Happy Birthday to my sister LynnCrowned the new queen of embroidery in July right here at G.S.O.T.F.
She's still stitching and I can't wait to see the new project when she is finished!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
What I did yesterday.......
Today I am sitting in the sunflower field surrounded by the beautiful tall, happy yellow flowers that The Farmer planted in June and July. The “Lyng Gray Stripe” blooms which last week all sat perkily high above their stems are beginning to droop under the weight of the developing seeds.
The blue sky above is filled with puffy clouds that look like cotton candy floating around aimlessly. The sky far off at the horizon where the sun sets each night is a baby blue color with turquoise tinges. Puffy clouds are layered on top of each other, the uppermost tinged with a lovely greyish lavender color. Directly above, the sky is a deep and clear blue color with purplish overtones – similar to a June lupine or a deep blue morning glory blossom.
The wind is blowing high through the trees at the edge of the field. I don’t know what kind of trees they are – I must ask The Farmer. Poison ivy vines are trailing along the thick trunks giving them a lovely jolt of red and auburn.
The sunflowers are moving gracefully – like a slow swaying dance. As the wind catches their heavy heads, they nod and bob – as if they are all talking amongst themselves. “Sure seems like frost is coming. Sure hope my seeds grow so my new babies continue my work next year.”
Across the strret, the Jersey cows are curious. They greet me each morning. They watch me arrive and climb out of the car. Soon, they pick up their pretty heads from the grass they have been picking at for breakfast and nod to me as if to welcome me to their world. Their big dark brown saucer shaped eyes make me feel loved and appreciated.
In a minute, the big Jersey bull with a brass ring through his nose comes to the edge of the field and looks me over. He has things to do, women to take care of and in a few minutes, he ushers them up the hill to the barn. Every morning….
Today, I walk down the front rows of sunflowers – shorter in height but not in beauty - sad to see the petals withering and shriveling. As I get to the taller flowers at the back of the field, I startle the birds that were feeding on the seeds in the mature heads. In an instant, finches scatter quickly, taking fast flight in their quick, syncopated, flittery fashion.
In the rows at the back of the field, The Farmer left a little gathering area in a triangular shape. He mowed the weeds that were growing and placed a dozen bales of hay in a semi-circle. Here we had a sunflower field trip with the children in Julia’s school class. The kids drew beautiful pictures of the flowers. We read them some sunflower stories and they ate sunflower seeds and “cowboy cookies” full of sunflower seeds and oatmeal and chocolate chips.
The sunflower field is almost done for the year. It is sad to think that in a short while, the cold weather will come and take the life away. But they have done good– they have made many people happy by gracing dining tables, church altars, the side of the road, and who knows where else. This winter, they will feed the birds and next spring the cycle of life will begin again.
The Farmer did a good thing planting this field. He says it’s his art – his contribution of beauty and happiness to passing motorists, bicyclists, and joggers. Isn’t that just the sweetest? I am so proud of him.
Julia is learning to tolerate the sunflowers. She says she can’t wait til frost hits . This year, she is a little more steady on her feet and taller – the rows and plants aren’t quite so intimidating.
Yesterday, she took her own sunflower photo (in sepia tone - she loves it) and together we made a happy face out of a giant sunflower head.
Me, I’ve got to write a few pages on color for a book I am working on. I came down to the field to gather my thoughts, find some inner inspiration. For the past week I’ve been thinking about color – looking for my inner muse so that I can express the way I look at color, see color, use color, in order to pass it on. Instead of writing that piece, I wrote this. Ever the procratinator, I am. But now I think I can write what my editor is waiting for.
Enjoy your day.
Today I am sitting in the sunflower field surrounded by the beautiful tall, happy yellow flowers that The Farmer planted in June and July. The “Lyng Gray Stripe” blooms which last week all sat perkily high above their stems are beginning to droop under the weight of the developing seeds.
The blue sky above is filled with puffy clouds that look like cotton candy floating around aimlessly. The sky far off at the horizon where the sun sets each night is a baby blue color with turquoise tinges. Puffy clouds are layered on top of each other, the uppermost tinged with a lovely greyish lavender color. Directly above, the sky is a deep and clear blue color with purplish overtones – similar to a June lupine or a deep blue morning glory blossom.
The wind is blowing high through the trees at the edge of the field. I don’t know what kind of trees they are – I must ask The Farmer. Poison ivy vines are trailing along the thick trunks giving them a lovely jolt of red and auburn.
The sunflowers are moving gracefully – like a slow swaying dance. As the wind catches their heavy heads, they nod and bob – as if they are all talking amongst themselves. “Sure seems like frost is coming. Sure hope my seeds grow so my new babies continue my work next year.”
Across the strret, the Jersey cows are curious. They greet me each morning. They watch me arrive and climb out of the car. Soon, they pick up their pretty heads from the grass they have been picking at for breakfast and nod to me as if to welcome me to their world. Their big dark brown saucer shaped eyes make me feel loved and appreciated.
In a minute, the big Jersey bull with a brass ring through his nose comes to the edge of the field and looks me over. He has things to do, women to take care of and in a few minutes, he ushers them up the hill to the barn. Every morning….
Today, I walk down the front rows of sunflowers – shorter in height but not in beauty - sad to see the petals withering and shriveling. As I get to the taller flowers at the back of the field, I startle the birds that were feeding on the seeds in the mature heads. In an instant, finches scatter quickly, taking fast flight in their quick, syncopated, flittery fashion.
In the rows at the back of the field, The Farmer left a little gathering area in a triangular shape. He mowed the weeds that were growing and placed a dozen bales of hay in a semi-circle. Here we had a sunflower field trip with the children in Julia’s school class. The kids drew beautiful pictures of the flowers. We read them some sunflower stories and they ate sunflower seeds and “cowboy cookies” full of sunflower seeds and oatmeal and chocolate chips.
The sunflower field is almost done for the year. It is sad to think that in a short while, the cold weather will come and take the life away. But they have done good– they have made many people happy by gracing dining tables, church altars, the side of the road, and who knows where else. This winter, they will feed the birds and next spring the cycle of life will begin again.
The Farmer did a good thing planting this field. He says it’s his art – his contribution of beauty and happiness to passing motorists, bicyclists, and joggers. Isn’t that just the sweetest? I am so proud of him.
Julia is learning to tolerate the sunflowers. She says she can’t wait til frost hits . This year, she is a little more steady on her feet and taller – the rows and plants aren’t quite so intimidating.
Yesterday, she took her own sunflower photo (in sepia tone - she loves it) and together we made a happy face out of a giant sunflower head.
Me, I’ve got to write a few pages on color for a book I am working on. I came down to the field to gather my thoughts, find some inner inspiration. For the past week I’ve been thinking about color – looking for my inner muse so that I can express the way I look at color, see color, use color, in order to pass it on. Instead of writing that piece, I wrote this. Ever the procratinator, I am. But now I think I can write what my editor is waiting for.
Enjoy your day.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Confessions of the Farm Kind
When I came back from my big trip to L.A. in August, I noticed some things around the farm that had escalated to the boiling point. Sometimes it takes getting away to clear away the clutter when I come home. Kristin Re-entry is always a shock for all of us.
Number 1: Hotels are squeaky clean (it’s their business); our old famhouse is not. It is full of dirt – as in the kind that used to reside on the ground outside. After a day, I stop noticing and realize that it is just a fact of life around here. You can’t have all these animals, live on a dirt road, bring in vegetables and flowers and have The Farmer for a husband without a little dirt (well maybe a lot of it, but so it goes).
Number 2: After much coaxing, two of the bottle lambs that were born last February just didn’t want to join the flock of big guys. They were not going to be sheep, no matter how we tried to fence them in. I would be busy working away in my studio and hear an odd noise upstairs. Upon inspection, there would be a 100 pound grown up sheep in the house nosing around the dog food bowls. Or I would arrive home, arms loaded with groceries, enter the mudroom and be greeted by a grown sheep nosing amongst the grain bags looking for something MORE to eat.
Perhaps the FoodieFarmGirl is more patient than moi.
Number 3: The “great goat experiment” was not faring well. The goats were unpennable – at least with our system of electric fences and hog paneling. No matter where we put them, they would escape. They would also figure out how to get into the fenced vegetable garden. They discovered that all those annuals I bought back in June to fill in the bloom holes of the perennial garden in August were pretty tasty. You guessed it -- everything was pruned and most beyond regrowth and bloom. And they were noisy. Everytime I opened the door, it sounded like there were four crying babies in the yard.
You can probably guess where this is going, can’t you? Since Mark is always used to a shaky Kristin re-entry to farm life, he was prepared. Without asking, he loaded the offending creatures onto his trailer and they all disappeared. We all are much happier, even Mark. He has decided he is out of the goat business for awhile. If he does go back into it, he knows he has to be better prepared and a little richer so he can build proper fences.
Now it’s not that were creatureless. We’ve still got 160 sheep, one llama, two pigs, two dogs, nine cats, and about 30 chickens. There’s still plenty of bedlam around here to keep us all busy. Escapes from fencing continues – that’s just what happens with farm animals in fences. But now it’s only the dogs and cats and an occassional rooster or hen who meander inside the house. Relative peace.
When I came back from my big trip to L.A. in August, I noticed some things around the farm that had escalated to the boiling point. Sometimes it takes getting away to clear away the clutter when I come home. Kristin Re-entry is always a shock for all of us.
Number 1: Hotels are squeaky clean (it’s their business); our old famhouse is not. It is full of dirt – as in the kind that used to reside on the ground outside. After a day, I stop noticing and realize that it is just a fact of life around here. You can’t have all these animals, live on a dirt road, bring in vegetables and flowers and have The Farmer for a husband without a little dirt (well maybe a lot of it, but so it goes).
Number 2: After much coaxing, two of the bottle lambs that were born last February just didn’t want to join the flock of big guys. They were not going to be sheep, no matter how we tried to fence them in. I would be busy working away in my studio and hear an odd noise upstairs. Upon inspection, there would be a 100 pound grown up sheep in the house nosing around the dog food bowls. Or I would arrive home, arms loaded with groceries, enter the mudroom and be greeted by a grown sheep nosing amongst the grain bags looking for something MORE to eat.
Perhaps the FoodieFarmGirl is more patient than moi.
Number 3: The “great goat experiment” was not faring well. The goats were unpennable – at least with our system of electric fences and hog paneling. No matter where we put them, they would escape. They would also figure out how to get into the fenced vegetable garden. They discovered that all those annuals I bought back in June to fill in the bloom holes of the perennial garden in August were pretty tasty. You guessed it -- everything was pruned and most beyond regrowth and bloom. And they were noisy. Everytime I opened the door, it sounded like there were four crying babies in the yard.
You can probably guess where this is going, can’t you? Since Mark is always used to a shaky Kristin re-entry to farm life, he was prepared. Without asking, he loaded the offending creatures onto his trailer and they all disappeared. We all are much happier, even Mark. He has decided he is out of the goat business for awhile. If he does go back into it, he knows he has to be better prepared and a little richer so he can build proper fences.
Now it’s not that were creatureless. We’ve still got 160 sheep, one llama, two pigs, two dogs, nine cats, and about 30 chickens. There’s still plenty of bedlam around here to keep us all busy. Escapes from fencing continues – that’s just what happens with farm animals in fences. But now it’s only the dogs and cats and an occassional rooster or hen who meander inside the house. Relative peace.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
A Strange Sunday
This is a photo of the strange sky at 2 in the afternoon coming up West Mountain Road. The hay bales are winter food for David and Debbie's dairy cows. The sky couldn't decide whether to rain or shine.
Look carefully below and you'll see our sheep coming down the hill in the pasture as the clouds were hiding the sun setting. It was pretty magical.
This is a photo of the strange sky at 2 in the afternoon coming up West Mountain Road. The hay bales are winter food for David and Debbie's dairy cows. The sky couldn't decide whether to rain or shine.
Look carefully below and you'll see our sheep coming down the hill in the pasture as the clouds were hiding the sun setting. It was pretty magical.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
My enormous plume poppy has turned a lovely shade of gold. The shape of this leaf is to die for. I love all the rounded cut-outs. I would love to use it on a pillow as an embroidery outline. Haven't gotten to it yet.... The gold looks so nice against the galvanized metal mottled background.p.s. I've read in many gardening books that you shouldn't plant plume poppy. I have so much room in my garden though that I am always looking for some things to spread and look tall and majestic. This plant fills the bill although I have to keep it in line so I don't have only plume poppies.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Large gold sunflower on an antique Indian blockprint cloth
We're entertaining Julia's class of fifteen kids, parents, and teachers at the sunflower field Thursday morning for a drawing and "sunflower appreciation morning."
There's a chance of frost Thursday night. I hope not because my sister Laurie and her family are planning to come and picnic and pick on Saturday.
It must be fall
It happens to me every August. It always surprises me but then I remember and say to myself “Oh yeah, it’s almost fall – my favorite time of the year.” I begin to anticipate the clear crisp air and the changing colors of the landscape.
It begins for me when I start noticing the shades of gold in the landscape. I’m not really a gold person – if you asked me, it wouldn’t be my favorite color. It’s hard not to think of the early 70’s and the gold kitchen stove we had. But gold at this time of the year is quite remarkable. It must be the angle of the light, the shortening of the days, the clouds, the gray days, the slowing of the natural world around us as the flora starts to slow down and die. Gold colors take on an almost fluourescent tinge to them. The sun beats down on them in just the right way and it makes me feel warm inside. It won’t be long until there’s a fire in the fireplace and lambstew on the stove.
I’ve been doing a little observing with my eyes and my little camera. Here’s what I have seen so far. Enjoy the warm tones of your computer screen. I’ll be filling it for a few days with gold of the natural kind.
Okay, so this first photo isn’t completely natural. This building (along with about seven more) is just outside Middlebury College on its Breadloaf Campus. Every time the Farmer and I drive past them, I just go nutty for the color. In late August the light was hitting them just right and they looked almost magical. We had a picnic on the lawns and then headed back to normal life.
It happens to me every August. It always surprises me but then I remember and say to myself “Oh yeah, it’s almost fall – my favorite time of the year.” I begin to anticipate the clear crisp air and the changing colors of the landscape.
It begins for me when I start noticing the shades of gold in the landscape. I’m not really a gold person – if you asked me, it wouldn’t be my favorite color. It’s hard not to think of the early 70’s and the gold kitchen stove we had. But gold at this time of the year is quite remarkable. It must be the angle of the light, the shortening of the days, the clouds, the gray days, the slowing of the natural world around us as the flora starts to slow down and die. Gold colors take on an almost fluourescent tinge to them. The sun beats down on them in just the right way and it makes me feel warm inside. It won’t be long until there’s a fire in the fireplace and lambstew on the stove.
I’ve been doing a little observing with my eyes and my little camera. Here’s what I have seen so far. Enjoy the warm tones of your computer screen. I’ll be filling it for a few days with gold of the natural kind.
Okay, so this first photo isn’t completely natural. This building (along with about seven more) is just outside Middlebury College on its Breadloaf Campus. Every time the Farmer and I drive past them, I just go nutty for the color. In late August the light was hitting them just right and they looked almost magical. We had a picnic on the lawns and then headed back to normal life.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Colorwork Crazy for Interweave Knits
Somehow I have lost my blog track (if there ever was one here?). Wasn't the point of this blog to talk about knitting and stitching. I get a bit distracted, as you can see, by my every day life.
The third sweater I did for the the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits is "Little Majolica." This pullover for kids speaks autumn to me - the colors look like spent tired leaves and the brown has got that spicey feeling of cinnamon and cloves. And wherever did Pam find that adorable child? Does she/he look happy or what? I can't tell whether it is a girl or a boy - and I like that. When I designed the colorway for this pullover, I wanted it to appeal to both boys and girls. I think it does although Julia tells me it would look much better with a little pink in it.
For all of you adults who want this sweater to fit you - I'm really sorry but I just don't have an inch of time to do custom sizing. (I must have had at least ten people write so far! P.S. Keep the comments and requests coming because that way I feel appreciated - it's lonely out there in the sunflower field.) What I suggest is going to your local yarn store and maybe there you'll find a math whiz who can help you out!
It's knit of Julia Wool /Mohair/ Alpaca from Nashua Handknits which by the way should be in many local yarn stores by now in the States and Canada. For overseas knitters, contact Lucinda at Wild Wools and she will be happy to ship to you.
Attention Retailers: I am in the midst of preparing a "Where to Find Julia Yarn" for my website. If you carry it, could you please shoot me an e-mail along with your phone number and website if you have one. Thanks! My e-mail address can be found in a link at the bar at the right.
Somehow I have lost my blog track (if there ever was one here?). Wasn't the point of this blog to talk about knitting and stitching. I get a bit distracted, as you can see, by my every day life.The third sweater I did for the the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits is "Little Majolica." This pullover for kids speaks autumn to me - the colors look like spent tired leaves and the brown has got that spicey feeling of cinnamon and cloves. And wherever did Pam find that adorable child? Does she/he look happy or what? I can't tell whether it is a girl or a boy - and I like that. When I designed the colorway for this pullover, I wanted it to appeal to both boys and girls. I think it does although Julia tells me it would look much better with a little pink in it.
For all of you adults who want this sweater to fit you - I'm really sorry but I just don't have an inch of time to do custom sizing. (I must have had at least ten people write so far! P.S. Keep the comments and requests coming because that way I feel appreciated - it's lonely out there in the sunflower field.) What I suggest is going to your local yarn store and maybe there you'll find a math whiz who can help you out!
It's knit of Julia Wool /Mohair/ Alpaca from Nashua Handknits which by the way should be in many local yarn stores by now in the States and Canada. For overseas knitters, contact Lucinda at Wild Wools and she will be happy to ship to you. Attention Retailers: I am in the midst of preparing a "Where to Find Julia Yarn" for my website. If you carry it, could you please shoot me an e-mail along with your phone number and website if you have one. Thanks! My e-mail address can be found in a link at the bar at the right.
Friday, September 15, 2006
A Sunflower Pillow
Sunflowers are always inspiring for me. I pick and pick and think of how I would like to portray their happy faces in my art and textile design. If only I had as much time as I had ideas. Here's a pillow I made last summer. I used the pink gingham fabric from this post (it's a heavyweight decorating fabric so the embroidery stitches sit nicely on top of it).
I drew circles for the centers of the flowers using coins as patterns. I filled them in with chain stitch which rotated around in a closely packed swirl. For the petals, I used fly stitch. Shiny cotton floss makes a nice contrast to the matte finish of the gingham. You can use my book Colorful Stitchery to figure it out for yourself!
Looking at this pillow on a short, dark winter day reminds me that the sunflowers will bloom again and the cycle of life will repeat.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
End of Summer Bookmarks
Here's a new batch of bookmarks I made over the weekend. You can make them too - never too late to start the holiday gifts! Use my book Colorful Stitchery to guide you along!
Here's a new batch of bookmarks I made over the weekend. You can make them too - never too late to start the holiday gifts! Use my book Colorful Stitchery to guide you along!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Harvest Time
Sunflowers for as far as the eye can see.
It's all I can do to keep the buckets full and juggle the rest of my life.
Sharing the love with Greenfield on Leyden Road while the weather lasts!
Pretty soon the entire field will look like this
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do.
Helen Keller
Sunflowers for as far as the eye can see.
It's all I can do to keep the buckets full and juggle the rest of my life.
Sharing the love with Greenfield on Leyden Road while the weather lasts!
Pretty soon the entire field will look like this
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do.
Helen Keller
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Brattleboro Jewel
In a last ditch effort to remain artistically inspired before school and fall began, Mark, Julia and I spent the rainy Sunday morning before Labor Day at the Brattleboro Museum of Art. This place is a jewel and it is only 30 minutes from our farm. Housed in the beautiful old train station, the space is lofty and always has something fun to view.
Sunday we were thrilled to see a series of paintings by the internationally aclaimed artist Wolf Kahn. He has had a summer home in Marlboro, VT for over thirty years and has been a big supporter of this tiny museum. Three rooms of his paintings and a great film showing him sketching and painting at Niagara Falls really gave me a great overview of his prolific artistic life. I had never seen his work - except for on greeting cards and calendars - but boy did I love it! It is so colorful and ethereal. Any knitter and artist can't help but be inspired by his use of color.
Then I was further surprised to find an exhibit of quilts by Faith Ringgold. She is the author of Tar Beach, a children's book about growing up black in Harlem, along with many more books. The next time I get a chance to see her quilts - which are actually paintings in acrylic on fabric made into quilts - I am going to rush there. Her website is excellent and if you are trying to teach your children about making art and life in general, it is really worth a look.
If you are heading to New England this fall for leaf-peeping, hop off the first exit in Vermont and check out the tiny, artsy town of Brattleboro. It's only two hours from Boston and four hours from NYC. Green Mountain Spinnery is just up the road too. And yes this is the same town that is home to the "Nude Dudes." I have yet to see them but national t.v. cameras along with Dr. Phil have been in town in large numbers.
In a last ditch effort to remain artistically inspired before school and fall began, Mark, Julia and I spent the rainy Sunday morning before Labor Day at the Brattleboro Museum of Art. This place is a jewel and it is only 30 minutes from our farm. Housed in the beautiful old train station, the space is lofty and always has something fun to view. Sunday we were thrilled to see a series of paintings by the internationally aclaimed artist Wolf Kahn. He has had a summer home in Marlboro, VT for over thirty years and has been a big supporter of this tiny museum. Three rooms of his paintings and a great film showing him sketching and painting at Niagara Falls really gave me a great overview of his prolific artistic life. I had never seen his work - except for on greeting cards and calendars - but boy did I love it! It is so colorful and ethereal. Any knitter and artist can't help but be inspired by his use of color.
Then I was further surprised to find an exhibit of quilts by Faith Ringgold. She is the author of Tar Beach, a children's book about growing up black in Harlem, along with many more books. The next time I get a chance to see her quilts - which are actually paintings in acrylic on fabric made into quilts - I am going to rush there. Her website is excellent and if you are trying to teach your children about making art and life in general, it is really worth a look.If you are heading to New England this fall for leaf-peeping, hop off the first exit in Vermont and check out the tiny, artsy town of Brattleboro. It's only two hours from Boston and four hours from NYC. Green Mountain Spinnery is just up the road too. And yes this is the same town that is home to the "Nude Dudes." I have yet to see them but national t.v. cameras along with Dr. Phil have been in town in large numbers.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Rainy Days Call for Baking
Julia and I spent a few days in Dover, NJ in August visiting my mom Nancy and sister Jennifer. It was kind of cold and rainy and we didn't end up doing much swimming which we had hoped for. But we did have time for baking. I don't do too much baking here on the farm. The Farmer doesn't like sweets (must be how he stays thin) and Julia has juvenille diabetes so we have to watch everything she eats. Me, I just don't need the extra calories. We save baking for when we have guests. It's too bad because Julia loves to mix and stir and make a general white fluffy mess. I see beautiful baked goods all over the web - especially over at Yarnstorm - and it makes me slightly sad we don't do much of it here. When I was a kid, my sisters and I were always making some kind of mess in the kitchen. Patient Mom!
I picked up these small Italian plums at my favorite market Foster's in Greenfield before I left. I look forward to Italian plum season each year - it zips by in a flash. (I call them Italian because that's what Gram called them - they must have another name - anyone know?) When I was a little girl, I always loved my grandmother's plum cake. And I love plum chutney with pork!
A couple of years ago, I discovered this Cornmeal Plum Cake recipe in an issue of Country Home and I have been putting my own spin on it for the past few summers. It has a great texture because of the cornmeal - a little crunchy and not too sweet. The original recipe called for plums but I have used different combinations of peaches, raspberries, blueberries, nectarines, plums, even apples. If you use berries, don't cook them - just put them in fresh because they will become too mushy. I have used underripe fruit and the cooking usually makes them softer and not so sour. This is a very moist cake with a bit of a nice crunch from the cornmeal. Keep it fresh in the refrigerator because of all the eggs and sour cream. It makes a lovely breakfast too.
Cornmeal Fruit Cake
Fruit Mixture:
3 TB. butter
4 cups fruit
2 TB. sugar
Dry Ingredients:
3/4 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
Creaming Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
Butter a 9" springform pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook fruit in butter over medium heat in a flat saute pan for about 4 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Stir in sugar. If using berries, do not cook. Set aside.
Stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Then add eggs separately beating after each addition. Add sour cream or yogurt. Fold in flour/cornmeal mixture.
Pour 2/3 of batter into bottom of springform pan. Add fruit mixture. Spoon remaining batter on top of fruit letting bits of the fruit show through. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. sugar to make a crunchy top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove springform sides and cool 30 minutes more.
Enjoy!
Julia and I spent a few days in Dover, NJ in August visiting my mom Nancy and sister Jennifer. It was kind of cold and rainy and we didn't end up doing much swimming which we had hoped for. But we did have time for baking. I don't do too much baking here on the farm. The Farmer doesn't like sweets (must be how he stays thin) and Julia has juvenille diabetes so we have to watch everything she eats. Me, I just don't need the extra calories. We save baking for when we have guests. It's too bad because Julia loves to mix and stir and make a general white fluffy mess. I see beautiful baked goods all over the web - especially over at Yarnstorm - and it makes me slightly sad we don't do much of it here. When I was a kid, my sisters and I were always making some kind of mess in the kitchen. Patient Mom!I picked up these small Italian plums at my favorite market Foster's in Greenfield before I left. I look forward to Italian plum season each year - it zips by in a flash. (I call them Italian because that's what Gram called them - they must have another name - anyone know?) When I was a little girl, I always loved my grandmother's plum cake. And I love plum chutney with pork!
A couple of years ago, I discovered this Cornmeal Plum Cake recipe in an issue of Country Home and I have been putting my own spin on it for the past few summers. It has a great texture because of the cornmeal - a little crunchy and not too sweet. The original recipe called for plums but I have used different combinations of peaches, raspberries, blueberries, nectarines, plums, even apples. If you use berries, don't cook them - just put them in fresh because they will become too mushy. I have used underripe fruit and the cooking usually makes them softer and not so sour. This is a very moist cake with a bit of a nice crunch from the cornmeal. Keep it fresh in the refrigerator because of all the eggs and sour cream. It makes a lovely breakfast too.Cornmeal Fruit Cake
Fruit Mixture:
3 TB. butter
4 cups fruit
2 TB. sugar
Dry Ingredients:
3/4 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
Creaming Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
Butter a 9" springform pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook fruit in butter over medium heat in a flat saute pan for about 4 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Stir in sugar. If using berries, do not cook. Set aside.
Stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Then add eggs separately beating after each addition. Add sour cream or yogurt. Fold in flour/cornmeal mixture.
Pour 2/3 of batter into bottom of springform pan. Add fruit mixture. Spoon remaining batter on top of fruit letting bits of the fruit show through. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. sugar to make a crunchy top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove springform sides and cool 30 minutes more.Enjoy!
Brimfield Alert
Thanks Kathy! for the reminder. This week is the last Brimfield flea market of 2006 (I thought it was next week - oops. I'm going to try to go to J & J tomorrow (Friday). I missed July. Anyone else going?
Thanks Kathy! for the reminder. This week is the last Brimfield flea market of 2006 (I thought it was next week - oops. I'm going to try to go to J & J tomorrow (Friday). I missed July. Anyone else going?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Blooming in all their glory!
While we were away - the first variety of sunflower to bloom in its entirety began. This type is a single stem (which are about 2" in diameter - I use some big clippers to cut them). They are called ProCut Orange (from Johnny's Seeds in Maine). These hybrid sunflowers are what you typically find for sale in the grocery store all year long. Commercial growers grow them in greenhouses in the winter. Ours though have huge 8" heads and look way more healthy.
I missed the peak cutting time for them because we went away but I think everyone who passed the field enjoyed seeing their sunny faces blooming away. The seed heads are developing now and the birds are just waiting to harvest the seeds.
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