Autumn's Bounty

I love Autumn and the only negative thing I have to say about my favorite season is, "Damn fruit flies!"  I hate the wretched things!  

While at the Farmers' Market this morning, one of my favorite vendors and I got to talking about all the wonderful fruit and veggies that are available at this time of year.  I told her that as soon as I get home and wash everything, the first thing I do is put everything into the refrigerator because of the fruit flies. 

Well, lo and behold, what did she show me?

A "Flies Demise" plant.

It evidently emits the same aroma as fresh fruit which attracts not only fruit flies but also regular house flies and wasps.  The insects fly into the opening at the top of each stem and get trapped inside by little "hairs" where they die.  

Gross, but interesting, huh?

Of course one had to come home with me because I H-A-T-E fruit flies!  

I'll keep you informed as to whether it works or not.

Even though we had a horribly hot and dry summer, our tomato plants just keep on producing.  We've given a slew away and it wasn't until I read this post on Candace's blog that I knew what I was going to do with some of our bumper crop...roasted tomato sauce.

I started as soon as I returned from our Farmers' Market this morning where I purchased some fresh and organically grown garlic and basil.  I was going to make the sauce yesterday but when I went to the supermarket to buy some garlic, the stuff that they were selling was from China!!! 

What the heck is up with that???  No way was I going to buy garlic from China when our local farmers grow it by the truckload!

Let me tell you folks, if you want the tastiest, freshest and E-A-S-I-E-S-T recipe for home made roasted tomato sauce, then read on.

First, I quartered the tomatoes and spread them out on a couple of pizza pans lined with parchment paper.  You can use cookie sheets but mine are in the freezer with blackberries on them.  And get this...no blanching to remove the skin or need to scoop out the seeds!  With this recipe you use the whole enchilada tomato!

Next, I added a bunch of garlic cloves and placed them here and there amongst the tomatoes, added some freshly ground black pepper and then drizzled olive oil over the top.

I then popped both trays into a heated 325 F oven and roasted the lot for two hours.  The aroma throughout the house was yum-a-licious!

While the tomatoes were roasting, I prepared 5 pint sized canning jars and did a little stitching at the kitchen table while Ollie kept me company.

Two hours later I took them out of the oven...

and allowed them to cool.

I added one tray at a time to my food processor along with a handful of fresh basil...

and pulsed the lot for about 15-20 seconds.

Mr. Painted Quilt and I shared what was left after filling five jars...and licked the spoon and bowl clean too!

I think some kind of pasta dish will be on the menu some time this week.

Thanks, Candace!  Not only did she send me the tomato seeds which I started indoors over the winter, but she also inspired me with this recipe which of course I'm going to call "Candace's Roasted Tomato Sauce".

This has been a real light bulb week for Ollie.

He now asks to go outside when he has to do his "thing" by whining at our back door.  Before we had to carry him in and out because he seemed to be afraid to cross over the threshold for some reason.  We decided to take him in and out using the leash on a couple of occasions and I think that's what made him realize that nothing was going to either bite or hurt him and now he does it by himself and without hesitation.

He and Frankie are becoming closer with each passing day.

Best buddies.

They share Ollie's bed every morning as we sip our coffee waiting for daybreak.

I think we need a larger bed, Mom!

Ollie will be four months old on the 6th of October and I can honestly say that the initial puppy stage has passed.  Yay!  He goes to the vet on Monday for his last set of puppy shots and the doggie beauty shop for the first time on Friday.

My Comfort & Joy flimsy (see last post) has arrived at my friend Alice's place in Ontario to be quilted and I don't know if I can contain my excitement while waiting to see what she does with it.  

While Ollie sitting, I've also been making progress on Red Brolly's The Wish quilt.  I've completed six stitcheries so far and am working on the seventh.

And guess who fell asleep while keeping me company as I was stitching?

Shhhhh.  Baby sleeping.

On a personal note, I go for my second follow up CT scan on Wednesday.  

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.