To Get You In The Mood

Pot Roast To Sunday Gravy

Remember the other day when I boarded myself up in the house and put some pot roast in the crock pot? Well, as the day rolled on so did my mood. I went from an old fashion in Vermont kinda day into a North Beach in San Francisco kinda day. I just love the old Italian neighborhood of North Beach in The City. All the old restaurants and deli's. My favorite deli..I think everyones favorite is called Molinaris. It has been there forever. My Auntie Erma and Uncle Leo lived in North Beach when I was a little girl. They lived in a section called The Marina. It is down by Fishermans Wharf. And could Auntie Erma ever cook. She was originally from Genoa, Italy. Came over on a boat. We used to get to go visit her when we got really lucky and got to go to the San Francisco Zoo.We would take the train from Los Gatos which was about a 40 minute ride. Me and my brother Mark and our cousins. We loved that so much. What a special treat that was. And when visiting Auntie Erma we would go with her to North Beach to Molinaris for cheese and bread and raviolis. The raviolis were Lucca brand. And they would sit in the box on a bed of flour. And when you took the box to the counter the man would tie string around it. I thought that was so fancy. I don't know why that struck me as fancy...but it did. So the other day, I got that "North Beach" feeling. When we visit there now, I always imagine what it would be like to live there. I picture myself usptairs in one of those tiny apartments that sits over a coffeehouse. The places were the people sit outside and sip espresso and read the Chronicle. I would think to myself, I could do that. I could live that life. I could live in North Beach. So on an ordinary Wednesday afternoon, I took myself there. I got out my Rao's cookbook and turned the pot roast into Sunday gravy. And served it over pasta. I used the last of my summer tomatoes in the sauce. And John and I had dinner in North Beach that night....

SUNDAY GRAVY

Adapted from Rao's Cookbook

1 pound piece of lean beef, such as eye of round. ( I used pot roast )
1/2 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup water
2 35 ounce cans imported San Marzano Italian plum tomatoes, hand crushed
Salt and pepper

1.Saute the meat in the oilve oil till brown. Add in garlic. When garlic turns brown discard it.
2.Combine tomato paste and water, stir. Add to the meat.
3. Add in San Marzano tomatoes
4.Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Let simmer 3 to 4 hours adding water as needed so there is always some liquid.
6. Serve over pasta
7. Top with grated parmesan

To be perfectly honest here, I just cooked a pot roast in a crock pot with Lipton Onion soup all day and added red wine thoughout the day when the pot got dry. About the last 20 minutes I added fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped.

I Have A Crush !

There he is. Isn't he adorable? I have to admit it..I have a crush on him. I couldn't resist taking pictures of him from all angles. He is just so cute. Yesterday we took a drive out to The Avila Barn. All the pumpkins are stacked. The barn is filled with apples and pears and nuts of all sorts. We played around, got ice cream cones, watched the kids on the tractor rides, and fed all the barnyard animals. With extra helpings to the donkey. It was a beautiful October afternoon. After we came home I rolled out our pizza dough that had been rising on the drainboard. John called and said he was going to be late. So I built a fire in the woodstove and read my Gooseberry Patch cookbook. You see, today I am pretending that I am on a farm in Vermont. My gate is bolted shut. I have a pot roast with Lipton Onion soup in the Crock Pot. No Thomas Keller or Alice Waters fare tonight. Just pure comfort. My kittys are laying in the early morning sun...all stretched out getting all that warmth. Butterscotch is laying by my side. I am going to go upstairs and put on my red plaid flannel L.L. Bean sheets on the bed. Might make a chocolate pie this afternoon. Newspaper says a big rain storm is on the way Sunday night from Alaska. That means COLD ! Finally. Pot roast sounds just right. With gravy. I wonder if I should make biscuits?

Look What I Found !

As I was going through my pantry this morning I stumbled upon this. My Bell's Turkey seasoning. How I love that box. I know, Halloween is still weeks away..and I am going to savor every beautiful day in October... but, still, I did set it out...and Yes, I am making stuffing today...Roast chicken with stuffing....at least it's not turkey....yet.

October 4th

The pottery pieces were made by my dear friend, Julie Whitmore from ETSY.

Harvest Moon Party

Treats

We had alot of fun this first full weekend of October. And with a full moon to add to the fun. We were invited to my brothers for a Full Moon Party and my assignment was dessert. I wanted something fun and kid friendly so went with the traditional cupcakes and caramel apple. I got lucky and scored some darling lady apples earlier in the week at the grocery store. I asked her where they got them and the lady said a little old man brought them in from his tree up in a town called Harmony. Population 18. No joke. That's what the sign says. And they aren't kidding. It is small. On Highway One here on the Pacific Coast of California, about 15 minutes south of Hearst Castle. Well, that was all I needed to hear. I was sold. Since then I think I have been back to that store everyday, stocking up on those apples. I have also heard them called Christmas Apples. Whatever you you call them..they are charming.

So we set up shop and made the pumpkin spice cupcakes that were in the October issue of Bon Appetit. (btw all you fellow foodies out there, I just heard this morning that Gourmet magazine is folding...the beloved..after all these years.)

On Saturday I took a ride up See Canyon in the apple orchards looking for apple branches. I was wondering if I was going to have any luck. I took a side road called Pippin Lane (I'm not kidding..that was the name of it.) and I got lucky. There lying on the side of the road ...was a pile of old apple branches. I loaded them into my car and headed home..delighted in my treasure of old apple branches...even the car smelled "apple-ey".

So Sunday morning was our fun cupcake and caramel apple day. And we all had a good time. And it did...feel like Fall.