greenheart

U pick, I eat...

Lila and I followed some signs to a U-pick strawberry patch not too far from our house {read: we'll be doing this a lot for the next several weeks}  Decidely, the early season here, in NC + Oregon's late season = year-round strawberry heaven. 

 

the chanterelle feast continues...

Ryan and I were short on time tonight, but couldn't wait another day to cook up the rest of our mushrooms, so we turned to one of our old favorites... chicken with mustard mascarpone marsala sauce.  It's delicious and even more-so with the delicate chanterelles.  {tip: chanterelles hold a lot of water, so be prepared to sweat them for quite a while.}   Make this, it's perfect comfort food for Fall.

it's my new favorite thing...

foraging for fall chanterelles.  Today, we ventured out on a Sunday-romp through the forest with some friends.  We harvested 10+ pounds of the little pots of gold, known as chanterelles.  They were everywhere and so much fun to hunt... like $14.99/lbs easter eggs buried amongst the moss and brush.  Tonight, Ryan and I whipped up this chanterelle soup.  {and yes, sexy indeed!}  We still have at least 3 pounds left, so that halibut dish might have to be next.

{I sometimes like to leave the camera at home and just be in the moment, so these pics were snapped at the car on my iphone and fiddled with in instagram.}

foraging for fall chanterelles...

the scene...

the friends...

the prize...

the loot...

and then wine was had and chanterelle risotto was made.  perfect Saturday.

light at the end of the tunnel...

This week Oregon really decided that summer was over, it's been cold, rainy and generally back to it's old-self.  Normally the abrupt goodbye to a short summer and the initial onset of another long winter might bother me, but not this year, friends!  This year the end is already in sight, because of our big news... drum roll please...  we're moving!  My brilliant husband got the job of his choosing at Duke and by the end of November we are bidding adieu to the northwest.  Now, don't get me wrong, we are thoroughly going to miss it here.  People may complain about the rain, but there are so many other great qualities to west coast living... enough that a proper goodbye will need it's own post.  So for now, Lila and I will play in our indoor fort and dream of my make-believe 'packing elves' that are sure to arrive at any moment.

Hope everyone has a happy weekend!  xo.

ps.  My jewels will be at a Melange trunkshow next week, so if you see something you like, now might be a good time to snatch it up!   {the jewelry box will be under lock-n-key Oct. 12-16}