Just Like That: Ratatouille

 

Gosh September, you're (almost) already gone.  Just like that.  I don't know about you guys, but it's been a busy one, especially if you grow your own food.  Recent road trips saw me crisscrossing the prairies, with combines out in full force, trying to get crops off before it's gets too cold or too wet.  My projects run on a much smaller scale, mainly putting the garden to bed and making tomato sauce with the generous offering of tomatoes from my sister.  She had a bumper crop this year, and I'm happy to use what she can't.  Sister love!  And, recent offerings of zucchini (okay, they kind of pleaded with me to take some) and peppers saw me bring out my giant stock pot and whip of a batch of ratatouille.  You know the stuff.  Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and yes, zucchini, simmered for a couple of hours into a silky stew that is so fantastic this time of year.  You can read more about here, in the latest issue of Culinaire Magazine.  It's super simple, you just need good knife skills and a good soundtrack to chop away to.  I listen to this about at least once a day. Happy autumn, y'all.

A Gift: French Toast Sandwiches with Peaches & Mozzarella

 

Summer is heaving it's last gasp this weekend.  I hope you all played hard and soaked up as much sun as possible.  The tan lines on my feet are fading and my nail polish is long scuffed off.  Mornings see me swaddled in scarves and I've even had to turn the furnace on once or twice.  I know, the horror.  But. The leaves and light are changing, making the world around me so darn pretty, and I think I'm ready now.  Letting go is always a bit prickly to bear, but knowing that good things come in its wake, well, you just have to have faith in that.  Each season we're hit with is a gift, and I'm happy to tuck this summer away.  But before I do.  There are still peaches left to sniff. 

Sweet & Smoky Turkey Sloppy Joes

Mid September means most of us are back to school, back to work, back to reality, as it were.  I don't know about you, but every once in a while I close my eyes thinking it's still a lazy summer afternoon and all is just so right in the world.  This is a month of transition, in so many ways.  Work, weather, relationships.  There's lots on the go here, as I'm sure there is where you are, too.  Meals need to be thrown together faster than you can say "New episode of The Mindy Project! Hooray!".  And that's where these sloppy joes come to the rescue.  They are full of flavour and the sauce comes together while you whip up a quick coleslaw on the side.  Be sure to grab some fresh rolls, and there you are.  Dinner under thirty minutes, leaving you time to chauffeur the little ones to their activities, or get back into that yoga class (hey there yoga mat, nice to see you again) or just settle in for the night, because all of your favourite shows are back.  Can I just say thank goodness they finally adapted the wonderfully smutty Outlander series for TV.  Thank you Showtime for making my Sunday evenings that much better. 

For full recipe, please head on over to the Turkey Farmers of Canada website.