Autumn Thoughts

Books sprinkled with a bit of fairy dust, then add in a little poetry there's no better way to start the autumn season.  

Caroline Kennedy wrote in the introduction of her book, A Family of Poems My Favorite Poetry for Children, "Poetry played a special part in our family. We were encouraged to write or choose a favorite poem for each holiday or birthday as a gift for my mother and grandparents instead of buying a card or a present." 
The following poem was written by Caroline's mother, Jacqueline when she was in school looking out the window daydreaming.

Thoughts
by Jacqueline Bouvier

I love the Autumn,
And yet I cannot say
All the thoughts and things
That make me feel this way.

I love walking on the angry shore,
To watch the angry sea;
Where summer people were before,
But now there's only me.

I love wood fires at night
That have a ruddy glow.
I stare at the flames
And think of long ago.

I love the feeling down inside me
That says to run away
To come and be a gypsy
And laugh the gypsy way.

The tangy taste of apples,
The snowy mist at morn,
The wanderlust inside you
When you hear the huntsman's horn.

Nostalgia-that's Autumn,
Dreaming through September
Just a million lovely things
I always will remember. 

Celebrate fall with a quick 20 minute pasta dish from iowagirleats.com Recipe adapted and serves 6.

Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta
Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb. gluten-free or regular gemelli or other short cut pasta
• 4 TB.  extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large shallot or 1 small onion, chopped
• 12 oz. SweetApple Chicken Sausage, sliced
• 1 apple, peeled then chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• pinch red chili pepper flakes
• salt and pepper
• 1-15 oz. can Great Northern Beans
• 4 firm tomatoes, sliced and diced 
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta and add back into pot. 
• Meanwhile, heat extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sausage then saute until sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until apple is tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, beans, tomatoes and spinach then toss with tongs until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
• Pour sausage and apple mixture into pot with pasta then add in Parmesan cheese. Stir until combined, adding reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency.
  

Product available at Traders Joes