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Autumn 2023 Gathering

Hosting a gathering in the middle of my busiest season to date came as a gift of reprieve and opportunity to slow down my hustling body and mind. The past few months I have spent every weekend adorning tables with florals, candles and table runners for celebratory feasts of newlyweds and their cherished loved ones. I feel so grateful to participate in these nuptial celebrations through the gift of flowers. That said, it felt so good to finally sit at the table made beautiful for a meal of which I could partake alongside my own guests. On October 6th, four incredible women came into my studio and left with full bellies, friendship and a handful of blooms. 

Below I will share with you the ingredients and instructions for the flower arrangement we made. As for the meal, I made a white bean soup using a recipe from the cooking blog, Rainbow Plant Life. While I enjoy creating elaborate meals for my guests, for this gathering I prioritized ease since different seasons evoke differing capacities and during the month of October time was limited. I loved how easy this stew was to make and how accommodating it was to a wide range of dietary needs. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we all did!

Fall Dahlia Bouquet

Ingredients:

  • Focal Flowers: 7-9 stems of dahlias

  • Focal Supports: 5-7 stems of zinnias

  • Texture: 3 stems of celosia

  • Line Flowers 3 stems of caryopteris

  • Line Flower: 3 stems of salvia

  • Unique Filler: 1-3 Perilla

  • Foliage: 3 pelargonium foliage (scented geranium)

  • Foliage: 3 stems of hydrangea leaves

Instructions:

  1. Using your less dominant hand, pinch your index and middle finger together with your thumb as you would a shadow puppet.

  2. Turn your hand so the hollow part is facing up. Using your dominant hand, take a dahlia stem and place it vertically in between the pinched thumb and fingers of your less dominant hand. From there, begin adding zinnias and remaining dahlias (alternating between the two) at an acute angle. Twist your bouquet 180 degrees before incorporating the next stem. This will allow you to form a spiral. There are a number of different ways to create the spiral. My method is inspired by Amy Balster’s (the Floral Coach) technique.

  3. Next add in celosia, caryopteris, salvia and perilla into the spiral. By now your spiral should be well formed and your fingers loosened. Cut the longer stems to keep the bouquet balanced in your hand. Shift flower necks and heads so florals are distributed evenly throughout the bouquet while ensuring the stems remain in the spiral.

  4. Lastly, add the foliage lower in the arrangement, forming a collar around the stems. Then secure it with a rubber band.

  5. Place the bouquet in water before either cutting short for a vase or giving to a friend or loved one.

Bouquet Overview: Philadelphia Grown Blooms
Caryopteris, celosia, dahlias, gomphrena, hydrangea foliage, pelargonium, perilla, salvia, zinnias

Sourced from:The Philly Floral Guild Farmers: Flores Temporis, Hickory Grove Gardens, Liberty Plants, Love’n Fresh Flowers, Pinewood and Posies, Spring Wind Farm

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tags: flower gathering, paleo vegan recipes, gather, floral design gathering, honorable gathering, flower, vegetarian recipe
Friday 11.10.23
Posted by Grace McDonald
Comments: 1
 

Autumn 2022 Gathering

October is the grand finale of flowers for the year. Dahlias, marigolds, perila and herbs abundant are seen in yards all around my West Philly neighbourhood. It is also a time for harvesting and feasting before the cold winter comes and makes us wait for things to grow once more. With each floral and dinner recipe found below, take a moment to pause in gratitude for the gifts of the earth.

Bouquet Overview: Philadelphia Grown Blooms
Amaranth, basil, caryopteris, celosia, dahlias, gomphrena, hydrangea, marigolds, perilla zinnias

Sourced from: Farmer Lady Flowers, Lunaria Gardens
Feast Features:
Apples, butternut squash, chickpeas, chipotle peppers, cranberries, pecans

Sourced from: Mariposa and Whole Foods

Flower Gathering
Philadelphia Flower Gathering

The Flowers

While I am not completely opposed to super market flowers, the varieties you can find grown locally are always going to be fresher and more unique than ones at the grocery. Often farmers markets will have a stand dedicated to a flower farm. During the past fall season, I sourced some flowers from my local famers market but most of my flowers I purchased through site called Rooted which connects florists with local flower farmers. Flowers sourced from farming partnerships and cooperatives such as Philadelphia Flower Guild and Jersey Cut Flower Market can be seen in almost every one of my weddings this past season. I am excited to share with you a centrepiece recipe made from locally grown flowers.

Ingredients:

Sourced from Lunaria Gardens and Flower Lady Farmers from Jersey Cut Flowers

  • Foliage: 3 basil (Cardinal Tall)

  • Foliage: 3 stems of perilla

  • Filler: 1 limelight hydrangea

  • Focal Flowers: 5 stems of dahlias

  • Focal Supports: 3 stems of zinnias

  • Texture: 3 stems of amaranth

  • Texture: 3 stems of celosia

  • Line Flowers: 3 stems of pink caryopteris

  • Fluttery Elements: 3 stems of gomphrena

  • Fluttery Elements: 3 mini marigolds

Additional Supplies:

  • Container with 5” inch opening and 5-7” inches tall

  • Chicken wire

  • Wire cutters

  • Garden shears

  • Water proof floral tape

Prep

  1. Once you have gathered and sourced your flowers, find a container that has about a 5 -6” opening and is about the same in height.

    *Container tip: Ikea’s plant pots make great, affordable containers!

  2. Using wire cutters, cut a piece of chicken wire 8x10“ then fold over into a ball or pillow like structure so you create multiple layers with the chicken wire.

  3. Place the chicken wire ball inside the vase

  4. Using the floral tape, place 1 piece of tape across the diameter of the vases, then another piece of tape crossing over that tape so that you see an ‘x’ over the opening

  5. To double secure the tape, place 4 pieces of floral tape over the 4 ends where the floral tape meets the vase.

  6. Fill container to the top with water

My Process… yours might be different and that is okay

  1. Start with the basil stems. Measure out basil stems at the following heights:

    1. Tallest: 15 Inches high

    2. Medium height: 12 inches long

    3. Shorter height: 8 inches long

  2. Place the tall stem towards one edge of your arrangement, the shortest one on the same side but slightly below and veering outward, then place the medium length one on the opposite end of the tall stem and have it protruding out towards the horizon.

  3. Place the perilla to follow the lines of the basil but lower in the arrangement, covering some of the tape and the edges.

  4. At this point your arrangement should have three sections.

  5. Cut the hyrdrangea short and place it in one of the three sections of your arrangement.

  6. Visualizing a zig zag line going up and down, out and in, place the dahlias, throughout your arrangement. Refrain from placing dahlias low behind other flowers. They should be out and loud

  7. Place zinnias slightly lower and slightly behind the dahlias as if to further pronounce the dahlias

  8. Using your dangly amaranth, insert near the greenery and place the celosia low in the arrangement to fill any wholes in the arrangement .

  9. Place the caryopteris along the same lines as the greenery towards the edge of your arrangement

  10. Finally, insert the tiny marigolds and gomphrena as elements sticking out above, fluttering around the arrangement

The Feast

I have a next door neighbour who often prepares a double portion of her family’s dinner in case the opportunity to share arises. She always seems to offer these meals to me on the days I am exhausted and/ or too busy to cook. Countless evenings she has provided me a dinner so delicious that I make her text me the recipe. She is a hospitable friend and since October was her birthday month, I gave her a seat at the Autumn gathering as a gift. Spicy butternut squash soup was one of the dishes she so graciously shared with me so when deciphering recipes for the evening, I knew I wanted to try this soup.

Below I have included recipes for the soup, as well as the other delicious food items we shared.

Fig and Roasted Pecan Salad

Salad Ingredients

  • Pint of fresh Figs

  • 1 c of Roasted Pecans

  • 5 oz Organic greens

  • 1/2 c of Goat Cheese (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp of ACV

  • 1/4 c olive oil

  • 1 Tbsp of honey

  • 1 Tsp of dijon mustard

  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat Oven to 350 degrees and roast the pecans for a total of 6 minutes

  2. Set pecans aside to cool

  3. Mix together dressing ingredients

  4. combine all ingredients in a lage salad bowl

Cranberry and Chickpea Appetizer (adapted from Running to the Kitchen)

Ingredients

  • 2 peeled sweet potatoes

  • 2 TBSP of olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon of cumin

  • 1 teaspoon coriander

  • salt

  • 3 c of chickpeas

  • 1.5 c of cranberries or pomegranates

  • 1/2 c of roasted pine nuts

    Tahini Dressing:

    • 1/4 c of tahini

    • 3 TBSP olive oil

    • 2 Tbsp of maple syrup

    • 2 Tbsp of lemon juice

    • 1 garlic clove

    • salt

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 430 degrees

  2. Mix olive oil and spices with sweet potatoes then roast in oven for 18 minutes

  3. In a blender mix the salad dressing ingredients together

  4. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked and have cooled, mix together with the chickpeas, cranberries and pine nuts then add in the dressing

Apple Cinnamon Palette Cleanser

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp of lemon juice

  • 1 apple

  • 1/4 tsp of cinnamon

Instructions

  1. chop apples and place in a small bowl

  2. mix with lemon

  3. mix with cinnamon

Spicy Autumn Butternut Squash Soup (Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen- Mexican Favorites)

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons of olive oil

  • 1 small onion

  • 1 large butternut squash with seeds and stringy bits set aside

  • 5 cups of water

  • 1 cups of coconut cream

  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup

  • 1 tsp of chipotle chili minced

  • 1 tsp of ground cumin

  • roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

Instruction

  1. Steam butternut squash

  2. heat olive oil in a large sauce pan, saute onion, seeds and string of squash for about 5 minutes

  3. pour water in sauce pan, add some salt and bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for 10 minutes

  4. Strain out the seeds and squash meat from squash.

  5. Scrape squash from skin into the pot

  6. Using an immersion blender, blend squash into water, then add all other ingredients except pumpkin seeds

  7. When ready to serve, sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top

Butter Cream Maple Frosting for GF Jules’ Spice Cake Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c unsalted butter

  • 2 c powdered sugar

  • 2 tablespoons of whipping cream

  • 1 Tsp almond extract

  • 1/4 c maple syrup

  • 1/8 Tsp of salt

Instructions

  1. Whip the butter using a hand mixer

  2. Add the powdered sugar and mix for 2-3 minutes

  3. Add in the whipping cream and mix a tablespoon at a time and whip for two minutes

  4. slowly add in the almond extract, maple syrup and sea salt, whip for 7 minutes.

  5. Spread over two layer cake

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tags: flower gathering, paleo vegan recipes, gather, floral design gathering, honorable gathering, flower, vegetarian recipe
Tuesday 11.15.22
Posted by Grace McDonald
 

Summer 2022 Gathering

If you missed our summer gathering, you can read about what we made and what we ate by reading the post below!

Read more

tags: flower gathering, paleo vegan recipes, gather, floral design gathering, honorable gathering, flower
Sunday 07.10.22
Posted by Grace McDonald
 

Spring 2022 Gathering

Our spring gathering was full of colors and dancing branches! Read on for the guide to our sculptural centerpieces and recipes for our delicious Mediterranean feast.

Read more

tags: flower gathering, paleo vegan recipes, gather, floral design gathering, honorable gathering, flower
Thursday 04.21.22
Posted by Grace McDonald
 

Winter 2022 Gathering

If you missed our winter gathering, you can read about what we made and what we ate by reading the post below!

Read more

tags: flower gathering, paleo vegan recipes, gather, floral design gathering, honorable gathering, flower
Saturday 02.26.22
Posted by Grace McDonald