october weekend + simple soup

what a picturesque october weekend in new england,

complete with a larger-than-usual saturday breakfast, apple picking, 

delicious soup for dinner & great company all day!

first pick

Honeypot Hill Orchard bear

we also got hot cider & cider for home

in the trees

peeking from a golden delicious tree

since it was such a perfectly fall day, for dinner we made a quick & easy

pumpkin & barley soup

ingredients

8 oz. cooked andouille sausage (tj's has the perfect ones)

1 smal onion, chopped

1 T dried or fresh sage

1 T vegetable oil

1 c. quick-cooking barley

1 c. chicken broth

3 c. water

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree

1 T syrup

1 T cider vinegar

combine in dutch oven:

sausage, onion & sage in oil and cook over medium heat for 3 min, stirring often

add barley, water & broth, bring to boil

reduce heat, simmer covered for 12 min, stirring occasionally

stir in pumpkin, syrup & vinegar

heat thoroughly, season to taste with salt & pepper

yields 4 servings

we also had some delicious bread accompanying the soup from flour bakery

and of course, we made apple crisp for dessert!

now, what to do with rest of the apples...