by Paula D.
on November 22, 2023 9:01 am in Food / Recipes
If you’re a regular reader of The Tomato, you know by now that I enjoy taking on creative food projects. And Halloween is a fine time to get weird in the kitchen. Last year I made funny little Frankenstein Avocado Toasts (recipe here). This meal is a cute activity for the kiddos and they get the enjoyment of eating their monster creatures for breakfast.
This Halloween weekend I challenge you to create Gooslish Quesadilla Pumpkins! I had a blast with this. Get wild with the Jack-o’-lantern expressions. The more cheese and veggies oozing out of the mouth and nose the better. Use corn for teeth and olives for eyes. Design your plate as a pumpkin patch by garnishing it with fresh greens and herbs. Here’s the recipe and instructions!
Ghoulish Quesadilla Pumpkins
2 quesadillas
Ingredients:
4 medium tortillas
½ cup cheddar cheese
About 2 ounces of each Vegetable:
Chopped peppers
Chopped onions
Corn
Sliced olives
Greens and herbs for garnish
Cilantro
Oil
Hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: sour cream or salsa
Directions:
Shape: Using a knife (a butter knife for the kids is ok), cut a pumpkin face into one side of each tortilla. Shape the outer rim for detailed work or to fashion a stem.
Assemble: On a baking sheet, place a layer of cheese on the opposite side of the tortilla (the one without the face cut into it). Add the veggies, cilantro, and salt/pepper. Place the “face” on top. Add the finishing touches like a few chopped peppers hanging out of the mouth, corn for teeth, olives for eyeballs, etc.
Bake: baste the top face with oil. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is oozing and the tortilla is golden brown. Plate and adorn with greens for the pumpkin patch effect. Serve warm with a side of sour cream or salsa.
For me, working with food is an exciting challenge that pushes the boundaries of conventional culinary practices. It’s an opportunity to turn ingredients into a vibrant canvas for imaginative expression. The process is inherently fun! It encourages spontaneity and inventiveness, resulting in dishes that are not only visually interesting but also tasty and nutritious. From constructing edible sculptures (ahem, jello) to crafting colorful meals, food play transforms the kitchen into an artist’s studio. This offers me and I hope you, an exciting outlet for creativity that feeds your body and your imagination.
I’d like to share your cute or deranged quesadilla pumpkins on my Instagram feed. Tag me – @theglorifiedtomato. Let’s see how weird Rockaway can get with this. I’m betting real weird…
Sip echinacea tea on a chilly fall evening, taking a pause to enjoy a quiet moment.
I’ve been puttering around the garden. There’s so much to do, see, smell and enjoy in the fall. I’ve discovered a landscape of mushrooms under the oak hydrangea and other mushroom villages nestled below the brush. They indicate a healthy garden because mushrooms thrive in rich, organic soil. I’m not a mushroom expert but I take pleasure in investigating the funny little things. With the cool autumn season and consistent rain, the fungi appear to be honey fungus or milk cap. Both are cold-weather lovers and northeast natives. The underside characteristic is a smooth striped pattern. The mushrooms are yellow and light orange to brown. Honey fungus and milk cap are safe to eat and sadly not psychedelic. There are of course many poisonous look-alikes. Unless you’re a mushroom aficionado, enjoy wild mushrooms for their beautiful weirdness, not for nutrition.
I’m out front with some friends having lunch the other day and Juan notices two small birds bouncing through the front garden. At a closer look, we caught sight of a beautiful thing. The birds were also lunching, eating milkweed bug larvae off hardened stalks. These moments of nature are why I cherish gardening.
I thought the birds were a type of finch but later that day, I poked around the internet to learn they are more likely kinglets (maybe golden-crown) or North American vireos.
I need to point out that feeding birds is just one example of why you should not clear out your garden in the fall. Leave half of your perennials as is. What looks like a dead plant is in actuality beaming with life, hosting insects and housing seeds for the birds and other vital garden go-ers. The ecosystem of your garden lives year-round, let nature do its thing.
My neighbor Alex passes by as I’m propagating stonecrop. We chat and he asks what my favorite plant is in my garden. This is the most difficult question! He was looking for recommendations for his own space. I suggested the ever-giving echinacea plant with its vibrant pink flowers, long blooming season and hardiness. I should have guessed his next question, “Have you ever made tea with it?” I felt awkward having to tell him, no actually.
So here I am, with plenty of coneflowers still in the garden, I’m finally brewing homemade echinacea tea. What parts can be used for making the tea? All the parts including the roots! Here is a simple recipe!
Homemade Echinacea Tea
Makes 2 cup
Fresh Leaves – Rinse all plant parts thoroughly. Use 1 cup of fresh echinacea leaves, flowers, etc. Chop for a stronger tea, use whole for a milder version. Boil water and steep for 20 min.
Dried Leaves – Rinse well. Use rope to hang and sun dry outside for two days or dry inside hung in a warm, well ventilated room – about 5 days. Break the plant matter down into crumbles. Use 1⁄2 cup of the dried echinacea in a tea bag or use loose, steep then strain.
Pair with lemon, honey or sage for a multi-layered essence.
Echinacea tea is traditionally associated with medicinal benefits, including supporting the immune system and reducing the duration and severity of common colds. It possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. Use this recipe to stay healthy during the approaching cold and flu season.
For more on edible gardens, visit theglorifiedtomato.com and follow Paula on IG for more – @theglorifiedtomato.
by Paula D.
on October 19, 2023 10:18 am in Art / Food
I was in London two weeks ago for my friend Amber and Jon’s wedding! I had time to explore the city’s vibrant culture and rich history. It was a wonderful experience and I am grateful.
When I returned though, I sensed a big shift. I felt unmoored. All of a sudden, it was Fall and things had changed. But you know what Fall means… jello season. With the intensity of the summer behind me, I have time to focus on jello again. I started my jello journey last March…
“My interest in jello was triggered when I saw a vintage photo of a beautiful tower in “Better Homes and Gardens, New Cookbook, 1981.” Bold hues, structural shapes vs. organic forms, and the endless foods you can suspend within jello were so inspiring. I immediately saw jello as an art form. My mind was overwhelmed by possibilities.” (For the full story, click here.)
Since then, I’ve learned through practice so much about the craft of jello art. I’ve figured out the correct recipe to keep my sculptures firmly intact. Time and temperature also play a big role – it’s a science. I’ve learned how to successfully suspend foods and flowers in vegan jello. I’m experimenting with color and pushing the boundaries of shape.
I’ve gifted my jello creations to friends. For Kaori’s birthday, I created a tri-color, layered cake. The room was quiet as I unmolded the structure. At first release, all seemed well. But then – the sound of gasping suspense – seconds later, the top layer of jello slid off in a dramatic slow-motion fashion. Then loud laughter. I learned that night – jello brings joy!
Just last week I gifted another jello sculpture to my friend Frith. This time I had the keen idea to make it an interactive experience, letting Frith participate in the unmolding drama. She was a little nervous, but game. With a bit of jiggle, she successfully removed the mold and her jello gift stayed in form! Presenting jello sculptures into the world creates intrigue, suspense, and confusion and opens up a channel to engage people. For me as the creator, I relish in reading the room, observing people’s reactions, and listening to what they say under their breath.
Frith on her birthday after unmolding her interactive jello sculpture gift!
The supportive response from my friends has been an unexpected reward. People are curious and they enjoy watching the unveiling of my works on social media. Jello sculpture is performative. I’m eager to continue my exploration of that part of the process through video.
My goal for this jello season is to make my structures taste good. The packaged vegan jello flavor is as you would expect – sugary cough syrup. Through my research, I’ve learned there are other gelling agents such as Agar-agar (made from red algae) that are tasteless. Instead of using water, you hydrate the powder with fruit juices.
Dandelions are edible and make for a beautiful jello sculpture embellishment.
Aside from learning my craft, Jello sculpting continues to teach me skills like patience. Jello is organic and unstable, unlike the thousand-year-old sculptures I saw in the London museums. Jello is impermanent, a reminder that moments and mountains are in a constant state of change. And that the journey is most valuable.
To follow my jello journey, find her on Instagram: @theglorifiedtomato.
Expand your understanding of the animal world at this year’s ANIMAL ROCK event. Open your mind and learn how animals teach us, how they heal us, how to connect deeply with your pets, and how humans can live in harmony with all creatures. ANIMAL ROCK is this Sunday, October 1, from 10am-4pm, under the dome at 94 Street and Shore Front Parkway.
From personal experience working with Jill Lauri, Founder of ANIMAL ROCK and my cat Lefty, I’ve come to understand that animals possess a unique power to heal and teach. Through their companionship and unconditional love, they offer solace during difficult moments throughout our lives. Animals soothe our emotional wounds with their calming presence. In the simplicity of their existence, they teach us the value of living in the present, cultivating mindfulness and gratitude.
Animals bridge the gap between humans and the natural world, reminding us of our interconnectedness with all life forms. Their non-verbal communication encourages us to sharpen our senses and empathy, enriching our relationships with both animals and fellow humans. With this, animals touch our hearts and souls. Learn more of this intimate attachment – attend ANIMAL ROCK! Speak with Jill directly and celebrate all life with your like-minded neighbors.
Here’s what to expect on Sunday:
- Healing: Bring photos of your beloved, departed pets and share their stories to heal and to help others in mourning in our community.
- Education: Information will be on-hand to answer your questions about adopting from shelters, fostering and ways to volunteer at Animal Care Centers.
- Donate: ANIMAL ROCK will be collecting clean bedding (sheets, towels, blankets), unopened pet food, and new/slightly used pet toys and supplies. They will also accept cash donations and purchase additional items to donate to Animal Care Centers of NYC. Please consider contributing!
- Action: One of the most critical issues related to animal welfare today is the introduction of the EATS Act (Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act). Learn about this urgent issue and take action at ANIMAL ROCK by calling on the spot, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Meeks, and Governor Hochul.
- Activities: Animal Rock will lead Magical Animal Peace Walks for adults, children, and dogs on the Rockaway Labyrinth. Participate in “Love Strolls” for adults to send loving energy to animals in distress, Children can Labyrinth Gallop – through the eyes of the animal kingdom and trot with your canines to bring about bonding.
Learn more about Jill’s offerings and ANIMAL ROCK at healingwithanimals.com. Follow Healing With Animals on Instagram to stay connected to the animal world: @HealingWithAnimals
