Apple Picking

We had our second annual family apple-picking outing this weekend.

My little brother wasn’t there. Tear. He’s too busy being smart in Minnesota. BUT, I had a great time with Jen and my rents. And it was about 50º warmer than when we went last October. No hats, gloves, or scarves required.

The best thing… one of my favorite bloggers, Joy the Baker, posted this apple pancake recipe. I can’t wait until next weekend to whip up a batch, so there will be a brinner dinner this week. Featuring apple pancakes. And probably bacon.

Also on the agenda, two batches of nectarine sorbet, and frozen pumpkin custard. If I commit my plans in writing here, that means I gotta do em, right?

I will go to the gym I will go the gym I will go to the gym I will go to the gym.

Am I Ready for Fall?

Am I ready for fall?  Let’s see… my electric bill for August was over $200 (90° days + antiquated mammoth AC window unit = trouble), I’ve lost both my pairs of flip flops, and my office declared last Thursday and Friday “wear shorts to work” days.

Yep, I am ready.  I’m ready for sweaters and tights and boots.  And I’m so so ready for caramel apples and tea dates.  And holing up in my apartment during stormy weather.  I have all my moody Fall things ready…

Moody, gothick novels.

 

Moody movies.  Hitchcock. Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Jimmy Stewart.  Yes.

Double Shot Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Very necessary.

 

And speaking of pumpkin…

!  I am ready for baking.  FALL baking.

Also secured: trench coat, umbrella, red lipstick (so as to emulate Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Jimmy Stewart, and Kim Novak).  All important things for stormy weather.

Now all I need is the perfect Halloween costume idea and the leaves can start turning.  Any thoughts?

Fall Love

Today my family and I braved the cold to celebrate Fall and pick/eat a crazy amount of apples.  I hadn’t been apple-picking since I was a kid, but my little sis suggested it so off we went to Keipur Orchards in Maple Park, IL.  Despite the freezing temps we had a lot of fun.  I thought it would be a bit late in the season, but Keipur still had a ton of apples and varieties–some of which don’t even have harvest dates until late October/November.  We ended up with yummy Jonathans, JonaGolds, Ida Reds, Empires, and Blushing Goldens.

Oh yeah.  Their bakery/shop?  Awesome.  This apple cider donut coated in cinnamon sugar I devoured?  Awesome.  Everything from pies to caramel apples looked super yummy.  I nabbed some apple cider and my sister picked up some just-blended peanut butter.  Definitely a Saturday well spent.  There are a ton of orchards in the Chicagoland area, you can check them out here…

http://www.pickyourown.org/ILchicago.htm

And some baked apple goodness coming soon!