Simple Pumpkin Chicken Casserole

Pumpkin Casserole

This recipe is made simple by using boxed or canned pumpkin or squash soup. It is great for a week night since putting it together is a snap. You can make it with rice or pasta or add vegetables in place of the chicken to make it vegetarian.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice
16 ounces pumpkin or squash soup
2 diced cooked chicken breasts
1 orange or yellow pepper chopped
2 green onions chopped
1 apple peeled and diced
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients except cheese. Spoon into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at 450 degrees 20 minutes.

The Feast of St. Nicholas

from 123rf.com

The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on many different days from December 4th (England and Scotland) to December 19th (in the East). In the United States, Saint Nicholas has given way to Santa Claus, who arrives on Christmas Eve bearing gifts for children. The historical St. Nicholas was a Christian Bishop of Lycia, now southern Turkey. He is known for secretly giving gifts. One legend has it that he provided dowries for 3 daughters of a poor man who could not do so himself. This allowed each of the three daughters to be honorably married, according to custom at that time. As we remember this tradition of gift-giving in December please give thought to where and how you make your purchases. Now that Black Friday is behind us, we can hopefully slow down and appreciate the holiday season by supporting your local merchants. I know you have heard the mantra "shop local" many times, but have you truly thought what your community would be like without small businesses and local stores? If you visit a brick and mortar store, and then purchase the product on-line because it is cheaper, would you still do so if it meant that a few months down the road your local store would be shutting its doors because it is no longer profitable?  Sadly that is what is happening in towns all around the country. Yes, you most likely will be paying more when you buy from your local merchant, but you are getting value from simply having a store that you can walk into, feel and touch its products, and have a face to face conversation with the owner or clerk. Further, stores keep our Main Streets alive, by attracting people to get out and socialize.

This November 15th article at Futurity.org has a sobering statistic that about 7000 stores in the United States shuttered their doors between 2016 and 2017. It also reports on research which showed that most people, and society as a whole, would be devastated if physical stores no longer existed. Not only would it have detrimental impact to local economies (think reduced tax revenues and increased payments for social services), it would would also have health and social impacts. Shopping provides an opportunity for engage with friends and to meet new acquaintances. In addition to mental health, many people use shopping as a means to get some exercise by walking.  

So please, in the spirit of Saint Nicholas have your shopping experience be impactful by benefiting not just the receiver of the gifts, but you as the shopper and the merchant as a critical component of our communities.

Easy Sweet Potato and Kale Soup

Sweet Potato and Kale Soup

Our son came home for Thanksgiving and made this delicious, hearty soup, adapted from the Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow cookbook. It comes together in minutes and only needs about 20 minutes on the stove. Serve with your favorite bread for a complete weeknight meal.

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 medium onion diced
2 carrots peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
1 large yam, unpeeled and diced into 1 inch cubes
1 can garbanzo beans drained
1 can coconut milk
1 can crushed or diced tomatoes
4 cups water
3 cups chopped kale.

In a dutch oven or heavy soup pot heat oil and saute onions, carrots, celery and salt about 5 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add curry powder and stir for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients, except kale. Bring to a boil and simmer until sweet potato is soft, about 15 - 20 minutes. Add chopped kale and cook until wilted, about 30 seconds.
Makes 4-6 hefty servings.   

Caching Food for the Winter

Squirrels and a turkey take advantage of bird seed on ground following the first snowfall of the year.

As Thanksgiving approaches, our thoughts are turned to food. As with the early settlers, without a means to access food, the outset of winter can turn tragic for those in the animal kingdom. This week in LIVESCIENCE an article titled "How Do Squirrels Remember Where They Buried Their Nuts" describes research conducted by Mike Maria Delgado, University of California Davis, and published in the Journal Royal Society Open Science. The article reports how squirrels will bury their collections in various areas based upon characteristics of the food and that they rely on memory to locate the stash during the winter. About 95 percent of the stored food is successfully found and retrieved. What I found most interesting in the article is that even when squirrels cache their food in the same vicinity of other squirrel's supply, each squirrel will return to their own personal cache. There was an abundance of acorns last fall, which contributed to a rise in the squirrel population this year. I counted at least six squirrels at our feeders this past weekend. They are probably leaving their acorn harvest for later in the winter, when other sources of food are more scarce.

Gardeners and farmers are fortunate in that we don't have to hide our harvest, and that we have means to freeze, dry and can our food to ensure a healthy supply of food over the winter. And, if we don't preserve enough, there are always winter farmers markets and organic food selections at the super market. For this I am grateful. Happy Thanksgiving All!

A Hike in the Lakes Region

Typically, when my friend Sue and I hike it is somewhere in the White Mountains, but today we decided to explore a lower elevation trail in Brookfield, NH. At only 1868 feet, Copple Crown is a relatively easy hike with rewarding views at the summit.

We parked at the plow turn-turnaround at the end of Moose Mountain Road. This was recommended to avoid the rough terrain of the road that follows for an additional .3 miles. If you have a vehicle that can handle it, there is an official parking area with a map showing the various snow mobile trails which intersect at this junction. There is a sign to the right that points to the Copple Crown hiking trail.

The first 1.3 miles of the hike is at an easy grade up an unmaintained Class VI town road. With heavy rains yesterday, the road was quite wet.

Certain wet areas  had a light coating of ice which reflected the surrounding trees beautifully.

A sign that the ground isn't completely frozen yet, was the "needle ice" or "frost pillars" observed in a couple spots along the trail. Needle ice forms when underground water is pushed to the surface and freezes as it reaches air temperature that is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Needle Ice

This is in contrast to the icicles that we saw on rocks that were probably formed when the air temperature dipped below freezing during or following the rain storm.

Icicles

At approximately 1.2 miles there is a trail kiosk on the left with a map of the 732 acre conservation area managed by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. This is the official beginning of the trail which is marked by blue blazes.

Trails are always more difficult to follow in the fall when they are covered with leaves. This one in particular required us to keep an eye on the blue blazes as it was not always evident when we had wandered off the trail inadvertently. Fortunately, we would realize our mistake before we got lost. The are two peaks atop Copple Crown - the main summit and East Peak. Unfortunately we never saw the sign for the main summit and only made it to the ledges of East Peak. In any event, it was a beautiful and warm spot to eat lunch and enjoy the views.
Snow is in the forecast for later this week which will paint a different picture when hiking. We hope to get out often this winter, but for today, it was great to be outside and enjoy the Autumn air. 

Fall Preparations

We have had a lot of rain this Autumn, so Sunday's partly sunny day was a welcome change. Our Japanese Maple tree finally dropped most of it's leaves. With daylight savings time ending Sunday morning, the earlier daylight in the morning was also welcome. My son and I spent most of the morning, sweeping up leaves with the tractor and raking them from the planting beds nearest to the house. All other beds are left as is until Spring, with the leaves providing extra insulation for the perennials underneath as well an overwintering home for insects and small mammals.

The browns have temporarily taken over the greens in the compost bin.

Since the temperature on Sunday was above freezing, it was also a good day to protect our broadleaf evergreens from the unpredictable temperature swings of winter with a pine resin spray. I typically use Wilt-Pruf, but found that Bonide also carriers a similar product. Since we started using these winterizing products we haven't lost a single rhododendron over the winter. Not only do they survive, but they thrive the following season.

The active ingredient in both Wilt-Pruf and Wilt Stop is derived from the resin of pine trees

Now that most of the leaves are fallen, we can see in which trees the birds have been nesting.

The mud lining of this robin's nest is clearly visible

Most of the annual flowers have succumbed to the freezing temperatures, so it was a pleasure to see a few perennial flowers still in bloom.

Mid-Autumn blooming flowers

Another interesting observation is that on our walkway the moss growing between the bricks has become more lush than it has been all summer. It definitely prefers the cool temperatures and shorter days.

Moss is looking very healthy this time of year.

I know that it won't be long before snow blankets the ground, so I consider each day of green this time of year to be a blessing.

Leave Debris for Insects and Critters to Spend the Winter

October is one of the busiest months for getting things done around the yard. One would think that with the harvest winding down that it would be a slow time, but I do not find that to be the case, as it's a race against time to get everything done before the ground is frozen or covered with snow. We had our first freeze this week which killed off most of the annuals, so now I can start fall preparations in earnest. Saturday I had planned on doing yard work all day, but when the thermometer approached sixty degrees I decided that I had to take the opportunity to wax the car. I still got some tasks done, like emptying planter boxes, taking down fencing and trimming plants around the house.

Although it is important to clear debris away from the foundation and to make sure leaves are raked from the lawn or mulched in place, remember to keep some leaf litter, brush piles and plants undisturbed for the many small mammals and insects that will be looking for safe places to spend the winter.

Some will burrow underground, like chipmunks and ground nesting bees. Other insects will look for shelter within a plant, such is underneath tree bark. Hollow stems, such as these hollyhocks could provide a winter home for some insects.

Hollyhocks

This summer a patch of Asiatic Dayflowers just appeared. As the name implies this plant originated in Asia and is technically an invasive. I trimmed it back, but did remove all of it since I love the pretty blue flowers.

Asiatic Dayflowers (Commelina communis)

When I was doing some garden cleanup, I noticed an insect undergoing metamorphis inside one of the leaves. I have no idea what it was, but since only one to three percent of insects in the United States are considered pests (National Pesticide Information Center) I let it be.

An insect undergoing metamorphis in an Asiatic Dayflower

The fall is a great time to observe former summer homes of wildlife, such as this bald faced wasps nest. It had been in this maple tree next to our garage all summer, but we only noticed it after most of the its leaves had dropped.

Bald faced hornets nest

As fall approaches, males and new queens leave the nest to mate. The males die, but the queens will hibernate and awake in the Spring to start their own colonies. Although bald faced hornets aren't great pollinators, they do eat many insect pests such as deer flies and horse flies. They are definitely a beneficial insect and as long as they are not attached your house or within a passageway, they should be left alone.

Sometimes insects or small mammals will try to overwinter inside your home. This is the time of year to be vigilant and address any signs of rodents in the house as soon as possible. We noticed  some signs of mice in our garage, such as pieces of insulation dropped on floor, so I set up a couple Havahart traps. In two days, we caught two mice, which have been relocated to some woods about five miles away.

Havahart trips are just as efficient as killing traps

Inside our bulkhead doors, several cocoons appeared overnight. I'm thinking they are some kind of moth, but perhaps they are from another insect or spider? Please post a comment if you think you know what insect they are from.

Unidentified egg sacs or cocoons?

I am hoping that we have a few mild weekends left before winter-like weather settles in. We are fortunate to have shelter to keep us safe and warm over the winter months. Let's all make sure that  nearby wildlife have the same.

White Beans and Kale Pot Pie

This creamy vegetarian pie has a unique flavor that even your meat loving friends will enjoy. 

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons butter
Olive oil
1 fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced
1 medium onion chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups kale
1/4 cup flour
1 cup broth
1/4 cup cream
1-15-oz can white beans
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes chopped
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 single pie crust

Melt butter in heavy skillet and saute fennel and onion until tender. Add garlic, salt and red pepper and saute for 2 minutes. Massage olive oil into kale and then chop into small pieces. Add to pan and saute until tender. Stir in beans and tomatoes. Stir in flour, then gradually add broth and cream stirring over low heat until thickened. Pour into a small casserole dish, Serves two.
sprinkle with Parmesan and cover with the pie crust. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Fall Weekends in Vermont and Maine

It's hard to argue that Autumn is not the best time to visit New England. Everyone knows it is known for its foliage colors, but mid-September, after the summer tourists have left and before the leaves have turned, is a great time to visit the Northeast. Two Saturdays ago, St. Johnsbury, Vermont had their Colors of the Kingdom Autumn Festival. The fact that it was only September 15th and in the mid-eighties was irrelevant as the mood was all fall, with a Parade, Farmers Market, Craft Fair and museum open houses.

One of the highlights was a scenic train ride along the Passumpsic River to the New Hampshire border where is meets up with the Connecticut River.

Passengers waiting to embark on a historic Green Mountain rail car

It was difficult to take pictures on the train, even though it was going relatively slow. I was able to capture a photo of this cool round barn. Sadly, the last "working" farm round barn in Vermont at Robillard Flats Dairy in Irasburg, burned down two years ago.

Round Barn in Barnet, Vermont

As part of the festival, the Fairbanks Museum offered free admission for the day. If you love natural history museums, this is not one to be missed.

Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium

This year they had a honeybee hive and a butterfly house out back.I recently blogged about discouraging the raising of Monarchs in captivity, but as an educational endeavor, especially for children, seeing butterflies up close and bees making honey is a unique opportunity and can instill a deeper appreciation of nature.

The Butterfly House at the Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

The had several varieties of butterflies and the appropriate live vegetation on which they could feed.

Admiral

Painted Lady

Black Swallowtails

Monarch

This past weekend, which did officially launch the beginning of Autumn, we drove up the coast of Maine. The temperature was seasonably cool, but beautiful. We stayed at the Black Point Inn, an affordable historic oceanfront Inn in Scarborough. Across the street from the parking area is a Cliff Walk a beautiful spot to enjoy the ocean views at any time of day.

Blackpoint Inn, Scarborough, Maine

A fisherman along the rocky coast of Maine

We saw dozens of Monarchs on their coastal migratory route. It was encouraging to see so many in their natural environment.

Monarch on Aster

I also saw this American Lady which migrates as well. It is identifiable from the Painted Lady by two small white spots on the upper orange part of the wings.

American Lady Butterfly

We did not see a wide variety of birds, and although common, this colorful cardinal was fun to watch as it feasted on some rose hips.

Cardinal enjoying some rose hips

It won't be long before ice and snow arrives, so make sure you take advantage of of the outdoor opportunities that Autumn presents.

Blueberry Ginger Muffins

Blueberry Ginger Muffins

Use frozen blueberries if making these in the off-season. They are a perfect pick-me-up with your morning cup of coffee.


Ingredients
3 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup crystallized ginger chopped
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups blueberries
1 egg
lemon zest from 1 lemon

Sift first four ingredients. In a separate large bowl stir until blended sugar, eggs, oil and buttermilk. Gradually blend in sifted ingredients. Fold in blueberries, ginger and lemon zest. Scoop into greased or paper lined muffin tins. If desired sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees until golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes. 

Caterpillars, Monarchs and Milkweed as Summer Ends

The shortened days and cool nights are definite signs that summer is coming to an end, and Nature's creatures are are out there preparing for Fall. September is a good time of year to spot caterpillars. For many, they are busy eating as much as they can before finding a safe spot to harbor for the winter.

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars 

The larva of the Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) is one such caterpillar that will overwinter. As the photo above shows, the caterpillars like to hang out in groups.  The colorful caterpillars that are seen this time of year are the late instar version. The early instar is white to yellowish and only has a few spikes. The middle instar caterpillar begins to develop tufts and may have some black coloring. The last stage has similar coloring as a monarch butterfly. These caterpillars will soon head out on their own to form a cocoon and will not emerge as a moth until the Spring. With the number of caterpillars I've seen, I expect to see several moths after they hatch next year.  

As cool looking as these caterpillars are, I of course get most excited when I see a Monarch caterpillar on the milkweed. I am always looking and was was happy to finally find one just two and a half weeks ago. It was the first for me this year and it looked like it was ready to form a chrysalis which is probably did, as it was gone the next day.

Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed Leaf

Although the milkweed leaves are disappearing, two weeks ago, I saw a Monarch butterfly planted on a seed pod. I ran back inside the house to get my camera because I had yet to capture a good photo of a Monarch this year. This one was so still and I wondered whether it was laying an egg, or perhaps it was just drying its wings from the early morning dew. In any event it let me get very close and did not fly away. She was beautiful.

Donna Miller owner with her husband of Petals in the Pines in Canterbury, NH and host of an annual Monarch Festival spoke at the New Hampshire Audubon McLane Center last night. In addition to sharing about the life-cycle of the Monarch and their recent decline, (although by all accounts 2018 has been a good year), she explained how to turn your own yard into a  "Monarch Waystation" for which you can become certified. With no special effort and just practicing organic and permaculture principles, our yard meets the criteria.

Because of their beauty and their amazing migratory journey, thousands of people have joined in the crusade to "Save the Monarch."  Sometimes this enthusiasm to shelter and release as many Monarchs as possible can actually have detrimental effects on the population and health of the species. According to several scientific experts and organizations including the Xerces Society, the Monarch Joint Venture, and Andy Davis, author of The Science of Monarch Butterflies blog,  raising monarchs in captivity, especially in large numbers presents numerous risks, including the potential for disease, genetic alteration, and changes in natural behavior. Monarchs are not a threatened or endangered species and by interrupting the natural selection and breeding process there will be consequences, be it good or bad, and these can not be fully understood for years to come. The best support that you can provide to this species is by supporting pollinator friendly habitats: planting or just letting milkweed grow, providing nectar sources for adults,  and leaving certain areas undisturbed as shelter for larva and cocoons. And consider yourself blessed if you are fortunate to see them in the wild.

Garden Fungi and a Giant Puffball Mushroom

I am by no means a mushroom expert, but enjoy searching for them in the woods, along the side of the road, and even in our yard.As August is winding down, and following a bout of wet weather, there have been so many kinds of mushrooms and fungi emerging.  In the early morning hours, when the dew is still fresh,  is the best time to spot many varieties. Here are a couple photos of brown Cone Head mushroom that were found in the AM this August in my garden.The remind me of tiny parasols. There are also frequently found in the lawn.

I have been unable to identify what type of fungi is in the photo below. I have checked two mushroom books as well as the Internet. I have found a couple of similar photos, but no one provided its name. They were only there for a few hours and were already starting to shrivel when I spotted them. The tops were so unique, reminding me of  flowers instead of mushrooms. If you know what they are called, please share in a comment.

Is it a flower or a mushroom?

I was very excited when three days ago, a Giant Puffball mushroom started growing in the yard. Last summer, we had one, but it got run over by the lawn tractor before I could pick it.

Giant Puffball Mushroom (Calvatia gigantea)

I had read that they are edible and have been curious to try them. After reading and re-reading how to make a proper identification and confirming with my sister who has frequently harvested them, I was confident to to give it a try. In the morning, I cut it at the base, wrapped it in a paper bag and set it in the refrigerator until dinner-time. In the evening, I sliced it to confirm that they flesh was all white, with no gills. If it had any discoloration, I would have tossed it.

The inside of a Giant Puffball

I decided to keep the slices large, dipped them in bread crumbs and fried with butter and garlic until golden on both sides. The result was delicious. I ate a couple slices as a side dish and then had extra to add to a sandwich for lunch the following day. The consistency is similar to cooked eggplant or tofu. The flavor is bland, but it easily absorbs the flavor from cooking.

Fried Puffball Mushrooms

I am still extra cautious when it comes to eating wild mushrooms as a mistake can be deadly, but it is satisfying to be able to make a positive identification and enjoy for free the fruits of Nature.