Farm to table dinners are all the rage right now on the Central Coast and I’m thinking of hosting one at my house soon! Andy I were talking about a Friends-Thanksgiving the week or so before Thanksgiving day, like the one we went to at our friend Erin’s house in Chicago. The theme here though will still be a potluck but your dish must include “something” from a local farm. This something can be the eggs you use to bake your dessert with, the cheese on the charcuterie board you assemble or the pumpkins you make your bread with. You get the idea! But please, no animals, cause they don’t really want you to eat them silly!
The idea came to me when we were on an impromptu afternoon jaunt through Avila Beach. We stopped at the Avila Valley Barn to pick up some large pumpkins for carving and baking, and to visit and feed the animals. The Barn is known for their ice creams, scones, produce and yummy jams, and the rows of sunflowers lining the property right now! Check out the little goats, llamas and cows too… I mean, how could you eat them… they’re so cute!!
Check out the selection of squash!
I was amazed to see the different varieties of squash they had grown, especially this Blue Ballet squash that I had never even heard of before… so naturally, I had to buy it! I’m not sure what I’ll make yet, maybe a side dish for our dinner, but knowing me, most likely a dessert just to see the faces on people. Slipping veggies into baked goodies.. what a bad/good Yummy Yogini! We also picked up some Olallieberry fruit spread, and I think the Barn may be the only ones selling this amazing product so order/pick-up some! Oh! And if you’ve never heard of said berry, it’s a cross between the loganberry and the youngberry, each of which is itself a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. Berry-licious!
The Blue Ballet Squash.
The pumpkins we got were huge and I’m planning on using one for the pumpkin pie I have yet to make this season. I have however, made a plethora of squash this season in the form of muffins, meals, cookies, etc, etc, so check out my recipes page and print them out! I’m waiting on Andy to get home from work so we can enjoy the rest of day- NOT watching football- and enjoying the 75 degree day we’re having here, in the form of wine tasting, maybe a picnic lunch and a soak at the Sycamore Hot Springs later tonight. It’s Sunday-Funday, you can’t expect any less from us! But before we jaunt, we’ll feast on this yummy bread recipe I created this morning! It’s sugar-free, oil-free and butter-free! But I added chocolate chips…because why not?!
Oh! By the way, I like to use really ripe bananas for all my baking. They should be very brown. But not to worry, if you can’t find any, here’s an easy trick for ripening them yourself! Just toss the bananas on a baking sheet and place them in the oven, skin on, for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees until they start to bubble and blacken. When they are cool enough to handle, add them to this recipe below!
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Pumpkin Banana Bread- makes a large bread loaf or two miniature loafs
Ingredients:
-2 ripe bananas
-1/2 cup pumpkin puree (I used Trader Joe’s Organic brand)
-1/2 cup of Niccola’s applesauce
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 and 1/2 cup flour (I used whole wheat but you can use almond or gluten-free)
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp each baking soda and baking powder
-1/2 tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice
-1/4 cup raw honey
-1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used Trader Joe’s semi-sweet)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. In a large bowl mix the wet ingredients (eggs, honey, applesauce, pumpkin and vanilla) together.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, soda, powder and spices) together.
4. Add the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing well.
5. Add in the mashed banana and mix again.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!
The dogs lick the bowl!
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And no, I didn’t forget to share with you our “comics/funnies” costume for the Halloween party we went to last night! Meet Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead!
Check out that sandwich!