A Time of Plenty

A trip to the Atwater Market in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner was a treat. The air was crisp and the colours popped. And, as always, I bought too much - but it will get used.




On the menu - almost everything is local
Turkey - raised in Quebec
stuffing (my grandmother's recipe)
new potatoes, broccoli, salad - all locally grown
Apple cake - with Quebec apples
Strawberries - still local

It feels good to be able to serve mainly local food. Only too soon our growing season will be over and we will be shipping in fresh produce. In the meantime - a time to feast!

Apple Time

Apple Time, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The market is overflowing with apples as the orchards are harvesting their bounty. The diversity of sizes, colours and flavours sometimes makes choosing a challenge. I'll be baking apple cake and making applesauce. I have to deal with the bags I bought. What a delicious problem!

Day 282: Apples!

Day 282: Apples!, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A dreary rainy day echoing the dreary state of my house. Workmen are pounding, drilling - beginning the slow rebuilding of my kitchen. Dusty plastic hangs over every opening.

I set out to the market for food and colour and was not disappointed. There are many apple orchards outside Montreal and the market was full of many varieties of apples.

Usually this time of year I cook and fill up my freezer, but with no stove I can only stop and admire the local produce. I bought a few items that don't need cooking, but the soups, ratatouille and apple sauce that usually fill my freezer will have to wait - unfortunately by then the available vegetables will have come from somewhere else.