It's time for a change

Today I spotted the first Junco for Winter 2007-2008. These little guys spend the winter with us here in central Ohio after spending their summers up in Canada (which is also where I would like to spend my Summers.) To learn more about the Dark-eyed Junco check out this article at Wikipedia.

Tonight also brings our first frost/freeze. This has to be one of the latest first frost in many years.

Time to make soup.

PS. Have I been away for a long time or did Blogger make some recent major upgrades?????

I took today off and didn't realize it was a holiday

Happy Bread Day!

I took a vacation day today to use up days that I will not be able to carry over to next year. I had planned on making bread today not actually knowing that today was BD. But anyway, last night I made am Italian bread starter called a Biga. So today I made two loaves of Ciabatta using the recipe from Daniel Leader's book Local Breads. The dough for this bread is very loose and hard to deal with and I have tried to make it many times before. But today was the first time I followed the recipe and directions of Dan Leader. Well as the photo above shows tonight I actually made Ciabatta! The loaves almost look as good as they taste.

Today I started (thanks to Local Breads) a French sourdough starter. Hopefully I will be able to post of the results late next week.

Photo for Monday 10/08/07

Anna & Michael, August 2006.

Photo for Sunday 10/07/07

Begonia. Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, New York Botanical Garden. September 2007.

Photo for Saturday 10/06/07

Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence. March 2003.

Thursday 10/04/07

Tonight's dinner - Shrimp and Sweet Corn Risotto

Butter
Olive Oil
Onion
Red Pepper
Arborio Rice
Chicken Broth
Sweet Corn
Shrimp
Basil
Salt
Black & White Pepper

Photo for Wednesday 10/03/07

"Hi Mom!, I'm like looking at Picasso's Three Musicians and it's like so cubulor! Did my friend Denise stop by the house yet? She said she would after getting her car washed."

Ok no, these people are not on cell phones but are listening to the audio guide at MOMA. Apparently, if you have this device attached to your head it enable you to get in everyone else's way until you get to hear what Picasso period you are looking at.

Note: I love this photo. It could be title"...and I'm looking at you because...."

Photo for Tuesday 10/02/07

Tonight's dinner - Eggplant Parmesan Stacks.

This is a great recipe I saw over at Ms.Adventures in Italy I followed her recipe except for the arugula, which the market didn't have today. I used baby spinach. The arugula would be better as would the basil (which I have growing in the back yard but for some reason didn't think about using). I was able to use tomato sauce I put up last fall. I think the next time I prepare this I will give smoked mozzarella a try.

Photo for Monday 10/01/07

A Chinese carryout on 4th avenue in Brooklyn.

sad, sad, sad...

Happy National Pork Month!

Let's eat!