Feeling a little blue here in the woods today thinking of everyone on the east coast who is dealing with the mess that Sandy left. I am so glad to hear my friends and family are safe but I know there are many people who have been really devastated by this storm. If you’d like to help, click here to donate to disaster relief through the Red Cross.
Pumpkin Smoothies
I had so much fun going to the pumpkin patch a few days ago in Half Moon Bay with Jonathan. The ocean is only a half hour from us, just over the mountain. There is a lot of coastal agriculture on this stretch of Highway 1, and it’s just gorgeous, despite the dramatic fog! We stopped into Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch and picked up a red kuri pumpkin (which the farmer said was the sweetest). Slice and bake your pumpkin until soft (350, approx 30 min. depending on size, or microwave 5 min). Scoop out the flesh (discard seeds) and cool. (If you don't have time, you can also just use a can of pumpkin purée.) Combine the pumpkin with a frozen banana, ice, honey, milk (I used almond milk) and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. This is great for breakfast or dessert. To fancy-it-up, you could even add ice cream! Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top before serving.
Happy Halloween!
By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast
Apple Galette
I grew up on an apple orchard, so I know my apples! And this time of year is the absolute BEST for fresh, crisp, juicy, flavorful apples. (None of that mushy mealy stuff!) The farmers markets are brimming with them right now, and lots of orchards offer picking. This dish is a more savory version of my recent apple and honey galette, so you can see the full recipe with how-to pics there. A galette is a free-form pie and the recipe does not need to be exact— here are the basic instructions:
On a baking sheet, spread slices of Brie on a round of pastry/pie dough (1 small cheese wedge, approx 6 oz). Top the cheese layer with a fan of thin apple slices (1-2 apples), then sprinkle with the dried herb mixture Herbs de Provence, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Pinch up the edges of the pastry before baking for about 25 min at 350°F, until the crust is golden. You can substitute Brie with any soft cheese and feel free to try it with other herbs like rosemary or thyme as well.
Enjoy!
By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast
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
