~Helen Hunt Jackson~
The goldenrod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.

The gentians's bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook.

From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
And autumn's best of cheer.

This is delicious . . . a sweet, moist bread but with a little bit of a citrus tang. It bakes to a lovely golden yellow and disappears off the plate in no time.

Ingredients:
3 Cups all-purpose flour (or flour of your choice)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder (I used 1 1/2 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar (we added 1/4 cup more for extra sweetness)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (we used pumpkin pie spice)
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
1 cup vegetable oil (we used 1/2 cup vegetable oil + 1/2 cup applesauce)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
then add to dry ingredients, stirring until just moistened, mixture should be thick.
2 cups finely chopped or ground green tomatoes-about 2 medium
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Preparation
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of mixture.

Combine the eggs, oil, and vanilla; stir well. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Fold in the tomatoes and pecans.

Spoon the batter into 2 greased and floured 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pans.

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean.

Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire rack.

Recipe from Recipe Zaar.

One of our favorite "fruits" (we have always called it a "vegetable") around this time of year is Sweet Dumpling Squash which is a member of the Cucurbita family (cucurbits, Cucurbitaceae) commonly called the winter squash family which includes cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and gourds. They are generally four to five inches in diameter and around 1/2 to 1 pound. The thick, green rinds are streaked with white and/or yellow-orange. They are mostly water and contain Vitamin A and potassium, have no cholesterol, minimal fat, and good fiber.

They look like this:


Here's the difference between winter squash and summer squash.

The term "summer" and "winter" for squash are only based on current usage, not on actuality. "Summer" types are on the market all winter; and "winter" types are on the markets in the late summer and fall, as well as winter. Thus, the terms "summer" and "winter" are deceptive and confusing. This terminology was never meant to confuse— it just dates back to a time when the seasons were more crucial to man's survival than they are now. "Good keepers" became known as winter vegetables if they would "keep" until December. Info from What's Cooking America.


Here's a LARGE list of 150 varieties of squash "Squash Display" with photos of each from Missouri Botanical Garden.

Photo of Sweet Dumpling Squash used with permission and courtesy of Missouri Botanical PlantFinder of the Missouri Botanical Garden

This is a delicious side dish for an autumn meal that I have made:

Baked Sweet Dumpling Squash
Prepare baking dish with spray oil. Set oven at 400 degrees.
Wash and clean 2-3 squash. Cut in half, remove seeds. Place in baking dish with a little water. Dab with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Top with small, torn pieces of fresh sage. Place a piece of foil loosely over the top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until tender.

"There is something inexpressibly pleasing to a justified mind to know that God has all the honor in our salvation, and we have none; to know that God's honor is not violated, but on the contrary, shines more illustrious; to know that God's law is not injured, but magnified and made honorable, to know that we are safe, and God has all the glory." ~Robert Murray M'Cheyne ~ Justification

Bright and early this morning, my youngest, Orangeblossom, has to have a baby tooth pulled. She's never had anything like this done before. Not the most enjoyable thing to do, especially at this hour of the day. I just got her up so we can be ready to leave at 7:30am to drive clear across town in morning business traffic to be at her 8:15am appointment. It's a baby tooth that is partially stuck between two adult teeth and the adult tooth underneath isn't able to push it loose so it needs help. Hopefully, everything will go as our family dentist said and to remove the tooth shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. She's anxious, I am too. It will probably take longer to prepare her for it than to remove the tooth itself. We've prayed about it . . . I've told her it will be ok, and it will all be over soon.. .

Not so for other events that have occurred on this date. Even as the unpleasant event of having a tooth pulled interrupts our routine, my day starts out as it normally does in my little world, but it also started out normal that Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. I remember the attack on our nation and people five years ago. I remember where I was when my oldest daughter called me to come see the news. Although I did not know any one personally, I mourn for their loss and I will never forget. I still remember the silence in the sky of that day with no airplanes. I will always remember Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 . . . it's still not ok, and it will not be over soon . . . I continue to pray for my country, my government leaders, for those who survived, and for the all the military service personnel who are defending and protecting us this day . . . trusting in my Heavenly Father who sits upon the throne, ruling over all things for His purpose who will some day make it right.


September 11, 2001
"My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:20-23

We've been working towards having some meals and dishes made up ahead of time especially for Sundays so we don't have to prepare and cook as much. Some times we manage to do this, some times we don't but we are still working towards to making this a regualar thing. Daisy has been cooking for some time and made some make ahead breakfast dishes that help to get the day off to a good start.

Apple Lemon Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
10 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup milk
1 large Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups.
2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and milk. Mix the creamed ingredients into the flour mixture until evenly moist. Fold in the apples. Spoon into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Mix the 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the tops of the muffin batter.
4. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool 1 to 2 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.


Tasty Oven-Baked Pancake Casserole

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose baking mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup maple-flavored or pancake syrup
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1/4 cup OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits (she used Louis Rich Turkey Bacon)

Preparations:
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Mix baking mix, eggs, milk and syrup. Stir in half of the cheese.
POUR into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
BAKE 15 min. Top with bacon bits and remaining cheese. Bake an additional 5 min. or until pancake is cooked through and cheese is melted. Cut into 8 squares to serve.