The Mennobrarian

Autumn musings

02:30, Friday, September 19, 2008 .. Posted in Recipes .. 1 comments .. Link

"Your toes are going to freeze today," said my friend as she glanced down at my summer-worn sandals.

"It's still summer!" I reminded her, and lifted a box of Jonagold apples into the trunk of my car, an action and item which of course practically invalidated my point.

We agreed that, it is still officially summer, and we are both stubborn enough to hang on to every last ounce of our favorite season. But as I let go of carefree sunny days, garden hoses, flip-flops, and a million other warm weather things worth loving, I make a good-faith effort to retune my senses. I will try to be grateful that, at least, cooler weather gives us a time to slow down and spend more time getting things done indoors. And lets face it, it's only another three months before seed catalogs start filling the mail box again.

Here are some minor (yet important) things I'd like to accomplish this Fall. Maybe some of you can find common ground with this list:

Make a cup of hot tea, sit down, and drink it while reading something.
Reorganize the pantry (really just some shelves in the kitchen) and the kitchen cabinets.
Sew at least one new dress for winter.
Make jelly for Christmas gifts.
Return the phone calls of out of state family members who called me back in August to wish me a happy birthday and never got a return call. (partially because we were so busy, and partially because I dislike talking on the phone. It is much more likely I will send you a note rather than call you.)
Go back to practicing my Bible memory verses more consistently.
Enjoy our new wood stove, which is all ready for pick up, and we hope to get out there in the next few weeks to get it and bring it home.
Spread some wildflower seeds and plant some daffodil bulbs.
Give that stove one last thorough scrub down when the bulk canning is done.

Last night, after accidentally greasing the wrong sized pan, I decided to use the pan for making Apple Goodie. There is nothing better this time of year than a warm apple dessert. My recipe is a slightly modified version that comes from the good old Mennonite Community cookbook. This is a close copy:

Ingredients:

1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 qt. sliced apples

Mix together sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and apples. Press into a cake pan.

Topping:

1 c. oatmeal
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. flour
1/4 tsp. soda
1/3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. butter

Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter. Put on top. Bake at 350° until nice and brown. Serve warm with ice cream.