Month: October 2009

The Cooking Chronicles: Cassoulet with Lots of Vegetables

I adore fall – I revel in the brilliant golden hue cast by trees, find the crisp (not cold) air refreshing, and recognize that it is the one season that acts as a yearly reminder to live in the moment – because before we know it, winter will be upon us. On the food side of things (which it always comes back to), I think autumn speaks to me because what I love to eat corresponds most with a turndown in temperature. Light, warm-weather appropriate meals of salads and the like are far from being my favourite. Instead, curries, stews, and lovingly braised meats appeal more to my palate. While I know I need not justify my preferences to anyone, I feel the harvest season is when it all comes together.

So, utilizing some of my farmers’ market bounty, I set to create Mark Bittman’s cassoulet with lots of vegetables, another gem from Food Matters. Unlike some of the other dishes that I mistakenly label “one pot wonders” (somehow, I never consider the rice cooker to be a “pot”), this recipe truly is contained to one vessel. The large saucepan I chose, however, turned out to be not quite large enough, and as a result, I wasn’t able to include all of the recommended stock. The variation turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because the sweet tomato juice (I used canned tomatoes) thickened wonderfully as the beans naturally cooked down. I was also afraid that one pound of sausages wasn’t enough considering the large quantity of vegetables, but actually, there was more than enough meat, and more than that, the fact that they were immersed and finished cooking by simmering away in liquid meant that they ended up moist and full of flavour.

Cassoulet with Lots of Vegetables

The cassoulet was a hearty, satisfying dish, and like stews or chilis, was even better for lunch the next day. We ended up with six good-sized servings, which helped save me an evening of cooking – always a bonus! This recipe is definitely a keeper.

October in Edmonton is for Halloween!

Dedmonton, Canada’s Halloween Festival, runs this month. I’ve mentioned some events included under the festival’s umbrella, but for more, check out the website for a great calendar of Halloween-related events.

  • The fifth edition of Pecha Kucha, Edmonton Next Gen’s popular series showcasing everything from design, art and sustainability will take place at the Myer Horowitz on October 2. Mack wrote about the last incarnation here.
  • On October 2-4, the fifth annual Pure Speculation Festival will celebrate science fiction and fantasy. Some of the sessions look like they will be fun, like a tongue-in-cheek session on zombie preparedness.
  • The Edmonton Film Society’s Fall 2009 series, Kings of Cool, continue on October 5. Screenings of these classic films are just $5, and run nearly every Monday at 8pm.
  • Edmonton commemorates 20 years of Read In October 5-9.
  • Did you miss the last Edmonton Tweetup in September? Not to worry, you have another opportunity on October 6 to meet up with other Twitter users, this time at Ceili’s.
  • A family friendly way to celebrate Oktoberfest is taking place on October 6 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra – sing along with “Bavarian alpine music” and even learn how to yodel! With Robert Bernhardt as the conductor, it’s almost guaranteed to be a fun night.
  • Joining an Edmonton Ghost Tour is a great way to spend the evening, offered October 12-29 this month. I went on one years ago, and it was an entertaining ride, particularly around the Halloween season.
  • Music Wednesdays at Noon continue at the McDougall United Church on October 14, 21 and 28.
  • DedFest: Hellberta’s Horror Festival, showcases the best in independent horror cinema October 15-18.
  • The 17th annual Edmonton Scarecrow Festival rolls into Northlands Park October 16-18. All funds raised go to ABC Headstart.
  • The 2009 North of Nowhere Expo: Festival of Independent Media & Underground Art is a non-profit activist-arts festival and runs October 16-31 at the Edmonton Public Library and Metro Cinema.
  • ChangeCamp asks the question, “How do we re-imagine government and citizenship in the age of participation?” Join other engaged citizens at Lister Hall on October 17 to discuss answers to that question.
  • To mark the worldwide celebration of Home Movie Day on October 17, the Stanley Milner Library is hosting an event where you can chat with archivists about preserving your home movies, and stay for screenings.
  • A cool event is coming to Edmonton for the first time on October 17 – Timeraiser is a unique event that merges a volunteer fair with a silent art auction. As a means of enticing young people who are looking for a way to explore volunteer options, attendees are able to bid on artwork with their time instead of money. I’m eager to see this in action.
  • Need a reason to go for a stroll? How about the 124 Street Fall Gallery Walk? On October 17-18, at least seven galleries and area businesses participate in this biannual event that showcases local artists.
  • The Pop Culture Fair, featuring the “world’s most popular collectibles” is on October 18 at the Mayfield Inn Trade Centre.
  • LitFest, Canada’s only festival dedicated to creative nonfiction, runs October 21-25. Their theme this year is “Brain Food”, and though it has a more metaphorical meaning, they do have one event intertwined with food (Savouries pairs appetizers with readings).
  • After October 17, the Edmonton Corn Maze is transformed into the Farm of Fear. Check it out October 21-24 and 28-31. Though I’ve never been (I don’t think I could handle it), as it is “not recommended for young children”, I think it’s safe to say peeled-grapes-as-eyes are out of the picture.
  • It’s a play I’ve been waiting to be remounted for years – turns out, patience pays off. The Bone House, Marty Chan’s thriller revolving around the hunt for a serial killer, returns to the TransAlta Arts Barns October 22 –November 7. I’ve written about how that was the play that introduced me to the city’s theatre scene – I can’t wait to see it again.

Enjoy your October!