Apples, under a crumble of butter, brown sugar, flour 'n' spices baked until warm 'n' crispYUM. So is it a crumble or a crisp? Both actually. "A crisp is called a crumble in Britain" JANE DANIELS LEAR
 Enough semantics,
it's Monday and it's raining
So here it is, for you,
Monday Morning
" Let it rain on my rooftop,
So I can hear the sounds,
Of passing winds through blowing trees,
Says I'll see you around,
When the seasons can say things,
That I never can,
When words describe nothing,
When I come home again,
Well I guess I must of lost it,
In line of my luck,
That says this is your life now,
And you're done with growing up,
Well I missed my mark,
And I miss the trees,
And I miss lying in bed today,
To picture these things, "
- Day At the Fair
 Monday + Rain =
Apple Crumble for two
the STUFF
1 apple
1 TBS sugar
1 TBS cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
2 TBS cinnamon
1 TBS nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 TBS butter, cold
2 TBS brown sugar
2 small baking cups
what TO DO
wash and chopped the apple
(I personally enjoy the skin, if you're not a fan then peel the apple before chopping)
toss the apple with 1 TBS sugar + 1 TBS cinnamon
divide in two, spoon into two small baking cups
in a small bowl . . .
sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, slat and baking powder
dump in brown sugar
cut up the cold butter into 1/2" cubes, dump into bowl
with your hands 'crumble' the mix together
(it takes some time, but make sure all the butter 'n' sugar combine with the flour mixture)
divide the crumble mixture in two, spoon on top of the apples in each baking cup
preheat oven 350 F
bake for 30-40 mins.
(the apple juices should be bubbling up the sides a bit)
check around 20 mins. to make sure the top does not burn
if it is starting to, turn down the heat
share your crumble with someone
"only benevolence can capture what I mean"
wine cork hot plate courtesy of Papa John !
I dreamt of that house,
as always this time of year.
Perhaps the fragrant decaying leaves
and crisp air reminds me of rotting crab apples,
like the ones shaken from that tree out back.
I dreamt of that house
in its days of glory.
When the front porch with ivy seats
was so crowded, I sat atop the railing
tiny, muddy feet dangling.
I dreamt of that house
before the white paint peeled back
revealing a generation past.
The ivy choked the gutters,
seats sitting in solitude.
I know my dream was dreamt,
I was tossing crab apples,
that’s how I know.
They cut it down, that tree.
- - -
OFF DAY!
Mid-Review is over!
I can sleep.
I did. Into the afternoon. It was glorious.
Now for breakfast. Or brunch … ?
No cereal?! AND no peanut butter?!
I have one really rotten banana … and I have time.
Here is a small batch of brunch muffins.
It has the delicious combination of banana and honey,
Enjoy!
 Honey Banana Muffins
the STUFF
(makes about 4 muffins)
1 banana
½ cup flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons brown sugar
coconut or walnuts (for topping)
what TO DO
in a small bowl …
peel and mash banana
in another small bowl …
sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon
in a large bowl …
melt butter
add honey, stir well
(keep stirring, it really does mix)
add milk, stir more
add the dry ingredients and mashed banana (in 3 parts, alternating)
note: mix thoroughly but do not over mix
(this is a tiny recipe so you should get approximately 4 muffins)
butter a cupcake pan
spoon batter about ¾ full
sprinkle tops with brown sugar
sprinkle tops with coconut, walnuts, or drizzle on some more honey
preheat oven 350 F
bake for 15-20 mins.
make some hot coffee (or tea)
enjoy on a lazy morning
- Coco
warm air mixed with orange tones, long walks and apple picking ! 
Apple Fritters
the STUFF
vegetable oil
1- ½ cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup sour cream
1 large egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 -3 apples
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup water
what TO DO
in a saucepan…
pour oil until 2-3 inches deep
heat on medium heat until VERY hot (about 350 F)
(heat the oil while you make the dough & the timing should be perfect)
in a small saucepan...
add apples (peeled and chopped), water, brown sugar & cinnamon
cook on medium-low, for 5-10 mins, stir occasionally
in a small bowl…
whisk the egg
add melted butter
stir in the sour cream
in a bowl…
sift flour, sugar, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon
add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients FOLDING
(it takes some work but do not over stir)
add the cooked apples (drain extra liquid first) FOLDING
if the dough is too wet, wrap and place in the fridge for 10-20 mins
in the VERY hot oil…
drop spoons of dough into the oil
for about 1-2 mins per side
set on a paper towel to dry/cool
in a small bowl...
mix powder sugar and milk
dunk the apple fritters
top with pecans
wonderful after a crisp late afternoon autumn walk
IF you have any leftover ...
store in airtight container for up to 3 days
enjoy!
- Coco
a knitted turtleneck,
cause the late-afternoon air smells crisp,
the sleeves slip past her little hands
as the Macintosh meets her chapped lips
crunching, her feet up on the dash.
back and parked where they had tread
their tracks that late snowy night.
and now that one song
plays on the radio,
she can’t help but smile
at the lasting memory,
which tastes of hot chocolate
and rum.
now the leaves are burnt
a muddy orange,
as the sun bends backwards
towards the weeping willow,
turn the record over.
 the STUFF
capellini (angel hair)
4 cloves garlic
1 TBS olive oil
1 white onion
1 red pepper
2 carrots
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf, basil, toasted onion, black pepper, crushed red pepper
0.5-1 lb ground beef
Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1-2 TBS milk
what TO DO
mince the garlic
chop the onion and pepper
slice the carrots
add oil and garlic to frying pan
sauté the onions (about 2 mins)
add the peppers and carrots (2 mins)
add half the can of crushed tomatoes
season, stir, cover
place the ground beef in a bowl
coat the top of the meat with bread crumbs
add about 1 TBS of milk (this is the secret to making the meat moist)
blend with your hands
(then wash your hands)
add the meat to the sauce
add the remaining crushed tomatoes
stir on med-high
once the meat is cooked, lower the heat and let the sauce simmer covered
cook the pasta
traditionally meat sauces dresses tagliatelle (thick, flat spaghetti – similar to fettuccine)
thick sauce, thick pasta – it makes sense
so capellini? I know, I know –
it’s just … so good.
anyway cook whatever pasta your heart desires
top your pasta with the Bolognese Sauce and enjoy with ….
 Garlic-Olive Oil-Spice Bread
I know baking bread sounds intimidating,
so when I say this is super easy, trust me.
bread baked in a pot, yes a pot,
it is easy
and most definitely worth it!
the STUFF
1 package active yeast
1 cup warm water
1 TSP sugar
4 cups bread flour
2 TBS ground black pepper
1 TBS coarse sea salt
4 TBS butter
5 cloves garlic, sliced
4 TBS thyme
2 TSP crushed red pepper
1 TBS toasted onion
olive oil
what TO DO
slightly warm water to about 100F
add the yeast and sugar, stir slightly
let sit for 5 min.
the mix should foam
mix the flour with black pepper and salt
melt butter
add garlic, thyme, red pepper, toasted onion
add the water mix and the butter mix to the flour mix
it would be best to use a mixer
but I don’t have one
so I just used my hands … it worked
it takes a few minutes, but trust me, it works
cover the dough and let sit for 1 hour
the dough should double in size
on a floured surface knead the dough for about 4 minutes
form the dough into a round loaf
pre-heat oven to 475F
coat the bottom of a pot with olive oil
place the bread inside the pot
cut an X on the top of the bread
coat the top with some more olive oil
sprinkle some more black pepper and salt on top
place lid on pot
bake for 30 minutes
Remove lid and lower heat to 450F
Bake for another 10-15 minutes
Indulge.
slice it and butter it or
pick it apart and dip it in more olive oil
mangia!
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