What a weekend! We watched the sun set and turned our chairs around to watch the moon rise while brother and SIL (seen in 3rd pic) treated us to dinner cooked on Fogland Beach. They prepared fabulous meals for us every night and I didn’t help because they wouldn’t let me — that was my first treat among many others. I drove to Bay View where I grew up and walked the “donut”, a square block that included the beach as one of its four sides. I drove by the saltwater marshes where we skated in winter. Back in the day, one neighborhood kid would ride his or her bike to the marshes and test the ice to see if it was frozen. If it was, he would ride home and telephone everyone to let us know. We’d skate all day. No adults checked the ice nor did they drive us to and from. We were free-range kids! While wandering around my former hometown, I ran into an old friend, author, Erin McHugh, who has a new book coming out called “Pickle Ball is Life.” It is already in its second printing and it hasn’t even been released! It’s due out 10/24. Finally, my brothers and I celebrated my stepdad’s 85th bday (our reason for the trip!) AND we celebrated our 39th anniversary. There are lots of things for which I am grateful; chief among them is having the privilege of growing up in Bay View with my cousins and grandparents down the street.
I ❤️ Jeremy Lekich, founder of @nashvillefoodscapes and co-founder of @compostnashville. A few weeks ago, Jeremy visited the women at the Magdalene Garden at @thistlefarms where they talked about the foods they want to grow this fall. Jeremy arranged for a donation of a load of gorgeous dark compost from Compost Nashville. THANK YOU!! The women spread the compost this afternoon and learned the difference between compost and mulch. Also want to thank @glynndowdle and @brendadowdle for the donation of two compost bins. The women are totally into dropping off food scraps in the bins and making their own compost. One more shout out to Caroline Hutchins, owner of @soundingstonefarm for the blackberry bushes she donated and that the women planted along the white picket fence. That was a dream of theirs. The bushes are thriving! Each one got a shovelful of compost, too. The women are 💯 enjoying maintaining the garden. Every week I give them a gardening lesson. Now they ask what the lesson is going to be if I don’t start with one—so you know I’m loving teaching them! PS @forestdwelling_storytelling, the trees were trimmed!! #gardentherapy
How to Make Whole Milk Ricotta
Kugel with Raisins, Orange Zest, and Cinnamon, aka Noodle Pudding
@judyschickens Marinara Sauce
Baked Ziti with Roasted Eggplant, Mozzarella, and Marinara Sauce
Peperonata! (Stewed Peppers, Tomatoes, and Onions)
Spiralized Zucchini with Fresh Marinara Sauce
Rapini and Fettuccini
Pasta, Mozzarella and Marinara Sauce
Pasta e Fagioli
Chicken Cacciatore
Rachelle’s Italian Sausage, Onions, and Peppers
Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Asparagus and Chicken
Roasted Ratatouille
@judyschickens 