall someone telling me that slow cooking on a crock pot was the way to go in the fall and winter.   Since we have a crock pot, I figured today might be the day to try it out.  Being culinarily challenged, a quick google search and I found an easy recipe for Short Ribs.  I first browned them and then threw them into the pot.

Next I gently sauted onions, garlic and tomato paste, adding 2 cups of dry wine.  It was only later when I reread the recipe that I realized it was supposed to be red wine, but I had used white.  oh well.

I threw in mushrooms and celery and pay and thyme.  Didn;t have any carrots. The slow cooker was on for 6 hours.

 Voila!  With mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts and thickened ribs gravy - I reckon it wasn't too bad. Not much flavour for me.  I'll try a different recipe next time.

October 15th is Bonfire Season

Bonfires are a quintessential part of fall.  Something we look forward to each year as summer ends. Sometimes we gather the neighbours around and sing, barbeque hotdogs, or just have a working fire to clear up the summer garden debris.  On October 17th we did just that - started the fall task of cleaning up all the summers clippings.

There is enough for at least 2 more working bonfires, and, hopefully if the weather holds, a party gathering bonfire for my birthday in November.  If so, it will be the 4th annual.

Fall Colours

There is a peaceful beauty about the garden in October that allows the gardener to simply relax and enjoy it, and relish in the cycles of the seasons.  Autumn Monkshood is one of my favourite flowering perennial that waits its turn in the garden until October rolls around.  These are the striking flowers I now enjoy from the front patio window.  Hard to believe they belong to the buttercup family!

 

To the left of our patio view of the Monkshood, and contrasting these striking blue flowers, are the red, pink and gold leaves of the Japanese maple.

Nature's colour at its best.

Thanksgiving - a Season, Not a Day

It's was a week ago that the Thanksgiving long weekend was upon us. Why there is just one day a year we are supposed to be thankful I will never know.  Being thankful, like gratitude, allows us to enjoy the good things in life more fully.  Thankfulness is like sitting down to a fabulous meal and savoring every bit, as opposed to racing through the meal like it is a competition.  While the latter is typically my style, the former is just exactly what we did.  This year, while there were no family plans or get-togethers, our extended island family helped reinforce how grateful we are for friendships.  Not one, but 2 turkey dinners on the weekend.

Our good friends Bob and Susan laid out a wonderful spread for us and their daughter Lauren on Saturday night.

Sunday night, the Hunter clan had us over to share in a much contributed dinner for 14!

Friends Sheila and Bonnie.

 

  Bonnie supplied the brussel sprouts, beans and mashed turnip. 

 One of the amazing dishes I had never had was roasted yams with marshmallows on top. 

 One of Sheila's traditions.  Go figure!

 The Hunter grandkids

 

 And of course George - the patriarch! and grandaughter Georgina!

 Chris was thankful that we were invited out both days so that I didn't have to cook. 

 I was thankful too! And FULL!