Apple, Rosemary & Cheddar Tart with Dulce de Leche Glaze

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit,

and resign yourself to the influences of each.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Well friends, I'm back from my Washington Organic Fruit Adventure, and I have to say I had the best time.  My expectations were far surpassed.  Washington is a stunning state and I'm so glad I got to experience it first hand, if only for a few days.  Everything was divine.  Truly.  My mind was blown, happily so. 

In Transit: Spiced Nectarine Cake

 Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.  F. Scott Fitzgerald

Happy second day of Fall everyone!  I hope wherever you are life is treating you very, very good.  This transitional time of year is one of the prettiest - when the leaves are turning amber and the light is warm and the subtle breeze of change is all around us.  Usually I'm a little maudlin right around now - having to put the garden to bed will do that to a girl -  but not this year.  Frankly I'm happy to see another season, ripe with new beginnings and adventures.  And how much do I love shopping for boots and sweaters and dark red lip gloss?  I'm happy to pack away the strappy sandals and sundresses for another year.  Bring on tea and snuggles under blankets and a brand new TV shows.  The beauty of the season is so short lived here - blink and the next minute it's gone.  The next few weeks are a treasure.

Hungry: Food Basket Challenge 2012

If you're wondering why things have been a little quiet around here, it's because I've been living off of a food basket for one week.  No, I haven't been stricken financially (knock on wood), I was asked by the Saskatoon Food Bank to participate, along with 24 others, in the Food Basket Challenge - basically living off of the contents of a food basket, plus five pantry items and five dollars to spend on whatever grocery items I like.  For one week.  It was a terribly, terribly tough, especially given that I work with food, all day.  The smells of meat roasting drove me crazy. The sight of bacon on a cooling rack made me drool just a little.  Warm, chewy, chocolate chip cookies that usually have my name on them were just taunting me.  Day 2, I had to grill 60 steaks at a BBQ, when I hadn't eaten much all day, and then I went home to leftover dumpling soup with canned peas.  (No one should ever have to eat canned peas.) The worst bit was not being able to eat fresh fruit, or the goodness from my garden, though I did cheat and eat some Swiss chard.  On Day 4, I just needed something green that came out of the ground. 

Best of You: Caprese Salad

Oh Summer.  It looks like the time has come for you and I to part ways.  It's always such sweet sorrow when we have to say goodbye; you stay away much too long.  I'm sorry we never had that much time together; me busy working too many weekends, so busy I never got the chance to dip my toes in a lake or go on a picnic or drive down dusty country roads.  It wasn't all bad though - remember those glorious, early summer days in Ontario, when we got lost in Detroit and I ate at Lynn Crawford's restaurant?  Yeah, that was fun, and who can forget the trip my handsome man and I took to Moose Jaw?  Yes Summer, you were fleeting, but you were savoured.  Every bit.

Worth It: Chocolate & Sour Cherry Cake

90 days.  90 days since there's been anything chocolaty on the blog.  Sure there was that Raspberry and White Chocolate Tiramisu, but we all know white chocolate doesn't really count in the chocolate world.  No, there hasn't been anything deep dark and delicious since the time that crazy good Pecan Caramel Fudge Pie made an appearance way back in June.  June!  Do you remember June?  Summer was just beginning to breathe; full of promise and sunshine and the excitement of holiday playtime.  I hope you played well and hard, friends.  

Kickin' It: Kale Slaw with Peanut Dressing

So I did something weird and wacky the other day (I know, what else is new?).  I lifted myself high out of my rock solid comfort zone and put myself out there.  Like appearing-on-your-TV-set out there.  I told you it was crazy.  Here's the scoop - a few weeks ago I was contacted by one of the production assistants for the Marilyn Denis Show, letting me know that they are holding auditions for a food expert on her show.  Have you considered applying, he said?  Sure as hell not, I thought.  But then again, why not?  Lord knows cooking pro the last 13 years has racked up loads of experience and knowledge and I pretty much think about food constantly and love it passionately.  And maybe just maybe I'm ready for my culinary career to careen down a new path.  And really, there's nothing to lose; you never know would could happen.  And I like that.