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Have A New England Fall

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen

Here in New England, it’s the most wonderful season of all – Fall! While I love all the four seasons and the charm of each, fall is the best reason of all to live in a New England state! No matter where you live, there are some great things to help you have a true-blue, wonderful New England Autumn!

There is so much beauty in Autumn, and none so beautiful as in New England. Connecticut as a whole really does “fall” like nowhere else – plenty of natural beauty abounds. Fall 2024 has been one of the most beautiful seasons that I can remember!

We’ve had cool evenings and crisp mornings, perfect for a cozy sweatshirt or snuggly sweater. Afternoons, when the sun shines, are perfect for walking – no jacket needed.

Warm breezes catch the trees as changing leaves fall.

While New England sunsets and skies are always pretty amazing, this year did not disappoint. We were recently treated to a light show in the sky, as conditions were recently perfect for viewing the Northern lights!

I have always wanted to see them, and always seem to miss them, on the few occasions they have been visible. I even missed them when I traveled to Scandinavia. When we could see them the other evening, I was so excited I was like a little kid! Such beauty!

There are other things I love about fall, too. The warm, comforting foods, more downtime with a break from heavy gardening, a change in wardrobe – both in coziness and rich fall colors, and the cozy decor of this time of year, indoors and out.

No matter where you are, there are certain things that help make a New England fall! Here are a few of my favorites!

As the temperatures change, so do our gardens, as annuals and perennials fade into winter. Fall outdoor decor would not be the same without annual mums, cabbages, and other beautiful plantings, all in deep and fiery colors, along with pumpkins, of course!

Fresh pumpkins are a New England decorating staple! Since our fall temperatures can range from warm to cool, I always make sure to use pumpkins that have no blemishes, which can cause rotting. Nothing goes to waste! For the large carving pumpkins, once we carve them into Jack-O-Lanterns for Halloween night, we roast the seeds for snacking. The rest of the pumpkin shell later goes to the chickens, as do the other pumpkins once the holidays arrive and decor is changed for the winter. Many local farms take leftover and cut pumpkins to feed their animals, such as llamas, goats and other farm animals. As long as pumpkins have no blemishes, they should last through Halloween, without using a bleach wash – a practice that makes pumpkins inedible for any animals that might feed on them after the season has passed.

Inside, I love my pumpkins, as well! I put out pumpkin decor at the beginning of September and leave it through Thanksgiving, when it is then time to decorate for Christmas!

New Englanders love their soups and stews! I love to cook (as most farmgirls do), and my choice of cookware has always been cast iron and enameled cast iron. If taken care of properly, both last forever! I have always wanted one of the lidded pumpkin-shaped enameled cast iron saucepans or dutch ovens, but they’re always out of my price range. For my anniversary this year, my dear husband surprised me this year with this beautiful enameled cast iron sauce pan he found on Amazon . Large enough for a side dish or soup for two, it’s so beautiful, and looks festive on my stove even when not in use. Heavy cast iron, with glossy paint in several colors to choose from, at a price point of $49 to $69 (and free Prime shipping), it’s a steal!

If you have never been to an At Home store, your mind will be blown when you do go. Think of it as a big warehouse store for all things home-related. My friend, Susan, and I go once or twice a year- it’s fun just to walk around and see what’s new in garden, kitchen, and holiday items. While most of my “holiday” tableware is more than thirty years old, I can’t wait to spice up my table for Thanksgiving, with this gorgeous set of cloth napkins!

Halloween in Connecticut is just like it’s portrayed in Hallmark movies, or my favorite Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus. Binx, the black cat, is my favorite character. (Of course, I love all cats, especially my two sweet rescues)!

I also love nail polish – especially this time of year when I crave darker, sparkly and rich shades. So, what do nail polish and rescue cats have in common? Mooncat!

My daughter found Mooncat nail polish online, and we are totally hooked! Vegan, woman-owned, and totally cruelty-free, the company also aids rescue cats! I love a company that gives back!

Described as “wearable art”, the nail polish colors are amazing and different! I love “Dark Horse” for fall, a sparkly, rich and coppery chocolate shade. The website has all sorts of shades, and different formulations including thermal and magnetic! I love that I can get quick, gorgeously-colored nails at home. Even one coat covers beautifully, if you are short on time, and the quick drying time is unlike anything we’ve ever used. Even my dark polish dries lightning-fast and shiny! I also love that their website shows each color on different length nails from short to long, on different skin tones, in different lighting, with glamorous colors from light to dark…all beautiful!

While we are talking about our nails, my hands and nails get very dry once the less humid fall weather arrives, but this year I am not having that issue, thanks to my new favorite hand cream! Help keep your hands soft in cooler weather with “Hello Kitty”! Yes, that “Hello Kitty”! My daughter also introduced me to skincare products from The Creme Shop brand. Made in Korea, the products are great for young to mature skin (I’m 52, and so far have loved everything I’ve tried, from the masks to their creams), but our favorite is their tubes of hand cream, especially the limited-edition tubes for the fall season, with delicious fall-themed scents.

*My daughter and I picked up several of the limited-edition tubes. They make great little gifts for friends, as well!*

Cruelty-free, paraben-free, made with shea butter, the hand cream is wonderful without being greasy. I leave a tube on the sink vanity, and the tubes are also a good size for carrying in your purse or car, and make great little “I-thought-about-you-gifts”. Featuring characters such as Hello Kitty on the front of the tube, they make my Generation X heart so happy!

We first found the hand cream on a visit to the largest Anime store in the United States, Arisu Anime, located in the wonderful collection of unique shops, Olde Mystic Village, in Mystic, Connecticut, (a must-visit, New England destination)! If you’re not in Connecticut, you can also find the hand cream at Ulta stores or online at thecremeshop.com.

New Englanders love their outdoors! There’s nothing better than sitting around a firepit or campfire on a crisp fall day, roasting marshmallows, or for our family, making ”snorbrod”, hot dogs roasted over a fire with bread dough, a Danish tradition. I got tired of spending money on disposable, flimsy roasting sticks!

We love Zulay kitchen’s marshmallow roasting sticks! Color-coded on the ends, the telescoping sticks have a double-forked end, and are strong enough to roast more than just marshmallows, as we have loved using them for our snorbrod.

Once outdoor-cooking is over, they store neatly in their own drawstring pouch. Zulay kitchen products are found on Amazon, or at the Zulay Kitchen website.

Once fall comes, there are also wonderful outdoor festivals all over New England. We recently went to the Connecticut Garlic Festival, in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

We saw the “Garlic King”, ate delectable garlic-steak-tips-and-mashed-potato sundaes, and walked through booths with all sorts of fun, small businesses from the area. For dessert, we tried garlic ice cream (surprisingly tasty)!

Our most favorite fall festival is the Connecticut Renaissance Festival! Held in the fall through October (it ends October 20th this year), it is a classic, fun Renaissance Fair! I love the turkey dinner sundaes and roasted turkey legs, the fun of seeing everyone dressed up and “larping”, and the wonderful vendors with unique items. It’s a great family day!

This year, my favorite vendor was Auntie Arwen’s Spices and Teas, another woman-owned, small business located in Jewett City, (Griswold) Connecticut. There were so many spices and teas in the booth, it was so exciting!

There is nothing better than a good cup of tea on a crisp fall morning! Auntie Arwen’s vanilla tea is hands-down the best tea we’ve ever tasted! I also love the lavender tea, (so fragrant and delicious). We also picked up her “Asthma and Bronchitis Relief Tisane”, since colds tend to start showing up this time of year.

With both cool and warm days, I love a good spice blend or rub to put on meat or veggies, for either in the oven or on the grill. I couldn’t pass up Auntie Arwen’s “Translvanian Lovebite”, a spice blend with a savory, bbq flavor. I love it, (and the cute little vampire on the front of the jar)! It’s absolutely delicious sprinkled on chicken for a quick meal! What I also love is their commitment to the environment! Refills are available for their spice jars, for example.

Auntie Arwen’s Spices and Teas website is so much fun to browse! With all sorts of spices from around the world, sugars, books, fabric dyes and more, it’s a magical website, with something for everyone! As a special gift, Auntie Arwen has made 50 online coupons available for this month’s blog readers! Use the Coupon code “Farmgirl” when you check out, and receive 10% off your order! Thank you, Auntie Arwen!

The leaves are turning colors and falling, the light is changing and fall is off to a great start. As a whole, the keys to a true New England Autumn are deep, rich colors, coziness, warm and comforting food and drink, and fun, festive celebrations – centered around friends and family! Have a Happy Halloween, dear readers, and here’s wishing you all a Fabulous Fall! Remember to leave me a comment so I know that you have stopped by!

The Last of the Tomatoes

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen

I’ve always loved summer, and feel a bit sorry to see it go, no matter how awesome Autumn is in New England. Trips to the beach, summer concerts, fun day trips, and gardening are some of the activities I’ll miss once the fall season arrives. The summer is winding down, and so are the season’s tomato plants! Not a tomato goes to waste in my house, as I make some great recipes, as well as preserve my bounty! Tie on your favorite apron and let’s get picking!

Have you ever noticed that tomatoes in the grocery store never taste as juicy and delicious as fresh ones picked right from your garden or a farmers’ market? That’s because even if the tomatoes in the grocery store are organic, they are “forced ripened” with ethylene gas, as opposed to ripening on their own. Nothing is better than a fresh tomato right from a plant, warm from the sun!

It’s not always that easy to grow tomatoes in Connecticut. Our summers here lately have tended to be very wet, hot and humid. Just this past month, my area had a Sunday where 14 inches of rain fell! Called a “1000 year storm”, that kind of rain, of course, isn’t typical, but our planting zone does get plagued every year with a variety of fungal diseases, many of which thrive in damp weather. Tomatoes tend to be the garden plant susceptible to the most diseases (some of which overwinter), which is why you never want to put tomatoes or spent tomato plants in your compost pile, to keep from infecting next year’s crop.

Still, despite the rain, I had a bumper crop this year, and there’s a few more to harvest. When summer tomato plants start to fade, you can extend their growing time by lopping the tops off the plants in September to increase the energy into the fruit.

It’s also best to pick tomatoes this time of year before they have ripened completely. This helps prevent the tomatoes from splitting on the vine from late sun followed by cool rain this time of year. They will ripen and turn red from the inside out in the kitchen.

Because of my planting zone, I planted my tomatoes indoors from seed this past winter, planting different varieties, including heirloom types. My favorites this year were Burbank Slicing and Cherokee Purple.

I planted roma tomatoes, as well. Roma are the best for canning, as they have less juice, but any variety can be used for canning.

Despite the wet and humid summer we’ve had, I have had a bumper crop! We’ve been eating fresh tomatoes in salads and on sandwiches for weeks now! They are so scrumptious! I also have been preserving my lot of tomatoes, canning several batches so far.

In the past, home-canned tomatoes may have been processed using the water-bath method, but modern wisdom (and the USDA) have found that it isn’t the safest thing to do, as tomatoes are a low-acid food, and should be only canned in a pressure canner.

Green tomatoes are higher in acid than red; as the tomato ripens, the fruit is not as acidic. Using a pressure canner is a must – it’s quicker and safer. I love my American Standard Canner. Despite looking (and weighing) like a small space capsule, it is acutally so simple and easy to use, and meant to last a lifetime.

To can tomatoes, wash your fruit (don’t use anything that is overly ripe or from a diseased or frost-killed plant), cut the tops, core the tomato, and score the bottoms.

Next, drop the tomatoes in boiling water on your stove for about a minute to blanch.

Place the boiled tomatoes in a bath of ice water for about 30 seconds, and voila! The skins just come right off. So easy!

I cut my tomatoes in chunks, then I bring them all to a rolling boil, stirring often, for five minutes, before ladling into hot, prepared canning jars.

Add 2 TBSP of bottled lemon juice in each jar before adding the tomatoes (use bottled, as then the acid will be the right strength; fresh lemons vary in acid content depending on age, size and variety). You can also use a ½ tsp of citric acid in place of the bottled lemon juice. I also add 2 tsp of salt to each jar. Keep in mind this is for flavor, not for acid content.

Remember to leave one inch of headspace before wiping each jar top with vinegar, placing the lid, and processing in your canner.

Home-canned tomatoes have a flavor and color not found in store bought, and there is no BPA!

For the rest of the tomatoes we’ve had this season, in addition to eating them on salads and sandwiches, I have been making homemade pico de gallo. Commercially-made salsas from the store always taste like watery ketchup to me! Once you see how easy and quick it is to make, you’ll never want to buy conventional store-bought again!

Best-ever Suburban Farmgirl Pico De Gallo

For every two cups of chopped tomatoes, add one half, large, finely-chopped red onion, 1 small bunch of cilantro, snipped (about ¼ cup), 2 TBSP of lime juice, ¼ tsp of garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.

This summer, I have a lot of hot peppers still growing, so I like to add one small, chopped hot pepper for a bit of kick, but you can omit this completely if you don’t like any heat.

For Labor Day, our family attended our town’s Labor Day parade, then enjoyed roasted Danish hot dogs in bread dough over the fire pit, with chips and homemade Pico De Gallo.

Homemade pico de gallo only takes minutes to make, and is addictive! It will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a day or so (if you can stop eating it)!

Soon, when the last of the tomato plants are finally done, I will put the garden “to bed”, waiting for mid-winter, when I can start my seeds indoors again!

Let’s talk tomatoes! What are your favorite varieties? What recipes do you like to use fresh tomatoes in? Share with me in comments below, or just say “hello”!

Surviving A New England Suburban Winter

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen

BRRRRRR….!

Greetings, Farmgirl friends! I hope this blog post finds you all doing well! In my part of the country, the first months of the year are the most difficult part of the winter season. It’s dark, it’s cold, and this year, it’s been R-A-I-N-Y and S-N-O-W-Y! It also seems like everyone we know has had a cold or cough at some point, and the days are long. If anyone knows how to get through endless dreary winter days, it’s all of us in New England!

*It was in the negative digits the day this photo was taken. The sun on the snow was so beautiful.*

While we haven’t gotten endless days of snow (just a bunch at once) or the horrible, below-zero temps we had a year ago at this time, the entire year has been so wet and this past month it has been so dark out much of the day!

With being inside so much, and with so many viruses and respiratory infections that plague this time of year, it’s important to do as much as we can to stay healthy. Eating superfoods is important. One of my favorite superfoods are organic blueberries, chock full of antioxidants. We throw them on cereal and oatmeal, eat them as a snack, throw them in green salads (delicious with a balsamic vinaigrette), and bake them into quick breads and muffins. I eat them all year round, but I especially love it when summer comes and the blueberry bushes I planted in the front of my house many moons ago grace us with a bounty of berries! Until then, I have to buy them at the grocery store.

Since groceries these days are so expensive, (especially fresh produce), I don’t want to waste anything! For berries, I keep them fresher longer by using this trick when storing them. I wash them, letting them drain in a colander. I then transfer them to a glass bowl with a tight-fitting plastic lid (I love the modern Pyrex for this). Before I close the lid, I take a quarter or half sheet of paper towel, and place it on top. I then seal the berries, but turn them upside down in the refrigerator before storing. The paper towel absorbs excess moisture, keeping the berries from molding or going bad too quickly. I replace the towel every other day or so, when it becomes damp.

Staying hydrated this time of year is also so important, but many of us forget to drink much in winter because we don’t always feel as thirsty as in warmer months. Indoor air is dry and warm. Still, I get tired of water, even with lemon, and while they don’t have sugar, I try to limit seltzers because too much carbonation isn’t good for us, either.

Decaffeinated and herbal teas are a good choice. One of my favorite thirst-quenchers is iced tea! Teas, especially black and green, are a great source of antioxidents. Lately, I’ve also been enjoying herbal Hibiscus tea. Hibiscus tea can be enjoyed hot, but it is especially refreshing served cold! Hibiscus tea hosts a tremendous amount of antioxidants, as well as is reported to host other benefits. Some studies show it may also lower blood pressure (so I drink it sparingly, and it should not be consumed by those on blood pressure medicine). It’s also thought that it may possibly help improve blood fat levels, may improve liver health, help prevent cancer, decrease the growth of bacteria that cause various infections such as UTI’s, and ward off bronchial infections and stomach infections. I love it because it has such a delicious zing, without caffeine. To make any of my iced teas, I pour boiling water over two tea bags in a pitcher, allowing them to steep until the color is nice and deep, adding cold water to top off before storing in the fridge. In addition to decaf black tea and hibiscus tea, I also enjoy making pomegranate iced tea, and other similar herbal flavors such as blueberry (just make sure that the tea is organic, using only natural and not artificial ingredients).

On freezing cold days off, we often love to hurkle-durkle in winter! The term hurkle-durkle (my new favorite word) refers to lounging in bed long after it is really time to get up, a 200-year-old Scottish phrase. Winter is the only time here that we really watch much television. On days off, we will turn off the news, catch up on our reading (or my knitting), perhaps while streaming an episode or two of a good show. We hurkle-durkle while we drink our morning coffee! Two of my favorite series that we have recently binge-watched are Masterpiece Theater’s Poldark series, running from 2015 to 2019 (beyond fabulous),and Only Murders in the Building, currently streaming on Hulu and starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. I’ve really enjoyed this series; it’s something “different”, and the “surprise” guests that show up in season 3 also make it a fun watch. Although, I have never been one to lounge around too long, so after a second cup of joe or so, I have GOT to get up! It’s hard to get going on a cold, wet day when you have warm, snuggling pets with you!

*My littlest dog is a “Hurkle Durkle Master”!*

Eating out has gotten quite pricey, and many restaurants have unfortunately closed in our area. Also, it gets dark here early in the winter, and then temperatures drop. I’d rather stay home and be cozy! A dear friend and I have been making dinners for each other, instead of going out. We take turns going to one another’s home in the early evening. We dine, catch up, and end the evening by 8:30 or so. Recently, she made me the most delicious Italian dinner, served on her beautiful antique china.

When it was my turn, I made a complete Danish dinner of meatballs in curry sauce, and for dessert, aebleskiver, served with homemade strawberry jam from strawberries picked fresh last summer. Simple, inexpensive meals are not complicated to make, and having dinner made for you, while spending time with a dear friend is such a winter pick-me-up.

During the winter, my family also tries to strive for hygge, the Danish term that means coziness, comfort…happiness. Sharing a platter of aebleskiver together, the wood burning stove burning warm with our dogs by our sides, is a treat on a cold day. While there are many variations for aebleskiver, my favorite recipe is a classic, very old Danish recipe that uses just a few simple pantry ingredients always on hand.

*I made this plate of aebleskiver to munch while our family caught the coronation of the new King of Denmark this winter.*

Classic Danish Aebleskiver

1 cup flour,
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk (I use oat milk due to a family member’s allergy).

Whip egg whites until frothy with peaks. Sift dry ingredients together. Add the milk and egg yolks to the dry ingredients, mix until smooth. Fold in the egg whites. Add oil to each well of an æbleskiver pan. Add dough halfway to each well. Flip, using a fork or skewer when they start to bubble. Dust with powder sugar (or vanilla sugar if you have it).

*I love my well-seasoned, cast iron aebleskiver pan; nowadays aebleskiver pans are widely available at many stores and online, at a variety of prices. You can now even find them on Amazon. *

We have jumped at being outside a bit on days where we’ve had dry weather and sunshine, taking walks. Getting outside, anytime of the year, in the sunshine and fresh air is so important for good health, body and soul (something farmgirls all know very well). We even recently had an afternoon here that reached 53 degrees!

One “warm” afternoon, we were even able to walk on the beach. The water was so still, there were no waves at all. Though in the 40’s, the wind was still cold, reminding us that winter still has a hold. Yet, being by the sea was so good for the soul!

*This sea gull decided to walk along with us a bit.*

However, by mid-week, we had the largest blizzard seen in the area in several years! There will be no “porch sitting” for a while!

*We had to keep shoveling snow so our little dog could go out. Our big dogs are not as thrilled by the snow, and there will be no barbeque on the grill for a bit!*

*Scarlett says, “Oh great. THIS cold, wet stuff again. I am going INSIDE!”*

*My girls and Roo enjoyed a hot treat for breakfast, then retreated to their cozy coop for the rest of the day.*

Schools and businesses are closed. When that happens, however, everything is back to “normal” by the very next day. Winter teaches us to “go with the flow”, to handle change, and to be prepared.

My Viking husband, sans gloves and hat, starts the morning shoveling a path for our beloved pups.

*Even though it is winter, spraying with deer repellent occasionally will deter the deer and other critters from munching buds so there are flowers in the spring.*

While shoveling snow is a workout, winter gives us a chance to slow down a bit before the busy seasons, spring through fall, arrive again. Before the snow hit, there were little signs that winter would eventually end…the rhododendrons have little buds at the tips, snowdrops have bloomed beneath the snow and ice…little signs of brighter days ahead!

I hope your days are bright and your winter is going well! Remember to leave me a comment so I know you dropped by!

Until Next Time…

Farmgirl Hugs,

Nicole