Autunno... Autumn...

As Fall rapidly approaches,  I find myself with  thoughts of Autumn favorites coming from my kitchen... and Autumn colors warming our home.  I am easing in  touches of orange and gold to bring in the season and adding pumpkins all around.  If my pumpkin plants let me down ( again) I will just have to buy them...or get them from Paul and Edy's gorgeous garden,  Quail Rock Farms... fine by me...

Giardino Di Vasi... The Potted Garden...

My potted garden is thriving... Tomatoes and herbs along with Roses and Hydrangea,  Lavenders and sages.  Lovely and fragrant.  I have so many tomatoes on the vines which are healthy and relatively pest free,  for now anyway.  The few English Roses that I brought with me in the move are happy here at the new place .  Although they all live in pots, they are pretty,  happy and blooming... which makes me happy... I have ordered another favorite that I did not bring with me... 

The Generous Gardener should be here in a week or so. 

Piaceri Autunnali... Autumn Pleasures...

It is beginning  to feel like Fall... no colored leaves yet,  just that lovely breeze... a perfect time for  gardening with some added Autumn touches in my new container garden...and of course for spending lots of time in the kitchen, using favorite seasonal ingredients in beautiful colors... love purple in the Fall and decided to use some in the kitchen... Gnocchi from purple potatoes.  A first attempt at that turned out great,  taste wise,  but I wanted a vibrant purple color, in spite of the addition of fresh lemon to the potatoes after putting them through the food mill,   they turned out lavender,  not purple,  still gorgeous.   Next time I will try a different variety of purple potato in hopes of getting a deeper hue.  I always give purple cauliflower a big squeeze of fresh lemon to return it to it's bright purple color after cooking it,  and that keeps it beautiful. It's also time to make some cozy Fall crafts... It's much to early for Halloween,  but some fall touches are a must.

Una Torta Per Anna… A Cake For Anna…

A citrusy sweet,  ombre,  garden inspired cake for a sweet,  garden-loving sister… done in her favorite color.