this weekend i loved...

the delightfully curious sight of pumpkins and mums

covered in snow, coffeehouse hopping to brooklyn, 

and remembering what cold feels like.

...

happy halloween! how was

your weekend?

a postcard

from that most charming
block of west 88th street that
makes my mind wander.

 garden gates, climbing vines, the times on the

 doorsteps, all tied up with strings…it could be a scene from 

today, this cold, sunny friday in late october 2011...or maybe

it's a glimpse of another time entirely.

applesauce.

 post-swedish apple pie, i had six apples left…just 

enough to make homemade applesauce. i had never made it before 

(it sounds just a little intimidating, doesn't it?) and now i wonder why. it's 

simple, tasty, and really healthy, and there aren't words for the way my 

apartment smelled that early sunday morning.

        

        

classic applesauce

(from the apple lover's cookbook)

...

3 lbs (about 6) tender-sweet 

and tender-tart apples

1/4 cup water

1 T granulated sugar, plus

more to taste*

…

core the apples (do not peel) and slice into 2-inch chunks. place 

the apples in a pot over med-high heat and cover. when it begins

to steam vigorously, reduce heat to med-low and cook, stirring 

occasionally, until the apples can be mashed with the back 

of a wooden spoon (15-20 minutes).

process the apples through a food mill** and add sugar, taste, 

and add another T or two as desired. thin with additional water, 

if needed. serve cold or at room temperature.

*i only used 1/2 T sugar total and mine came out really sweet.

**i don't own a food mill and my food processor worked just fine.

october, orange.

currently sensing a theme around here…and i like it.

i'll take mums in the park, pumpkins on the
sidewalk, wool socks and scarves, and pumpkin
 bread with my coffee over almost anything
else the rest of the year.

(except maybe sidewalk christmas tree
 lots. i'm reaaalllyyy excited for those, too.)

swedish apple pie.

last weekend, staring down a satchel of apples 

picked that very afternoon, i browsed a friend's copy 

of the apple lover's cookbook…and by the end of the 

week, i had my own. i'm truly considering baking my way 

through this book over the coming cold months, but for 

now, here's a useful little recipe i plan to keep close at hand.

interesting, delicious, and slightly less decadent than its 

traditional sibling, swedish apple pie is incredibly simple: 

peeled and sliced apples topped with a batter of flour, sugar,

 butter, and egg. the batter settles around the apples as it 

bakes, so the result is more like cake and less like crust. 

4 large firm-tart apples 

(peeled, sliced, cored, and 

cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 T + 1 cup all-purpose flour

2 T + 1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 sticks salted butter 

(at room temperature)

1 large egg

...

preheat the oven to 375 F and 

set aside a greased pie dish

toss the apple slices with the cinnamon, 1 T of flour, 

and 2 T of sugar. arrange the slices flat and in an even 

layer in the pie dish (if you're using a 9-inch pie dish, 

it will look quite full. this is good! and there will be 

plenty of room for the batter).

with a standing or hand-held mixer, combine the 

remaining flour and sugar with the butter and egg. 

spread the batter over the apples with a spatula. 

bake until the top is golden brown

 (40-45 minutes). cool on a rack for 30 minutes. 

serve with ice cream and indulge with friends. or 

pair it with coffee and call it breakfast…

happy tuesday!

the weekend.

 

this weekend, i met friends for saturday brunch in the village, walked all the way to the central park carousel, and found my very own fairy lights to string in my window. my apartment smells like apples and the city smells like leaves. it's just as fall should be.

a postcard

from the sidewalk.

flowers in pots, pumpkins on stoops…it really

adds so much charm to the neighborhood and never fails

to bring me joy. i am so grateful that people take the time 

to do this. i hope they always will.

…

happy friday!

any fun plans for the weekend? i'll be baking

with all those apples and i'm thinking about

heading over to the brooklyn flea market. we'll see…

i really just want to be outside. i love autumn time.