This and That October

Maybe my blog readers can suggest a shareable that I can bring to a Halloween party that we are invited to. The party is at 7:00 p.m. on Halloween, and by that time everyone will have eaten dinner. And we will be passing out candy at our house until 7:30 so I'd like to prepare something ahead of time. I'm thinking of a hot cheese dip with cubes of homemade bread. 

My family hosted a cake and pie party at camp, and what fun that was. My niece got the idea from a massive cake party recently held in Boston, and thankfully we had beautiful fall weather so we could spend the day outdoors. The kids even went into the lake up to their thighs.

Attending a local cheese festival was on my fall list, and if you're looking for an easy read, I recommend this mystery "Gone for Gouda". I couldn't put it down.  The author is from Massachusetts and brought 100 copies to the festival (her first time attending) and sold out before 1 p.m. I discovered that my local library has several of her books.

Have you ever made Golumpkis? This year I used Napa cabbage to make Golumpkis as the cabbage is sweeter and easier to work with. I'll never use regular cabbage again. 

There was a frost alert so I picked two buckets of dahlias at the farm.  

This bouquet is on display in the sunroom. Patience is a virtue waiting for next dahlia season. 

I forgot to take a photo of the beef stew I made, and the beef farmer asked for the recipe so I'm sharing it on my blog as well. I was given this recipe by my coworker Diana in 1983, and this is the only beef stew I make and love. 

 

2 lbs. stew beef cubed

6 TB salad oil

1 cup onions

1 cup peppers

1 cup red wine

1 can beef broth

8 oz. can of tomato sauce

2 TB fresh parsley

1 clove garlic, minced

1 TB salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

1/8 tsp. thyme

Bay leaf

6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut up

6 medium carrots, cut into chunks

6 small onions

1 can of green beans (or you can use fresh cooked beans)

1 – 2 TB flour

Brown meat in oil. Drain. Saute vegetables for 8 minutes. Put beef back in pan. Add spices and other ingredients except for potatoes, carrots, small onions and green beans. Cook for one hour. Add rest of ingredients and cook for one more hour. Add flour and cook for five minutes. The stew will be very thick. 

My blessings this month are plenty. We are lucky to be active in our grandchildren's lives. My sister's first grandchild is due in March 2026. And I am treasuring a little memento that I was given last week after my 91 year old godmother Carol passed away. I will miss our birthday breakfasts, her laughs and her telling me how much she missed my mother.  

xo

Deb