MONICA'S 'MISH-MASH' MONDAY ~ JILL'S FUSILLI with FRESH TOMATO & FETA

"A man taking basil from a woman will love her always."

~ Sir Thomas Moore

BASIL

(ocimum basilicum)

'A SEED THAT NEVER DIES' (Putting the Garden to Bed) ~ BUTTERNUT WHEAT PASTA with PINE NUTS

"The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies."

~ Gertrude Jekyll

LAST DAISY of SUMMER

(Daisy kisses bursting spore of Maidenhair Fern)

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BUTTERNUT WHEAT PASTA with PINE NUTS

~ Wholesome wheat pasta and creamy squash ... perfect autumn fare (adapted from Cooking Light)

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3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

3 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 minced garlic clove

2 1/2 cups organic chicken broth (or water), divided

1 lb. peeled, seeded, and shredded butternut squash

1 tsp. sugar

coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

12 oz. uncooked wheat penne pasta

1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Add pine nuts and sage; remove from heat. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic to pan and saute 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium. Add 1 cup chicken broth (or water) and squash to pan. Cook for 12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add remaining broth (or water), 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally until each portion of liquid is absorbed before adding the next (about 15 minutes). Stir in sugar, salt, and pepper.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain (reserve 1/2 cup pasta water). Combine pasta and squash mixture in large bowl. Add reserved 1/2 cup pasta water, butter mixture and 3/4 cup cheese; toss well. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Serve immediately. (4 servings)

Japanese anemome, rose hip, bergenia, geranium
Annabelle hydrangea, daisy, m.hydrangea
hosta, Autumn Joy sedum


Maidenhair fern, heuchera,
Japanese painted fern,
sedum, Autumn Joy sedum, bergenia


phlox, anenome, bergenia, geranium
rose hip, daisy, Autumn Joy sedum
Annabelle hydrangea, m.hydrangea, geranium



LATE OCTOBER

(Putting the garden to bed)
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"But think a moment about a garden forever warm, forever growing, always green with brilliant dots of color every day of the year ~ a garden that never rests. There would be no time to plan, no moments to quietly sit and reflect on the triumphs and failures of the preceding seasons, no chance for change."

~ Peter Loewer

'CABIN FEVER' ~ WINTER WALNUT PESTO

"Winter either bites with its teeth or lashes with its tail."

~Proverb

~ Ice Crystal Patterns

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WINTER WALNUT PESTO

~ Delicious pesto for frigid weather ... you'll hardly miss the fresh basil

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3 cups fresh spinach leaves (stems removed)

2 cups fresh Italian parsley

3-4 cloves minced garlic

1 - 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 - 3/4 cup cup extra-virgin olive olive

1/2 cup toasted walnuts

3 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts

1 tsp. coarse salt

freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Puree all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth. Add more olive oil as needed and process on and off until desired consistency.
• Serve over whole wheat penne pasta. Sprinkle with black olives and pass additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese.