harvest moon dinner

*stoop sitting and doing needlepoint outdoors*

*the bittersweet end of the cutting garden, can you see that sunset in the back window?*

*Friday night dinner for two, observing the waxing moon*

*a small filet mignon from Moriarty Meats, local green beans and the last corn of the season*

*there it is, the amazing moon, iPhone camera can’t capture the magnificence*

In keeping with the dinner theme and trying to flex my writing muscle memory, here’s a little recap about this last Saturday, when the moon rose and delighted us all.

I knew the moon was rising; I had been watching the waxing all week. A site to behold while living the good country life.

It was an impromptu affair. My city friend had had shoulder surgery and couldn’t really cook, so I invited her and her husband for dinner. The day before, during a mid-morning walk, I invited our country neighbors across the street; they said yes, and we had a confirmed party of six.

Most of the supplies were secured the day before. I bought two filets for Friday night dinner for two, two poulets for Saturday dinner for six, and some bacon from Moriarity Meats, then stopped at Lexington Coop to pick up potatoes, heavy cream, and butter. Drove out to the country with my country estate dishes and the good silver in a tote bag; I wanted it to be nice.

*dishes and cooking wine…all from the city house*

*after the browning and before the mushrooms and garlic*

*pearl onions and green beans blanched, I do as much outdoors as I can*

On Saturday morning, the sun rose brilliantly, and I went for the usual loop. Next up was the farmer’s market: tomatoes, bread, the last of the corn, an armful of sunflowers.

Went home to cook, and pretty much cooked all afternoon. Coq au vin is one of those things that takes a few solid hours. It’s all okay; time in the kitchen soothes the mind.

*tomato, green bean, and feta cheese salad*

*I fried the farmer’s market bread in butter and olive oil, it was delicious*

*the big armful of sunflowers and country estate dishes*

*ready to serve, one vegetarian, therefore the salmon filet, upper right 🙂*

I set the table, pulling out an old linen tablecloth my mom had ironed as one of her last acts, and it might have made me drink one too many glasses of wine.

We talked and ate, fooled around with the never-ending, annoying Sonos, there might have been Metallica in there, and celebrated a very beautiful late September harvest moon.