It's that time of year again, and I could not be any happier! It's AUTUMN. Autumn means crisp mornings, warmer days and chilly nights. Autumn means trading flip flops for loafers. Autumn means comfy sweaters and equestrian-inspired style. Autumn means kissing sultry summer goodbye. Autumn means harvest time...autumn means baking sweet indulgences at home and cooking hearty soups, stews, and chili.
My favorite place to be in the autumn is out east. Not only have the summer crowds dissipated so the community becomes close-knit again, but the foliage bursts into shades of flames. Though it's now too chilly to go for a swim, walking on the beach still provides ultimate relaxation. Picking apples, pumpkins and other fresh produce brings families together and allows for bonding and memory-creating during meals.
The first thing I did when I returned back out east for the first time in weeks was go apple picking. Oh the fun we had...there's an apple orchard/farm about three minutes away from our home and it's the place to be in autumn. There are many families, couples, singles, etc. just savoring the last warm sunny days of fall while they are surrounded by yummy fresh produce. Sounds perfect, right?
Just like last year, we returned home with our arms extended, carrying many more apples than we'd ever buy in a single grocery store shopping trip. We set our loot on the kitchen table and then it was my time to shine as the Apple Baking Elf.
Peeling, slicing, seasoning, stirring...
There are just so many things to do with apples (as you can see from the above slideshow!) and yes, I seek to try just about every one of them though a classic apple pie will always be my personal favorite. This season I worked on a vegan, refined sugar-free version of apple crumble...turned out really yummy! Maybe I'll share my secrets in a future post.
For now though, I cannot wait to go back out east and have my favorite cupcake at Tate's Bake Shop- the red velvet. It's simply sinful, and though I was overwhelmed by apple goodies this past weekend that only means I'll have to return soon to savor the sweetness of that cupcake.