September Reset
I wonder if September will ever not feel like a reset month? It’s been years since I packed a kid off with a fresh haircut and new backpack to start a new school year… but it still feels like a time of fresh starts.
And this September felt extra charged.
Kitchen Magic
Roasted Tomato Soup
The best roasted tomato soup. Recipe here: Garden Tomato SoupGarbanzo Beans
I don’t know how I made it 50 years without ever cooking dried beans, considering my fiber obsession. Last week, we stopped at an Indian market in town, and I grabbed a 4 lb bag of dried beans for cheap. I figured it was time.
I Googled how to rehydrate beans in the Instant Pot (1 lb beans + 8 cups water, 45 minutes on high pressure). I think I slightly overcooked them, but since I was just using them to thicken my tomato soup, it was fine - and honestly way more emotionally satisfying (and cheaper) than canned beans.Broccoli & Chicken Mac & Cheese
This was the easiest dinner. I used the recipe below, left it unheated, portioned it into silicone molds, froze it, then stored the portions in ziplocks. They’re headed to UB Family Weekend for Brae’s freezer stash.Fire Cider
A few times a year, I invite my witchy-leaning friends over to make Fire Cider, an immune- and gut-boosting tonic from herbalism icon Rosemary Gladstar.Recipe:
1 quart mason jar
½ lemon, sliced
½ orange, sliced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
½ onion, sliced
1” turmeric root, sliced
½ cup shredded horseradish
¼ cup minced ginger
Herbs of choice (basil, rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, cinnamon)
Apple cider vinegar
Fill the jar with fruits, roots, and herbs. Cover with apple cider vinegar. Store in a dark cupboard for 4 weeks, shaking daily. Strain, sweeten with honey if desired, then take a 1 oz daily shot. I suggest chasing it with walnuts or cashews - it puts hair on your chest, but it’s both healthy and character-building.
Sheet Pan Parmesan Chicken & Potatoes
Rob found this recipe and asked to make it. It was phenomenal - easy and delicious. It’s now on our monthly rotation.Fermented Beets with Oranges & Ginger
Instagram ads got me again. This time, with a fermentation kit (pickle pebbles + pickle pipe… and yes, I’ve been obnoxiously working those words into every conversation for weeks).My first try: garden beets with oranges and ginger. Crunchy and tangy, perfect for salads. Next round, I’ll cook the beets slightly for a softer texture. Recipe from Mason Tops here.
Lemon Butter Pasta
Adapted from a NYT recipe. Quick, easy, and a keeper.Cook pasta al dente.
Brown a stick of butter.Add 1 cup sliced almonds + red pepper flakes, toast briefly.
Add 1 cup pasta water. Zest and juice ½ lemon, add to pan with S&P.
Toss pasta + a bag of spinach in the sauce until spinach wilts.
Serve with parmesan.
Sprouts
While I was buying my fermentation kit, I also grabbed a sprouting kit (free shipping = justified). We’ve been making so many sprouts - Rob loves them. Our co-op sells sprout seeds, but I’ve also been sprouting lentils. Whatever we don’t finish goes to the chickens, who think it’s the best treat ever.Kit link: Mason Tops Sprouting Lids
Travel Magic
Opus 40 & Woodstock
A perfect Catskills day trip from Albany: 6 acres of stone sculpture at Opus 40, followed by lunch and wandering around Woodstock.North Adams
Jackson and I packed a full afternoon before the Lake Street Dive show at MASS MoCA: hiking, shopping, eating, and museuming. Glorious.Broadway Series
We grabbed discounted seats to the Broadway Series at our local theater. The season kicked off with Neil Diamond’s jukebox musical A Beautiful Noise. Coming up: Spamalot, & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and The Outsiders.Washington County Bounty Tour
Local farms opened their doors for a “Farm Crawl.” We sampled cheese, brisket, garlic, toured a vineyard, and picked up tips on growing garlic. A gold-star day. Put it on your calendar for next year.
Miscellaneous Magic
On the Equinox, I hosted a Make & Create Party with girlfriends—we made Fire Cider, laundry detergent powder, and decorated Trader Joe’s cinnamon brooms.
Maddie is in full production mode for her craft fair booth. I’ve been on pickle duty, cranking them out while watching Mare of Easttown (late to it, but excellent).
We canceled Disney+ (and Hulu with it) to boycott their FCC kowtowing, so we’re digging deeper into our other streaming options.
So that was September: beans, beets, Broadway, and a little bit of witchy kitchen magic. If October wants to top that, it’s going to have to work pretty hard.
So tell me… what was your favorite make/do/visit in September?