Plans for the week, new recipes posted

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It is another perfect day here in D.C.- I hope you all are experiencing the magnificent fall weather that we are enjoying! Wow!  Though I swore off mums several years back -because I wrongly lumped them into the annuals camp; it appears that us lucky folks in zone 7 can encourage our mums to be perennials if we treat them right (more on that later)- the gorgeous, chameleon leaves that are a'falling and these blue skies have inspired me to add a bit of mum bling to my yard: rust, magenta, and yellow pompoms have really made things even more vivid out there. If you do plant mums, don't waste them by tossing tossing out the entire plant (rootball and all) at the end of the season. When they start to look really ratty, cut off all dead flowers and brown foliage. When all foliage is brown and looking quite deathly, cut the mum plant off about an inch from the ground. You just might get a number of them to regrow the following year; I've got at least a handful in my yard right now that are from last autumn.

In honor of Meatless Monday, we will be enjoying Yotam's burnt eggplant tonight as well as a radish/daikon/kohlrabi salad. Yotam does one with dried cherries and nuts that sounds quite good. Later this week, I'm hoping to whip up one the leek confit-Bûcheron tarts that we enjoy a couple times a year. And since I'm rolling in kale and chard, I gotta find something to do with them! Oops, Oliver is up.

More later. All recent recipes except the apple butter are now posted. That one's a little long so I'll add it tonight after the kids are in bed. We're nearing 130 recipes now so get cooking. :)

Info/tips of the week

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If you're sadly watching the summer produce season slip away, this link offers some very helpful, simple (read: does not involve canning, dehydrating or the like) tips for preserving all sorts of fruits/veggies: Gardener's Supply Company. You can buy more than you think you'll need or use immediately and in many cases, preserve it for the depths of winter. This Friday's Whole Foods One Day Deal is New York Strip Steak, hormone- and antibiotic-free, for $11.99/pound; it's usually $16.99. This offer is valid in DC, Maryland, VA, OH, PA, KY, Marlton and Princeton, NJ.

Also for D.C.-area folks, this Saturday and Sunday, American Plant -all locations- is welcoming fall by offering 20% of your entire, storewide purchase. The Bethesda location will be opening its Haunted Castle, and there will be other festivities and treats. If you want to fall'ify your yard and gardens, head over!

Lastly, if you have old/expired/no longer needed prescription drugs, don't flush them! They can contaminate our water systems, including those that supply are drinking water. So, bring yours to the National Take Back Initiative, a nationwide program that will be held on October 29. Here's a link for more state-specific info.