It was a long week…I saw this recipe…I had all the ingredients…I made it…all was right again.

The Usual Cast of Characters

1 frozen puff pastry sheet 

2-3 small/medium apples, peeled (I used a both Granny Smith and Honey Crisp) 

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

2 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

dash of salt

pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg

2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small cubes

1/3 cup preserves ( I used Pumpkin Spice)

The Steps to Glory

1. Allow puff pastry to thaw at room temperature for ~30 minutes.

2. Slice the peeled apples ¼ inch thick. Add them to a mixing bowl.

3. To the apples, add the sugars, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine and set aside. 

4. Preheat the oven to 400°F

5. Unwrap the thawed puff pastry and remove the paper, place on work surface, lightly flour the pastry and roll it out.

6. Score the pastry using a sharp knife around the edges, about ¼ inch from the edge. It should not cut all the way through, you’re basically making a square inside so the edges will puff up properly as it bakes.Then poke the inside of the puff pastry all around with a fork.

7. Spread an even layer of preserve on the bottom of the puff pastry. I just used the back of a spoon to make it even.

8. Arrange the apples on top, leaving the juices behind, making them in a pretty pattern. Just make sure they aren’t piled on top of each other too much because it will get mushy. Dot cubed butter over the tops of the apples. 

Bake for ~30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender

And a flashback for the Princess…

Metamorphosis

What a beautiful fall we are having in Annapolis. Clear, warm (almost hot!) days with chillier evenings made for a fire-pit or cozy sweater. Halloween has come and gone and with that October is a wrap. Where is the time going? I love the fall and I am in no hurry for the festive holiday season. Let’s give Thanksgiving it’s time and space.

One place I always enjoy during the beautiful fall is our porch. Come on up, there is always room for one more.

Metamorphosis

Two weekends ago we spent a lovely weekend picking apples. It is such a fun activity, until you realized you picked apples for an entire year! You get creative and look for a few fast shortcuts. This air fryer baked apple recipe fits the bill. Easy, fast and delicious.

Usual Cast of Characters

Baked Apples

3 Apples Gala, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work great

1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted

½ Tsp Cinnamon 

Honey Oat Topping

½ Cup Old Fashioned Oats

1 ½ tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted

 1 tablespoon Honey

2 teaspoon All Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Pinch Nutmeg

1 Pinch Sea Salt

½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Begin by preheating your air fryer. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the apples and topping. Add all the topping ingredients to a small prep bowl and stir to combine. Make sure to distribute the honey well so all the oats are coated. Set aside.
• Combine the melted butter and cinnamon in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

• Slice the apple in half through the core. Use a knife or spoon to remove the seeds and core from the center of each apple half. Be carful not to cut too deep and break the apple. Brush each apple half with the melted butter combination.

• Spray the basket of your preheated air fryer with cooking spray and carefully place each apple in. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in several batches. Close the lid and press START, then AIR CRISP and set the TEMP to 350 degrees F using the arrows. Next, set the TIME to 15 Minutes then press START. 

• After 15 minutes check the apples, they should be soft and the oat topping should be browned. Once they are finished remove the apples with tongs and enjoy warm with additional honey, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations creative muster

Last week I started my car to warm it up before I left for school. All of a sudden fall was in the air. You could feel it, smell it, hear it and taste it. Somehow summer gave way to crisp fall. Summer fought a good battle but eventually it gave in. I love fall. It was so nice to put on a sweater, enjoy some fresh picked apples and hear and feel the heater click on in the middle of the night. I wanted our bedroom to reflect this change so I added some fall touches…I think it looks quite festive.

I love the rich colors of fall.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster whimsy on the edge

By Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster

Today it felt like fall. Kinda dreary but still warm, evening creeping in early, the faintest glimmer of red and yellow on the trees…I love this time of year. There is a contemplative quality about it. A time to gather at home and begin the process of “cozy”. Granted, it will probably still be in the 80’s so cozy dressing might need to wait a bit, but pumpkins, apples, darker colors are all fair game. I hope you enjoy some of my fall touches!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster

Life is busy these days, between work, school, field hockey practice, homework and the general busyness of keeping a home running slightly smoothly, it is nice to have a meal you literally dump into a pan, bake and enjoy the deliciousness. This Greek Orzo bake fits the bill and is on rotation for dinner. I find it makes enough for several meals and freezes beautifully. What are your favorite go to “fast meals”?

The Usual Cast of Ingredients

6 oz.feta cheese

2 cups orzo pasta

4 cups chicken broth

20 oz cherry tomatoes

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp oregano

1 cup packed spinach

Drizzle of olive oil

The Steps to Glory

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. In an oven proof pan, Place orzo evenly on the bottom. Drizzle Olive oil. Over low heat gently toast the orzo until fragrant.

3. Pour the chicken broth over the orzo pasta until it’s fully submerged. Add the cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and dried oregano and feta cheese to the baking dish, distributing them evenly on the orzo.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through and the cherry tomatoes are soft and bursting with flavor.

4. Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the packed spinach to the mixture. Stir well to incorporate the spinach into the dish. Return the baking dish to the oven and cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt slightly.

5. Once cooked, remove the dish from the oven and give everything a good stir to combine the flavors. Cool and enjoy!

Metamorphosis

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains, Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire is a treasure trove of outdoor adventure, natural beauty, and historical significance. Known for its breathtaking vistas and rugged terrain.

It’s perhaps best known for the iconic Old Man of the Mountain, a series of five granite cliff ledges that, when viewed from a specific angle, resembled the profile of an old man. Though the Old Man sadly collapsed in 2003, its legacy lives on, with a dedicated memorial at the base of the mountain and a strong place in the heart of New Hampshire.

One of the highlights of a visit to Cannon Mountain is the Aerial Tramway. This unique experience allows visitors to glide up 2,022 feet in under 10 minutes, with unparalleled views of the White Mountains, Vermont’s Green Mountains, and even Canada on a clear day. At the summit, visitors can explore short walking trails, take in the views from observation decks, and enjoy a picnic with a view.

I was a bit apprehensive about the tram, heights are just not my thing, but with some handholding of my Hero I made it though the quick trip up. Coming down was much easier. Oh the views…worth it!

Metamorphosis

When that school bell rings I will answer it. The Princess and I both headed back to class last week. She is off to Sixth grade and I’m off to my own classroom of little ones. You can feel fall creeping in around the edges and my back to school decor always sets the tone beautifully. My favorite season!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster

The weather felt a little cooler…relatively speaking and I was ready to turn on my new oven for a little late summer baking. I also had some things to use in the pantry. Muffins seem so cozy and used up things on my shelf that have been sitting around for a while. It had the added effect of making my home smell like a bakery.

The Usual Cast of Characters

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ⅓ cup 165g all-purpose flour
• ½ cup 100g sourdough starter /discard
• 2 teaspoon 6g baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon 2g salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 5 tablespoons 75g unsalted butter softened.
• ¾ cup 150g Sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup 158g Apricots chopped
• ⅓ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

The Steps to Glory

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cardamom. Set it aside.
• In a large bowl, add egg, melted butter, milk , sourdough starter, vanilla extract and mix until it is light and fluffy.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to dry ingredients and then fold in chopped apricots mixing just until combined . Be careful not to overmix the batter.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup with about two-thirds full.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
• Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

And there you have it, let me know if you give it a try and how it turned out.

Maybe enjoy some after paddle boarding…

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Whimsy stylish song