SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN ~ PEASANT SOUP / GRILLED VEGGIE PANINI

"The leaves of brown came tumblin' down, remember

In September in the rain

The Sun went down just like a dying ember

That September in the rain.

To every word of love I heard you whisper

The raindrops seem to play a sweet refrain."

~ September in the Rain

(Lyrics by Warren & Dubin)

SEPTEMBER RAIN
(a gardener's gift)

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PEASANT SOUP
~ Simple Saturday night supper ... harvest rich and autumn friendly on a chilly day
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2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red or sweet onion
1 1/2 cups chopped (well-washed) leeks
1 cup chopped carrots or sweet potato
4 minced garlic cloves
1 quarts organic chicken broth
1 cup white wine
1 28-oz. can diced Italian tomatoes
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (1 tsp. dried)
2 bay leaves
1 16 oz. cans rinsed and drained cannellini or garbanzo beans
3 cups baby spinach leaves
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

• Heat oil in large stockpot. Add onion, leek, carrot/sweet potato and garlic. Saute 5 minutes or until limp.
• Add chicken broth, wine, tomatoes, pepper flakes, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer 30 minutes.
• Add beans and and simmer 5 minutes. Discard bay leaves and add spinach.
• Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese. (8 servings)

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GRILLED VEGGIE PANINI

8 slices Japanese (or thin skinned) eggplant (4 in. long & 1/4 in. thick)
8 sliced lengthwise small zucchini (1/4 in. thick)
8 slices red pepper (1/4 inch thick)
8 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. herbes de Provence
coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. good pesto
8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese
8 slices good country-style or sourdough bread

• Preheat grill or panini press.
• Combine olive oil, herbes de Provence, salt & pepper. Toss eggplant, zucchini and red pepper slices with 3 Tbsp. of seasoned olive oil. Grill in batches, 1-2 minutes, or until tender. Transfer to plate.
• Brush 1 side of each slice of bread with seasoned olive oil. Turn oil side over on clean surface.
• Cover 4 slices of bread with 2 slices of each vegetable. Arrange cheese on top.
• Spread pesto on remaining 4 slices of bread. Place pesto side down over stacked bread.
• Cook on grill panini press until bread is golden and cheese is melted (3-5 minutes). Slice in half. (4 servings)

'Y-IKE-S! IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING ... CHOCOLATE MUD PIE

"Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to it fall."

~ JOSE FELICIANO

~ Afternoon downpour

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CHOCOLATE MUD PIE

~ Don't wail till it rains to enjoy this longtime retro-favorite

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Crust:

1 (8 1/2 oz.) box crushed chocolate wafers

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool.

Fudge Sauce:

1/2 cup cocoa

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup whipping cream

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine cocoa, sugar, cream and butter in 2 quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until smooth and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool completely.

Filling and Topping:

1 quart good coffee ice cream (softened)

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 Tbsp. powered sugar

1 Tbsp. Kahlua

cocoa

1/4 cup toasted silvered almonds

• Spread 1/2 cup Fudge Sauce evenly over baked cooled baked cookie crust. Top with softened ice cream. Spread evenly over crust. Top with remaining Fudge Sauce and chill several hours.
• Whip cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Add Kahlua and whip until stiff peaks form. Spread evenly over frozen pie. Dust with cocoa and top with toasted almonds. Freeze until ready to serve.
  

~ September garden in the rain

"Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to it fall.

It's raining,

It's pouring,

The old man is snoring,

Went to bed

And bumped his head,

He couldn't get up in the morning,

Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to the rain."

(Thank you Jose for this wonderful song that rang continually though my head while photographing and posting.)