Snow, Snow, Snow

The snow is coming, the snow is coming, must rush to the store for bread and milk! The problem is that at the store I’m a little ADD. Oh look! The grapefruits look good. What!? When did they start stocking sea salt? Pork loin 1.99. You get the picture.
Anyway, in my current issue of Food and Wine magazine http://www.foodandwine.com/…/grapefruit-marmalade-with-smok… 
there is an article about winter jams, hence the grapefruit. Is there a better way to spend a cold wintery afternoon than making marmalade and baking cheddar cheese bread? Some might say yes, but the aroma of freshly grated zest mixed with freshly squeezed juice bubbling away, getting thick on the stove, and bread in the oven, pretty much winds my clock.
Grapefruit marmalade with a hint of sherry smoked sea salt and cheddar cheese bread. My normal Sunday sourdough loaves are baking as I type.

Green Tomato Relish

There’s a morning chill and change in the air. The last summer days are falling quickly away. Is it me or does each season have its own smell? I can smell autumn coming. Apparently, so can the tomatoes. The plants have definitely seen better days, curled dried leaves and no more blossoms, but holding on to the green fruit that is desperately trying to ripen before the first frost. What to do, what to do? How about green tomato relish, also sometimes called Chow Chow? 
In my research, I discovered that Chow Chow comes in many forms. Sort of like garam masala, mole, Sunday gravy, or chili, specific to each family and that family’s traditions, often dependent on the last bounties of the garden. Flavors and smells that spike memories of other times. I’ve read that the olfactory nerve connects directly to the brain and aromas often evoke strong emotions.
I added cardamom, cinnamon, and lemon peel to mine along with the usual suspects…green tomatoes, red and green peppers, jalapeño, onion, cider vinegar, sugar, salt, celery seed and yellow mustard seed.
Drifting away on strong emotions.

Domesticity

I think domesticity becomes me. Regular sourdough loaves and a lemon macadamia nut braid, baked in a loaf pan. Meatloaf and baked potatoes in the oven. A walk around the neighborhood and garden. Wonderful Sunday afternoon.