fall harvest and real food

We pulled up the rest of the carrots, cabbages, chard, pumpkins, and squash from the garden this week.  We had such a sunny October, which lengthened our harvest a bit.  The kids and I are heading out there this afternoon to bring in the herbs, and gut out the rest of this summer's remains, which are looking rather dry and weedy and ready to retire for a long winter's rest.  We expect snow tonight, so we'd better go dig everything out before it all freezes!

I'll be roasting pumpkins today to start making yummy pumpkin treats, soups, and custard.  I love anything made of pumpkin!  I want to try some of these recipes...don't they look delicious?

We've been adding grated carrots and chopped swiss chard to some of our favorite dinner dishes.  We made this favorite gluten-free carrot cake this week.  Yum!

Our favorite way to eat cabbage is chopped and sauteed in pastured butter or good olive oil, with shredded carrots and lots of Real Salt and pepper.  It's one of our favorite comfort foods.  I'd like to try to make fermented sauerkraut with my cabbage too, but we've eaten most of it!  Maybe next year...

I love eating, preparing, and serving fresh, local, seasonal foods.  And I love eating real foods.  I read this great post about real food this morning.  Summed up so well!  Check it out.  (Oh, and don't you love the photographed chicken foot in her header?  Great photo!)

My favorite real, traditional food blog is Nourished Kitchen.  Stunning photography, well-documented research and facts, excellent writing, stunning photography, and fabulous recipes.  We've loved every recipe from Jenny that we've tried.  Go have a look.  Seriously good stuff.

And for anyone who's interested, the handout (summary) from my Healthy Eating and Happy Memories presentation at the 2011 BYU Women's Conference is up on their website.  You can view the pdf here.  I included some simple, nutritious snack and meal ideas, along with a recommended reading list.

And look through the Women's Conference transcripts for lots of inspiring talks by amazing women.  Also, if you emailed me for a copy of my entire presentation, and never received it, please leave a comment with your email address, or email me at triciacope@gmail.com, and I'll send you a copy.  Thanks!


PS...There was Christmas music blasting in the background while I wrote this, and kids making Christmas wish lists by the fire.  Yes, I know it's early, but December goes by way to quickly for me!!  So, bring it on, I say!  Andy Williams rocks.