Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #39, Inspired by a Spider!

Happy Halloween, everyone!  This week I made one trip into town on Friday for a doctor appointment and my essentials shopping trip.  Since it was the day before Halloween I decided to put together an ensemble inspired by the impressive-looking arachnid pictured above that I found in our courtyard a couple of weeks ago.  This handsome specimen is a desert tarantula (Aphonopelma chaleodes), a mild-mannered spider that rarely bites unless provoked and whose venom is usually no worse than a bee sting (honestly, I think the harvester ants that are all over our property during warm weather have a far more painful bite!).  The one I found was a male - the male spiders will wander in the fall searching for mates.  His coloring was lovely, mostly black with a desert brown carapace over his cephalothorax, and I knew I had just the right apparel to match him!  Here is the outfit I came up with:

Clockwise from top left: Sydney Evan 14K Diamond Spider Pendant Necklace (similar to my much less expensive one); Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black; Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dr. Scholl's Women's Wide Width Marci Gel-Pac Zippered Loafers in Black (no longer available); Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch Waist Chinos in Saddle; L.L. Bean Women's 3/4" Belt in Black (similar to mine); UltraSofts Mock Turtleneck in Black (similar to mine).

 

Below is an image of my spider necklace, bought years ago as part of a Halloweeen costume:

 

If you haven't had enough of spiders, why not watch the old B-movie classic "Tarantula" (1955) here.  There is even a short but informative natural history lesson about desert tarantulas in the middle of the movie.

 

I hope you are having a fun and not too scary Halloween (and don't forget to gaze up at the blue moon tonight, a rare second full moon this month)!

Foodie Fridays: Southwestern Creamed Corn

If you are looking for a tasty side dish, give my quick and easy version of creamed corn a try.  This recipe is loosely based on one for Corn Casserole, but with the addition of green chiles for a southwestern flavor.  If you have all of the ingredients on hand it only takes a few minutes to throw this side dish together, and it is ready to serve once the cheese has melted completely.  I may just make this easy recipe for Thanksgiving, even if I will be celebrating by myself this year.

Southwestern Creamed Corn

4 C. frozen corn
1 C. shredded Cheddar cheese
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
3 T. butter
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 T. diced roasted green chiles (I like this brand)

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium-sized sauce pan over medium heat.  Stir until the cheese is melted.  Serve immediately.  Serves 8.

This 'n That Thursdays: The Scariest Type of YouTube Video Just in Time For Halloween - Vote Him Away (The Liar Tweets Tonight)

What is the scariest type of YouTube video for Halloween 2020?  Well obviously that would be a political pre-election music video, of course!  This one, brought to my attention by one of my neighbors, is actually pretty funny and very well made, although Trump supporters may not be amused.  You have to admit, though, that whatever your political leanings, this sort of video is perfect for Halloween.  Enjoy it or not, but I have a feeling that November 3rd will be even more frightening than October 31st this year.  (Even so, please remember to vote - in fact, I hope you already have!)

And if you want to hear the original "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", watch this YouTube video (and just try to get this earworm out of your head for the rest of the day!):

Wish List Wednesdays: Pumpkin Cake Pops at From You Flowers

Are you scrambling at the last minute to find the perfect Halloween baked treats to send to friends and family, but don't have the time or desire to make your own?  Well, you can still order these Pumpkin Cake Pops (price reduced to $39.99) at From You Flowers and have them arrive in time for the holiday!  Ten cake pops are packed in an elegant gift box and can include a free gift message from you.  The cake pops are hand-crafted and each one is dipped in white, milk, or dark Belgian chocolate.  They are sure to please just about anyone who loves chocolate and cake - in fact, why not order some for yourself to ensure your own happy Halloween?  If cake pops do not appeal to you, check out the other Halloween options that all offer either same day or next day delivery (fresh flowers would be a lovely gift too)!

Terrifying Tuesdays: Earth vs. the Spider, AKA The Spider (1958)

From Sci-Fi Film Fiesta

Are you ready to start celebrating Halloween by watching cheesy 1950s science fiction B movies?  I know I am!  My favorite sub-genre by far is comprised of what I call the "Giant Bug" movies, where arthropods grow to immense proportions, often due to exposure by humans to radiation, whether intentional or unintentional.  Surprisingly, today's film does not seem to be about the dangers of the unrestricted use of radioactive materials - instead the giant spider in "Earth vs. the Spider" (1958) just appears for reasons unexplained.

As is usually the case, the clueless townspeople have no idea a monster is in their midst until one of their own goes missing.  Odd circumstances surrounding the disappearance should be their first inkling that all is not normal, but of course no one is willing to believe that one missing man is anything more than a tragic accident.  The missing man's teenage daughter and her boyfriend actually encounter the giant spider while out looking for her father, but the town sheriff brushes off their claims as nonsense.  However, their high school science teacher is willing to suspend disbelief after examining a piece of the spider web the two teens bring to him, and he convinces the sheriff that he should at least send out a search party for the missing man.  The search party finds the spider instead, losing a few of their men in the process, and then the frantic efforts begin to find a way to destroy the monster.

This is a good old-fashioned horror movie that is tame enough for the whole family to enjoy, and you can watch it below or on YouTube:

Interesting Fact: The director, Bert I. Gordon (AKA Mr. B.I.G.!) shamelessly promoted his two previous science fiction films in this movie by prominently displaying posters of these movies in the theater where the male teenage protagonist works!

Gore Guide (0=none to 5=extreme): 0

From Shadow's B-Movie Graveyard

I hope your Halloween this year is less scary than the rest of 2020 has been!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #38

I'm afraid I will be bidding a fond farewell to my fast-fading fall flowers after today. 😞

Last week our unusually warm fall weather continued, although a definite chill was noticeable in the mornings.  I made one trip into town to pick up a prescription for my old dog Ruby, and I took the opportunity to shop for a few items I forgot to get during my essentials shopping trip the week before.  It was warm enough for a short-sleeved t-shirt, but I needed a lightweight cardigan in the morning as well as in the overly air-conditioned stores.  I finally got to wear a fun belt I bought at Walmart a while ago.  It is festooned with butterflies in muted colors, including blues and browns, and was the inspiration for my entire outfit:

Clockwise from top left: L.L. Bean Women's Pima Cotton Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee in Light Ocean (similar to mine); Banana Republic Women's Cropped Cardigan Sweater in Deep Brown (similar to mine); HawaiianIsleGifts Koa Wood Beads Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Hue Women's Jean Socks in Espresso (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Old Navy Women's Mid-Rise Boyfriend Straight Jeans in Light Wash (sold out); Walmart Embroidered Butterfly Belt (no longer available in store).

 ❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️☁️❄️

Tonight an arctic blast of weather moves into our area, complete with snow.  I think my days of wearing short-sleeved t-shirts are over for the year - from now on it is long-sleeved shirts and/or sweaters!  I have mixed feelings about losing my vegetable garden to the hard freeze headed our way.  I have enjoyed the abundance of fresh produce, but I will not miss the twice-daily waterings the plants required.  On the plus side, I will now have more time for indoor chores, so maybe I can finally finish some projects that I have been putting off for months.  Stay warm, everyone, and have a great week!

Foodie Fridays: Three-Ingredient Butter Marinara Sauce

My sister was the first one to bring to my attention Marcella Hazen's Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter, which many consider to be the best marinara sauce recipe ever.  It is also one of the easiest, and only calls for three ingredients (plus salt if needed).  At the moment I am blessed (or cursed?) with a substantial surplus of cherry tomatoes from my garden, thanks to our unusually mild fall weather.  Normally I eat these tomatoes fresh, but there is no way I can finish off two pounds of cherry tomatoes before they start to deteriorate, so I decided to use them in this tomato sauce recipe.

I did have to make a few changes to the original recipe, because as a lazy cook there was no way I was going to peel two pounds of cherry tomatoes, so they got cooked with their skins on.  Also, my frugal mind could not wrap itself around the idea of simmering the sauce with onion halves and then just discarding the onion.  Instead, I diced my onion before adding it to the sauce and had no intention of removing it.  To deal with the tomato skins and onion pieces, I simply used my immersion blender to whirl everything into a relatively smooth consistency.  There were still some noticeable pieces of tomato skin in the sauce, but to my mind they were just an added nutritional benefit in the form of fiber, and did not bother me one bit.  This really is a very tasty marinara sauce, and I will make it again even if I have to buy tomatoes!

Three-Ingredient Butter Marinara Sauce

2 lbs. cherry tomatoes (or 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes)
5 T. butter*
1 small onion, diced
salt to taste

Put all of the ingredients into a 3-4 quart pot.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spoon and crushing the tomatoes against the side of the pot as they soften.

Remove the pot from the heat and cool slightly.  Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce into a relatively smooth consistency.  Serve over pasta with grated Parmesan cheese and/or meatballs.  Serves 2-4.

*I used Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks with Olive Oil.

This 'n That Thursdays: "Halloween is Canceled" Short Horror Film

I am not a big fan of slasher films, but this short horror film parody of the "Halloween" movies is only scary at the very end, and until then is actually rather funny.  In the three-minute video, Michael Myers returns to his home town of Haddonfield on Halloween to once again wreak havoc, only to find that his favorite holiday has been cancelled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.  He searches in vain for victims, and is about to give up in despair, only to be confronted by an angry "Karen" who verbally assaults him for wearing a mask.  Needless to say, this confrontation does not have a happy ending (or does it?).

Have a safe and happy Halloween, and don't forget to wear your mask!

Bonus: Click here to play a fun and not too scary Halloween escape game!

Wish List Wednesdays: Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

 

One of my favorite cookbook authors is Ina Garten, so you can bet I was quick to order my copy of her latest offering, Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook ($21.00 on Amazon) as soon as it became available.  As is her way, Ms. Garten has taken beloved and familiar recipes that bring comfort to many and tweaked them just enough to make them even more special without detracting from their original cozy intent.  I am already picking out the recipes I need to try, especially when wintry weather arrives (which may be less than a week away if the forecast holds!).

For breakfast, the Smashed Eggs on Toast sounds like a great Sunday morning breakfast option.  The Kielbasa with Mustard Dip is listed under the appetizers chapter, but I would happily eat this for lunch or even a light dinner.  Chicken Pot Pie Soup, Split Pea Soup with Crispy Kielbasa, and Creamy Tomato Bisque are all on my list to make, as is the Ultimate Tuna Melts recipe.  And I haven't even made my selections from the dinner section of the book yet!  A few recipes from the book are posted here on the Barefoot Contessa website as a preview of what to expect.

If you are as much a fan of Ina Garten's recipes as I am, I highly recommend this newest cookbook - you will not be disappointed!

Mystery Mondays: An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

If you are looking for a quick, easy, and delightful mystery read, then get yourself a copy of the short story collection An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Swedish auther Helene Tursten.  The title character, 88-year-old Maud, is the last representative of a formerly wealthy family fallen on hard times after the death of her father.  Her life has not been easy, but thanks to decades of frugal living and a contract that allows her to live in the spacious family apartment for the rest of her life rent-free, she is finally ready to enjoy life in her golden years.

Unfortunately, there are those who would like to interfere with this elderly lady's solitary but contented existence, only to learn the hard way that Maud is not a woman to trifle with!  As the author says about her character, "...let's just say that I would not like to have her as a neighbor or a relative!"  I think you will agree when you read this wonderfully wicked short story collection.

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #37

I bought these inexpensive plastic jack o' lanterns to add a bit more Halloween décor to the house; the spooky one at the top glares out a window facing our entry door, while the smiling one at the bottom sits in the living room next to the fireplace.

This past week I only had to go into town once for my essentials shopping trip, which is a good thing because COVID-19 cases in New Mexico are spiking alarmingly, including here in Santa Fe.  I always wear my KN95 mask when I go into town and try to minimize the amount of time I spend in the stores, but so does just about everyone else (I never see anyone in town not wearing a mask), so it is worrisome that the number of cases just seems to keep going up anyway.  Temperatures are finally cooling down, but not so much that people feel inclined to stay indoors - the weather is actually very pleasant right now.  I suppose it could be that more people are gathering in large groups socially, because they are tired of being isolated all the time.  Anyway, I just hope that not very many people end up needing to be hospitalized - we have had less than a dozen COVID-19 fatalities in Santa Fe, and I hope the number does not increase!

On a less ominous note, here is the outfit I wore into town.  It was cool enough to need a jacket in the morning, but by afternoon my short-sleeved sweater was plenty warm enough:

Clockwise from top left: Tibetan Turquoise Turtle Pendant (similar to mine); Independent Trading Company Lightweight Zip Hooded Sweatshirt in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); K. Bell Women's Swedish Horses Crew Socks in Black (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Rachel Comey Norm Straight-Leg Jeans in Khaki (similar to my much less expensive pair); Merona Women's Short Sleeve Sweater in Teal (image darkened to more closely resemble my similar sweater).

👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜👞👜

I promise that one of these days I will switch to a different purse and shoes, but I just happen to be one of those women who prefers to stick with whatever is comfortable and practical, even if it means always wearing the same shoes and carrying the same bag all the time!  The shoes are actually my second pair of the same brand - I wore out the first pair, and now this pair is starting to show signs of wear.  My purse is also deteriorating (the zipper no longer works reliably) so at some point I will be forced to replace both purse and shoes whether I like it or not.  I hope you are enjoying beautiful fall weather right now, and are staying safe and healthy while doing so!

This 'n That Thursdays: "Don't Cancel Halloween" Elvira Music Video

I promise that I will get back to my cottagecore topic soon, but with Halloween just around the corner I could not resist posting this YouTube Video from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, bemoaning the fact that COVID-19 is ruining Halloween.  Whether you love or hate Elvira, you have to admit that Cassandra Peterson, the actor who created the character, is just as ageless as her vampire persona!  Can you believe this woman is 69 years old?  How does she do it?  And do I really want to know?

😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻😈🎃 👻

I hope we all have a safe, healthy, and eternally youthful Halloween, during this frightful year and for years to come!

Wish List Wednesdays: Coffee Shop of Horrors Gingerbread Man Tea

 

 

 I am always on the lookout for new tea flavors to try, especially those that suit the season.  I recently discovered a website called Coffee Shop of Horrors that offers coffee, tea, and hot cocoa with a rather spooky flair.  As soon as I saw the Gingerbread Man Tea ($11.99 for a 3-ounce bag) I knew I had to try it!  This loose-leaf black tea is flavored with orange peel and tiny gingerbread man pieces, which sounds delicious to a lover of sweet spices like myself.  Even though the artwork on the bag depicts a Christmas scene, that evil-looking gingerbread man seems much more appropriate for Halloween, don't you think?  There are a few more tea flavors that I would like to try in the future, and also the hot cocoa, which is out of stock at the moment.  Meanwhile, I am looking forward to brewing a mug full of "...tiny gingerbread men just waiting to be murdered by boiling...", to quote the descriptive blurb on the website!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #36

 

Once again I missed posting last week and will be covering two weeks in one post today.  But before I start describing my outfits, I thought I would share an image of the cheerful and only slightly spooky Halloween décor I created for my kitchen.  The flowers and striped pumpkin are from the grocery store, but the two tiny orange pumpkins (one on the right and the other on the left just visible behind the striped pumpkin) are from my garden.  Believe it or not, these pumpkins were supposed to be the huge jack o' lantern type, but for some reason (possibly the extreme heat and dryness of this summer) they ended up being miniatures!  I have had the yellow vase for years, but the little ghost vase can be purchased here, and the acacia wood tray is available here.

But now let's talk about apparel!  This first outfit is the one I wore two weeks ago to go to the post office to mail in my absentee ballot (don't forget to vote, everyone!) and then run a quick errand in town.  Our weather has been unusually warm for this time of year, but it was actually a bit chilly that morning so I even had to wear a lightweight cardigan early in the day!

Clockwise from top left: Brighton Enchanted Garden Dragonfly Necklace in Silver-Multi (similar to mine); Torrid Navy Slub Open Front Cardigan in Peacoat (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); No Nonsense Women's Flat Knit Crew Socks in Denim Blue; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Mid-Rise Baggy Straight Jean in Light Wash (similar to mine); Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Short Sleeve Jumper in Blue Multi (similar to mine).

Later that week I went into town on a warm afternoon for my essentials shopping trip, and this is the outfit I wore that day:

Clockwise from top left: Old Navy Women's EveryWear Slub-Knit V-Neck Tee in White (color no longer available - similar here); Sterling Silver Horse Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available);Wigwam CoolMax Liner Crew Socks in White (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; St. John's Bay Womens Mid Rise Straight Leg Jean in Medium (similar to mine); Women's Faux Leather Skinny Belt in Pink (similar to mine).

Last week I made only one quick trip into town to pick up some items for my horse.  It was another warm afternoon, so I repeated the t-shirt and jeans theme for my outfit of the week:

Clockwise from top left: Duluth Trading Company Women's Lightweight Longtail T Slub Scoopneck in Royal Purple Heather (similar to mine); OrangeKnot Purple and Silver Seed Bead Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available);Wigwam CoolMax Liner Crew Socks in White (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Mid-Rise Baggy Straight Jean in Light Wash (similar to mine); Silver Western Buckle Skinny Belt in Camel (similar to mine).

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🎃 👻🎃🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Hopefully I can stay on track and get this week's wardrobe post done on time.  And before I forget, did you know that today is Kraken Day, AKA Cephalopod Myths and Legends Day?  I suggest you watch the movie "It Came From Beneath the Sea" (1955) here to celebrate this unique holiday and start getting in the mood for Halloween. 🐙🐙🐙 Have a great week!

Foodie Fridays: Lemon Yellow Squash Loaf

 

Well, this may be another squash recipe, but at least it does not feature zucchini!  My yellow squash plants have slowed down production considerably, but I did have enough to use in a recipe for lemon quick bread.  The original recipe actually called for zucchini, but I felt that yellow squash would be more appropriate color-wise.  Once again I reduced the amount of sugar in a quick bread recipe because I added sweet white baking chips.  Because of the added chips, I also did not feel the need to add a sweet glaze over the top of this bread.  Whether you serve this bread for breakfast, dessert, or afternoon tea, you will enjoy its sweet citrus flavor at any time of the day!

Lemon Yellow Squash Loaf

1 1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 C. sugar
1 C. shredded yellow squash (do not squeeze dry)
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1 egg
zest and juice of one lemon
1 C. white baking chips

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and powder, and salt.

In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, shredded squash, oil, egg, and lemon zest and juice until well combined.  Add the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.  Fold in the baking chips.  Spoon the batter into a well-greased loaf pan (a piece of parchment or waxed paper cut to fit in the bottom of the pan will help to remove the loaf from the pan after baking).

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.  Remove from the pan and cool completely before slicing.  Serves 10.

This 'n That Thursdays: Tasty Treats That I Am Enjoying This Fall

From Cooking Melangery

Now that autumn has officially arrived, I thought I would share I few products I have been enjoying as the weather cools down.  Let's start off with a nice cup of tea:

When the weather gets chilly, I like to have a cup of hot tea in the afternoon or evening, but I prefer decaf tea later in the day.  Recently I discovered Harney & Sons Decaffeinated Vanilla Comoro Tea, which has a deliciously smooth and creamy vanilla flavor that tastes slightly sweet even though it contains no sweetener.  This tea has become my favorite decaf version, and I am sure I will be drinking it frequently all the way through winter!

I no longer add sweetener to my tea, but I do still like to add a splash of non-dairy creamer.  Unfortunately, my favorite unsweetened almond milk creamer seems to have been discontinued.  I do not care for coconut milk-based creamers, but I did find Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk Creamer which is quite good.  It is creamier than the almond milk creamer I was using and has a slightly sweeter taste even though it is not sweetened and is surprisingly low in carbs.  I hope this product stays on the market forever!

If you read my blog, then you know that I have been making a lot of zucchini recipes lately, including zucchini bread.  Now that fall is here, seasonal hummus flavors have appeared in the grocery stores, including Boar's Head Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus.  This hummus is the perfect flavor for spreading on homemade zucchini bread, and is a healthier choice than butter or cream cheese.  I wonder how it would taste on pumpkin bread?  I will definitely have to give that a try when I am finally out of zucchini and can bake other types of quick breads!

I saw this Oui by Yoplait Apple Pie Yogurt in a local supermarket not long ago and decided I just had to give it a try.  I am glad I did, because it is quite tasty as well as relatively low-carb (I try to look for foods with less than 20 grams of carbs per serving).  This flavor is a limited edition one, so if you see it pick it up while you can. 

Even though the weather is getting cooler, we still occasionally get some very warm days.  While I do not eat ice cream very often, I discovered Mexican-style ice cream bars in here in Santa Fe and find them to be the perfect occasional warm weather treat.  My favorite flavor is Helados Mexico Butter Pecan Paletas but there are so many other flavors that I have not yet tried (I do know that the coconut flavor is also very good!).

I could not end this post without mentioning my very favorite tea flavor, which I have been enjoying ever since I first started drinking tea as an undergraduate in college.  Bigelow Cinnamon Stick Black Tea can always be found in my tea pantry, and the sweet warming spiciness of cinnamon is especially appropriate as an autumn flavor.  I have tried many cinnamon teas over the years, and I still consider the Bigelow's version to be the best by far.

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

I hope you are as excited about the arrival of fall as I am, and that you too are finding new autumnal treats to enjoy!

Current Events: And the Fly Steals the Show!

From USA Today

 "Lorded over by a fly."

(Sorry, I just could not resist!)

Wish List Wednesdays: Talavera Jack O' Lantern

 

I am sure you have noticed the colorful ceramic jack o' lanterns at the top of my blog page.  I would love to start a collection of these colorful talavera pumpkins as Halloween décor for our Santa Fe home.  Shown above is a Large Talavera Pumpkin ($39.99) from MexDecor, which would be a great start to my collection.  There is a large hole in the back for inserting a real or battery-operated candle, and the sides are painted with colorful patterns.  Also available are medium-sized jack o' lantern pumpkins ($24.99 or $27.99) and small ones that come in sets of three ($34.99 for a set).  What a fun way to decorate for a southwestern-style Halloween and Dia de los Muertos!

Foodie Fridays: Zucchini Spice Bread

In my quest to use up my bounteous zucchini harvest, I found another zucchini bread recipe to try.  I made a few changes, such as decreasing the amount of sugar and using cinnamon chips instead of nuts.  I also did not squeeze the moisture out of the shredded zucchini, which meant I could leave out the liquid called for in the original recipe.  This bread is great for breakfast, especially when spread with Boar's Head Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus, a product I discovered recently that is quite delicious.  (Is it wrong to spread a winter squash hummus on a summer squash bread?  I hope not!)

One of these days I will run out of summer squash, and then I can start featuring some non-squash recipes, but for now all I seem to be making is summer squash dishes.  Is it any wonder that I am getting tired of squash, especially zucchini, which never seems to stop producing.  However, next year I might not even have time to garden if we can get back on track with our move from Georgia to New Mexico, so I suppose I should appreciate what I have while I have it.  At least I know that I can always make tasty zucchini bread whenever I want it!

Zucchini Spice Bread

1/3 C. vegetable oil
1/3 C. sugar, honey, or maple syrup
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 C. grated zucchini (do not squeeze dry)
1 2/3 C. flour
1 C. chocolate or cinnamon chips

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oil and sugar and beat with a whisk until well combined.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Add the milk, baking soda, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg.  Whisk to blend.  Switch to a big spoon and fold in the zucchini, then add the flour and stir just until combined.  Gently fold in the chips.  Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes.  Transfer the bread to a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes before slicing with a sharp, serrated knife.  Serves 10.

Note: This bread is moist, so it will keep for just 2-3 days at room temperature.  Store it in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.  You can slice the bread before freezing and defrost individual slices, either by lightly toasting them or defrosting them in the microwave.

(I am sure that you have heard the news that our President and the First Lady have tested positive for COVID-19.  We should all be hoping and praying for a speedy recovery for them as well as anyone else infected with the virus.  Please practice social distancing and wear your mask when you must be out in public.  Stay safe and stay well, everyone!)

This 'n That Thursday: The Pandemic Popularity of Cottagecore, Part 2

Farmhouse in China (from DeviantArt)

It's time for Part 2 of my exploration into the Cottagecore aesthetic (see Part 1 here).  As I mentioned in the first post, I find the YouTube cooking vlogs of a number of rural Chinese women to be good representations of the type of lifestyle embraced by Cottagecore - a simple country life which includes growing or foraging for food and cooking meals with these fresh ingredients, usually over a wood-fired stove.  Projects which involve gathering raw materials for projects such as building furniture, making pottery, creating artwork, or weaving cloth are also occasionally featured.  Below are a few more of these YouTube vloggers that I have discovered, in addition to the three that I mentioned in my first post.  Since today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is very popular in China, I tried to include vlogs showing preparations for this year's festival if they were available.

Rural Lianjie (frequent vlog updates; she has three adorable yellow lab-type dogs):

Drunkard Lee (frequent vlog updates; she has two young daughters and a baby boy on the way):

Hunan Girls (vlog updates about once a week; she lives in a stone cottage in the mountains with spectacular views):

 

Longmeimei (vlog updates about once a week; she has a cute young daughter and a yellow lab-type dog):

 Yangdawan (fairly new to me, vlog updates about once a week):

 ErmiChuiyan (fairly new to me, vlog updates about once a week):

 

Next time we will leave China to check out vlogs from other nations that I feel also capture the essence of the Cottagecore aesthetic.  After that, I think I will explore vlogs of another aesthetic that has been popular for a while called "hygge", which is particularly appropriate for the cooler months of the year.  I find these sorts of vlogs to be quite soothing during these pandemic times, and my hope is that you will too!