Deborah's Delectable Fresh Peach Salsa

As you know, we love having our friends come visit at Lowfields.  I am particularly spoiled when Deborah and Robert come to visit, as Deborah does all the work in the kitchen and Robert helps out with many special projects!   I could list many of the delicious dishes she has made, but during this past visit, I couldn't get over her fresh peach salsa. I begged her for the recipe to share it with the blogosphere and she graciously gave it to me.  Be warned... this salsa is HIGHLY addictive!  


Deborah's Delectable Fresh Peach Salsa
1 bunch of cilantro
6 ripe peaches* - peeled & cubed
2 bunches of green onion
2 ripe avocados - diced
Juice of 1 lime or lemon
1/4-1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup sugar


Whisk together canola oil and sugar.  Add remaining ingredients.  Allow to sit at least 2 hours before eating (if you can wait that long!!).  


*You can easily substitute mangos for peaches when they are in season!

Deborah - a dear friend and a favorite guest chef at Lowfields!

Deborah's Delectable Fresh Peach Salsa
Who wouldn't want this for a lovely snack? 

A New Resident

When Kelli and Eliza were visiting a few weeks ago, we kept noticing Rolando gathering bags of Dogwood berries. We asked him the reason but we had trouble understanding at first.   Now all is clear.  This is his homing pigeon (yet to be named) and he is building a Pigeonnier for it to live in!    We will be sending out the welcome wagon shortly but it's certainly nice to have a new resident at Lowfields.   

Lowfields' very own homing pigeon

Bridget's Way

One of my favorite walks on the property brings you to this broken gravestone erected by a stonecutter building the nearby canal.   This was for his 4-year old daughter who died in 1838 and was given a very ornamental headstone as befits his calling.  When I found this on the property, I immediately named the path in her honor... it is now called Bridget's Way.   

Autumn at Lowfields

There are no words to describe how beautiful Lowfields is during the Fall, so instead, here is a peak at what I have the pleasure of looking at every day during this time of year.  

My view from the Hall

Who doesn't love a pumpkin and squash this time of year? 

Boots & Leaves

Bremo Creek
Photo credit: our friend Regina - a fabulous photographer

Another amazing photo by Regina

The ladies amidst the autumn vista

Saturday Night Supper

We were fortunate to share our Saturday Night Supper with friends who were visiting, so it was on my agenda to make it an easy night's meal so we could enjoy the company and not spend all of our time in the kitchen.  What's easier than throwing together tomato pies and popping them in the oven?    I served it with a mixed green salad and loaf of warm french bread along with some lovely wine.   

Tomato Pie

1 pre-made pie shell  (or you could make your own, but my goal for this was easy!)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your liking)

1/2 cup scallions

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 ripe tomatoes

Bake pie shell at 350 degrees until browned.   Mix all ingredients except for tomatoes and pour into shell.  Parboil & peel tomatoes then slice.  Place on top of mixture and warm for 30 minutes in oven.  

Finished product!  

Sometimes Ugly is Delicious

Eating food that is beautiful always makes me feel good.  However, in some cases, eating something that is ugly is just as gratifying.   Just because it doesn't look perfect, doesn't mean it isn't scrumptious.  Cue the ugly cupcake.    

I was in the mood for a chocolate cupcake and I wanted to experiment with the applesauce I made earlier this fall by adding it instead of the water and oil that the recipe called for.  I used a typical chocolate cake mix  and a tub of frosting - sometimes you don't need to do things from scratch!    With the applesauce, the cupcakes turned out a bit wonky but I found they were the most moist and delicious ones I have ever had!  

They may be ugly but they are delicious! 

A portrait of an ugly cupcake

Even Clara  Belle wanted a taste!  

Friday lunch with friends

We have friends visiting this week at Lowfields and enjoyed a lovely lunch when they arrived!  I used all things from the pantry and garden which made it easy on me and delicious for them.  


A Friendly Sandwich
Prairie Bread
Mayonnaise
Sprouts
German Johnson Tomatoes
Avocado

Deborah helping out in the kitchen! 

A delicious sandwich to have with friends

Saturday Night Supper

Since Fall has arrived, it's time to break out the slow cooker and start using it!   It's actually perfect for me at the farm because it's super easy to throw together in the early morning, let it cook all day and then it's done for us at supper time after our long day outside.  All the work is done for you!  


I decided to celebrate Fall by doing a Guiness Pot Roast.   I have seen lots of different recipes for pot roast in the slow cooker but have perfected my very own over the years.   


Guinness Pot Roast
1 can Guinness Stout
Several ribs of celery, roughly chopped into large pieces
3-4 large carrots, chopped into large pieces
2 yellow onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 leek, cleaned thoroughly & sliced
15-20 brussel sprouts, trimmed
2 TBSP flour
1 Chuck Roast (preferably Lowfields Beef where available!)


Salt & pepper the roast and brown the roast on all sides in a skillet. Sprinkle roast with flour.  Put all ingredients in slow cooker and pour the Guinness over everything.   Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.  

All the veggies before they meet the slow cooker!

Beautiful Lowfields Roast getting browned in skillet

A lovely Fall Saturday Night Supper! 

We can't forget about the chickens... I keep a bowl in the kitchen and they get all the scraps of what we don't use for their very own delicious Saturday Night Supper.   

The Chickens' Saturday Night Supper

Lovely Flowers for a Lovely Wedding

This past weekend I did the flowers for a very good friend of mine's son's wedding.  Donna is my partner in crime on a lot of the crazy projects I come up with, so it was especially fun to collaborate with her on the flowers for this very special day for her son and his bride!    Congratulations Ariel & Allison!

Below is just a peak at what we came up with... 

We used vintage coolers for the bigger arrangements...

And also some baskets...  

And my favorite - tiny bouquets in vintage hotel silver sugar bowls

Donna & I in the midst of wedding flower mayhem!  

Saturday Night Supper... on Sunday

This week's Saturday Night Supper was moved to Sunday due to a lovely wedding we attended on Saturday.

I LOVE risotto but much like others, feel it can be somewhat intimidating. I came up with a risotto recipe that tastes like the REAL creamy risotto we had in Italy, but without all the work & hassle of constantly watching/stirring/adding broth. It only takes 5 steps which was perfect for an easy SUNDAY night supper.

Mushroom & Asparagus Faux Risotto
1. Cook Basmati rice as instructed except use chicken stock instead of water. If you can, use homemade chicken stock. Mine already had a lot of herbs & chunks of chicken in it which definitely add to the depth of flavor.
2. Saute some mushrooms (any kind!) in butter and some sherry in a separate pan.
3. Steam asparagus and cut into bite-size pieces. (ours were leftover from a previous meal)
4. Once rice is cooked, add cooked mushrooms and asparagus along with 1/3 cup of milk and simmer on low.
5. Add pinch of salt and a grate of nutmeg before serving.

Faux risotto on the stove - mushrooms still left to add! 

Our SUNDAY Night Supper - delish!