Here we are again. September 1. Whoosh! That summer went by in a blur. I'm happy to be joining in on Amy's Five on Friday link up again. She's had a tough summer and would appreciate kind thoughts and prayers.
Last summer I made a spicy tomato jam that was so delicious on cheese and crackers, cold meats, with roast chicken, etc. I had a glut of plums given to me and decided to adapt the tomato jam recipe using plums, not tomatoes. A bit more acid and less sugar resulted in a wonderfully sweet-tart spicy condiment that we're enjoying.
In the spring we planted some new blueberry bushes in compost from our bins. All kinds of squash and tomato volunteers appeared. I thinned them out, excited about the butternut, acorn and delicata squash that I was going to harvest. After returning from our trip to Europe, I saw strange looking squashes forming and wondered if they had somehow cross bred themselves.
Alas, my daughter burst my bubble. "Do you think they might be gourds?" she asked.
She was right. I have a wonderful gourd harvest! There will be a big bucket of gourds on my porch when I get the fall decor done. And they will NOT go into the compost bin afterwards. I did get 2 acorn squash, however, as small consolation.
These poppy seed heads are so sculptural. I'm planning to cut them and arrange them indoors. They are full of poppy seeds that pour out when the pods are tipped. So many plant potentials there.
My parents visited last week and one evening we walked along the beach as the sun slipped down the horizon. The sky glowed pink, transforming even a container ship into a thing of beauty. The chill in the air warned us of the season that's coming no matter how tightly we hang onto summer.
Maggie, of Normandy Life, hosts Mosaic Monday. This week she posted a link to her "What to do with Courgettes?" Pinterest page. While perusing the page I ran across a Tian of Courgettes (aka zucchini) with Ham and Cheese. The recipe was in French, and I adapted it a little, and oh, my was it ever tasty. And simple to make. I posted the recipe here.
School began for teachers this week. I work with a great group of educators and am happy to be back, if a bit overwhelmed just now. Things will settle as the students arrive next week, and we get into a routine.
Thank you, Amy, for hosting Five on Friday.
The zucchini looks so delicious, as well as the jam.
ReplyDeleteI wish I hadn't crushed my poppy pods for the seeds, Lorrie! Yours will go well as part of a dried Fall arrangement. And the gourds are fabulous. Can't wait to see how you use them to decorate. Have a good weekend-Kim
A lovely Five! I think the gourds are amazing...free Fall decorating for your home!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of the jam/ chutney and the Courgette dish.
This time of year is a whirlwind for teachers, exciting and challenging.
Hopefully it will gradually become a smooth routine, as you say.
My best to you, Lorrie!
Your are a second person I've seen now in two days who has had this surplus surprise gourd harvest. Enjoy, they are beautiful. I sort of collect zucchini recipes so will save this one for sure, thanks. Hope you have a great beginning of school this week.
ReplyDeleteYour jam is making me want toast for breakfast this morning!!! Yum!
ReplyDeleteThe zucchini with ham and cheese looks delicious, too....you're making me hungry, Lorrie!
Nobody around here ever leaves me zucchini on my porch, which happened freq. at my former home. Guess I'll have to go BUY some! LOL
Hoping your school week settles down quickly & is stress free for you.
That jam sounds mighty tasty. What a nice use of the plums.
ReplyDeleteWalking in your area looks very desirable. The sights are so pretty.
How fun to have an unexpected harvest of gourds. Your fall décor will be spectacular.
I hope your school year soon settles down and the coming year is a good one for all.
Grinning about your unexpected crop of gourds. Oh my...that recipe looks delicious...it is a pretty recipe as well. All the best preparing for school. Beginnings are often overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThere are four giant zucchini on my son's counter right now, so I posted your recipe on FB and tagged my DIL and him :) Looks wonderful now if they make these I hope I get invited down the street! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post - the food looks yummy and I love the pink of the evening - even when it lights up a barge. The gourds will be perfect for Autumn decorations - you just never know what you'll get when plants cross pollinate. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHow appetizing the courgettes look . I have several still growing so I think I may try the recipe, thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to have some gourds to dry! I love them for Fall decorations! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteDelightful post, sweet Lorrie. And oh my, the spicy tomato jam sounds wonderful! I'm off to check out the recipe...
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend. Hugs!
Thanks most sincerely for the lovely comment you left on ~ My little old world ~, I appreciate it so much, and thank you for having such a beautiful Blog, I'm following you with joy !
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day, today, and beautiful days to come
Xx Daniela
Gourds are good and even better they'll last a long time
ReplyDeleteThe courgette recipe looks absolutely delicious. Such a shame about your squash but the gourds make a wonderful picture.
ReplyDeleteThat courgette recipe looks great. I tried a couple dishes using them and both dishes bombed! They seem to have too much liquid. We are being soaked with rain today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely 5. A visit to the sea with parents, so special. Seed pods and gourds, oh my. The jam looks oh so good, almost wish I had some plums to try it. Almost because I was overwhelmed with plums a couple weeks ago. Happy return to school and have a terrific school year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting Lorrie. I can imagine the plum jam tasting so good, and the zuchinni recipe, too. Your crop of gourds is pretty, even if not what you had hoped for. The poppy seed pods are interesting shapes...I think it would be fun to paint a picture of them. The view of the water you got with your parents is lovely. May your school year quickly settle into a positive creative routine! xx
ReplyDeleteYour gourd story made me laugh. Like the sound of your plum/tomato jam. Good luck with the new term ahead. I always love September because it has a new year feel for me, even though I'm retired. B x
ReplyDeleteThe gourds look great ... such a bountiful harvest! That's something I've never though to grow, but would be fun to see them develop. Your zucchini recipe looks very mouth watering. I'm not a big fan of zucchini, but that could change my mind. Have a great loooooong weekend Lorrie! It's already non-stop sunshine on this side of Canada this morning. I'm on the patio with tea & laptop :)
ReplyDeleteWendy
A lovely potpourri of images pointing us toward the fall -- are you teaching full-time this fall?
ReplyDeleteYour food photos always make me hungry! Have a great long weekend and good luck with the first week of classes!
ReplyDeleteI've long forgotten about breakfast now that I am here...and longing for a grilled zucchini treat or a cracker with cheese and plum jam (or tomato jam)! Lovely photos, as always. All the best as you head back to school.
ReplyDeleteFive photos, five masterpieces. I could admire all evening the composition in your first photo.
ReplyDeleteYour recipes are always beautiful and delicious... and I think they make your family very happy.
Have a lovely weekend!
A lovely five! The poppy heads are perfect for autumnal displays, and I absolutely loved to see the container ship in the distance. A feat of engineering with the enormous cargo they transport. Have a wonderful weekend xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful five!! Lovely pictures, I for one love ships no matter what kind :) and I will deffo give the zucchini recipe a go. Yummy! xxx
ReplyDeleteAlways looking for good zucchini recipes. Will definitely forward to my Lil' Sis' who grows lots of it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat courgette dish looks very delicious!! You have a wonderful collection of gourds, they will make great decorations for autumn. Thank you for joining in, have a great weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing your beautiful photos. And, thank you for the recipe ideas. The jam sounds so tasty as does the zucchini. Enjoy your weekend! Pat :)
ReplyDeleteThat spicy tomato jam sounds great! It looks delicious. Love all your wonderful squash plants and gourds!
ReplyDeleteLovely five. The plum jam sounds wonderful and I love the beach photo. You will have a wonderful auntumnal display with your gourds:)
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea to use the poppies as decoration ! I love Zucchinis too, we eat them quite often. It's also an Italian plate and my husband is Italian,:) !
ReplyDeleteI love poppy heads as decorations and have some that come out this time of year every year. I love the look of that courgette dish. I must try it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun five Lorrie! Your jam sounds SO good!! And that zucchini recipe looks amazing. I'm definitely going to copy that one - thanks for sharing. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have the prettiest Fall decorations with those gourds and seed pods. Love it!!! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend Hon. xoxo
The zucchini looks delish! We have a joke in the 'gardening world' when you see a fellow gardener this time of year make sure you leave your car locked, or they will fill it with zucchini! I think I would like to try that recipe.
ReplyDeleteAnd you just reminded me....last year I found a plum tree on our property that I don't remember planting! I'll have to go see if it's still there and if it's producing. If so, maybe I'll give the jam a try. Thanks for sharing.
Cindy Bee
Love the idea for courgettes. Thanks for sharing. I go back to teaching next week and at present feel overwhelmed too but as you say that will settle down. Enjoy the term
ReplyDelete