American Heirlooms - October 2020

American Heirlooms - October 2020

302-653-2411

OCTOBER 2020

THE CHANGE OF SEASON BRINGS A WELCOME CHANGE OF PACE

The transformation from a sticky, humid Delaware summer to the cool, crisp days of fall is a very refreshing change for our region. As we hear the geese flying south and watch the leaves change color, we’re given a forward look at the passing of time. The chilling winter will soon approach, beckoning us to well-built fires of cured wood; the light, sweet smell of wood smoke; and bone-warming heat. Fall is a season of change. It’s a time when both nature and our summertime habits transition into cold-weather necessities. It’s an opportunity to prepare and gather for the long winter ahead, but it’s also a chance to watch another turn of the clock in nature unfold. We observe the cycles in nature and understand the brevity of life.

about three bushels of potatoes! We anticipate that this autumn harvest will fill our plates and satisfy our palates for months to come. We recognize that God has richly blessed us. Bethany enjoys growing, preserving, and cooking food. Several of her more recent hits include grilled pork chops, oven-roasted green beans, and oven-barbecued ribs from her new cookbook “Hope’s Table.” On a regular basis, we enjoy tasty dishes harvested from the garden, pond, or woods. The hard work of growing and procuring our own food enhances the flavor and provides great satisfaction. We are teaming with God and harnessing nature to provide for our basic necessities. Flying geese and golden corn fields remind us that deer hunting season has arrived. We sit on the two pieces of property that we’ve been given permission to hunt and wait for the deer. We rely on deer to provide some extra meat for the fridge. By the time you read this newsletter, I’m sure my boys will be just itching to get out into the woods and see which deer walks across their path. As we harvest more vegetables and prepare for a (hopefully) successful hunt, this fall is a welcome change of pace from a hot, busy summer. Even though it is a time of transition from one season to the next, fall has moments that we savor each year.

At home, our garden is winding down. Once all the vegetables have been harvested, we are then tasked with cleaning up the garden and planting cover crop. We nurture the garden after it has given us so much, and we feed the soil with nutrients and let it rest until planting season in the spring. By the time you read this, our fall vegetables, like lettuce and broccoli, will have been harvested, and our pantry and freezers will be full of winter provisions. Bethany has been hard at work through August and September preparing our harvest for storage. Presently, she is canning peaches and green beans for the winter. We even recently harvested

Have a safe and bountiful season,

–Ethan Zimmerman

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It’s the season of fall spices. Pumpkin spice — which is actually a mix of many different seasonal spices — is a favorite, but it’s not the only one we should try this year. Seasonal spices are a fun way to literally spice up your meals, and many of them also have surprising health benefits! Something for Your Heart: Cinnamon Cinnamon can actually help lower your blood sugar levels, which is especially beneficial for folks with Type 2 diabetes. The Johns Hopkins Medicine website also reports that cinnamon has heart-healthy benefits. For example, studies show that cinnamon can reduce high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thus decreasing the risk of developing heart disease. How to add more cinnamon to your diet: Sprinkle cinnamon on oatmeal or plain yogurt for a warming boost of flavor. You’ll also find cinnamon in pumpkin spice, a seasonal favorite. Something for Your Brain: Turmeric Recent research has found that turmeric can reduce inflammation. A compound in turmeric called curcumin has been shown to help reduce the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric may also help reduce inflammation in the brain, which has been linked to depression and Alzheimer’s.

How to add more turmeric to your diet: Homemade curries are a great way to get a good dose of turmeric. You can also add turmeric to roasted vegetables or taco seasoning.

Something for Your Stomach: Ginger If

you’ve ever drunk ginger ale on a plane to calm your upset stomach, then you’ve already experienced the healing properties of ginger. Ginger can be used to treat nausea, including nausea due to motion sickness and pregnancy. Studies show that ginger can also offer relief to cancer patients suffering from nausea caused by chemotherapy. How to add more ginger to your diet: There are many baked goods that call for ginger. Your morning coffee or tea could also benefit from a hint of ginger.

These are just a few spices that are also superfoods! Do some research to discover the secret benefits of your favorite spices.

If you happen to venture outside some night in October, you just might see one of these big celestial events happening in the heavens above us. The Planets Approach Mars and Uranus will be at their closest position to Earth in October. In fact, October will be a big month for Mars. From the end of September through October, it will be the second-most visible planet — behind Jupiter — from Earth in our solar system. Mars will be its brightest and biggest on Oct. 13. Light-years away and 18 days later, Uranus will be at its brightest and biggest visibility point all night long, which is rare for this dimly lit planet. Observers with powerful telescopes will see more of the green-blue dot in the sky, but for many, Uranus will just look like a bright dot on Oct. 31. A Strange Moon Month On Oct. 16, the moon enters its new moon phase and will not be visible from Earth given its position behind the planet. This

lack of light in the night sky offers optimal viewing opportunities to see star clusters and planets in our galaxy. Then, on Oct. 31, we will be treated to our second full moon, often called a blue moon. “Once in a blue moon” is a common phrase used to describe something that happens rarely, but blue moons happen every few months. An Ancient Dust Meteor Shower The Orionids Meteor Shower will reach its peak on Oct. 21. This event is known to produce about 20 meteors per hour, but it’s not so much the shower’s production that is impressive as it is its ancient background. The Orionids shower is created by dust grains left behind by Halley’s Comet. The famous comet swings past Earth about every 75 years. Halley is set to swing by Earth again in 2061, but you can catch its dust flying across the heavens this October.

Discover more celestial events by visiting SeaSky.org.

2 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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Perhaps few wood types hold as much mystique as sassafras. Its strong, unique scent has made it a go-to for teas and household cures, while its strong, sturdy nature has made it a durable wood type for many indoor and outdoor projects. According to Woodworking Network, Native Americans and colonial Americans once believed that sassafras held curative powers for many ailments, like headaches, malaria, colds, and fevers. As such, sassafras was often used to create beds and flooring. The belief was that the scent would discourage insects and bedbugs while the curative powers of sassafras would stimulate a good night’s sleep and drive away evil spirits. Today, it’s roots and flowers are still used to create teas, as natural healing recipes still call for the wood’s potent smell and possible powers.

But the most well-documented usefulness of sassafras is its durability

Sassafras is also known for its strength. It’s often used on outdoor equipment, like

and consistency in furniture and

gates, fence posts, window sills, and boats because it can take on temperature and weather swings and stand the test of time. Its beautiful coloring and soft yet deep grain give it a wholesome look for any custom furniture piece. Woodworking

household tools. In the U.S., sassafras is often used for kitchen cabinetry because of its similarity

to chestnut with its deep coloring and soft grain, Woodworking Network

Network also notes that sassafras can be used on interior furniture. Today, sassafras may not be valued for its healing abilities, but its strong scent, durable nature,

reports. (The nice smell is an added bonus!) However, most of the sassafras grown in the U.S. is exported to Europe, where varieties of sassafras are too small for lumber production.

and rich wood grain and color make it a useful wood type for many home projects. Call our shop today to discover what projects we can create with sassafras!

INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup flour • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 8 tbsp butter, melted • 1 3/4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes • 1 tbsp butter • 4 eggs • 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal

• 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1 3/4 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. In a large bowl, whisk milk, melted butter, and eggs into sweet potatoes. 2. In a separate large bowl, whisk next 7 ingredients together. 3. Stir sweet potato mixture into cornmeal mixture until combined. 4. Melt remaining 1 tbsp butter in cast-iron skillet over medium heat until bubbling, about 3 minutes. 5. Swirl butter to coat bottom and sides. 6. Pour batter into hot skillet and smooth top with spatula. 7. Bake in oven until cornbread is golden brown, 20–25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 8. Let cornbread cool in skillet on wire rack for 1 hour before serving.

Photo Credit: Heather Brooke Zimmerman

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Brought to you by KCS Builders of American Heirlooms and Penns Creek Furniture The Swiss Craftsman

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291 Blackiston Rd • Clayton, DE 19938 • Phone: (302) 653-2411

Inside this Issue Celebrating Harvest, Hunting, and Bounty This Fall Page 1

3 Healthy Spices to Try This Fall

October’s Best Shows in the Heavens Page 2 The Storied History and Characteristics That Make Sassafras Last

Sweet Potato Cornbread Page 3

4 Fascinating Facts About Fall Page 4

Just because summer is over, that doesn’t signal an end to fun. How about harvest season, sweater weather, warm cider, and holiday meals? The list goes on and on.

In fact, fall might be the most interesting season of them all. Here are four facts you probably didn’t know about the season.

1. It was originally called “harvest.” In a world that was far more agricultural, the harvesting of crops defined the season. In fact, the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox was often called a Harvest Moon because its full, bright light allowed farmers to work into the night to collect their ripe crops during a very busy season. This was essential for farmers, who were often scrambling to finish a full harvest before the crops became over-ripened. 2. Fall babies tend to be impressive. Not only does the world’s most common birthday, Oct. 5, land in fall, but those babies have built an impressive resume. The British Department for Education found that they tend to do better in school, and also tend to live longer.

3. Weight gain is most common in the fall. It’s not only the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving turkey. Researchers believe it’s primarily caused by lower levels of vitamin D. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we tend to get less sun. It’s another reason to be careful about diet and exercise this season. 4. Autumn is good for the economy. “Leaf peeping,” which is a slang term for fall foliage tourism, is more than just a funny name. It’s also a $3 billion industry in New England alone. Delaware residents can expect some peak leaf-peeping experiences as early as late October. Make sure you get out on a local trail and explore!

4 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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