Treehouse Treehouse
+Co +Co
S E P T E M B E R
2 0 2 1
The The
THE BREAKFAST ISSUE
TABLE
OF
CONTENT
THE BREAKFAST ISSUE
07
FALL: IT'S IN THE AIR E D I T O R ' S
10 13
N O T E
AUTUMN
Ugly
Pigeon
Post
Poem
14
What
Toast
62
+
T A R T I N E S
a
W O M A N
22 26
48
Egg
B R E A K F A S T CLUB
FALL, LEAVES, FALL
Brunch
S A N D W I C H
66
Feature
a r t i c l e
Bloody
M A R Y
70
B A N A N A
Fall Feelings Playlist
Pancakes
SEPTEMBER 2021 PLAYLIST
30
43
Embracing
O V E R N I G H T Oatmeal
top it off Interview
74
76
T+Co Issue 06 September 2021 Cover Image Paulette Wooten Editorial Paulette Wooten Editor Kim Hill Executive Editor Karen Hill Deputy Editor Contributors Kimber Britner, Sue Buchanan, Alexis Deal, Karen Hill, Michele Hill, Penny Hunter, Paulette Wooten Marketing + Advertising thetreehouseandco@gmail.com Subscriptions Visit www.thetreehouseandco.com Write to: 100 Club Dr, Suite 210, Burnsville, NC 28714
www.thetreehouseandco.com thetreehouseandco@gmail.com
T+CO
Published monthly by the treehouse + Co All Rights Reserved. A FOOD + MUSIC + HOSPITALITY ONLINE MAGAZINE
THE TREEHOUSE + CO
E D I T O R ' S
N O T E
FALL: IT'S IN THE AIR
H
ospitality is the keynote of our company and magazine; part of fulfilling our mission to create a moment of ease in a world that’s changing at warp speed. As conveyers of hospitality, our desire is to serve up encouragement, consolation, and support in times of pain
or crisis. That’s really what hospitality is: a determined effort to hearten the disheartened, to bring a bit of that “nestling” feeling we all need when the newness of Fall brings new challenges. Our hope is to evoke that feeling of rest and quiet—even for just a few moments of page-turning respite and don’t we all need a bit of solace, warmth, rest from the news of the day and the unwelcome challenges that have invaded all our homes? August has been full of unanticipated transitions for us, and it only takes a glance around to see the same is true for many of our dear readers. There is so much suffering in our communities, country, and world. With school back in session, parents are facing hard decisions for their children, and dealing with the emotional runoff of a year of masks, lockdowns, and upside down life. Our hearts cry out for those fleeing Afghanistan. The future seems more uncertain than ever. Like you, we've spent some of our summer trying to make up time we missed with family and friends. Now the Delta Variant is raging and claiming lives. My hometown in Georgia is 13th in the country in covid cases, and my only living aunt on my Mom's side is fighting for her life in ICU. Hurricane Ida and the worst wildfire in California history are impacting millions of lives. Understandably, most everyone we know feels pushed to the limit.
Like you, we’ve always looked to September as a reset month, bringing its spiced pumpkin latte and a fresh start to our table, and anticipating wonderful fall and winter holidays. However, we've heard from many in the Treehouse community that September is delivering more challenges and concerns than the warm feels. We're all looking for ways to find comfort in this season. We intend to bring you a soup pot full of hope! My Mom always had a good remedy when life was demanding — a fortifying meal and a good night's sleep, promising a better perspective tomorrow. When life becomes overwhelming, I still live by that practice. Unfortunately, while my working Mom had great advice for nightfall worries and concerns, her morning skill set wasn't quite the same. As a result, we found ourselves running late for school more often than not. She wasn't a believer in a grab-and-go sugary pop tart, and Froot Loops cereal was rarely in rotation. Healthy protein bars or smoothies had not entered our world yet. Her bar was high... a hot breakfast mainly consisting of scrambled eggs and grits or a toast menu and the occasional grilled cheese. I look back and think about all she was juggling to get us fed, clothed, and out the door. Does breakfast stress you out? Here’s a tip for an excellent start to your day. Sounds intuitive, but it works: have a plan for breakfast. Five minutes of thinking ahead could eliminate a half hour of frantic fussing. Whether you work in or outside of your home, I'm happy to share some of my favorite breakfast recipes and tricks to help jumpstart your morning routine. Believe it or not, breakfast may become your favorite meal of the day! I’m excited for you to read Penny Hunter’s article. She’s our guest writer this month, and we’re thrilled to introduce her to you. Her Instagram posts, podcast, and writing have encouraged and inspired us these last crazy months.
PAULETTE
WOOTEN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Pigeon
Post
e surely were created for more than bad hair days, dry elbows, and our Social Security numbers, don’t ya think? To my way of thinking, we were created for fun … for jumping waves at the beach … eating chocolate cake, and riding with the top down on a lovely day. And no doubt about it, we were created to share these life experiences. For togetherness! For exchanging crazy ideas, laughing hysterically, and occasionally sharing a dab of wisdom!
W
When I was a kid, my favorite spot of togetherness was my Uncle Red and Aunt Jo’s garage. A garage, you ask? Yes, a garage! Not your runof-the-mill garage, mind you. It was pristine! Picture this! My uncle had carpet samples under each tire of his truck! And … there was a complete living room set up, with a couch, chairs, and even a kitchen table.
Every evening after supper, both of my aunts, who just happened to live adjacent to the garage, would make the pilgrimage by foot to this unconventional meeting place. My mom, who we thought of as “the enforcer,” would drive over from her spot on Merritt Island to ensure the crowd didn’t get too rowdy. Even so, usually, one of my aunts (always the same one) would get offended and march back across the street strutting like a goose with her feathers ruffled! Sharing a beverage was not a strong suit among this group. Everyone brought their own refreshments. Aunt Jo had her peach brandy, while Aunt Elmira and my Grandmom preferred their Old Milwaukee beer to my mom’s small glass bottle of Coca-Cola. These women were all strong and feisty, but each covered over with pure sweetness. Their fired-up conversations were a hotbed of opinions that covered a myriad of issues—some the depth of a saucer, others the depth of the sea. They questioned why the new owner of a neighboring house took down a perfectly good clothes line! Can you believe? At least in retrospect, my all-time favorite deliberation (it went on and on) was what was really going on between my Grandmom and Mr. Watson. They were being gossiped about by the whole town. Each evening they sat on the porch swing talking till the mosquitoes came out. So what was going on there anyway?
Mr. Watson was a 100 years old!! One hundred years old! Does good conversation count for nothing? The best day to be in the garage was “Lotto Friday!” The entire time was spent on “what-if’s.” “If I win,” Aunt Elmira assured everyone, she would screen in her porch.” Cars and trips and new floors were dreamed of! The following day, bright and early, they all bent over one newspaper as Uncle Red delivered the winning numbers aloud. My Grandmom, mom, and three aunts were the most entertaining and funniest people I have ever known. Their humor was so off the cuff with how they viewed life; an outsider would have scratched his head in wonder before splitting his sides laughing. They absolutely could have had their own comedy channel. I’m thankful to have been part of this family! I’m grateful that my Aunt Elmira could remember and help me record these adventures. And I’m glad—oh so glad—for my crazy sense of humor, undoubtedly honed at the very grassroots of life … in that totally unorthodox garage in Cocoa, Florida.
FALL, LEAVES, FALL BY EMILY BRONTË
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen day and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree. I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.
What
a
W O M A N
@the_archerandthemoon
M E E T
ALEXIS DEAL
Are you ready?
@the_archerandthemoon
These late August days can burn hot and long…I savor every moment. Soon, the cool air will move in, the light will take an earlier leave, and the leaves will slowly put on their big show.
Detours. It is easy to get so tied to our schedules and plans that when we have to take the long way, we find it an annoyance. We don’t want to take the extra time, put in the longer miles… but there is something so sweet in the surrender to the journey- to embracing the unexpected and just taking in all the beauty along the way. Whether we are rushing to dinner or to the next big goal in our lives, may we be patient and accepting of the journey and be grateful for the gems we find in the process. They are here to teach us and enrich our experience…
- ALEXIS DEAL
M E E T
KIMBER BRITNER
@kimberbritnerdesigns
In some season it’s easy to see the fruit in our lives and some seasons there’s growth taking place beneath the ground, establishing depth and roots that will further sustain us. It’s fruitless to compare our season with someone else’s. We have no idea what they’ve
been
through,
nor
does
anyone know that what we’ve been through. We must be careful not to judge the work we can’t see or understand. Rather it’s important to embrace our particular season instead of resisting it. Find the beauty and let it teach us. Every season offers the opportunity to bring forth some kind of fruit, whether we see it or not. When we work with the timing of the season, we get into alignment for a future harvest. There’s always a shift in seasons and when we’re connected to our inner knowing we’ll discern the timing in our lives for rest or action. Struggling against the rhythm is exhausting, while staying in sync is electrifying. Here’s to whatever season you’re in. May it be fruitful in producing a harvest of good things now or in the future.
While the world is upside down it is the perfect time for transformation. Why not let the chaos and unraveling in the world, unravel you? -kimber britner
Feature
a r t i c l e by Penny Hunter
My Complicated Relationship with Fall By Penny Hunter
I’m surrounded by autumn people. And I’m the kind of person who tightens my grip on the last days of summer like a kid clutching a lollipop. I love everything about summer. So, each year as autumn approaches, I get more than a little sad. As the mornings are cooler and the days get shorter, historically, I’ve lamented. I don’t think its just the changing of the seasons, I think its deeper than that. Most people who know me know I love sharing life with others. I love being outside. Working hard. Planting, cultivating, harvesting. I love seeing things spring to life. Some of that might be my attempt to connect to the things my mom cared about as I process her absence in my life.
Growing up in a home headed by two alcoholics, I was desperate for some kind of stability and rhythm. I always dreaded sundown because as a young girl, I would be faced with the scariness of nighttime alone taking care of my little brothers. Of course, the fall and winter just punctuated this anxiety as nightfall came earlier. During the summer, my mom and dad were home a little more often rather than being gone on a drinking spree. When home, my mom most often was outside tending her irises and roses. She would rather sit under the hawthorne tree than inside the house. We always had a large vegetable garden and summer days when my parents were home seemed almost normal. We would have fish frys, fill Kerr jars with fruit to enjoy later, grate cabbage to fill the crocks for sauerkraut, and we would pickle almost any vegetable from the garden. As the fall approached, these activities ended as we went back to school and mom and dad went back to their routine of being gone for days at a time.
As an adult, I’ve been able to reckon with this animosity toward fall and more clearly identify the genesis of it. That has been helpful and healing. As the first tinges of yellow hit the aspens in Colorado the past few years, I’ve begun looking for beauty where in the past I may have only seen the impending dark days of winter. While I haven’t completely made my peace with the end of summer, I have found some joy in the spiciness of fall. Sunflowers stretching to the sky. Tasty melons at the end of the harvest. A little more time to nest with those I love.
Penny Hunter www.pennyhunter.me
@pennyhunter
I have rarely regretted being generous. When I have been regretful, it is usually because I was generous with expectations attached. Not open-handed, nostrings-attached generosity. - penny hunter
B A N A N A Pancakes
DIRECTIONS
B A N A N A Pancakes
In a medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add and beat eggs. Add vanilla and salt mix together.
INGREDIENTS 1 BANANA 2 EGGS 1 TEASPOON VANILLA 1/2 TEASPOON OF SALT BUTTER OR COCONUT OIL
Heat a grill or frying pan to medium and add butter or oil. Pour about 3 inch circle of batter. Brown on both sides. Top with fresh fruit or whip cream if you like.
O V E R N I G H T Oatmeal
O V E R N I G H T Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS 1/2 CUP ROLLED OATS 1/2 CUP MILK YOUR CHOICE 2 TEASPOONS SWEETENER OF YOUR CHOICE (HONEY, MAPLE SYRUP, INFUSED MAPLE SYRUPS) 1 TEASPOON CHIA SEEDS
DIRECTIONS Place all ingredients large jar and mix together. Place in fridge overnight. If you want to double or triple the recipe place all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together and add to individual jars.
TOPPINGS CHIA SEEDS, HEMP SEEDS, CHOCOLATE CHIP, NUTS (CRUSHED, CHOPPED OR SLICED), FRUIT, EVEN SPRINKLES
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
on a stressful day start with something special... MAKE HEART EGGS. MAKE YOUR CHILD OR PARTNER THEIR FAVORITE BREAKFAST.
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
add herbs to any egg dish for extra pizzaz TO IN AND
SAVE
TIME
BUTTER PLACE
FRIDGE.
COOK
AHEAD IN
OF
SAGE TIME
ZIPLOCK
IN
CANDIED PEACAN BACON
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
cook and freeze bacon ahead of time. PULL
OUT
AND
MICROWAVE SECONDS.
HEAT FOR
IN
THE
10-15
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
CUT AND FREEZE FRESH FRUIT for smoothies. INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGE YOUR
FAVORITE
INGREDIENTS IN SINGLE ZIPLOCKS. PULL OUT ADD YOUR CHOICE LIQUID. BLEND. PLACE A CUTE STRAW IN YOUR GLASS FOR A LITTLE EXTRA HAPPY.
BASIC INGREDIENTS
Juice
Milk Thickner
Protein
Fruit
Greens
Ice
Honey
Nuts
MIX+
MATCH
Smoothie
FRUIT 2 cups
THICKENER OR PROTEIN BAR ¼ - ½ cup
LIQUID 1 - 1½ cup ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS A hand full of greens or kale A dollop of honey Pinch of fresh herbs
In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass. Top with fresh herb and cute swirly straw. There are so many combinations. Let us know what tastes best to you.
*For top-notch smoothies, freeze your fruit or buy frozen fruit; it always works best.
Embracing
AUTUMN BY PENNY HUNTER
RITUALS Rituals and traditions can help ground us and those we love. They can help mark the uniqueness of a particular season and, in my case, give me something to look forward to in the fall. In the fall, I pull out the candles. I have one by my sink because washing dishes is better by candlelight. Light a candle at breakfast since the mornings are a little darker. I’m not a huge fan of artificial things, but I have bought wax battery-operated candles with a timer and in the autumn I set them to turn on at dusk. This is a special way for me to look forward to the romance of fall rather that dreading the end of a day. I have a planter box in front of my house. I used to just plant flowers in it for the summer. Over the past decade, I’ve begun marking the change of the seasons by setting up a still-life in the fall and winter. This month I will pull up my geraniums and sweet potato vines and replace them with aspen branches, pumpkins, dried corn and gourds as a part of my ritual to welcome fall. I’ve decorated our home very simply and with the passing of the seasons I ritualistically change the accent pillows to a color that reflects the season and get out the throws to toss across the sofa for the colder evenings. I also have a large bouquet of wheat from the fields near my childhood home that I add to my dining room table. Dried seed pods, grasses and other found objects from my hikes become part of my collection rituals of fall.
celebrations I love celebrating. Add food and good conversation to the celebration and the payoff in emotional wages is huge.
I have reserved some recipes to only be made during a particular season. This means my family and friends look forward to it and the sharing of the meal or treat is connected to a special time together. In the autumn it’s caramel corn, a collection of soups and spiced muffins. COVID has made it harder to gather together with others. I miss my friends! My husband and I have scheduled a few dates with friends, sent them a package of treats and connected for a Zoom double date where we catch up, play a game and reconnect. These little celebrations will make fall and winter a little more bearable as the pandemic continues. My family enjoys a rich German heritage. Octoberfest is a fun celebration in the fall that allows us to embrace our culture and enjoy some great food and traditions from Germany. Friends from around the world have introduced me to seasonal celebrations that were never a part of my history. The Autumnal Equinox is a great time for a fire in your fire pit. My grandchild’s school celebrates this holiday with “stone” soup, a reading of the story and crafting involving dried leaves and found objects in nature. Make up a day of the week that is your day to celebrate. Taco Tuesday was a way to sell more tacos, but for some people it’s become a point of connection with friends. Pick a day. Spaghetti Sunday. Breakfast Friday. Build a celebration around it and use it to mark that special day of the week through fall.
service Fall can be a lonely time for those who have limited access to activities, or people who rely on additional support to get outside, make purchases, etc. As the pace slows in the fall months, invest the extra time you might gain by making someone’s life better. Even during COVID you can provide hope and friendship to people who are living alone, residents of a retirement center or assisted living facility. On your special night of the week (see above) provide greeting cards for each family member and have them take 5 minutes and write a brief note to someone who may be feeling isolated. You can even adopt a good-old-fashioned pen pal. Make autumn a season where we take our slower pace as an opportunity to care for someone else. Spend a Saturday morning raking the leaves for a single parent or an elderly neighbor. Call your local food pantry and ask how COVID has impacted donations. Coordinate a pick-up of canned goods or other products in short supply and deliver them to the pantry. Connect with an Islamic Center in your community and ask what incoming refugees from Afghanistan might need to begin their new lives in your town.
Ugly
Egg
B R E A K F A S T CLUB
Welcome to the Ugly Egg Club Where eggs are ugly but yummy Where there's no presentation pressure, Just a good ole scrumptious breakfast Made the way you like it
3 ways to prepare eggs SCRAMBLE
FRY
POACH
2-3 eggs Butter or ghee 1 teaspoon of water, milk or heavy cream Salt and Pepper
Egg Butter, ghee or olive oil
Egg Water 1 tablespoon white vinegar (if i’m out i use whatever vinegar I have own hand) Salt and pepper
Crack eggs in a bowl and the choice liquid. Whisk until smooth.
Add butter or oil. Heat for a minute.
Melt butter in a nonstick pan. Heat to medium. Pour eggs into pan. Let them cook for a minute. Then use a spatula to fold and stir the eggs until done. Season with salt and pepper. Great Egg Toppers Grated Gruyere Cooked Bacon Herbs Pinch of spices
Heat a nonstick pan to medium.
Crack egg into a small bowl. Add the egg to the pan. The edges will begin to cook. You can cover the pan or continue to cook uncovered. The longer you cook, the harder the yolk. *I’m from Georgia and a lot of people use the bacon fat to scramble or fry eggs.
In a sauce pan add enough water that the egg is submerged about 2 inches and bring to rapid boil then lower heat. Add vinegar. Swirl around. Crack an egg in a small bowl. (optional crack the egg into a fine mesh sieve to remove the extra white.) Gently slip the egg into the water. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove the poached egg by using a slotted spoon. Place on a paper towel to remove the excess water.
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
USE LEFTOVERs FOR BREAKFAST. SWEET POTATOES, FINGERLING POTATOES, CRAB CAKE, STEAK, BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS, HEAT UP AND TOSS A FRIED, SCRAMBLED OR POACHED EGG ON TOP.
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
WHEN YOU'RE IN A HURRY OR Everyone is getting up at different times. cook everything and leave on the counter for everyone to reheat when their ready. WORKS GREAT FOR SAUSAGE, EGGS, PANCAKES, ETC.
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
don't be A short order cook. WHEN
YOU'RE
NOT
RUSH
TEACH
CHILDREN
OR
TO
MAKE
THEM SHOW
IN THEM
IN
YOUR
PARTNER
EGGS, YOUR
A
HOW
INVOLVE PROCESS.
WHERE
THINGS
ARE SO THEY CAN JOIN IN.
Toast
+
T A R T I N E S
T A R T I N E Banana
BASIC INGREDIENTS
Toast
Banana
Honey
Yogurt
Walnuts
Almonds
Cashews
:PIT NEHCTIK ESUOHEERT
anyone can make toast and top it with their favorite spread and fruit. ALMOND CREAM
BUTTER, CHEESE,
YOGURT, JAM,
NUT, HONEY, AGAVE.
AVOCADO,
CHEESE,
FRUIT,
Brunch
S A N D W I C H
Bloody
M A R Y
Fall Feelings SEPTEMBER 2021 PLAYLIST
I Dare You to Love Trisha Yearwood History of a Feeling Madi Diaz heaven from here Joy Oladokun & Penny and Sparrow Right on Time Brandi Carlile The River Knows How Candi Carpenter Radio Silence Natalie Hemby Take My Love With You Bonnie Raitt You Were Mine Fretland Good Woman (Be Kind Version) The Staves Diamond Studded Shoes Yola What Are We Fighting For Maggie Rose
TOP IT OFF
PAULETTE WOOTEN 48, INSTRUMENTALIST, FILM COMPOSER, SELF TAUGHT CHEF, CO-OWNER OF THE TREEHOUSE + CO, CO-FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF THE TREEHOUSE NON-PROFIT
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY, THE FIRST RECORD, CASSETTE, OR CD? DO YOU STILL HAVE IT? My first record was a 45 of John Anderson's Just a Swingin' - I would play it over and over and sing and dance around my room looking at myself in the mirror. No, but I wish I did! WHAT ARE YOUR GOTO SONGS WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND YOU'RE BY YOURSELF? ANY NEW SONGS YOU'RE LOVIN'? I don't really have a goto song, but I love SiriusXM radio's Tom Petty station and love to scan all the channels until something fits my mood.
TOP IT OFF
PAULETTE WOOTEN
FIRST FAV FOOD YOU DISCOVERED AS A KID THAT WASN’T SERVED AT YOUR HOUSE. This is hard. My mom and grandmother were such great cooks and always trying new dishes. I'd have to say it was probably tacos. We rarely had Mexican. I'm still a sucker for tacos especially if they are unique like butternut squash, fish or something I've never tried. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT NIGHT AT HOME. WHAT DO YOU EAT AND DO ON YOUR “WEEKEND” TYPE NIGHT, You're probably not gonna believe this, but I love cooking so much! It's like therapy and a creative outlet. So most nights, I pour a little something and try a new dish.
DESCRIBE A TIME YOU FELT WELCOMED IN SOMEONE’S HOME IN AN EXPECTED WAY OR HOW A FAMILY MEMBER MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL WHEN YOU CAME TO THEIR HOME. My grandmother was always prepared with food, hugs, kisses, listening ears and cable tv. We lived out in the country and only had a couple of channels. I always loved going to her house. AS KID/YOUNG WOMAN, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU ARE KNOWN FOR? I always wanted to do music. I'm grateful that for over 20 years I traveled the world as a touring musician. Now, I'm doing what I never dreamed of - running my own company.
