pawpaws {september 21, 2021}

Is it a mango? A papaya? A banana?

No, it’s a pawpaw.

With its tropical taste, you wouldn’t think this fruit is native to the Eastern United States. It’s a tropical fruit found in a temperate climate.

FUN FACTS ABOUT PAWPAWS

*They’re mostly wild. While the pawpaw has been rediscovered and now cultivated, for most fans of the fruit, part of the pleasure is in the thrill of the hunt for them in the wild.

*They have nicknames. Because they’re most often foraged for free, pawpaws earned the nickname “poor man’s banana.” They’re also known as custard apples because of their creamy texture and similar appearance to apples.

*They’re nutritional powerhouses. Pawpaws are high in Vitamin C, iron, magnesium, a good source of potassium and several essential amino acids.

*Cooks love them. Pawpaws are good in ice cream, pies, breads, ketchup(!). Their tropical quality means they can easily be swapped into recipes that call for papaya, mango, or banana. 

*You can drink pawpaws. Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC, makes a popular seasonal beer using pawpaws. Good in smoothies.

*The pawpaw remains elusive. They're becoming better known and is one of the most searched-for food terms recently, the pawpaw is still not available outside the regions in which it grows.

*The State Fruit of Ohio. The pawpaw is natural to Ohio and became its second state fruit in 2009.

*Today I ate my very first pawpaw. 

caponata alla siciliana {september 20, 2021}

 What to do with a little bit of this and that. Easy peasy…caponata!

Here comes a not-so-traditional addition to the brininess, pickled okra.

2 medium eggplants, cut into cubes

1/4 c. olive oil

2 medium onions, sliced

2 T. olive oil

1 -14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 c. diced celery

3/4 c. sliced mixed olives

2 T. capers

1 T. pine nuts

1/2 c. red wine vinegar

3 T. sugar (add 1 T. at a time to taste(

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

Pita chips or toasted bread rounds

Saute eggplant in 1/4 c. hot oil over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or until tender and slightly brown. Remove eggplant and set aside.

Saute onions in 2 T. olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden. Add tomatoes and celery; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until celery is tender. Stir in olives, capers, and pine nuts. Return eggplant to pan.

Stir in red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper into eggplant mixture. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Cool. Cover and chill 8 hours. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. Serve with pita chips or toasted bread rounds.

a birthday and the browns {september 19, 2021}

The September birthdays keep rolling in; today is my youngest child’s 31st!

From the moment the nurse put this baby boy in my arms, I knew that we would have fun adventures ahead of us. And we have. He always makes me laugh. Even when he was in trouble he could make me laugh and charm his way out of being grounded for life. He always gives me a big hug. Even when it wasn’t cool to hug your mom, he would hug me in front of his friends. I love this kid.

Today’s birthday celebration coincides with the Cleveland Browns home opener and the first tailgate of the football season.

Cornhole or Bags?

While the fam went to the football game, I spent three hours exploring downtown Cleveland on a glorious, sunny day.

*I hung around First Energy Stadium to hear the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Other sights included the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Voinovich Park along Lake Erie, a stop at Nuevo for a margarita, the Free stamp, a walk past National City Bank, a walk through Tower City Center. What fun to hear the roar of the stadium crowd as I meandered.

Oh, say can you see...

                                               A September 16 cheers to my birthday 

                                   which fell on Mexican Independence Day

                                              

National City Bank is now PNC.
As former Nat City employees call it,
Previously National City.

A birthday, a Browns win, and a home cooked dinner for the birthday boy topped off this very best day!

98th birthday and cleveland {september 18, 2021}

 Happy 98th birthday to my sweet mother-in-law! She always has that beautiful smile.

Road trip to Cleveland for more family fun.

First duty: dog sit Bernie, which always means a walk in the park. So many good sniffs!

Over to Edgewater Park, for a beautiful view of Lake Erie and downtown Cleveland.

Finally a stop along the Detroit Shoreway for another view of the Cleveland skyline.

the fountains of light {september 17, 2021}

The day started out with a text from my friend: 

 *** Hazel Mae came into this world at 11:58 pm 9/16/21 *** 

 Yes! The little lady beat the clock by 2 minutes. (I predicted that she would be born at 11:59 pm) So happy for the new parents. It’s a gift to share a birthday with someone special. 

 *******************************************************************************************  

The Fountains of Light at Riverscape MetroPark have been part of the Dayton skyline since 2001. Five fountains shoot water across the confluence of the Great Miami and Mad Rivers. The five streams of water symbolize the five regional rivers and from Memorial Day to Labor Day they operate at 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour. These fountains have been a highlight of my summer in Dayton. To stand on the Riverside or Webster Street Bridges or at Deeds Point MetroPark or along any of the river banks and then hear the "WHOOSH" of the fountains coming on, makes my heart jump for joy. I have photographed the fountains from so many viewpoints and each one is equally gorgeous. This is the last time I will see the fountains this year. Sigh. It's a moment to savor.

birthday {september 16, 2021}

“Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.”

~Ausonius

My happy birthday celebration…spending the day working at my friend’s farmer’s market. For me, nothing better than being outside on a gorgeous, blue sky, end-of summer day, surrounded by friends, chatting with customers about what their plans are with the veggies they’re buying, going out to the field to pick okra and hot peppers, watching the monarch butterflies flit among the zinnias as they migrate south, hanging with Bear, and anxiously waiting for news of the birth of the owner’s 5th grand baby. Naturally I’m hoping for today. I would love to share a birthday with this sweet little lady! (My prediction: 11:59 p.m., September 16)

View from the office

Have a peachy day!

Peppers galore!

Sweet 1 year old Bear 💜

                                                                             

Perpetual sunflowers

Untamed zinnias

You belong among the wildflowers

The celebration continues with dinner at a newly opened Italian restaurant with my husband and son. Penne arrabbiata, which I asked them to tone down the spice level. Toned down still blew out my mouth; a side of Alfredo sauce helped immensely. 

Life is good.

transitions {september 15, 2021}

 Fall is coming and my birthday is tomorrow.

No buts about it, life transitions can be hard. Even though you will experience many transitions throughout your lifetime, you may not always feel like putting out the welcome mat. Life transitions mean change and leaving behind what you know and what is familiar. The seasons transition from one to the next and with every new season come new things to love on the path of life.

"A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it."

~ Nikki Giovanni