“Shadow Visionaries” at the Clark and Heirloom Bean & Kale Soup

A welcome day off from teaching and practicing– we headed north to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Almost at the Vermont border, the mountains are higher and the trip there always feels as if we are on a small vacation.

Looking outside a museum window, the landscape reminded us of a scene from an old classic black and white film.

In the distance, a lone skier traversed across a snowy field.

Staying with the black and white color scheme, we viewed the current exhibition of intricate lithographs, “Shadow Visionaries: French Artists Against the Current”:1840-1870.

Here is a description from the exhibit:

“The mid-1800s in France was a tumultuous era that witnessed dramatic political, social, and cultural change. The impact of those transformations on the art of the period has often been measured by the painting and sculpture shown at government-sponsored Salons, Universal Expositions, and other prominent exhibition venues, which tended to uphold official narratives of progress.

Yet a focus on more private media, such as printmaking and photography, tells a different story. In fact, many artists felt at odds with their era’s celebration of material advancement and modernization.

Rejecting the prevailing current, such figures—described as “Shadow Visionaries” for this exhibition—chose dark subject matter oriented toward the irrational, spiritual, and fantastical. They used the distinctive characteristics of black-and-white media to convey intense emotions, while producing works of unsparing directness and rare beauty. Although some of the Shadow Visionaries evoked nostalgia, others dreamed boldly toward an alternate future, anticipating later art movements such as Symbolism and Surrealism.”

I was particularly drawn to the lithographs of trees and forests; the contrast of light and shadows was mesmerizing along with their magical unworldly character.

*“Old Oaks at Bas Breau”*– Adolphe Martal

*“Clearing in the Forest”-Rodolphe Bresdin*

We next visited the permanent collection of Impressionist paintings. As we entered a large room filled with paintings by Monet, Manet, Pissaro, Millet and Renoir, we were greeted by warm brilliant colors.

I sank down on a plush dark blue velvet couch in front of Monet’s “Tulip Fields at Sassenheim” and drank in the beautiful colors; a perfect antidote from the grey monochrome winter day! On a Tuesday afternoon in February, we were the only visitors in the room; we pretended that this was our own private art collection- a slice of heaven!

*“Tulip Fields at Sassenheim”-Claude Monet*

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On my pantry shelf at home, a small jar of cute little heirloom beans that I purchased last summer has waited patiently for me to put them to use! I got them at the excellent organic Honey Dog Farm in Hillsdale, New York. A winter day in February is the perfect time for a long simmering pot of bean soup!

The heirloom beans are a variety called Coco de Boheme and are described as “a hearty meaty bean that holds it’s shape well”. I decided to make a bean and kale soup with a southwestern flavor. I sauteed onions and added a diced poblano chile, carrots, diced fire roasted tomatoes, celery and lacinato kale and seasoned the soup with dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, cumin and smoked paprika with salt and pepper to taste.

The cooked beans tasted creamy and at the same time were firm and held their shape. We served the soup for dinner with freshly ground pepper and a sprinkle of grated pecorino cheese along with a salad and crispy squares of potato & leek focaccia (recipe to come in another blog!).

Heirloom Bean and Kale Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 pound dried beans ( pinto or cannellini beans would also work well)

1 medium onion diced

1 small carrot cut into small pieces

1 stalk celery with leaves cut into small pieces

5 or 6 leaves of lacinato kale (remove tough center stems) Tear kale into small pieces

1 small can diced organic fire roasted tomatoes (add juice in can to soup pot)

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons cumin powder

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 large bay leaf

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

water to cover beans and vegetables

To Make Soup:

Quick Soak the beans. Rinse and sort the beans in cold water. Drain and add to a large pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Cover and remove from heat and let sit for at least 2 hours. Do not drain. Use soaking liquid for soup.

In a separate small pan, heat olive oil and saute onion and slightly softened.

Add onions and all other ingredients except kale to soup pot. Cover everything with water and bring to a boil. If soup seems to thick, add more water. Reduce heat and cook at a low simmer until beans are tender. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

The cooking time can vary greatly. The older the beans, the longer they will need to cook to soften. After cooking the soup about 1 1/2 hours add kale for the rest of the cooking time. The flavor of the soup improves after a day or two in the fridge. ENJOY!!

AND: As always, here is the “Tree of the Week!”

STAY WARM!!

A Snowy Day at Canoe Meadows and Chocolate Cream (Healthy) Donuts!

As I write this we are in the middle of a major snow storm and it is really cold! Last Sunday, with temperatures hovering in the 30’s (0 Celsius) and no wind, we ventured out in a light snow for a short walk at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This was after we enjoyed the always delicious Sunday Buffet at an excellent little Indian restaurant, MINT , with a lakeside view of Laurel Lake in Lee, Massachusetts.

The lovely scenic path winds gently through fields, meadows, small ponds and around the Housatonic River.

In the distance is October Mountain, named by the famous writer, Herman Melville. The nearby Arrowhead Herman Melville House, overlooks the mountain. The house was built in the 1780’s. Melville spent some of his most productive years there between 1850-1863 where he wrote Moby-Dick, Pierre (dedicated to nearby Monument Mountain),Confidence Man and Israel Potter.

At a recent visit to the Woodstar Cafe in Northampton, Massachusetts, I was tempted by the Hazelnut Creme Donuts; somehow I resisted and decided to make a healthy version that we could enjoy at home.

I thought that the perfect filling would be a rich tasting but very light chocolate pudding and the baked apple cider donuts that I included in a blog titled “Mann tracht un gott lacht”.

The pudding, which includes almond milk, cornstarch, a small amount of coconut sugar, vanilla and Lily’s chocolate (sweetened with Stevia) is delicious on it’s own or served with fresh berries and sliced almonds.

The filled donuts tasted rich and decadent, but are healthy and perfect with a cup of late afternoon tea or a decaf latte with oat milk!

ENJOY!

Donuts with Chocolate Cream Filling

Chocolate Pudding Filling– adapted from Chocolate Cake by Michele Urvater

Ingredients:

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup cocnut sugar ( this makes a very bittersweet pudding, feel free to add up to 1/2 to 3/4 cups sugar.)

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond or soy milk

1/2 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract

4 ounces dark chocolate chopped (I used Lily’s Extremely Dark chocolate, but you could semi or bittersweet chocolate for a sweeter taste)

To make the pudding:

In a small mixing bowl, with a fork or small whisk, combine the cornstarch with 1/2 cup of the milk.

In a small saucepan over low heat, bring the remaining 1 cup milk to a simmer with the sugar, stirring occasionally so the milk does not boil over. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Whisk the cornstarch and milk in the bowl again to make sure the cornstarch is dissolved, and add this to the hot milk and sugar mixture. Return the saucepan to the heat and bring to a simmer until the mixture thickens, whisking constantly. Remove from the hear and add chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts into the mixture. Stir in almond extract. Put pudding in a bowl and refrigerate until cold.

refrigerate until cold.

For the donuts:

⅓ cup neutral-flavored oil (canola, avocado, grapeseed, walnut)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup monk fruit sweetener
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 cup applesauce ( I did not have a jar of applesauce on hand, so I just cooked down a few apples and mashed them up with some cinnamon).
½ cup apple cider, boiled down to about 2 tablespoons of syrup
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

Instructions

Making the donuts:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a non-stick donut pan with cooking spray. My pan makes 6 donuts, so I had to fill it twice.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, applesauce, cider syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder until smooth.
Add the flour, stirring until just smooth.
Fill a pastry bag or a sturdy gallon-sized plastic bag with the batter. Use scissors to snip off the tip of the bag, creating about an ½”’ hole.
Pipe the batter into the wells of the doughnut pan nearly to the rim. Or, just carefully spoon in the batter.
Bake the doughnuts for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean. .
Remove the doughnuts from the oven, and loosen their edges by running a knife along the outer circle.

To Assemble the Donuts:

Cut donuts in half with a serrated knife.

Spread one half liberally with chocolate pudding to make a “donut sandwich”.

Melt a few squares of chocolate in microwave and place in a small plastic baggie. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag and squeeze lightly back and forth over doughnuts to make decorative lines.

Enjoy with a cup of tea!

Here is a beautiful piece to listen to by the Renaissance composer Joan Ambrosio Dalza-“Pavana alla Ferrarese”

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

STAY SAFE AND WARM!

Cozy Seasonal Memories and Ginger Chicken & Rice Soup with Zucchini

*George Innes- “Home at Montclair”( Courtesy Clark Art institute)*

With the shortest days of the year upon us, many people are affected negatively with SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

By a stroke of luck, I am not affected by the lack of day light. I seem to be invigorated by cold temperatures and snow.

Whenever we have to opportunity to visit the Clark Art Institute, one of my favorite works of art is by the American painter, George Innes. The painting, titled “Home at Montclair” depicts twilight on a cold wintry day; as I gaze at the picture, I am filled with a sense of coziness and warmth. A tiny wisp of smoke curls out of the chimney and light glows softly from one window. I imagine that inside the cozy old farmhouse, crackling logs in the fireplace create a welcoming warmth; a small table is set with late afternoon tea and freshly baked muffins. This phenomenon might be called, SCM or (seasonal cozy memories.)

Recently we spent an afternoon exploring the historic town of Deerfield, Massachusetts. A light snow fell as we walked down the main street; streetlights glowed softly as the end of day approached.

We came upon the quaint Deerfield Inn; light glowing from the window on the porch beckoned us inside.

We were welcomed warmly by the hotel receptionist and thought about enjoying a light early dinner. After sitting by the cozy fireplace for a few minutes, we decided to brave the cold and return home for leftover bowls of Ginger and Chicken Rice Soup!

Ginger Chicken and Rice Soup with Zucchini (from NYT Cooking)

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable)
2 tablespoons minced ginger (from a 2-inch piece)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
½ cup brown rice
1 large zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 fresh or dried bay leaf
Chile crisp, lemon wedges or chopped cilantro (or a combination), for serving (optional)

Preparation

Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
Heat a medium Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium. Add the oil, ginger, garlic and turmeric and let the mixture sizzle and soften for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Add 6 cups water to the pot, along with the chicken, rice, zucchini, bay leaf and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer then turn the heat down to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
When ready to serve, remove the chicken and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the thighs, then return the meat with all of its juices to the pot. Taste and season the soup with salt and pepper.
To serve, divide the soup among bowls and top with any combination of chile crisp, lemon and cilantro.

I hope you enjoy this warming soup and for those that suffer from light deprivation at this time of year, find some comfort! The days are starting to get longer!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”

STAY WARM AND SAFE!

First Snow and a Christmas Concert with The Salisbury Four

I love this time of year when the air turns crisp and invigorating; the first snowfall softly blankets the ground.

Along with the inevitable turn of the seasons, I look forward to performing the annual Salisbury Four Christmas Concert at the Salisbury Congregational Church.

It’s always a great joy to collaborate with singer and historical harpist, Marcia Young, singer and Baroque Dancer, Zahra Brown and lutenist Christopher Morrongiello.

On the day of the concert, we meet early at the church to have a small dress rehearsal. Beforehand, we enjoy a lunch treat from the nearby White Hart Inn Provisions, kindly provided by our wonderful sponsors, The Salisbury Association. Sitting around a table in the church Parish Hall, we catch up on events in our lives, along with gossip from the music world.

Late afternoon light streams into the historic Meeting Room of the church and as I warmup with the group on my recorders, I look out into the room; I feel my breath calming and a sense of peace comes over me.

After the concert, I drive Marcia and Zahra back to the train in Wassaic, New York and then my husband and I head out for a dinner treat at the nearby restaurant, Thai Baan. Housed in a huge old dairy barn, the stunningly renovated space boasts both an excellent Thai restaurant and a state of the art whiskey distillery.

We enjoy crispy Scallion Pancakes, Shrimp Pad Thai and Eggplant with Green Curry Sauce, accompanied by a tall glass of frosty beer; a perfect ending to long but rewarding day!

AND: Here’s the last “Tree of the Week” for 2025!¹

All Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday and a Happy and Healthy New Year! I look forward to writing more posts in 2026 with music, art, travel, “Trees of the Week” and always recipes!

HAPPY WINTER’S SOLSTICE! STAY WARM AND SAFE!

New Musical Adventures and Sweet & Savory Crepes

It’s been a busy fall with exciting new musical projects coming together- I am delighted to share news about a long planned Early Music group- meet Ensemble Zephyrus!

After many years of playing the oboe professionally with orchestras, chamber music groups and with the Hevreh Ensemble, I have decided to continue to teach oboe and play small gigs, but will concentrate my efforts on performing recorder and fulfilling my love of Early Music.

Ensemble Zephyrus is truly like a breath of fresh air to me; with this group, I have the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with excellent musicians who play harpsichord, viol, baroque violin and theorbo. Together we will perform exquisite music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

GERMANY – JUNE 24: Made by Carl Friedrich Voight. A theorbo is a type of lute, a stringed musical instrument. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)

Our first concert is in NYC this week-website and pictures coming soon!

In the meantime, here are glorious autumn pictures, a food excursion, recipes and as always, the “Tree of the Week”.

The Fall foliage has been lovely this year; we have traipsed happily through our land in Massachusetts on the winding maze of trails that Paul has cut through the woods. As we walk, our minds quiet.

The patterns and designs we discover in fallen leaves, pine needles and fungus are captivating. The light is beautiful and illuminates leaves that are suspended in delicate webs.

Tiny fungi nestled in a mossy tree trunk, look like seashells on the ocean floor!

What was once a dream during COVID, is finally becoming a reality-our new cozy little house peeks through the woods!

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Every few months, our supply of Parmesan and Pecorino cheese dwindles and then it’s time to make a pilgrimage to Arthur Avenue, the Italian neighborhood in the Bronx.

There is also a sizable Albanian population in the neighborhood and on a recent trip, I treated myself to lunch at an excellent small Albanian restaurant that I discovered called Cka ka Qellu. Located on Hughes Avenue,it’s just a few blocks from busy Arthur Avenue.

The inside of the welcoming restaurant was small and cozy. People around me were chatting softly in Albanian. It felt as if I was transported to the Balkans in Southeast Europe!

I enjoyed a few appetizers- lightly pickled cabbage salad served with hot crusty bread, Tatator- a yogurt dip with cucumber and garlic and Lecenik- cornbread stuffed with spinach and cheese. This made a lovely lunch feast!

After my lunch, I walked a few blocks to Teitel Brothers, a third generation family business opened in 1915, by a Jewish immigrant family from Austria. Today, brothers Michael and Eddie stand at the counter in white aprons. I could have stayed for hours listening to their heavy New York accents as they bantered happily with their customers.

The store is small and crowded with imported Italian goods and huge blocks of cheese. Everything is top quality with incredibly low prices.

Dried salt cod stacked next to bottles olive oil and a box of sun dried tomatoes filled the air with a fishy smell.

On one visit, a huge bag of leftover scraps from procuitto sat on the counter. One of the owners asked if I would like to have it- a gift that one cannot turn down! I imagined crispy bits of procuitto with roasted brussel sprouts and in rich black bean soup! I lugged the heavy bag back to my car and planned to share it with a friend.

Looking for a use for my new supply of parmesan, I decided to make a quick chicken soup with pastina that I had read about in NYT Cooking:https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022969-brodo-di-pollo-con-pastina-chicken-soup-with-pastina

Instead of using pastina, I remembered a recipe for whole wheat crepes that I had made rolled and filled with freshly grated parmesan. I used the NY Times recipe for the broth; it was quick and had as much flavor as a stock that I usually simmer for hours. The crepes are easy to make and they were delicious with the fresh parmesan!

Chicken in Brodo with Parmesan Crepes

Chicken Broth (based on NY Times Cooking recipe)

Yield:6 servings

2large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
1large yellow onion, thinly sliced
3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2tablespoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), or to taste
½teaspoon garlic powder
¼teaspoon black pepper
3large carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch half moons
3large celery ribs, sliced into ¼-inch half moons
3garlic cloves, finely chopped
2teaspoons tomato paste
½cup finely chopped parsley

Preparation

Step 1Place the chicken and 10 cups of water in a large pot. Partly cover and bring to a boil over high heat, keeping a close eye so that it doesn’t overflow and skimming off any foam that rises to the top.
Step 2Add the onion, olive oil, salt, garlic powder and pepper; stir and allow to come back up to a gentle boil. Cover completely, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and tomato paste, stirring to incorporate the tomato paste. Increase the heat to high and allow to come back up to a gentle boil. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as desired.
Step 3Remove the cooked chicken and place in a large bowl.

For the Crepes:

3 eggs
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup cold water
About ¼ cup grapeseed or sunflower oil
1/4 tsp salt
About 3 to 4 cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
Fresh chopped parsley for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the salt and flour. Make a well into the center of the flour and crack all 3 eggs. Whisk together well and gradually add the milk, a little at a time, whisking well to avoid lumps. After all the milk has been added, if the batter is lumpy, you can run it through a fine-meshed sieve to get rid of any lumps.
Grease up a heavy skillet or a small crepe pan, using about 1 tsp oil per crepe. Make the crepes using about 1/4 cup of batter per crepe. Swirl the batter around, cook for about 30 to 60 seconds on each side or until golden and bubbly. If the batter is too thick, add a little more water, a couple tablespoonfuls at a time. Stack the crepes on a large plate. They will miraculousy not stick together.
Sprinkle a generous handful of grated cheese on each crepe and roll it up into a cigar shape. (Divide the cheese evenly among the crepes but save some for garnish). Place the rolled crepes seam down into a large serving bowl. Serve two to three crepes per person and ladle a generous scoop or two of broth on top of the crepes. I also added some of the reserved chicken breast chopped, to the soup. Garnish with a little cheese and chopped parsley. ENJOY!

There were a few leftover crepes; the next morning we enjoyed the crepes filled with fresh fruit (whatever you have on hand is good) and plain yogurt. Topped with plenty of crunchy granola and a drizzle of maple syrup, this was an excellent quick breakfast treat!

ENJOY!!

Fruit and Granola Breakfast Crepe

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Autumn at Hollow Fields and Smoky Tomato Soup with Chicken Potpie Cornbread Muffins!

A tricky back has kept me from the trails this past week; perusing through my notes and pictures, I discovered that I had never written about a glorious fall walk last year at Hollow Fields in Richmond, Massachusetts; a trail system operated and supported by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council.

According to BNRC:

“This land, and all of the present-day Berkshires, are the ancestral homeland of the Mohican people, who were forcibly displaced to Wisconsin by European colonization. These lands continue to be of great significance to the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation today. To learn more, visit mohican.com.”

We walked down a small hill along side the woods and then up a mowed path through the meadow, where there was a chair to enjoy the stunning views!

Leftover lemon roast chicken got me thinking about favorite recipes from old blogs. I remembered tasty chicken potpie cornbread muffins from the entry “Mozart’s Starling”- January 2022.

I picked up a box of ripe end of the season plum tomatoes at Freunds Farm in Canaan, CT and it brought to mind the smoky tomato soup that I featured in a blog from last December: “Happy Winter’s Solstice and Smoky Tomato Soup.”

When I made the soup this time, I added carrot and celery to the recipe. This added even more flavor and a chunky texture to the soup. You could also add fennel! We served the soup sprinkled with grated pecorino cheese and freshly ground pepper.

Together, these recipes made a wonderful fall dinner. With the cornbread and chicken potpies baking in the oven and a big pot of soup bubbling on the stove, the house was filled with enticing aromas.

Chicken Potpie Cornbread Muffins

Adapted From Food and Wine Magazine-Published on January 12, 2016

Ingredients:

Cornbread:

1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk

Filling:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/4 cup frozen peas (defrosted)
4 button mushrooms cut into small pieces
1 medium carrot, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1/2 cup cooked chicken cut into small pieces

Directions

Make the cornbread:

In a bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, 3/4 teaspoon salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk the egg and buttermilk into the cornmeal mixture. Fill 12 (1/2-cup) well greased muffin tins about 2/3 full with the cornbread batter. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Make the filling

In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat until hot, then stir in the onion and shallots- cook until slightly softened and then add carrots and mushrooms, 1/4 teaspoon salt, dried thyme and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil, then stir in the chicken and the defrosted peas. Season the filling with salt and pepper to taste. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling over each batter-filled muffin tin.
Bake the muffins until golden around the edges, about 25 minutes.
Let cook about 10 minutes before removing from muffin tin. This will keep them from sticking to the pan.

Smoky Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

2 large cans (28 ounce) whole plum tomatoes (or 6-8 ripe plum tomatoes)

1 small stalk celery finely chopped

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 small carrot finely chopped

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

pinch cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 bay leaf

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 cup water- more if needed

To make soup:

If using fresh tomatoes: bring a large pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes and boil for a few minutes. Remove from water and slip off the skins. Cut tomatoes in half and squeeze to remove seeds and excess water. Chop roughly and proceed with the recipe.

Heat olive oil in a large soup pot and add onions.

Saute onions until slightly softened. Add carrots and celery. A bit of chopped fennel might also be good! Cook a few minutes.

Add tomatoes and rest of ingredients.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook about 1 hour. Add more water if soup is too thick.

Remove Bay leaf and puree with an immersion blender. Remaining chunks of vegetables are fine.

ENJOY!

The deep flavor of the ripe late summer tomatoes was sweet and delicious, the last for a while. Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to Tomatoes” will help us remember!

Ode to Tomatoes

The street
filled with tomatoes
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
In December,
unabated,
the tomato
invades
the kitchen,
it enters at lunchtime,
takes
its ease
on countertops,
among glasses,
butter dishes,
blue saltcellars.
It sheds
its own light,
benign majesty.
Unfortunately, we must
murder it:
the knife
sinks
into living flesh,
red
viscera,
a cool
sun,
profound,
inexhausible,
populates the salads
of Chile,
happily, it is wed
to the clear onion,
and to celebrate the union
we
pour
oil,
essential
child of the olive,
onto its halved hemispheres,
pepper
adds
its fragrance,
salt, its magnetism;
it is the wedding
of the day,
parsley
hoists
its flag,
potatoes
bubble vigorously,
the aroma
of the roast
knocks
at the door,
it’s time!
come on!
and, on
the table, at the midpoint
of summer,
the tomato,
star of earth,
recurrent
and fertile
star,
displays
its convolutions,
its canals,
its remarkable amplitude
and abundance,
no pit,
no husk,
no leaves or thorns,
the tomato offers
its gift
of fiery color
and cool completeness.

Pablo Neruda

AND, Here is the “Tree of the Week”:

HAPPY FALL!!

Knodels and Pappardella- From Munich to Bolzano: Part 2

Munich and Salzburg:

It’s been a busy fall; I have been meaning to complete an entry about summer travels, but time flies! Here finally, is the belated second part of the Knodels and Papardella blog!

After my travel buddy Carol and I choose our destination, one of my favorite parts of the planning process is researching the local food and restaurants; I make reservations and the rest of the itinerary easily falls into place!

The ambitious plan for our most recent trip was to visit Munich, Salzburg, Ljubliana in Slovenia, Trieste and Bolzano. We flew into Munich on Condor (a smaller German airline). We entered an upgrade lottery and lucked out-we were moved up to Business Class and the seats to us in the middle were also empty!

We arrived early morning in Munich on a hot sunny June day; being too early to check into the Hotel Torbrau, we left our bags and spent the day walking slowly around the city, enjoying our surroundings while trying to ignore our growing jetlag.

That evening, our first dinner reservation on the trip was at Wirthaus in der Au, famous for a popular German dumpling specialty called Knodel.

The restaurant is located in the neighborhood Au, an artsy and leafy residential area that was once a working class quarter. It is outside the heart of the old town of Munich and next to the Isar River.

We were delighted to see a Knodel food truck painted with the title, “The Heavenly Knodel- Mobil” parked outside the restaurant!

We sat outdoors on a leafy patio and the food was wonderful; a creative modern take on traditional German food.

We started with a colorful appetizer plate that included bread, local cheeses and assorted dips.

We ordered a trio of Knodels and they were just as advertised on the food truck; heavenly- hearty, flavorful and at the same time light and not at all doughy.

We shared a delicious dish of pan seared brook trout and somehow managed to find room for dessert; a traditional German apple pancake with a berry compote and creme anglaise.

After this wonderful feast we returned to our hotel and fell into a blissful sleep!

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The next day, we enjoyed breakfast on the balcony of our hotel and then spent the day visiting art museums. We walked through the bustling town to the beautiful Alte Pinakothek that was built in 1868.

Here is a description of the museum from their website:

A world-class gallery: the Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek) in Munich is home to an outstanding collection of European paintings, stretching from the 14th to the 18th century.

Many of the 700 pieces on display represent high points in the history of art, including Albrecht Dürer’s epochal “Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight Years Old Wearing a Coat with Fur Collar” from 1500. As the owner of the painting “Madonna of the Carnation” (which was painted in around 1473), the Alte Pinakothek is the only German museum to have its very own Leonardo da Vinci.

Visitors can also see pieces by Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt and Boucher. Albert Altdorfer’s painting “The Battle of Alexander at Issus”, which is on show in the Pinakothek, is one of the first paintings to come from the Wittelsbach family’s original collection.

My friend Carol is an amazingly talented visual artist, so it was a special treat to visit the Alte Pinakothek with her- she became my personal art guide! We decided to concentrate on a few paintings and I asked Carol to tell me anything that came to mind as we enjoyed the artwork. We first chose Albert Durer’s famous self portrait, “Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight Years Old Wearing a Coat with a Fur Collar”.

*Albrecht Durer- “Self Portrait at 28 Years Old”*

Carol mentioned that this painting could be considered a breakthrough in the way Durer depicted emotional realism and psychological depth. We were transfixed by the expressiveness of the eyes.

We were also mesmerized by the exquisite detail in Jan Bruegel’s painting “Large Bouquet of Flowers”.

*Jan Bruegel-“Large Bouquet of Flowers”*

We arrived in Salzburg on an atmospheric day; cool and cloudy.

We checked into our beautiful and elegant five star Bristol Hotel across the street from the Mozart Wohnhaus (family residence)! We had decided to give ourselves one special hotel treat!

Before we headed out to see explore the town, we could not resist a few minutes of hilarity in the elegantly mirrored bathroom!

Just a few blocks from out hotel was the Mozart Geburtshaus (Birth house).

We were thrilled to walk in the small ancient musty rooms decorated with manuscripts, instruments and paintings; a display case held the tiny violin that Mozart played as a young child!

That evening, our dinner reservation was at Maxim im Weiherwirt, a beautiful upscale restaurant with creative and lighter Austrian cuisine. It was located in a town about 15 minutes from Salzburg, across from the Leopoldskroner Weiher lake. Distant mountains and the Leopold Castle are perched on a nearby hillside.

We started our dinner with a simple salad made with delicate local lettuces and tomatoes dressed with a light vinaigrette.

We enjoyed the salads with frosty classes of Austrian beer and freshly baked bread.

I ordered spring pea soup that was a rich treat; creamy and garnished with chives and crispy bits of guanciale topped with an egg that I stirred into the piping hot soup- delicious!

Carol enjoyed grilled pork loin with mixed grains and glazed carrots in a light wine sauce.

Sauteed trout served over peas and greens and topped with toasted couscous was light and delicious.

We had a bit of room left to share light and airy Rhubarb Pana Cotta with fresh strawberries and creme fraiche.

We lingered over dessert as the sun started to set over the lake.

A warm light glowed from the restaurant window as we took a leisurely after dinner stroll around the lake.

The next morning we awoke to a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed the opulent breakfast buffet at our hotel.

We took one last walk around town and discovered the Mirabellgarten that includes the Troll Garten with adorable and captivating tiny statues that date from the Renaissance.

As we walked around admiring the small statues, I noticed several ancient stalwart trees standing guard with troll like features begging to be included as “Trees of the Week“!

“TREES OF THE WEEK FROM SALZBURG”!

“*We’ve been in the Troll Garden for a Very Long Time!*“

Then we were off to our next destination to Lbjuliana in Slovenia.

Part Three of the blog- Trieste and Bolzano will come soon!

I hope this blog is an antidote to our crazy world and that it brings you pleasure and a bit of a respite for you!

Knodels and Pappardella- From Munich to Bolzano: Part 1

The plan was to write blog entries in the order of my recent trip to Europe: Munich, Salzburg, Ljublijana, Trieste and Bolzano.

Last week, on a overcast and stormy day I was inspired to try to recreate a healthy version of a rich Slovenian dessert, Pretmurska Gibanica that we enjoyed in Ljublijana. It is layered with fillings of apple, poppy seed, farmers cheese and walnuts. The rainy afternoon flew by as I researched recipes and then assembled and baked the delicacy. I’m happy to report there was success and am excited to share the recipe for the resulting dessert.

We were fortunate to discover the non-touristy, small beautiful Central European city of Ljublijana (pronounced “Loobliana”).

We drove from Salzburg to Slovenia; as we entered Ljublijana, we were met by stark Soviet era high rises devoid of any charm. Heading towards the center of the city, the architecture changed dramatically; the old narrow streets were charming with many streets for pedestrians only.

Our hotel, The Grand Hotel Union was just a few blocks from the center of the old city with lovely views of the town. Best of all, our room was upgraded to a huge suite with high windows at no extra cost!

The Ljublijana River flows through center of the old city with many small bridges.

One of most famous bridges is the Dragon Bridge, protected by fierce looking dragons on all sides.

The quaint streets were lined with cafes, restaurants, wine shops, bakeries and unusual specialty shops. One lovely shop sold liquors and brandies that were distilled in Croatia; the owner proudly showed us on a map the location of their family’s distillery.

Although there were not as many tourists as in Salzburg, there were still shops that specialized in “tchotchkes”- like this shop that sold only rubber ducks!

We had dinner at an excellent restaurant called JAZ that was recently opened by the three star Michelin chef Ana Roz. Tucked away on a hard to find side street, the restaurant was excellent- warm, welcoming and creative; a blend of Italian food with Slovenian and Central European influences.

We started with a glass of chilled Slovenian orange wine (white wine where the grape skins are not removed immediately) and a basket of crusty bread with herbed salted butter.

We shared several entrees, the first a dish of bread pasta (the server explained that the pasta is made from semolina and leftover breadcrumbs.)

The beautifully presented dish was constructed with a tarragon puree, red pepper sauce, poppy seed puree and fresh ricotta cheese. The server suggested stirring everything together before we dug in.

If you will excuse the musical metaphor, this was truly a contrapuntal texture of flavors; an intricate fugue of flavors perfectly intertwined!

The next course was a light and delicious dish of Vitello Tonnato, (tender thin slices of boiled veal with a tuna and anchovy sauce). The dish was adorned by olive oil, fresh oregano, herbs and fat flavorful capers.

Our last course was grilled fish nestled on a pea puree with local organic greens, fish roe and tiny pieces of sweet strawberry; beautiful as a still life painting.

Thankfully we had left a tiny bit of room for a show stopping Slovenian dessert; Kobarid Struklji, a traditional dumpling filled with ground walnuts, raisins and breadcrumbs, served with a buttery caramel sauce!

Before the trip, I had read about another traditional Slovenian dessert, a layered cake with poppy seed, apple, walnut and cheese. I asked our server about it and she told us we great pride that one must be certified to sell Prekmurska in stores. She kindly looked up a few places that sold it and wrote the names down for us on a slip of paper.

The next morning, we thought it would be fun to search out one of the bakeries that sold Prekmurska. We asked the clerk at the hotel desk for directions and he told us excitedly that they served the cake at the hotel and would we like to have a piece? We purchased a fat slice for a late morning picnic and set off for one more walk around the town before we headed off on our next destination to Trieste in Italy.

It was a hot day and we soon searched out a shady spot. We sat at the foot of a small fountain and took out our treat to share. It was cool and not too sweet- almost a second breakfast.

A group of tourists from Italy soon gathered next to the fountain and we listened to an Italian tour guide talk about the fountain. Although we did not understand a word, the happy sounds of the people in the group chattering in Italian made us excited for the next part of our trip in Italy!

Here is my recipe for Prekmurska Gibanica. I based it on a recipe that I found online from the Slovenian Kitchen blog. Their blog has the following description of the cake:

“Prekmurska gibanica originates from Prekmurje, which literally means ‘across the Mura river (region)’, and is the most renowned traditional Slovenian pastry. The name comes from güba, which in the dialect means a fold – implying that it is a type of cake that is folded.“

I wanted to make a cake that used only small amounts of coconut sugar, no cream and whole wheat flour in the pastry crust. I also added chopped golden raisons in the walnut layer. This is a project cake, but not too difficult. It makes a large cake, but it can be easily divided and frozen.

Prekmurska gibanica– Traditional Slovenian Layer Cake

1 package phyllo dough (completely defrosted)

Pastry Crust:

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup whole grain spelt four

2 tablespoons coconut sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter

3 tablespoons non-hydrogenated shortening (I like the organic Spectrum brand)

3 or more tablespoons ice water

Make the pastry crust:

In the bowl of a food processor combine flours, salt, coconut sugar, butter and shortening until just combined.

Add the ice water and vanilla and process until a ball shape forms. You may need to add more water a tablespoon at a time.

Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. When you want to make the cake, bring the dough back to room temperature.

Poppy Seed Layer

8 ounces poppy seeds
2 cups milk (you can also use almond milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tablespoons butter– I used Country Crock Plant Butter with Avocado Oil
1/4 cup coconut sugar– you can use more, for a sweeter flavor).
3 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water

Walnut Layer

450 g ground walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup golden raisons (cut into small pieces if large)
1/4 cup coconut sugar

Farmer’s Cheese Layer

16 ounces farmer’s cheese (can be replaced by ricotta– if you use ricotta, make sure it is well drained).
1 egg
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon

Apple Layer

4 apples
1 tsp cinnamon
zest of 1 lemon

8 ounces low fat sour cream– I added 1/4 cup maple syrup and the zest from 1/2 lemon

Poppy Seed Layer

For the filling, place poppy seeds, sugar, milk and butter in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Cook at medium heat, stirring occasionally until the poppy seeds are cooked and the mixture thickens slightly- this will take about 15 minutes. Add cornstarch slurry and cook until mixture thickens. It will thicken more as it cools.
Add vanilla extract.
Cover and place in fridge.

Walnut Layer

Grind walnuts in food processor- add cinnamon, coconut sugar and golden raisons.

Farmer’s Cheese Layer

Mix all the ingredients for the farmer’s cheese layer together.

Apple Layer

Core the apples, peel them, and grate them. I placed my apples in the food processor and pulsed them for a few seconds- very quick!! Mix the grated apples with cinnamon, and the zest of 1 lemon.

Make Prekmurska gibanica:

Once all the fillings, base dough and phyllo dough are ready, you can start building the gibanica.
First, butter a large rectangular baking pan.
On a floured surface, roll out the pastry crust into a rectangular shape. Place the dough on the bottom of the baking pan.
On the top of the base dough, put one layer of phyllo pastry, spread sour cream over it, and another layer of phyllo dough.
Put half of the poppy seed filling on top of that.
The poppy seeds are then covered with another layer of phyllo dough, sour cream, and phyllo dough.
Over that spread half the farmer’s cheese filling.
The third filling is then walnuts, followed by apples. Each filling is covered with phyllo dough, sour cream, and another phyllo dough layer.
Repeat the procedure with the fillings in the same order and complete with a layer of phyllo dough, sour cream, and one final phyllo dough layer.
On top of the final phyllo dough layer, spread sour cream generously. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon.
Bake in a preheated oven at (355 Fahrenheit) for 1 hour. If top starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil until done. Let cool for 1 hour before serving.

ENJOY!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

*“I Feel Like I have a Hole in My Head!”*

HAPPY SUMMER!!

Blueberry, Strawberry & Yogurt Cream Tart-A Cooling Summer Dessert!

I am back from an amazing eight day whirlwind trip with my travel buddy Carol to Munich, Salzburg, Ljubjiana in Slovenia, Trieste and Bolzano! With many wonderful art and food adventures, I am just starting to sort through pictures; a few blog entries are soon to come.

In the meantime, here is a short blog from closer to home with a cooling recipe for a no-bake blueberry and strawberry tart to beat the heat!

On one of the hottest days last week, we found a cool shady picnic spot with a heavenly breeze at the Bryant Homestead in Cummington, Massachusetts.

In the distance was a sunny field dotted with wildflowers. I ventured briefly into the hot sunny meadow and discovered that it was filled with beautiful “Devil’s Paintbrush” wildflowers.

On the way home, we stopped off at The Old Creamery Coop for cold drinks; jars of organic blueberry spread with no added sugar were for sale. I imagined that this would be good for a fruit tart with the jam spread on the bottom of the crust.

Usually at this time of the year, I look forward to picking sweet succulent organic strawberries at the Thompson Finch Farm in Ancramdale, New York. It was much to hot to think about venturing out into the sun. Luckily, the kind people at Thompson Finch offered to head out very early in the morning to beat the heat to pick berries, with a very generous price of one dollar more a pound. I quickly accepted their offer and drove out to the farm in the early evening to pick up my order. Almost back home with a heaping 10 pound box of berries that perfumed our car with their sweet fragrance, a family of red foxes was crossing the main road. Cars stopped in both directions and we were treated to the fox parents, one in front and the other in the back slowly shepherding three furry adorable fox pups safely across. It was a lovely end to a hot summer day in the country!

Now, with strawberries in hand, my tart idea was complete. I pre -baked an olive oil crust; you could also use a purchased graham cracker crust. I made a filling with whole milk Greek yogurt, vanilla and maple syrup. I heaped this into the crust spread with the blueberry jam and topped it with fresh blueberries and the sweetest strawberries imaginable; very easy to make, cooling and rich tasting!

ENJOY!

No-Bake Blueberry and Strawberry Tart

Filling:

1 1/2 cups whole milk Greek yoogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup maple syrup (or to taste)

Whisk together ingredients and place in refrigerator while preparing crust

Topping:

2 cups fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry on paper towel

1 cup or more fresh strawberries, washed and patted dry on paper towel

Cut strawberries in half if small or slice if larger

For Bottom of Pie Crust:

Organic Blueberry Jam to- best if just sweetened with fruit juice

Olive Oil Crust:

3/4 cup whole grain spelt flour

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening (I used Spectrum Organic-All Vegetable Shortening).

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons non-fat yogurt

3 tablespoons ice water (more if necessary)

Make Pastry Crust:

Combine flours and salt in the bowl of a food processor.

Add olive oil, shortening, yogurt and ice water.

Process until the mixture forms a ball. You may need to add a bit more ice water, add 1 tablespoon at a time.

Wrap ball of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let gluten in the dough relax.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.

Bring dough to room temperature and roll out into a large thin circle.

Place dough in a pie tin and line the pie tin with a sheet of parchment paper.

Prick dough on bottoms and sides with a fork.

Place coffee beans or pie weights over the paper and bake in the oven about 10 minutes. This is called “baking blind” and helps to prevent the crust from shrinking away from the sides.

After 10 minutes, carefully remove the paper and weights and continue baking the crust about 15-20 minutes more until it is lightly brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before filling.

To Assemble Pie:

Spread pie crust with about 2-3 tablespoons blueberry jam.

Spoon in yogurt filling.

Heap berries on top- can be eaten immediately or refrigerated for a few hours before serving.

ENJOY!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”

HAPPY SUMMER!!

A Leaf in a Pond and a Peanut Butter Cookie Treat!

On a cool and cloudy day, we took a short walk at the Joffe Nature Sanctuary in New Marlborough, Massachusetts. My eye caught a lone maple leaf floating gently on the shallow marsh pond.

As we strolled on the trail that loops around the idyllic marsh, we composed haikus about the leaf. Here is what we came up with (mostly my husband Paul’s invention!)

Leaves in the pond-light

Life dances around us, bright

Time flows, a grace note

At the end of the loop, we returned to the pond to check out our lone maple leaf- it was now joined by four leaves; the sun had broken through the clouds. The light had changed the image dramatically.

That afternoon, the cool weather put me in the mood for baking and I thought of the vegan peanut butter cookies from the cozy Woodstar Cafe in Northhampton, MA. Those cookies and iced chai were my special treat during Covid and one of my best mood elevators. After eating many of these treats, I decided to try to concoct my own version and originally published it in a blog post in December 2021: “Hemlock Heaven and Bear Swamp”. The ingredients are healthy and include almond flour, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, chunky peanut butter, vanilla and maple syrup. You can also add chunks of dark chocolate. They are chewy, delicious and slightly addictive. I hope you enjoy making these!

EASY One Bowl Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Pre-heat oven to 350

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper

Ingredients:

1 cup crunchy peanut butter* see note

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup almond flour

1/4 cup ground flax seed

handful chia seeds

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup soy milk of mixture is too dry.

To make cookies:

In a medium sized bowl, mix together peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla. Combine well with a large spoon.

Add almond flour, ground flax seed and baking powder. Mix well, the batter will be stiff, but not dry.

If the mixture is too crumbly, add about 1/4 cup soy milk.

I like to get my hands into the batter and form the dough into a large ball. It should feel like the consistency of play dough!

Form batter into small balls- I made 15, but you could make fewer larger cookies.

Press gently with a fork to make a criss cross pattern.

Bake in middle of oven for about 1o minutes until the bottoms of the cookies are light brown- the cookies will still feel quite soft.

Note* I used peanut butter that was salted. If you use an unsalted brand, add about 1/2 teaspoon salt to the batter.

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”

HAPPY SPRING!!