Happy Weekend

It’s a sunny, crisp fall day here in the woods and it’s Friday, so I am baking Challah for Shabbat Dinner tonight. This weekend I plan to relax a bit and do a little painting in my studio and outdoors- the fall colors are getting so gorgeous! I love this time of year when the citrus starts to fruit (in CA, anyways)…my Meyer Lemons are growing by the day! I am also growing hops to make beer with next summer (and the vines wilI hopefully turn into a canopy over my picnic table).

I hope you all have time to stop by the farmers market this weekend for some fresh flowers and find a moment to relax with a warming cocktail. I’ll be curled up by the fire with my favorite cinnamon spiced cold weather drink, The Skylonda (click here for the recipe).

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Caper Crostini

Crostini are great for entertaining, and this caper/shallot mixture can be made ahead of time. Burrata just makes everything better, so the combo of these ingredients is absolutely delish! Burrata is like a super soft fresh mozzarella that comes in water in a tub (you can get it at Trader Joe’s). If you can’t find it, use any soft cheese. You could simply use onion instead of shallots as well. I sliced the baguette and drizzled with a bit of olive oil (optional) on a cookie sheet before broiling in the oven. Yum!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Caramelized Onion Pizza

I loooove onions that are slow cooked with balsamic vinegar. Red or white onions work. Cook them at a medium/low temperature for a long time, at least 20 minutes, until all the liquid is gone and they start to get very soft and a little golden/caramelized. If they need more time, you can always add more balsamic vinegar. Throw the onions on top of a (store-bought?) pizza dough with a little cheese and bake in the oven. (For a non dairy version you could just use sauce, or even pesto).  I like to drizzle mine with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper before serving.  Yum!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Chard Tart

This Chard Tart could also be considered a free form quiche or galette. No matter what you call it, it’s pretty great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Slice the chard thinly and throw those stalks right in the mix as well (they are so pretty!). If you like your shallots (or you could use onion) more caramelized, you can cook those first (on medium) and throw the chard in for the last few minutes. Make your own dough or buy some from the store. I used whole wheat pizza dough, but for something a little richer, you could use pie crust. Enjoy!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Sage Chips

If you like kale chips, you’ll LOVE sage chips! These little flavor packed crispy bites will disappear in seconds. AND they only take a few seconds to make! Simply drop the (clean, dry) sage leaves into hot olive oil and fry them up for a minute or 2. Make sure you watch them to ensure they don’t get burned. Depending on how hot your oil is, they can go fast. Sprinkle them with salt and enjoy alone, or with wine and cheese. Or you can sprinkle them on top of chicken or fish, or even on quinoa or roasted vegetables. They’ll add a nice kick of flavor to just about anything. Happy weekend, Feasters, and enjoy!

by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast