October, the best month of the year. Perfect temperatures: cool nights, warm days, a little rain. Getting to be sweater and boot weather. Lots going on, but little of it makes the mainstream news. AI data centers in space. There are 16 things on my to-do list, and I’ve done 6 of them. Getting there, slowly. Time to cook fall/winter meals, and turn the oven back on. Pot roast, baked chicken, chili, stews, soups, bread. Yum. Reading new books. New music videos. Are you registered to vote? Do you have ID that is acceptable in your state? Don’t wait until the last minute. Women’s basketball is the best sport on TV. Second best: The Chiefs and the Eagles. Support local and national NPR and PBS stations. Check out the Presidential Term Countdown Clock. 838 more days.
Wild Cooking Woman 10/5/26
Do your civic duty. VOTE. The best places to find state-specific voting information are:
The continent of Africa is equivalent to the combined size of the United States, China, India, and much of Western Europe. (from Pinterest)
What I’m listening to today
WCW is reading…
- My Friends by Fredrik Backman
- Fury in Death by JD Robb
- The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore
- Cold Bayou by Barbara Hambly
- The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews
- The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon
The MacArthur Foundation announces its 2026 ‘Genius Grant’ winners, who each receive an $800,000, no-strings-attached stipend for their work.
Some daily routines could slowly contribute to changes in blood pressure, vascular health, and inflammation without us even realizing it. (more)
- Being Sedentary
- Skipping Breakfast
- Not Prioritizing Sleep
- High Blood Sugar
Pear Dumplings
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
1to 5 Tbsp. iced water
1/3 cup chopped dried apricots
1/3 cup tub-style cream cheese
4 medium Bartlett pears (6 to 7 oz. each)
1 egg white
1 Tbsp. sugar
11/4 cups pear or apricot nectar
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup apricot brandy or pear brandy, or additional pear or apricot nectar
Half-and-half, light cream, or whipped cream (optional)
(I use Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts instead of making my own, but here is a recipe for the pastry just in case.)
Pastry
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 to 5 Tbsp. iced water
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together all-purpose flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. very cold water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push to the side of the bowl. Repeat, using 1 Tbsp. water at a time (up to 5 Tbsp.total), until all of the flour mixture is moistened. Form dough into a ball. Wrap in wax paper or plastic and refrigerate until ready to use.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, stir together apricots and cream cheese. Leaving pear stems intact, peel pears. Remove cores from the bottoms, using a melon baller to scoop out the seeds. Spoon filling into holes in bottoms.
- On a lightly floured surface, gently flatten Pastry dough. Roll into a 12-inch square. Using a fluted pastry wheel or a sharp knife, trim edges to make an even square. Cut square into 3/4-inch-wide strips.
- Pat pears dry with paper towels. Using a single pastry strip and starting about 1/4 inch above the base of a pear, wind the pastry strip around fruit (don’t cover the bottom yet). Moisten end of strip with a bit of water; press to the end of a second pastry strip to seal together. Finish wrapping pear, adding strips as needed, until the top is covered; moisten the end of the last strip with water and press to seal. Use another strip to cover the bottom of pear and enclose the filling, sealing ends of pastry with water. Trim any excess pastry as needed. Repeat wrapping with remaining pastry strips and pears.
- Using a knife, cut leaf shapes from any remaining pastry strips; mark veins on leaves. Attach leaves to tops of pears, using water to moisten pastry and secure. Place pears in a shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, whisk together egg white and 1 Tbsp. water; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with sugar.
- In a glass measuring cup, stir together the pear nectar, corn syrup, and apricot brandy; pour around the wrapped pears in the dish. Bake, uncovered, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving. If you like, drizzle dumplings with half-and-half or cream or serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
WNBA semi-finals (best of 5)
- New York Liberty v. Atlanta Dream (won game 1) Highlights
- Las Vegas Aces v. Golden State Valkyries (won game 1) Highlights
Game 2, Wednesday 10/7
- New York Liberty v. Atlanta Dream on ESPN @ 7:30p
- Las Vegas Aces v. Golden State Valkyries on Peacock @ 9:30p
Game 3, Friday, 10/9
- New York Liberty v. Atlanta Dream on ESPN2 @ 7:30p
- Las Vegas Aces v. Golden State Valkyries on Peacock @ 9:30p
Game 4, Sunday, 10/11 (if needed)
- New York Liberty v. Atlanta Dream on ABC
- Las Vegas Aces v. Golden State Valkyries on Peacock/NBC
Game 5, Wednesday, 10/14 (if needed)
- New York Liberty v. Atlanta Dream on ESPN
- Las Vegas Aces v. Golden State Valkyries on Peacock/NBC
POTUS personally instructed his budget director to use taxpayer money for TV ads praising him and his presidency, according to reporting by Maggie Haberman, Hamed Aleaziz, Shane Goldmacher and Jonathan Swan. (more)
Christa Pike survived two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital on September 30, 2026, prompting Governor Bill Lee to halt all remaining executions for the year. Pike’s survival raises questions about whether Tennessee can legally attempt another execution. Supreme Court precedent from Louisiana ex rel. Francis v. Resweber (1947) generally allows a second attempt if the first fails due to procedural malfunction. Pike’s case may test the limits of that precedent because the full protocol was exhausted. Pike is currently unconscious and on a ventilator in a Nashville hospital. (more)
Another Monday, more bullsh*t. Pay attention to the real stuff, not the distractions. Almost October. When was the last time you cleaned your email inbox? Measles outbreaks continue. POTUS still trying to limit freedom of the press. Snowflake… Support local and national NPR and PBS stations. Check out the Presidential Term Countdown Clock. 845 more days.
Kintsugi 9/28/26
Here are the 40 worst foods for your heart, according to cardiologists and dietitians. Some of my favorite things are on this list (sigh). Moderation or substitution are the keys for me.
Can you guess the real size of each country on the new world map? Take the quiz here.
Looking for a new news source? Try Ground News. Read the news from multiple perspectives.
Books on Kintsugi’s desk…
- The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
- When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams
- The Beauty of What Remains by Steve Leder
- Ransom by Daniel Silva
- We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
- The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore
- Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead
