queens county farm and butterflies...

a friend of ours mentioned this historical farm about 30 minutes away from the city.  we checked it out a few weekends ago and found some farm animals, pony rides, old tractors, and pumpkins. these pumpkins weren't exactly the best-in-show like the perfectly round bright orange ones you'd find in the hudson valley or something but they made the perfect little seats.

and, on our way home, i spotted a monarch butterfly weaving in and out of traffic on the bruckner boulevard.  perhaps following us home from the farm to brooklyn.  

apparently, their migration to central Mexico takes them through our lovely city!  

  

gourmet, october 2007...

i don't keep all cooking magazines.  there are far too many and just not enough space.  ho-hum.  i try hard to keep it down to these three red magazine holders that i bought awhile back.  the other night i was looking for some new apple recipes and came upon an issue of  Gourmet, October 2007.  Score.  With the weekend, came the cooler weather and some time in the kitchen where I've decided that I am at my happiest (with jackson standing on his chair right beside me...can't get any better, i tell you). 

last night, i made bratwurst with creamy apple compote with two pippin apples that i took from our loot.  easy, quick and really good.  tonight, we made the steak "diane".  both recipes are in the october 2007 gourmet issue but can be found here and here.  the sweet treat was an apple cake with maple syrup cream-cheese frosting.  also made with pippins that may or may not have been a little bruised from a toss or two. 


we spent the chilly fall day at the queen's county farm museum (i'll post some pics tomorrow) and ended the day filled to the brim with delicious meals that have me dreaming of next weekend.