Tuesday, September 20, 2011

SEPTEMBER SUNFLOWERS/SUNSETS ~ AUTUMN HARVEST SOUP

"Softly the evening came.
The sun from the western horizon
Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape;
Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest
Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow






AUTUMN HARVEST SOUP

~ adapted from Fine Cooking

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 large diced yellow or red onion
3 diced carrots
2 minced cloves garlic
2 chopped yellow/orange peppers
2 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
pinch cayenne pepper or more to taste
coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
1 quart organic chicken broth
1 lb. chopped fresh tomatoes (or 14.5 oz. can diced)
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped thyme
2 cups chopped kale
1 cup well-rinsed chickpeas

  • Heat oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add squash, cayenne, salt & pepper.
  • Add broth, tomatoes (juice) and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add kale and chickpeas and cook uncovered until the squash is tender and kale had wilted, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste. (about 8 cups)








(SEPTEMBER HUBBARD LAKE SUNSETS
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE SUNFLOWERS)

35 comments:

imac said...

Wow Joey, what a show of sunshine beauty.

D said...

Joey, that first photo is brilliant! love them all. It IS that time to take what is in the garden and make soup... a vegetable medley for us to try and use the squash, zucchini, tomatoes...

Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. My brother is due to arrive shortly for a nice long visit; best I get into the kitchen and start on some food. ;)

joey said...

Thanks dear imac ... and so enjoyed your last 'header'!

Hi dear Diana ... I truly thought of you creating this fun soup with all the kale that I know is growing in your garden. Harvest is truly 'the bestest' time of year and you are blessed with beautiful gifts from your garden. Lucky to have good stuff from local gardeners to purchase but not NOT like picking from your own ... from garden to table is the best! Harvest ((hugs))

Rose said...

Joey, you've outdone yourself! The combination of sunflowers and sunsets is sheer artistry! The soup sounds delicious, too--cooler nights mean soup weather to me.

Anonymous said...

Oh Joey, those sunflowers are gorgeous, did you grow them or buy them? And such a perfect match for your beloved Hubbard Lake sunsets!

joey said...

Thanks Michelle. Happy autumn :)

Thank you, dear Rose. I came home from the lake with sunset pics on my card then shot my sunflower bouquet ... downloading al then said to myself ... "Hello!" ... the awesome combined colors of both fed my soul. So ... there became the post! (Plus the soup is also color/tasty friendly) Like many, it's been hard to post with the busy season ... so having a moment, this was indeed fun :)

joey said...

Thanks, Robin ... oh, so wish I could grow these but as explained above to Rose ... these are nursery bought beautiful sunflowers that graced our table over the weekend and while downloading both sunset from lake and sunflowers thought ... ah!. Plus the sunset is Hubbard Lake FREE (well, not really considering the site ... taxes... upkeep, etc :) and should be even more amazing when we return this 'Equinox weekend'. Happy Autumn fun friend :)

Karen said...

What a stunning, artful combination. You have such a talent for photography and color coordination and contrast.

Love the recipe, too!

garden girl said...

Such beautiful sun and sunflower images Joey! The soup sounds delicious, and most of those veggies are right here in the garden . . . how convenient!

Rick said...

Oh these are spectacular joey ! Like the others, I love how you framed that top sunset within the sunflower. The colours just jump off the screen.

Nature Rambles said...

Brilliant, glorious collages! The first one looks like the rays of the sun!!

Anonymous said...

Those colors really stand out on your blog post today. Sunflowers are one of my favorites anyway.

Glad you like your Mac. Me too.

Curbstone Valley Farm said...

Stunning sunflowers Joey! We need to plant more next year. I love seeing our long-horned bees on the sunflowers. The soup sounds divine, and the timing is perfect, as we just brought in the butternut squash harvest! I have a LOT of soup to make ;)

Skeeter said...

Beautiful pictures! Lucky you to be able to see this natural wonder. Love the split photos of the sun and flower in the first pic. ...

Barbee' said...

Whew! Beautiful!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joey,

Your photos are gorgeous! Needless to say, you recipes are always yum, yum! I would bet the lake is such a beauty this time of year.

Eileen

Carol said...

Fabulous Joey!! Yummy recipe with fiery sun images. You are so brilliant in both worlds. I love these combinations. Gorgeous!

Carolyn @ Carolyn's Shade Gardens said...

Joey, I just copied, pasted, and printed the soup recipe although I hate to admit that hot soup time is approaching. Never realized how well sunflowers and sunsets went together.

joey said...

How kind, Karen, and thank you. It was fun combining all together. Wow! So impressed with your project! Good luck.

Thank you, Linda. Enjoy your harvest!

Hi Rick and thank you. It was a fun post to create. Happy Autumn :)

Thanks for noticing NR (K) ... just what I had hoped!

I don't LIKE my Mac, I LOVE it, Abraham! Thank you.

Thank you, Clare, and enjoy ... I see you have tons of squash to harvest ... lucky you :)

Hi Skeeter and thank you. Yes, indeed blessed to have such a lovely view of the sunset, each unique, and hoping tomorrow's 'equinox', memorable.

Delighted to hear from you, Barbee. Thank you.

Thank you, Eileen. Happy to say we are leaving again today for the lake, hoping to have an awesome 'Autumnal Equinox' sunset tomorrow! Happy Autumn :)

Thank you, Carolyn. Yes, I enjoy the combo and did a similar post late last summer too. Although I don't grow them, I enjoy bouquets of sunflowers in the house. Happy Autumn :)

Kala said...

Love those cheerful sunflower collages Joey!

Kathleen said...

Joey, the first collage (sunset framed by sunflower) is absolutely brilliant! That should be hanging on lots of walls! I never thought of sunsets & sunflowers being such great companions before but yours (together) are perfect. We'll have to look back at these when we go into the drab days of winter, the vibrant colors will be all the more appreciated then.
The soup sounds wonderful too. Have a great weekend Joey.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Joey, Your sunflower pictures are terrific. The red accents on the petals makes me think of an artist's brushstrokes. Have a great weekend!

What Karen Sees said...

So good to have a few minutes to look at your lovely sunflowers. They are gorgeous. We are on assignment for our church living in New Zealand for 18 months and the scenery is spectacular. Even in winter we have beautiful flowers. We are heading into spring right now and I'm loving every minute of it, but I do miss the sunflowers of fall back home.

Pat said...

Ok, you are just too darn artsy !!
Would never think in a million years to combine parts of flowers together to create one photo.
This has to be one of my favorite posts. LOVE IT !!

RURAL said...

Joey, you have outdone your self with the clarity, and quality of these shots. They are so beautiful...sigh.

I am tucking this memory away in my heart to warm up those cold winter days that are coming up. There is so much warmth, and beauty in your photos, that I think it will keep my heart happy all winter.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

joey said...

Hugs artful eye, Kala, and thank you.

Kathleen, how kind and thank you. You too see life in a beautiful way and so enjoy viewing life through your artful eye. Happy Autumn :)

Thank you, dear Jennifer. An honor coming from you. I had so wished and you saw ... :) So fun to share and also visit you and your lovely posts.

Hi Karen! A joy hearing from you. Doing great stuff in your life, you must be in heaven after viewing your last posts ... win/win ... your giving life and then again to photograph and share. God is good :)

Patsi, you are too kind! But thank you ... and happy you enjoyed. It was fun for me to see the beauty in both and share. Let's enjoy the gifts of autumn together :)

Aw, thank you, dear Jen. You and I, of the same ilk in many ways, am honored by your beautiful thoughts. Hugs abound dear friend. Happy Autumn :)

Anonymous said...

Those are some firey fall fotos ;) Gorgeous!! Happy Autumn 2u2!

chasity said...

LOVE these mosaics!
what a beautiful combination.

Beth at PlantPostings said...

Wow, these shots are some of the best autumn collages I've seen! So bright and cheerful, and totally great for the season!

Pat said...

I wish I could enjoy my gifs of "pics". Just not that talented.
Because of you I'll try...

If you ever thought of entering yourself in a photo contest"...
well in MHO.... DON'T !

The judges are not worthy of you.

Naturegirl said...

These collages are certainly on fire with the dazzling hot color of the sunflower! Very cheery!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Joey, I love how you juxtapose the sunflower's rays with the rays of the sun. So bright and cheery and happy--just like you! <3!

Carolyn ♥ said...

Always adore your pics, Joey. Beautiful!

Jani said...

absolutely wonderful!

joey said...

Thank you, Jewel. Autumn is awesome!

Hi Chasity and thank you.

Thank you, PlantPostings. Finally had a moment to answer your lovely comment. Autumn Joy!

Ah, thank you Patsi ... I try and it's fun. Perhaps someday :)

A fun project, Naturegirl. Thank you.

That is so sweet, Monica. Blessed to know you, fun friend.

Thank you, Carolyn, as I do yours.

Welcome and thank you, Jani. Do hope you return.