Dark Red Apple, Late Summer

You know how you wake up one morning and you go outside and you are hit with a little coolness, a little crispness, that signals the wake up of the fall season? Yeah, it's like that.

Back in Business!

Today is opening day of the Saturday Farmer's Market in Lake Oswego, OR. Whoopie!! They are back in business! The freshest fruits and vegetables, the most colorful flowers, the tastiest cold pressed juices. Yeah, I missed you, you vibrant-as-all-get-out market, you : )

Holiday Desserts!

This scrumptious poached pear dessert is courtesy of my son, an amazing chef in his own right. These are anjou pears poached in red wine, raw sugar and mulling spices.

I truly hope this holiday season has been filled with love and joy for you all.

Yours,

Alison

Julia Child's Cherry Clafoutis

Well, I was SO not going to waste my beautiful local cherries that I purchased a few days ago. So I thought maybe some beautiful jam, a cherry pie, or...? Then I remembered my fave! I dug up the Julia Child clafoutis recipe, huzzah!! It's a recipe that you think might be difficult, but really it's not so much. Your fingers get a little stained from all the juice, but it's a small price to pay for the custard-y heaven that is clafoutis. Julia's clafoutis. Nom.

Here's a link to the recipe on Food.com - http://www.food.com/recipe/julia-childs-cherry-clafouti-239454?photo=361982

The foods of Istanbul

Well, we've been here for maybe 12 hours or so, and we are already just loving the churning excitement of Istanbul!

This is pomegranate and pistachio lokum, found at an incredible shop just down the street. A thing of beauty.

I'll let this picture be worth a thousand words. More soon...

Prickly Pear Fruit Harvest, Saratoga, CA

Is prickly pear cactus the next superfood? Mayo Clinic says... maybe so! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prickly-pear-cactus/AN02193

Now THIS is a hand-made Southern cocktail. Also from Husk. Absolutely delicious. And packs a wee bit of a punch : )

Le Jardin de Huguenots……..$9
La Fleur, La Fleur, La Fleur. Jouclary, Lillet Blanc, Chartreuse, raw sugar, lemon and orange juice.

Still Life with Argentine Pears

Seriously, after photographing these Argentinean beauties in my new house/studio today, I'm thinking that Argentina is calling! I always wanted to explore the San Rafael, Mendoza area. Maybe a small journey next spring for their grape harvest?

And someday, SOMEDAY, I'd love to purchase a little Finca there and grow some lovely malbec and cabernet grapes. And photograph them, of course!!!

Baked Lasagna

And here's the "after" photo of the amazing baked lasagna. And it was amazing! The key ingredient is layer upon layer of ever so thin pasta sheets piled high with a spicy and flavorful sauce. And some very fresh mozzarella to boot.

Lasagna, Unbaked

Lasagna, Unbaked
Originally uploaded by pixelish
Another "before" picture! Today it's lasagna before baking, as I prepare for my upcoming trip to Italy.

Mustard Magic

Last spring when I was out running around eastern France, I was surprised to come across softly rolling hills covered with fields and fields of zappity bright yellow mustard farms. It was astounding and enchanting to see cultivated mustard, as I had only really seen mustard grow wild over here in California. I suspect we don't value the humble mustard seed as much as the French, but we should. A good mustard is the core of everything that is right with the world. Ok, well, maybe not that, but it really can be the best part of a sandwich, or a salad dressing or a meal. Viva flavor! Viva mustard!

Gelato!

Gelato!
Originally uploaded by pixelish
This photo of delicious gelato was taken mere moments before my beloved Nikon D300 slid off my shoulder and went crashing to the ground.

Well, I guess it was time for a new camera anyway! I'll be trying out various cameras over the next few weeks before I decide which direction I go in. Ping me if you have any suggestions. The Nikon D800 is looming large though, just gotta say it.

Jamming!

Saturday is jam day! Nothing better than a warm carb of your choice lathered with lingonberry jam : )

Dark Grapes on the Vine

Dark Grapes on the Vine
Originally uploaded by pixelish
Today it's all about wine grapes, not food per se. I was out in my happy place, running around in vineyards this afternoon. The temperature hit about 100 degrees and the winds were blowing like crazy. Because of the wind, I was really having a problem with blur. So I started messing with my shutter speed and got, what I think, is a lovely series of dark and moody vineyard photos. Really kind of love this one in particular.