Blogtober Twenty-Eight : What to do with an Apple

 

Apples come into their own in autumn. Some varieties ripen early, others later. They are so versatile; suitable for desserts, but also add a bit of sweetness to savory dishes as well. I like many varieties of apples, but they have to be crunchy, not mealy. Our own apple trees gave a bumper crop last year, but few this year. However, there are plenty of apples available at markets and from friends. Here are five (plus a half) things I like to do with apples.

1. Photograph them. Red apples in a green tree against a bright blue sky are the prettiest things. The ones above are growing wild in a park.

1.5 Eat them raw. I like them cut into wedges when I'm at home where a knife is handy, but while out and about, if an apple tree (not on private property) makes itself known, I'll happily pick one, rub it on my shirt, and take bites all around the core. 

2. Bavarian Apple Torte: Cream cheese, almonds, a buttery crust, and apples make a wonderful dessert. I've found that Granny Smith or Transparent apples work best in this recipe; others tend to stay a bit crunchy, and for this dessert, fully softened is best. My cousin first served this recipe to me, and it's now in one of our family compilations. Always a winner. 

3. Apple Crisp with Creme Anglaise: Apple crisp is a classic autumn dessert. I used to serve it with ice cream, and it's certainly yummy, but once I served it with creme anglaise (aka custard sauce), I never looked back. 

I like to keep a mixture of the crisp topping in the freezer so that I can bake up a crisp on a whim. It's also good if I want to make a dessert for just two of us - sliced enough apples for two small dishes, sprinkle sufficient topping over, and bake. I confess to liking a high proportion of topping to apple.

4.   Apple Pastry Squares: Easier than making apple turnovers is this version of apples and pastry. The pastry has milk and an egg in it and is easily patched. It's rough looking and made even more delicious with the icing sugar glaze. 

5. Peanut Caramel Dip: For a snack, or if you are bringing something to a party, this dip is always a hit. What's not to like about caramel and peanut butter? Rather than unwrap dozens of those little caramels, I came up with a "from scratch" sauce that takes no more time. 

This post is a reprise of one from 2016. I still make the same recipes each year and love apples. 

 

Blogtober Twenty-Seven

 

October

The summer is over,

The trees are all bare,

There is mist in the garden

And frost in the air.

The meadows are empty

And gathered the sheaves --

But isn't it lovely

Kicking up leaves!

Rose Fyleman

No frost yet, but plenty of rain. A morning that couldn't make up its mind whether to be sunny or wet has decided on...wet. 

The Beef Stew with Quince that I made turned out very well. There were a few minor variations on the recipe, but it was delicious and different. My brother and sister-in-law enjoyed it with us. 

We are away from home again this evening, taking an unexpected and quick trip to see friends across the border. The ferry crossing was a mixture of sun and rain, just like the rest of the day. Staying the night at my parents' place. It's always good to visit with them. 

Blogtober Twenty-Six

 

Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.

Mary Oliver

In the night wind tore at the corners of the house, rattling and clattering its way around town. But in the morning, all was calm, with a tiny bit of sunshine. A good day to spend in the garden. I pulled up all of the tomatoes and have the green ones ripening on a platter (or two). A bowl of carrots was pulled and cleaned. Tim organized the raspberries, cutting canes and digging up crowded plants. We chatted with the neighbours over the fence.  

Son came over to pick up the mended soccer jersey and stayed for a bit, catching us up on all the happenings in his family's world. I made a beef stew for tomorrow, this one a very different dish to what I normally make. It has quince and prunes and tomatoes in it. We will see what the verdict is tomorrow.

Squirrels run through our garden and on the patio, digging for treasure or burying it in my flower pots. I'll be planting spring bulbs in the pots soon. I've learned to cover them with mesh, well fastened with sticks along the edges, to prevent the cute pesky critters from digging up and eating the bulbs.

An ordinary day that has been very satisfying. We'll spend the evening visiting with my brother and sister-in-law who are here overnight. I'll work on my stitching while chatting. 

Blogtober Twenty-Five

 

Days are chillier. Trees barer. Flowers scarcer. Mornings darker. October is definitely showing her wintry side. 

Today I visited Butchart Gardens with my youngest daughter and her two littles plus their other grandmother, who organized the outing. 

Trees glow with colour, golds, oranges, reds. Gorgeous even without the sun. 

Two grandmothers and two darling little girls. The little ones are familiar with the path to the Rosebud Carousel and skipped their way there with the adults following more sedately.

Sandi had made reservations for tea at the dining room, and what a surprise to find out it was a treat for me in advance of my birthday next week. The grand girlies were so well behaved during tea, trying the different sandwiches and cakes and neatly sipping their peppermint tea. 

 

Ashley and the girls left after tea while Sandi and I visited the Japanese Garden. It's a quiet garden with water trickling and falling through it, moss-covered rocks, and layers of shrubs and trees. 

My favourite part of all of the gardens is the stepping stone pathway through the pond. Enjoy the photos.

It's been a lovely day. 

A little housekeeping: I try to keep my blog calm, and to focus on the beautiful things in life. I stay away from divisive issues and love that the vast majority of you do, too. I recognize that Blogger has its issues and sometimes you are not able to comment using your name. Most of the anonymous comments are self-identified, or completely lovely. However, (insert deep sigh), one anonymous commenter's remarks are not in keeping with the vibe I've tried to create here. I've deleted comments as they appear, but I am going to turn on comment moderation for awhile. 

Blogtober Twenty-Four

 

Outside my window today the sun shone mightily. Light frost on neighbouring rooftops is a sign that the cold will soon descend and wreak havoc on the flowers still valiantly blooming. I must be more earnest with my garden clean-up, probably on Saturday. 

Our Persian friends came for dinner last night. They recently returned from Iran and brought me the very lovely table square as a gift. It is hand-printed of thick cotton. I love it, and I love the people who gave it to me. And it's in my favourite blues! They know me well.

Isn't it absolutely wonderful when you go shopping and find just the thing you need? I ventured out this afternoon, visiting store after store and not finding what I wanted. I'm becoming more picky about what I purchase, preferring to come home empty-handed rather than make do. As Marie-Anne Lecoeur says on her Youtube channel, "if it's not a wow, it's a non!"

When I went to The Bay, I was so very pleased to find these cognac-coloured leather boots. Exactly what I was looking for. A wow! And they were on sale. I found a leather belt to match and came home very happy. Boots like these are my footwear of choice in the winter months. I wore my last similar pair almost everyday when I was teaching. We don't have to worry about snow boots often, and I can wear thick socks with these. 

While I was out I received a text from my son saying that he had dropped off the latest Harvest Box from his daughter's school. It's kind of nice to get produce that I don't choose as it forces me to use what I've got. I'm not certain what I'll do with the Delicata Squash. The potatoes and leeks might go into a soup. He also left his son's soccer shirt for a bit of mending. Retired parents can be very useful, it seems. And we are happy to help. 

More sunshine this afternoon streamed in through the corner windows in the dining room to illuminate plants and flowers on the tea cart. 

I learned a new word today. Psithurism - the sound of wind whispering through trees, the soft rustling of leaves. I like it very much. The pronunciation is sibilant, just like the sounds it describes. There's been a bit of psithurism in our garden lately. 

An ordinary day. As Anne of Green Gables said, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

I hope you've had a lovely day, ordinary or extraordinary.

Blogtober Twenty-Three

 

An early start to the day. We awake a bit earlier than normal and decide to watch the sunrise at the beach. We take the time to make a mug of tea and one of coffee before heading out. It's still dark when we arrive. Slowly the sun peeks through the clouds, making its steady way up the sky. Two crab fishing boats lower their traps here and there, hoping for a good return on their effort.

Long skeins of geese fly overhead in trailing V-shapes, their plaintive honking swirling around us. Bands of gold shine through openings in the clouds, making stripes on the water that contrast with the waves. A pod of porpoises swims by, only their smooth black curving backs visible above a steely sea. Gulls bob quietly. A Queen Anne's Lace seed pod is silhouetted against the light in a tangle of driftwood.

Regular dog walkers pass us as we walk. Others, like us, come to see the lovely sun rise. It is a peaceful way to begin a new day. 

Home again for breakfast and the daily routines. I make a pan of focaccia bread topped with fresh rosemary. Half of the fresh panful is in the freezer, tightly wrapped, for another day. There's just nothing like the fragrance of bread baking. I find it irresistible, tearing off a piece when fresh from the oven to chew as I stare out of the window. 

And outside for awhile to clip more dahlias and a handful of feverfew flowers. They are such cheery volunteers in the garden and I'll move them to fill in empty spots as needed. The sun shines, but a chill wind has me pulling my coat around me. 

Now in the evening I am glad for the fire's flames. Chilly darkness outside contrasts with the warmth and comfort indoors. These are the times for books and tea, for candles and a cozy blanket or shawl. 

Blogtober Twenty-Two: October Love

 

Recently, Brenda of It's a Beautiful Life posted a list of things she finds delightful. I took the idea from her to create a list of things I love about this month of October. 

As I begin, it's 3:30 pm. Already the light is fading as clouds move across the sun. It's been a lovely day, crisp and dry. I have my feet up and a mug of tea (Earl Grey) beside me. The chocolate chip oatmeal cookies I baked earlier still scent the air. A physio appointment this morning has me feeling a wee bit dragged out, and I've been pampering myself with a hot rice bag to my back and some time stitching. It's good to take a slow day. 

Here is a list of some of the things I love about October:

    * clouds white and grey flying across the sky

    * pulling out warm sweaters and cozy scarves

    * sipping hot tea, or occasionally hot chocolate

    * afternoon light slanting low into the dining room window

    * crisp leaves scuttling like crabs across roads and grass

    * foggy mornings burned clear by the sun

    * also, foggy mornings with mist swirling until noon

    * evenings with the curtains drawn and the lamps lit

    * brisk walks beside the sea with the waves rushing on the shore

    * leaves crimson and gold flying from trees in great swirls

    * late garden flowers - dahlias, zinnias, even roses

    * roasted vegetables - butternut squash, carrots, cabbage

    * slowly eating a bowl of hot soup

    * shiny horse chestnuts lying next to their spiny husks

    * rain lashing against the windows

    * the scent of woodsmoke rising from chimneys nearby

    * snuggling under the blankets while fresh air blows in the bedroom window

    * listening to geese honking as they fly over

    I know I'll think of a dozen more things once I publish this post. Darkness has now fallen, the kitchen is clean and an evening of reading and stitching lies ahead. October delight! Would you share some of your October loves in the comments?

    

Blogtober Twenty-one:

 

When I walked into the living room mid-morning, sun shining on the dahlias had standing still for a few seconds before running for my camera. What a welcome sight after the weekend deluge. 

October gave a party; the leaves by hundreds came

The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples, and leaves of every name.

The sunshine spread a carpet, and everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band.

George Cooper

No dahlia petals are mentioned in the lines above, but it felt like a party on the mantel today. Sunshine gives me energy. 

I began cutting back the rosebushes today. Buds continue to form, but the job needs to be done. I saved a small vaseful. A little granddaughter was here with me for a few hours and she collected rose hips, dropped petals, and coloured leaves. We also read stories. I let her choose the books and am surprised at how often she will choose one that is in both English and Spanish. I don't translate them for her, and she is happy to listen to both languages. 

A friend gave us a bag of quince. Or is it quinces? Quinces - I just looked it up. They are so fragrant, perfuming the air around them with a floral scent. Related to roses, apples, and pears, quinces are relatively new to me. They are not eaten raw and take a bit of effort to core as the insides are very hard. 

I poached quarters of them in a spiced wine syrup, then cooled them at room temperature before filling them with a dollop of strained yogurt mixed with vanilla and icing sugar. A sprinkle of pistachios on top. They turn from pale yellow to deep crimson when cooked. I have more quinces and plan to make this again. They have almost a citrus flavour with a hint of floral. Hard to describe, but delicious. 

I took Cora to pre-school just before noon, then returned home and spent some time at my sewing machine. So satisfying. The jeans and trousers are hemmed and I started on another project. 

I thought you might enjoy seeing another one of the magnificent west coast trees, this one a Red Cedar. I like the way a smaller tree is growing up from its roots, and the burl that seems to curl around the slender tree in a hug. 

Blogtober Twenty: Sunday Walk in the Park

 

Another day of rain and grey skies here on the west coast. Drippy but still beautiful in a muted way. 

Two little girls spent part of the weekend with us, including overnight on Saturday. The routines of bedtime, breakfast, hair brushing and more are never quite forgotten. But they seem to take more energy than they used. With all the rain most of our days were spent indoors. These two have wonderful imaginations. For awhile they were fruit bats looking for fruit, then unicorns, then lions. They made bead necklaces and bracelets. I heard one say, "Mommy will be delighted to see this." They know how to use words well.

When the rain let up slightly this afternoon, we decided to don boots and raincoats and walk around the duck pond. I think the girls splashed in every puddle they could find, jumping up and down and making great sprays of muddy water. They needed dry leggings and socks when we returned home. But oh, the fun!

Wood ducks swam with mallards in the ponds, coming close to see if we perhaps had a few crumbs with us. There is plenty of natural food for the ducks here, and passersby are encouraged to not feed them, but people continue to do so. It is fun to see them all swarm to grain being tossed for them. 

Beautiful views of autumn trees and water reflections. 

It's quiet now at home with the girls returned to their parents. We've watched an episode of Vera and the weather on this episode seemed to be the same as ours - lots of rain. Very atmospheric. 

Settling in for a bit of unstitching as I hope to hem several new pairs of jeans and cords tomorrow. Some for me, some for him. It's the taking down of the current stitching that is the most tiresome. Good to get that job done ahead. Then perhaps some reading before turning in for the night. Will we hear rain trickling in the eavestrough again? I wonder. 

On a housekeeping note, I've decided to reply to comments on the blog, usually within a day or two. If you've asked a question, be sure to check back. 

Blogtober Nineteen

 

Pumpkins are such a cheerful looking squash, round and orange. Five of them grew in my garden and I'm using them up in different ways. One went into a large batch of Pumpkin Herb Soup. Tonight we had family over and I thought the little girls might like Dinner in a Pumpkin. They quite liked the idea, and thought the filling of ground meat, onions and carrots in a creamy sauce delicious, but the scooped out pumpkin wasn't such a hit. The rest of us enjoyed it! 

Usually I discard the seeds, not wanting to bother with cleaning them. However, today I washed them and roasted them with some butter, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. They are quite addictive once I start eating them. Crunchy and salty are my weakness. 

My cousin from Wales was over about ten days ago. She brought me a current issue (November) of UK Country Living. They are available in some bookstores here, but always a month or two behind. I've been saving the magazine for just the right moment. So far I've just paged through it and will spend more time with it tomorrow.

We are glad we came home from our getaway yesterday. Today the road to Port Renfrew is closed due to flooding. And the town's water treatment plant has been shut down, also due to the rain. It has poured down for most of the day. When I awoke this morning, there was no rain and I decided to go for a walk immediately. Before any breakfast. I'm glad I did for the rain started in earnest shortly after I got home and has barely let up all day. Tomorrow will be the same. 

Blogtober Eighteen: Home Again in the Rain

 

Rain falls steadily in the darkness. Indoors, all is cozy with fresh flowers picked between rain showers and candles lit in the living room. No matter how long or short a time I'm away, coming home is always a delight. I walk in my front door, drop my bags, and take a deep breath. Home. 

Time away allows me to see and appreciate the little things that I love about my home. I notice the graceful lines of an old small brass vase, and I fill it with a few tiny roses. 

I enjoy the novels written by Rosamunde Pilcher, and own most of them. Homes feature large in her writing with descriptions of rooms that wrap themselves around people in cozy warmth. Here in my own home there is a faint smell of lemon oil that I use when I dust the furniture. Orange peels drying in the kitchen add another layer of scent. Cushions are plumped and waiting to be tucked behind my back when I read or stitch. A blanket or two is ready in a basket for a bit of extra coziness. Little things like these all contribute to the sense of being at home. 

We drove home from our short getaway on rain-washed roads where autumn leaves lay shining with wet or flew in torrents from trees tossed by the wind. Unpacking, cooking a simple supper for the two of us, and now a quiet evening in our own home. The weekend promises to be a wet one, good for savoring the blessings of home.