Welcome fall

What a difference two weeks makes. Not only did my calendar tell me that autumn has arrived, but the chilly mornings and that lovely, earthy smell in the air means that my favorite time of year is officially here. Lately, I am finding that I want to spend all my free time cooking and every evening sitting in my back yard, eating soup and warming up by a bonfire. So I figured I would do a little something different in my column this week and share one of my favorite original soup recipes with you. It’s a good sitting-around-the-fire kind of soup.

Autumn Bisque

(serves 5)

1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)

salt & pepper to taste

2 TBSP white whole wheat flour

2 TBSP unsalted butter (or coconut oil)

1 leek, cleaned and sliced into 1?4 inch circles (white and light green parts only)

1 medium shallot, peeled and diced

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 1?2 cups hot water

1 pound baby bella (crimini) mushrooms, chopped

3 sweet potatoes, roasted, peeled and chopped

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup light coconut milk

In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, salt, pepper and flour. Set aside.

In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, saute? leeks, shallot and garlic in the butter, until lightly browned.

Add flour mixture to the butter and leek mixture, and stir until well combined.

Gradually whisk in the water and continue to whisk, making sure there are no flour lumps. Add mushrooms, and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Add sweet potatoes, cinnamon and coconut milk. Stir well and cook for 10 more minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Puree everything with an immersion blender (or regular blender), then enjoy this warming soup on a cold evening.

Get your boots ready

Ring Farm will be hosting its ninth annual Family Farm Fun Day on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 551 Upper Ridge Road. There will be pony and carriage rides, face painting, games, food and hayrides. Donations are appreciated and will go to support Equine Journeys. I love a good day on the farm.

Pathways to prosperity

Dr. Donna Beegle, national speaker and expert on poverty issues, will be the guest speaker at the upcoming Pathways to Prosperity Conference. The event takes place on Friday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Magic Lantern Theater on Main Street. Cost is $35. Registration can be done online at www.windham.maineadulted.org or by calling 647-3116. The program will focus on communities coming together to help bridge the gap between social service operations and the people they serve.

Time for orange hats

On Saturday, Oct. 3, at 9 a.m., there will be a hunter safety class at the Bridgton Community Center. For more information, call 210-8504. If you read my column regularly, you know I am all about safety. Let’s make this a year with no hunting accidents!

Gallery news

My goodness, I feel like the First Friday reception for September just happened, and here I am, writing about First Friday for October. Can’t time please slow down? Come to the gallery Friday, Oct. 2, from 5-7 p.m. for a reception to welcome guest artist Cami Davis, whose work will be on display through Oct. 9 and includes pastels, monotypes and encaustics.

The art is always amazing, and let me tell you, the spread at these receptions gets better every month. Last month there was this herby soda bread that was so good it could have been put on display as one of the art pieces.

Get your chi on

The Taoist Tai Chi Center at 41 Depot St. is having an open house on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m.-noon. There will be a demonstration, then attendees can try some of the moves for themselves. New classes start the week of Oct. 5. Daytime, evening and special senior classes will be offered. For full details, check out www.taoist.org/usa/locations/bridgton or call 647-8142. Tai chi has numerous health benefits, including improved balance, faster recovery from injuries, greater flexibility and a generous sense of relaxation and well-being. I highly recommend it.

This little bee was found sleeping in Julia Marino’s garden, early one morning last week. The bees are taking advantage of their last few weeks of pollen collection, before the frost takes the rest of the season’s flowers. Courtesy photo by Matthew Campbell