Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Benefits of Concord Grapes


Box of Concord Grapes..smells divine!

It's Autumn..time for nesting, a little cooking, a little baking. As I look at all our blogs out there, it seems many feel the same about Fall. Colorful trees, bountiful harvests, warming our homes with all things good and simple. Last weekend I learned how to make grape pie, my husband's new fave!  Surprisingly, it wasn't hard, just labor intensive. Passing some grape vines started me looking into the health benefits of grapes and I learned:

Aren't they pretty?!

Concord grape juice helps keep arteries clear and flexible to help promote healthy circulation and lower blood pressure. No beverage has more antioxidant capacity per serving than grape juice made from Concord grapes. It supports a healthy immune system and fights the effects of aging on the mind and body, according to American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2006.
 Recipe ideas...
1/2 c grape juice/ 1/2 c soda water offers a refreshing energy boost to your morning...
made as a savory compote, its a delicious accompaniment to pork, chicken, or turkey dishes..Martha Stewart magazine featured one in the last issue.
Now here is my guilty pleasure recipe for Concord Grape Pie:
Next pie I'll have to make a more "Martha" crust  (they are pure artwork)...this was about learning the process of making concord grape pie.
Concord Grape Pie

5c concord grapes
1 1/4c sugar
1/4 flour
3/4 t lemon juice
11/2T butter
Pie crusts
Prep pie pans with bottom dough  preheat oven to 400 degrees
Measure sugar and flour into a medium bowl , set aside.
Peel skins and place grapes in pan . Save skins! Cook grapes over med low heat and mash slowly with potato masher to help remove the seeds. Cook pulp and seeds til a rolling boil. Remove from heat and put pulpy juice thru a strainer to remove the seeds. Place strained pulp back into pan and add skins and lemon juice. Bring to a boil stirring frequently. 
Remove from heat allow to cool a bit.  Pour flour sugar mixture over grape pulp stir. Pour into crust. Add crust top (be sure to slit crust for breathing as it bakes) or crumble top. Bake  40-50 minutes. Pie Freezes well. Make one now and treat family to a new pie for Thanksgiving! 

Notes: the pulp will look a bit greenish yellow until the skins are added back in. The skins add color and flavor.  The skins cook down and blend into the pulp.

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Notice the pulp color is a yellowish green. Once the grapes are mashed into a pulp, run the mix thru a strainer to remove the seeds.
                           



                                                    
Adding the skins back into the grape pulp is what gives it that beautiful, rich color.

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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Pillar and Post Spa ..Girls Day Out

The Pillar and Post Inn and Spa, girls day out!


My best friend  and I meet up once a year  to spend some time together, reminisce, laugh, and catch up on life now. For the past several years, we choose a Spa retreat. This year we chose The Pillar and Post Inn and Spa, in Ontario, Canada.

In the very late 1800s The Pillar and Post Inn was a canning factory. Regionally grown peaches and tomatoes were procepssed there. At the start of WWI , it housed and trained Polish soldiers to prepare for battle. Later the brick building was revived and renovated to become the start of the beauty that it is today. Stepping inside you see the warmth and old English style detailing, I must say, I became immersed in it's charm.






Exquisitely hand carved wooden piano.
Terra-cotta floors are a reminder of the historic presence within.

A spot for dining al fresco




This foyer separates the sitting area from the Inn's rooms and Spa area. It also leads to an outdoor patio and pool. Look at those beautiful terra cotta tiles on the floor. 

This amazing carved wood craftmanship is found throughout the Inn. Due to a glitch in our appointment scheduling, we decided to have lunch here in the Vintage Wine Bar and Lounge. The menu featured local wines, produce , and dairy. Our food was delicious and the atmosphere was so relaxing! Can I also say just how friendly the staff in the pub are!











There were a couple of beautiful spots that I thought would make a lovely spot for a wedding. As we sat catching up, a couple to be sat down to discuss their wedding plans right here. 
That garland is live roses and hydrandea.


Thats me in the glass door reflection. Time to head inside to begin our Spa experience at the 100 Fountain Spa.









Notice the glass panels behind the nail stations? Typical nail care rooms are designed in a sleek, black and chrome look. However this Spa has taken a different path in design and feels very relaxing, less sterile. There is water running down the glass..The  choice to use Earth tones, natural stone,and running water is a visually relaxing. 
The attention to detail is what we found set this Spa apart from others. Notice the towels, chairs and set ups awaiting the next guests. One advantage of the appointment mix up, which was handled very professionally and politely, is that we may caught a break in the day and I could take a few pictures without being intrusive. When we arrived early in the day, the Spa was packed with guests.


These happy toes are getting a moisturizing treatment with warm up booties. The staff was professional, knowledgeable , and quite welcoming and  I have a certain expectation in the customer service dept.! :), they did not disappoint! We enjoyed our visit to Canada, it was a great time for two friends celebrating 40 years of friendship.







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Thursday, July 11, 2013

Garden underplanting ......

Summer brings smiles to my face on a daily basis. Its the time my garden loves mr back. Living in US zone 5, means freezing  Autumn nights and below freezing Winter days. It affords beautiful blooms for some plants in Spring and it also means my tropicals must be brought in.

Training clematis  Nelly Moser to climb the Tulip tree. I love Clematis and use them to fill in roses, hang over the fence, climb the light post, rise up from bushes. They add a nice color and a playful surprise.


Lavender, intermix with Yarrow and Boxwood.


 One of the hardest working plants in the sun, Annabelle.










Before the spikes of lavender flowers grow on the Lambs ears and after the delicate white flurry of Sweet  woodruff blossoms, a Mandevilla pops with color.
I like to add small playful suprises. This inexpensive fountain cannot be seen from the sidewalk. It s tucked behind the hydrangeas and can only be seen by those sitting on the porch. 

Grandmas Irises have just finished blooming and rugoas continue. Robin has made her home in them.


I love a full garden, better for keeping the weeds down.


Clematis ( Multi Blue)  in bloom in between the budding Roses. Clematis are woody vines so as an underplanting, mint flourishes. Sedum is in front of the mint, each holding the other up.



Bee balm, Balloon flowers, tick seed, and an underplanting of violets, one of the first flowers to greet us in Spring.
Little garden house to store my pots and tools, and occasional bunnies wintering and nesting in the spring.I have much gardening to add here yet.

Lavender spilling onto the walkway to to greet visitors with scent.


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