DESIGN TIP OF THE WEEK:
Enjoy what you do. The planning and thinking about all the design options can be most enjoyable. And then call a designer to help you hone in on your vision and to help your vision become reality
STORY OF THE WEEK:
The Whitney Chronicles - Pumpkin Again, Part Two
by Beverly Anderson
I left you in this pumpkin story I was emailing to my friend, when I was just beginning to make the crusted pumpkin wedges recipe.
I mix the bread crumbs, spices, garlic to top the wedges...which are to be laid on parchment paper...of which I have none...foil will have to serve. So I've covered the cookie sheets with foil and arranged the "slightly irregular, but almost cresent shaped wedges" in neat rows. Now to brush them with olive oil...well, the second thing my kitchen lacks...a brush...and I don't think Heide will want me to fill one of her art brushes with olive oil??...so my fingers will have to serve. I "brush" each slice after dipping my fingers in oil...then I sprinkle on the bread crumb mixture, pat it down as instructed and get ready to place the two cookie sheets in the preheated to 375 degree oven...now to bake...but their is a slight amount...actually a rather large amount of smoke pouring out of the oven since in my flurry of activity this morning, I decided to clean the oven and now that film of oven spray is burning off...I wonder what those chemicals will do to the wedges? Nevermind, I'll just let it burn off a little while, then slide in the trays of wedges.
Whew...That's done...and the kitchen is a wreck...cannisters on the table (which had to be moved from the island)...pumpkin seeds and stringly pulp everywhere...no dishrag to be found...they are all in the washer...no space on the kitchen table to sit down and enjoy a mug of coffee...no coffee...and all the mugs are in the sink soaking...since I decided that they too needed a thorough washing along with the glassware that is still in the dishwasher. This dishwasher takes about 2 hours to complete it's cycle...and now it is to the drying stage...which means it is adding hot steamy spray to the overly warm and active kitchen...I'm going outside!...to check to see if I have any squirrels who might enjoy pumpkin pieces...and how small do I have to cut them for the squirrels to be able to cart them off? I'm really getting tired of hacking on this pumpkin! But the cooking wedges smell wonderful and they look wonderful, too...and they are almost ready to come out of the oven. Ah...Delicious!...very delicious!...topped with sourcream mixed with dill...but I have a confession...pumpkin does not have much taste at all, it is the flavorful topping and the sourcream that taste good. All those spices, garlic and lemon zest. I should keep this topping recipe to go on some more worthwhile vegetable or meat...But I'll admit, these wedges are good enough to make another batch..the squirrels will just have to wait. I must carve some more wedges...
Four hours later and the kitchen is almost cleaned up...the laundry is folded...the glassware is back on the shelves...the mugs are hanging on their hooks...and I have enough pumpkin wedges to feed an army...or maybe my bookclub..where are they? I don't think these wedges will keep until our January meeting...how will Heide and I ever manage to eat all these wedges? Ah ha!...Christmas Eve is only 2 days away...they'll keep...and off to my friend Ursula's they will go! Sourcream with dill in hand!
Well I've had success with the pumpkin project for the second year...BUT it may be my last! I'll save the recipe for you...and I wish I could teleport some wedges your way.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK:
"American Indian"
by Heide Browne
pastel, 18 x 25
$200
