The import of Autumn

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Oooooooooh, marshmallow s'mores - can I come too? I don't get those here... I offer my skills as a split-pea soup cook - mine tastes great, even without the stranger ingredients you've mentioned, Gandalf. And I can share my autumnal LotR moments: First one was driving through a street lined with trees; the trunks went way up, branches starting very high and leaves just turning golden-green. I felt like I was in Lothlórien.

Second was gathering edible chestnuts (marrons) that had fallen from the trees planted in beds by the street where we live. Preparing them felt very hobbity, though I must say it got more and more tedious to shell them, especially removing the skin. But they tasted wonderful baked with Brussel sprouts (recipe courtesy of my trusty and much-used 'Joy of Cooking' - no other cookbook has basics like that - including a recipe for making marshmallows, by the way!). Hey, I could pick up some more and bring them along for roasting! I'm sure the chore of shelling them is more enjoyable together with others, sipping mulled cider. And we could sing "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." - oops, it's a bit early for that one!