Apple muffins and my fall bucket list ♥

Happy October!

 

 

 

It rained all day yesterday.  It was gloomy and cold and I was thankful it was Saturday.  I wore a soft blue and gray plaid shirt and my comfy Keds.  If I didn't have to take John to his drum lessons in the morning it probably would have been one of those "stay in your pajamas all day" days.   It's okay. I was changed before dinner.

Way before....: )

 

This is the second weekend in a row that it really felt like Fall.  We haven't turned the heat on yet so I've been doing my best at keeping the oven on at all times.  Here is last Sundays roast chicken.  I prepared it Julia Child style, stuffed with lemons and onions, and it was so wonderful I can't even describe it to you without smiling. 

(yes, that's mashed potatoes smiling at you in the background....♥)

For dessert I made apple crisp. With the oven on all day, I decided why not put dessert in too.  These are the meals I daydream about in July when  it's 95 degrees and humid. 

It's finally here ♥

 

 

We had plans to go apple picking on Friday but it rained so we had to cancel. Obviously I had apple on my brain and I still do because this afternoon I made apple muffins. 

I used Susan Branch's recipe from Vineyard Seasons.  It was my first time making them.  The only changes I made were to leave out the walnuts (because of John's allergy) and I didn't add the apple rings to the tops - only because I didn't have enough apples. Honestly, it didn't even matter. 

They came together quickly, made the kitchen smell incredible, and were the perfect snack on a rainy day.

I love, love, love, these muffins! ♥ 

2 cups flour

3/4 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp butter

1 cup peeled apple chopped

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I left these out)

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

cinnamon & 2 tbsp sugar

12 apple rings, cored (use small apples)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together the first 5 ingredients. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or fork).  Add finely chopped apple (and nuts if you used them). Add milk to beaten eggs.  Stir into dry ingredients, just to moisten.  Fill buttered muffin tins.

Place an apple ring on the top of each muffin and sprinkle the tops with cinnamon mixed with sugar to taste. 

Bake 20 minutes.

 

I ate one right out of the oven! Sooooo gooood!

On the next page of Vineyard Seasons, right next to these apple muffins, is a recipe for Maple Pecan Scones that I almost made.  It was a toss up between the two. Since I didn't make the scones I'm going to add them to my fall bucket list, which I'm just realizing is mostly about food... 

Have you made yours yet? Here's a peek a mine....
 

Fall bucket list:

make a pumpkin cheesecake (I've never made one before!)

make maple pecan scones

clean out John's closet/donate clothes

spray paint pumpkins black and gold (saw on Martha Stewart and always wanted to try it)

start Christmas shopping

watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

drink as many pumpkin spice lattes as humanly possible

start meal planning - writing everything down

try one new recipe a week

use my crockpot more (because it's a lifesaver!)

volunteer at John's school

make more youtube videos
Clean our winter coats (cold weather is coming!)
 

 
 

When I woke up this morning it was still raining.  I plugged in my white twinkle lights and flipped on the coffee pot. I heated an apple muffin in the microwave for 15 seconds and put butter on it. I  ate it standing at the sink staring out the window at the rain.

 

That's just what I do ♥

 

 We went to an early morning mass and then met a friend for coffee and donuts.  Now it's back home to finish up some homework and settle in for the day.  To me that means, couch, blanket, a book, and a brownie : )

 

Not bad for a Sunday!  

 

Welcome to October! I wish you many days of crunchy leaves and pumpkin spice! ♥♥♥