Post Vacation Vacation Post.
I'm back! Finally right? Have you ever had one of those vacations where you need another vacation just to recover from it? Yeah, that was me.
I had all these lofty ideas to post updates for you about how the visit was going salt and peppered with cute shots of chocolate daisy toppers, polka dot baking cups and an army of cupcakes. That didn't happen. That was a stupid idea. I'm stupid.
I barely had time to sleep let alone have the energy to post devilishly clever blog posts or keep my eyes open for Photoshop. The week was a whirlwind of events from a little firearm education with dad to lions and tigers and bears at the zoo. Manicures and pedicures with the ladies to Sandbanks with mom. A little Indonesian cuisine with the family to girly movies and giggling with my best friend. Curling, speeches, tours, appointments, photos, new friends, old friends... Cupcakes and lots of 'em!
I thought it would be too soon if I never saw another cupcake in my life. After a full day of baking twelve dozen cupcakes, filling twelve dozen cupcakes, frosting twelve dozen cupcakes, topping twelve dozen cupcakes and packing twelve dozen cupcakes I wasn't interested in eating even one. The three flavours were a hit at the wedding and they were nearly devoured before the photographer could snap the traditional cutting the cake photo. It was a beautiful wedding and Lisa and Jamie were the sweetest couple!
I was really excited about this particular cupcake because I personally considered it the signature flavour being that it was a fall wedding. Since I never tried it, or posted anything about the wedding like a good blogger would do, I decided just one batch wouldn't kill me. This time I took my time and planned ahead. Unlike last time when I forgot the jam entirely and accidentally bought a kilogram of whole wheat flour. This time there was no hair pulling, no exploding piping bags, no mountains of tupperware, no assembly line, no late night trips to my brother's new refrigerator. Just a little Ani DiFranco and a lot of love.
Last But Not Least.
These Apple Chips are possibly the easiest thing I've ever baked. Four ingredients. That's all you need to make your own chips. It would be interesting to play around with the seasoning to create savoury or sweet combinations. I may keep that in mind for the future. This may not be the last time you see these crispy things.
And they're baked, not fried, so you don't have to feel guilty about stuffing your face. Which is good because they're insanely addictive. As long as you have cinnamon, sugar and a little time to waste you'll be rewarded with the most delicious snack.
If you're lazy, as I am sometimes, you could always buy Apple Chips but, be warned, they're pretty pricy for a tiny little bag. Plus if you buy them you won't be able to perfume your house with the amazing scent of apple and cinnamon. Possibly the greatest smell in the world.
Last, but certainly not least, here is the appetizer recipe from my Autumn Dinner Party. These Apple Chips are perhaps the most anticipated item on the menu so I hope I didn't leave you in suspense for too long.
Apples and Cranberries and Pears! Oh My!
I must have The Wizard of Oz on the brain or something. Imagine if Dorothy, Scarecrow and the Tin Man had encountered these fearsome fruits on their journey along the yellow brick road. I'd say that's preferable to lions, tigers and bears.
But then again, that would probably make for a pretty lame movie. More like Veggie Tales than the story we all know and love.
Maybe if Dorothy could have tasted this Pear Walnut Salad or this Apple Cranberry Chicken she wouldn't have been in such a hurry to get back to Kansas. I'm betting Auntie Em didn't know how to make Apple Cheese and Potato Cakes like me. Just saying...
As promised here are my recipes for the entrée of my Autumn Dinner Party. I could have separated them into three different posts, but why leave you in suspense? I'm not a cruel person. Also they're best enjoyed altogether, so here you go!
Autumn in a Bite.
Autumn has officially arrived. There was resistance at first. You better believe it.
I didn't want to relinquish my iron grip on Summer with it's melting popsicles, hot breezes and sunny afternoons. I'd have to say goodbye to sun tanning, BBQs and picnics. Don't even mention all the flowers, beaches and campfires I'd be missing.
Then the leaves started changing and I realized I could wear jeans without roasting to death. I do love pretty colours. I'm also pretty fond of my jeans.
So you won me over Autumn. You hear that? You just might be my favourite season, ok? Are you happy now?
So I made cookies for Autumn to smooth over our awkward new relationship. They have apple. They have cinnamon. They have caramel. They're pretty much Autumn in a bite.
How Do You Like Them Apples?
You might have noticed recently that I enlarged all the photos on my blog. In celebration of this very visual achievement I decided to do a very visual post.
These are the prettiest dang apples I've ever laid eyes on and they grew in my very own front yard! They range in size from small apricots to small McIntosh apples. I made Crab Apple Crisp with them and it was the tastiest apple crisp I've ever eaten.
If you lack a Crab Apple tree of your own or legal access to one I suggest you don a black mask straight away and shake down your neighbours tree.
Ah hem...
What I meant to say was you can use any sort of apples in place of crab apples.
I'll shut up now and let you enjoy the pretty pictures.
These Are a Few of My Favourite Things.
Turquoise matte nail polish. It makes my nails feel like they're made of satin.
My vintage Fenton milk glass hobnail salt and pepper shakers. They make me want to collect all things milk glass and pretty and dainty.
My beautiful freshwater pearl ring. That trio of pearls on my middle finger always makes me smile whenever I happen to glance down at it.
Origami. I'm actually pretty good at the cranes and flowers.
Peaches. Those fresh, ripe ones that are so juicy you have to lean over the sink when you bite into one so as not to make a mess of your pretty face.
Jars of buttons. My Mom used to have this glass jar filled with mixed buttons from random outfits and I loved sorting them, shaking them, or just running my fingers through their plastic smoothness.
My small assortment of piping tips for icing with my pastry bag. There's nothing more adorably perfect than precisely piped icing on a little cupcake.
My purple suede ankle boots. They make me feel tall...er.
My Kitchen Aid Mixer. Yeah, you saw that one coming.
This Apple Cake. I mean it's from Smitten Kitchen. Have you ever seen anything on Smitten Kitchen that wasn't awesome? No, that's right, you haven't.
Food for Thought.
I take things personally. I try not to, but I can't help it.
If I discover that a person dislikes me I'll wrack my brain for the answer to their derision. I'm not the type of person to hate anyone so it's hard for me to understand why someone would point their hatred at me. This is especially annoying when I've done everything I can to be pleasant to someone. Some people just can't be pleased I guess.
I cry when I burn dinner.
I feel like a failure if I forgot to get something at the grocery store.
I mope around disconsolate and detached when Tastespotting declines my photos.
This might have something to do with being a perfectionist. It makes me my own worst enemy. If I expect perfection in all things then I'm just asking for disappointment. No one and nothing is ever perfect. It's hard to love the flaws. It's hard to turn failure into success.
But I'll try.
For now, here's some pretty darn close to perfect Apple Berry Crisp.
Balance and Precision.
You might have already guessed this, and some of you know first hand, that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It's gotten so bad that I even annoy myself. Most jobs around the house I insist I do myself mostly because I don't trust anyone else to do it the way I like it.
I have these multicoloured dishes and I have to line them up in the cupboards not only from biggest to smallest but also in accordance to the order of a rainbow. You know: red then orange then yellow then green then turquoise then blue...etc. It actually physically hurts me when I see someone putting them away in the wrong order.
I've arranged and rearranged the kitchen pantry cupboard several times because I start freaking out when something isn't where I expect it. All the spices in one place, all the muffin cups in another, all the pasta here, all the cans there. You get the picture. One time, while putting away the groceries, I ran out of space on one shelf where the garlic just HAD to go and I began hyperventilating. That's normal right?
Ok before I debase myself completely let me just reassure you that I don't have to flick the light switches on and off twenty-two times before I enter a room or sleep with my shoes on. Yes I am a little obsessive compulsive, but only about the things that really matter. Aren't most artists? Something about the creative genius maybe.
Baking is all about balance and precision. Maybe that's why I like it so much. It's about sureness and confidence. It's about knowing that when you mix flour, eggs, baking powder and milk then stick it in an oven it will rise if only a little.
So without delay, here's your recipe of the day. Apple Yogurt Dip with Cinnamon Bagel Chips in honour of balance and precision.
Apples and Oranges.
There are many things in life that I can do, but I really shouldn't. I can eat a stick of butter, but I shouldn't. I can hold my hand over a burning hot stove element, but I shouldn't. I can avoid doing laundry for a month, but I shouldn't. And as I stood over a fresh batch of these amazingly delicious Apple Yogurt Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel I knew I was capable of eating the entire dozen in one sitting, but I also knew I shouldn't.
The thing that really made me fall in love with these muffins is the combination of apple and orange. I get it, the apple is pomaceous and the orange is citrus, but that doesn't mean they can't make a tasty marriage. You may not be able to compare apples and oranges, but you can darn well eat them! So that's what I did and oh my god was it good.
Connect
Archives
Kitchen Inspiration
- A Cozy Kitchen
- Always With Butter
- Anne's Kitchen
- Annie's Eats
- Bakerella
- Bakers Royal
- Beyond the Plate
- Brown Eyed Baker
- Call Me Cupcake
- Cherry Tea Cakes
- Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
- Cooking for Seven
- Crackers
- Delish Living
- Dessert Stalking
- Desserts for Breakfast
- Food Gawker
- Gingerbread Bagels
- Honey and Jam
- How To: Simplify
- Joylicious
- Kitchen Karate
- Kitchen Korners
- La Tartine Gourmande
- Minimalista
- Mowielicious
- My Baking Addiction
- Pass The Sushi
- Piece of Cake
- Pioneer Woman
- Poires au Chocolat
- Sing For Your Supper
- Smitten Kitchen
- Sprinkle Bakes
- Sprouted Kitchen
- Sweetapolita
- Tartelette
- Taste Spotting
- The Cilantropist
- The Dog's Breakfast
- The Novice Chef
- The Purple Foodie
- Today's Nest
Design Inspiration
- Creature Comforts
- Design Dust
- Design is Mine
- Design Seeds
- Design Sponge
- Have and Hold
- Inspired Bride
- Keiko Lynn
- Polka Dot Bride
- Style Me Pretty
- The White Library
- Twig and Thistle
- Wedding Gawker