Linda et al, I'm fine and dandy as they say. Thanks for missing me!

I watched a great movie last night Cinema Paradiso, I recommend it highly.

Let's see, what else is new? Going on a mini day trip on Thursday, I think, to The Mount where Edith Wharton's estate is. It's in Lenox Mass and the leaf peeping should be pretty good as the dry weather has given a head start to the turning of the leaves. Once I collected leaves with the idea of finding a leaf for each color in the spectrum as in Roy G. Biv...remember that mnemonic?

Speaking of mnemonics, what's your favorite? I also love HOUSE (great lakes) -- these take me back to elementary school and the wonderful "maiden" teacher who taught me these and others.

Anyhow, I was able to create my spectrum with a stretch on indigo but other than that, I could find the colors in the leaves...who knew?

Every year with the first sniff of autumn weather I attempt to clean and organize my house. Every year I get a few things accomplished but never on the grand scale I dream of. My problem always is too much stuff. Way too much stuff, starting with books which slowly and surely are taking over my living space.

Here's a great recipe for the tomatoes you have sitting around with spots or flaws. Skin tomatoes, you know dip in boiling water then an ice water bath. Squeeze out extra juice and seeds, chunk and put in baking pan. Slice up some garlic and chop some onion, fine. About a tsp or less of hot pepper flakes, salt and pepper, lots of olive oil and toss. Bake in your oven at 350 till it's browned and mushy. Mash up a bit and you have one delicious roasted tomato sauce.

Want a very easy tapanade for crackers (I love Ka me wasabi crackers)- Chop up your eggplant and throw in some cherry tomatoes toss with olive oil - you can add garlic, I didn't and wish I had. Anyhow, cook away until it's well roasted. Smash it up add fresh olive oil and stir. It's delicious...

The sour pickles are done and delightful; neighbors gave us a jar of half sours which I love equally. I'd love to plant garlic this year, but Columbus day is creeping up on us (planting day) and I don't know what seed garlic to buy. Maybe next year.

Get the wasabi rice crackers...anything tastes marvelous on them...! xoxoxo