Autumn Family Dinners

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Oh. My. Gosh. When beautiful autumn comes to the table, I swoon. I really do. And this dinner was extra-special because Jamie, a friend and Joy Collective member, and her husband Andy gifted us with elk meat that Andy had harvested. Our friends had offered this gift with many blessings, and we felt so honored to bring the lean, woodland elk energy to our table.

Days before, Seda and I had ventured into the woods to find just enough chanterelles to sauté with the steaks for dinner. Potatoes from our garden made the base for potato leek soup, and beets and squash were gathered at our local organic farmstand. Splurging, I spread the roasted squash with butter, local meadowfoam honey, and sea salt.

Rich, sweet, and savory all at once, this meal from Sunday has been the core of lunch offerings through this period of loving and mourning our sweet Harley. Sam has been here a few afternoons, and we have eaten grilled cheese sandwiches with chanterelles and soup as a late lunch. I cannot think of better nourishment for this time.

How does autumn harvest bless your table? Do you have a sense of rightness as you prepare and then sit down to share in this bounty?