Thursday, November 20, 2014

It's Time



The last of the summer tomatoes. They've ripened on newsprint in the laundry room. Today I'll trim the bad spots and roast them together with pungent onions, fresh garden herbs and a generous glug of olive oil. Goodbye delicious tomatoes.
 

An oddly shaped package sat on my doorstep when I arrived home from school yesterday. I recently won a giveaway on the blog Delightful Repast. Thank you, Jean. These silicone spatulas will come in handy now that it's time to think about Christmas baking. That blue makes me smile inside and out.
 

It's also time for Cranberry Pumpkin Bundt Cake. This photo is from last year although I made the cake again recently. For lack of fresh/frozen cranberries, I used dried and the cake is not nearly as good. I also used the tail end of my organic baking powder and I wonder if it's out of date. Baking can really be hit and miss at times.
 

I'm looking forward to some time to light this candle and spend some time on the couch, stitching away at a few projects. However, I've been called to teach every day this week. 

I introduced Romeo and Juliet to a class of Grade 9 students. Lots of setting the stage, so to speak, before beginning reading the prologue. 

One young man's reaction to the prologue was, "Oh Shakespeare! I'd like to go back in time and plead with you, 'Please, don't write anything. You don't know what you're starting."

I could only laugh and sympathize as I could see my own husband as a high school student having the same reaction. We're onto Act 1, Scene 3 and this same young man volunteered to read a part and succeeded admirably.

How do you feel about Shakespeare? Yea or nay? What kind of literature do you most enjoy?

26 comments:

  1. Oh Lorrie, your recipes look so delicious! I didn't know you also have a beautiful food blog!
    My son enjoys Shakespeare much more than I do. He just borrowed a book from my library and is looking forward to receiving some from Father Christmas.

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  2. Oh yes, baking is hit and miss. Last weekend we didn't have any goodies in so I decided to make a cake late in the evening in pyjamas! Things were substituted and surprisingly it tasted delicious! As to Shakespeare, I love Stratford Upon Avon, but that is as far as I can get with William. I much prefer to cosy up and read Charles Dickens. Take care xx

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  3. Lorrie, I'm so glad you're enjoying the prize from my most recent giveaway - I know you'll put the five kitchen tools to good use!

    I had to laugh when I read your "Baking can really be hit and miss at times." Had one of those days yesterday and just posted it today. Maybe you can tell me what was wrong with the cream!

    I like, but don't love, Shakespeare. Enjoy watching his comedies. Visited the sites in Stratford, England.

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  4. What would the world be without Shakespeare to memorize or quote? Your tomatoes look good--we harvested quite a few green before the frost and have them wrapped in newspaper--haven't done that in years but looking forward to using them.

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  5. A definite yea!

    We have been eating cardboard tomatoes for some time so I envy you those yummy looking tomatoes. What a long growing season you had. Did it end just a few weeks ago?

    Nice win!

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  6. Anonymous3:34 PM

    I love your gift from Jean. Just in time for Christmas baking.

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  7. The blue spatulas look like they'll be a big help for Christmas baking. I went to use some rosemary in a soup I made today and couldn't even smell the herb in the jar - guess it's only good for a few months as I renewed the jar in spring.
    As for Shakespeare, not a big fan but did my duty reading him in school.

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  8. Anonymous4:20 PM

    A post filled with good things. Love the color of those spatulas!
    Now pass me a piece of cake and no one gets hurt!! It really looks moist and delicious.

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  9. Mmmmmm home grown tomatoes. We finished off the last of ours a few weeks ago. Your seashells and candle are so pretty - I might do that too.

    I like some Shakespeare - and my favorite literature is biographies and autobiographies - especially well written ones that make you feel like you know the person.

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  10. I didn't appreciate Shakespeare or the classics until I got older. What a funny response by that young man. He may not 'grow out' of this opinion! haha! Hugs, Diane

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  11. Anonymous6:22 PM

    Lorrie, Shakespeare is better when it is read aloud, I think. I don't enjoy reading it on my own as much. I don't know why that is.

    Your cranberry pumpkin bread looks delicious! I have done very little baking but am looking forward to it after we move.

    I'd love your recipe whenever you have a chance if you don't mind.

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  12. Pumpkin cranberry sounds yummy! oh yea and congrats on winning the give-a-way. How neat is that?

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  13. How wonderful for you and I never knew about a food blog connection. Pumpkin cranberry cake sounds delish!

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  14. I have to say that I am not very fond of Shakespeare, but the cakes and recipes, yes!

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  15. Pumpkin cranberry! What a fabulous combo! I suspect that young man will grow up loving Shakespeare. I don't enjoy reading Shakespeare to myself, but I love listening to it.

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  16. Oh, I'm SO glad you won the giveaway, Lorrie! That cranberry pumpkin cake looks amazing - then again, I'm partial to Cranberry. ;-)

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  17. I like Shakespeare, but sometimes prefer viewing rather than reading his words. We enjoyed Joss Whedon's modern interpretation of Much Ado About Nothing and recently re-watched Baz Luhrman's version of Romeo and Juliet.

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  18. Look at those tomatoes! How great that you were able to ripen them inside. Love the part about the boy in your class and his Shakespeare comment!

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  19. Baking is definitely just delicious chemistry, and from certain experiments, I can tell you, this culinary art form is one of precision! Unlike cooking, where a dash of this and a pinch of that is befitting, baking demands details - i.e, no improvising! Still, I prefer the sweet to the savoury, so I am very particular about measuring, then very impatiently wait for the magic to happen!

    Happy weekend, Lorrie!

    Poppy

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  20. Anonymous12:06 PM

    I don't think I've read Shakespeare since high school. Those are neat looking spatulas and I'm sure you will put them to good use. Wonderful tomatoes. Our fresh ones are all done and I have to buy them at the grocery store and they just idon'thave the same taste or texture.

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  21. Ha-ha! Both my boys hated anything to do with Shakespeare. They both had to do Romeo & Juliet in 9th grade and were so glad for it to be over. I just bought tomato plants yesterday, but ran out of soil and need a big pot so they will have room to grow. Your season is ending and ours is just beginning. Much warmer today than it has been. I cleaned both balconies, potting up some of our purchases from yesterday -- 4 hours of cleaning inside and out. I'm pooped now. Have a great day. Tammy

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  22. How wonderful that you are still cooking with your home grown tomatoes, my mouth is already watering!
    I used to love Shakespeare at school but it has been many years since I read any of his plays.Macbeth was my favourite, A Midsummer Night's Dream, with all it's star crossed lovers always made me cross!
    Congrats on winning the prize.

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  23. I missed taking Shakespeare at school, so I don't really know the stories. When I was young I had a book that was Shakespeare's plays written as stories and it was for children so they were short. That is about what I know about his plays. Oh and movies... I know this is a big piece missing in my literary education. Love seeing your beautiful tomatoes. Ours have been gone for three months already.

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  24. I'm feeling the urge to do a bit of baking. There's something about a grey November day that calls for the aroma of something of in the oven.

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  25. Yes I miss the fresh tomatoes too. The cake sounds yummy. Shakespeare, not my thing.

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  26. I have about three tomatoes left...did the newspaper bit too. It was kind of nice walking through the grocery store feeling all smug about not having to buy any yet :)

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