Back in the middle of September, I got an email about a post I had done over the summer about The Flavor Bible. The authors of that fine book were celebrating the one year anniversay of its publication and asked me if I would like to reference that post again as a way to help draw attention to the anniversary. So – I happily Tweeted a link back to it, because I do love that book and use it often. They also asked for my mailing address which I emailed back and promptly forgot the whole thing.
Until the other day that is. The authors, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg have a brand new book, called “The New American Chef”, and in thanks for my lowly little tweet, they sent me a signed copy.
I am still beside myself.
And I am just starting it, but I already love it. In addition to being packed full of great information about how American Chefs are using cuisine and techniques from all over the world, it has gorgeous black and white photography by Michael Donnelly.
Many thanks to Karen and Andrew. Your book is awesome and so are both of you. Wanna come over for dinner?
Once those cones for which they are noted dry out, they sort of grow another kind of blossom. Okay – so they are finches, but they look nearly as pretty as the original flowers.
And there is nothing I like better than a reason to put off a chore. I leave them till spring usually because they look pretty nice with little caps of snow on them too. For now, I am happy to look out my kitchen window and see this guy and his relatives every day.
Hope you have something pretty to look at today! 
While the cauliflower is in the oven, make the vinaigrette
This was so good hot, and the leftovers were fantastic for lunch the next day. The time in the fridge gave the vinaigrette time to really penetrate the cauliflower, without overwhelming it. I didn’t even heat it up – just let it come to room temperature. An unintended bonus, because now I have a new salad recipe to fool around with. Even when I try really hard, I can never leave any recipe alone. 
Farewell Gourmet – you deserve better than this.
They are edible, though you don’t want to eat too many of them at one time as they give some people a bit of gastric problem which can make mingling in polite society difficult. I’d rather just look at them myself.
They are about the last wildflower to bloom around here.
Sumac is really just a big weed, but I don’t care. I love it all year long, but never more than in the fall.
This is everywhere we look right now. So brilliant that it almost hurts your eyes to look at it.
Still a lot of goldenrod around too. It isn’t what causes allergies either – that is more often a plant called ragweed. I’m always a sucker for a yellow flower, even if it is a weed.
A late stand of Queen Anne’s lace – even prettier now that there isn’t much of it left.
If you stop by for cocktail hour, in addition to fine conversation, lots of attention from Riley and a nice glass of Pinor Noir, you get to look at this.
And the best part of fall wild things? I don’t have to plant/move/thin/weed/divide/deadhead/trim any of it. Gotta love that! Hope the world is looking pretty where you are today.
This Hakonechloa grass was planted last fall. It is small, because I am cheap, and bought a very small plant, rather than spending $25 for a bigger one. It is so bright and I am sure it is going to be a favorite in a few more years when it really gets a bit more size. This little frog is unemployed, having lost his job of holding a glass rain gauge when I missed picking him up before it got really cold a few years back. I let him hang around though.
This leaves on this coleus are bigger than my hand. It was on sale for a couple bucks at one of my favorite greenhouses in late spring. It is right next to the front door and I am going to miss it when the frost finally gets it.
Remember the springs Larry gave me? I have heard so many compliments about them this year – they look so cool.
And this basket is hanging in the back shade garden too – still going strong.
Now, I have to get back to getting something accomplished! Have a great Friday everyone…
