{"id":5142,"date":"2013-10-25T19:35:37","date_gmt":"2013-10-26T01:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/driftlessappetite.com\/?p=5142"},"modified":"2015-10-25T17:30:26","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T23:30:26","slug":"autumn-notes-molasses-poppy-bread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/driftlessappetite.com\/?p=5142","title":{"rendered":"Autumn Notes & Molasses Poppy Seed Bread"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"rss\"<\/a>

The past two weeks has brought us some of the best autumn colors in the Driftless Area.\u00a0 Sadly, we probably just have this weekend left to enjoy it.\u00a0 I have picked the last remaining fruits from the garden.\u00a0 I got a few more poblano peppers, green tomatoes, bitter melons,\u00a0one opo (Asian zucchini), chamomile flowers, and the last\u00a0bowl out of\u00a0my over 50\u00a0pound\u00a0glut of Concord grapes.\u00a0 Last weekend, Keith and I packed in several of our favorite fall activities.\u00a0 We made a trip out to Peck’s Farm Market West\u00a0in Spring Green mainly to hang out with the goats and to look at their kitschy Halloween d\u00e9cor.\u00a0 I took the customary crazy pumpkin display picture.\u00a0 This year, they even had a golf cart with a giant pumpkin on the back.\u00a0 I also took a silly picture with a giant head of cabbage and realized that my own head was just as big in comparison!<\/p>\n

\"autumnnotes1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The pictures above were taken out in the yard.\u00a0 I’m sure the birds and squirrels\u00a0will be very happy with the berries on the ground.\u00a0 Especially delightful was\u00a0the pretty display of mushrooms\u00a0on an old elder tree stump.\u00a0 I wonder what made the swirly white marks around it?\u00a0 Keith thinks it\u00a0might have been a snail.<\/p>\n

Ok, back to the weekend.\u00a0 After Peck’s, we drove out to Oakwood Fruit Farm for their famous apple cider doughnuts.\u00a0 I got carried away and bought\u00a0a couple of\u00a0caramel apples as well as a\u00a0pound of\u00a0hand-rolled butter<\/a>.\u00a0 With a little pep from the sugar, we drive around to see the scenery and to check out some of the participating artists in the Fall Art Tour<\/a>.\u00a0 Our first stop was Otter Creek Arts<\/a>.\u00a0 I wanted to visit because I purchased<\/a> a Pamela Callahan painting last May and it was a great excuse to finally meet her.\u00a0 The piece is called “Too Many Nougats” which you can see on her website’s gallery<\/a>.\u00a0 I think it’s neat to check out the spaces where artists create.\u00a0 After driving on some winding roads, we got to Highway Q.\u00a0 To get to the studio, we had to drive a little bit downhill onto a little\u00a0bridge over a little creek\u00a0then up again.\u00a0 We parked beside the big\u00a0red barn.\u00a0 Adjacent to it was the two story studio.\u00a0 Her studio was upstairs, called the “Pam-o-rama” room.\u00a0 Behind it was a sweet little cabin that we got to check out.\u00a0 It had railings made with fused antique\u00a0metal tools.\u00a0 Between the studio and the main house was the amazing\u00a0garden.\u00a0\u00a0Pamela sent\u00a0us home with a large bag of heirloom tomatoes.\u00a0 (She felt sorry that\u00a0I harvested\u00a0mostly\u00a0green tomatoes this year.).\u00a0 It’s always a wonderful thing when the artist\u00a0behind a piece you\u00a0admire turns out to be such a sweet person.<\/p>\n

Of course we had to make a stop\u00a0to see our buddies at\u00a0Windy Ridge Pottery<\/a>.\u00a0 I’m sure you’ve heard all about them.\u00a0 Check out this post<\/a> if you have not.\u00a0 There were quite busy when we got there and the poodles (Maggie & Charlie) were so good at greeting everyone.\u00a0 Christy made about 10\u00a0dozen chocolate chip cookies for the weekend for guests.\u00a0 Joe was busy giving tours of their kiln house.\u00a0 We treated ourselves to a beautiful tagine with a\u00a0rich brown glaze with a layer of the slightest violet shimmer.<\/p>\n

Our last stop was the Johnston’s Brewery<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0It is another\u00a0incredible space.\u00a0 I feel\u00a0as if it’s a giant jewelry box.\u00a0 It’s\u00a0especially gorgeous\u00a0to see at night.\u00a0 The week before, I hid a polka-dotted scarf in the back of some other scarves.\u00a0 I told Diana that if it was still there when I came back that it was meant to be.\u00a0 Well, I think the universe does not want me to purchase anymore items with polka dots.\u00a0 Oh well, Keith and I did find the most gorgeous octagonal-shaped platter.\u00a0 It had a light green grey glaze and some lace patterns on it.<\/p>\n

\"autumnnotes2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Living in a place with distinct seasons is so\u00a0delightful.\u00a0 I’m really looking forward to some warming things like wearing my pink moose slippers, drinking\u00a0lots of tea, hosting another Friendsgiving party, the Driftless Film Festival<\/a>, and baking bread.\u00a0 What are you looking forward to?<\/p>\n

\u00a0RECIPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Molasses Poppy Bread<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/em><\/p>\n