A Change In Season ~

As the air becomes cooler at the break of dawn and mist gently swirls around the Apuan Mountains, it is evident we are feeling a change in season.

Branches are swaying, causing the chestnuts to fall along our woodland path...those prickly golden husks, splitting as they land revealing brown shiny treasure within.

I am reminded of Margherita, who at this time of year, would collect the first tasty batch of chestnuts to cook Ballucci for us.

The chestnuts are boiled up in a saucepan of water with a little salt until tender...soft enough to eat!

The flavour speaks of warm nutty foraging of the earth, the kind of experience that nurtures ones soul...food provided by Mother Nature... organic...intrinsic to our health.

The locals are all out gathering wild food, just like the generations before them, a skill passed down from parents and grandparents from when they were children.

Porcini favour the area surrounding Chestnut Trees of which there are many in this woodland.

This damp warm air encourages their growth.

Driving home along the woodland track today, I came across a basket sitting next to the car of an elderly couple who were foraging amongst the trees!

I stopped the car to have a peep, reassuring the couple now walking as spritely as they could towards me.

Sandra and her husband Matteo looked into the basket to find their most prized Porcini.

Matteo was holding the bottom of his rolled up jumper in one hand using it to carry more wild food...

I love the passion and enthusiasm!

Full of smiles the lovely couple handed a fist full of fungi through the open window to our dear friend, Carole who had flown over from New York for just four nights.

I tried to resist taking more but Sandra insisted saying they had a lot more at home.

Like all the locals, they were sure to be slicing the Porcini drying them out in their cantina to enjoy during the months to come.

Arriving back at home, Emily offered to cook pasta with a delicious sauce using the Porcini the gift from our new friends topping it with crispy pancetta~absolutely full of flavour... delicious!

The woodland is going through a change, leaves are slowly turning, a natural process of drying out, falling from the trees, breaking down...going back enriching the earth. Before doing so, they put on their very best colourful dress~creating such utter joy for all eyes to behold.

Autumn is my favourite time of year...the light is truly enchanting~