Apples!

Saturday, we were at the orchard once again. I think David and I figured out that this whole apple picking tradition started 24 years ago! Amazing. And even though we now live in southern NH, we still take the drive into Harvard, MA and pick at the same orchard. I now have a half bushel and a peck of apples sitting in my kitchen, one pie already made, and several more to make.

Each year we hold a contest to see who can find the smallest apple. (David won.) But this year, Amanda decided to up the stakes and started a new tradition... guess who found the biggest apple? I can see this huge Courtland apple right now as it sits on my kitchen windowsill. I don't have the heart to cut it up for pie. I think I'll let Amanda eat her prize when she's ready.

Here are some delicious apple recipes you're sure to enjoy.

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (Kate's favorite dessert!)
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Inside Out Caramel Apples
Easy Bake Apples
Apple Butter
Overnight Apple Oatmeal
Apple Pie Pull-Apart Bread
Cider Glazed Apple Dumplings
Applesauce Pop Tarts
Caramel Apple Monkey Bread

Apple Cider
Sparkling Apple Juice
21 Delicious Apple Cider Cocktails

Sweet Potato and Apple Soup
Roasted Pork Loin With Apples and Sweet Potato
Roasted Apples and Fall Vegetable With Pecans
Apple Cider Baked Chicken

Cork & Capsule

Food and travel. Two word synonymous with pure pleasure. So when I heard my nephew was headed out into the world to discover and delight in his two loves, I was thrilled for him, and a little jealous. This trip started long before he left the country. His love of food and wine had been nurtured on the west coast for the past 10 years. After working at fine restaurants and becoming a Certified Sommelier at a young age, he was off and running. Literally. Somewhere along the way, he met up with his partner in crime at Cork & Capsule, Anna, who is also a Certified Sommelier, and together they made the cross-country trip from San Francisco to Massachusetts to begin their adventure, and clue in the family.

After a quick stop in Australia, Andrew tells me he is in now in Queenstown, New Zealand working for a gin distiller and visiting wineries around Central Otago. In order to keep food on their table, and gas in their car, Andrew and Anna will be heading to work at a nearby winery in a couple of weeks.

"We bought a car in Auckland (an '85 Mazda station wagon) and drove all the way down, staying with different people and camping along the way. I built a camp box with cooking supplies so I can make pretty luxurious meals as we go. I've got two burners, a pot and a skillet, your basic utensils: plates, knives, the essential wooden spoon, and seasonings. We've successfully foraged Meyer lemons, chives, thyme, avocados, rosemary, and bay leaves. I should write a post about cooking now that I think about it..."

I'm looking forward to the cooking posts. I am not a master at cooking while on the road, so I could definitely use some tips. I can only imagine the sumptuous feasts Andrew has prepared. I can almost smell the herbs.

They leave New Zealand in mid-November via Cairns and then head to Southeast Asia, and although they're not exactly sure what they're travel itinerary is just yet, Andrew tells me they'll visit Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Guam. And if the money holds out, they'll work (and eat) their way over to Europe.

My adult life started out nothing like Andrews. By his age, I was married with two children, I had a mortgage, and a dog. So the practical me wondered...how? (Clearly, I did not backpack through Europe after college.) Hard work, sheer grit and determination is the answer. Not to mention an incurable love of food and travel definitely had a hand in the making of this great escape. And life on the road doesn't sound too bad either.

"It's really amazing how quickly you make friends and how willing they are to connect us with other people that can help us on our way. The fact that we work in an industry that is worldwide definitely helps." "We're professionals attempting to stretch our opportunity to its maximum."

I can't wait to read what happens next! Please follow along as they share their love of food and drink, explore new places and meet new people.

(You can also follow Anna & Andrew on Twitter and Instagram.)

You may also like... Vegetables are King, Comfort Food, Breakfast In or Out?, Pizza or Pizza!, Do You Read About Food?, and Una Bella Giornata.

Photo by Andrew Merritt: The Ambassadors Vineyard, Hanzell Winery, Sonoma

The True Meaning of Feminism

Over the weekend, I learned the true meaning of the word feminism. Not since the days of Gloria Steinem have I ever heard the word feminism used more frequently than it has been in the past year, and especially in the past month. I sat and watched part of the VMAs with Amanda and the word feminist was seen (and heard) at least a half dozen times.

But it wasn't until I read about Emma Watson's association with U.N. Women as Goodwill Ambassador that I started to re-learn what the word actually meant. On Saturday, she gave an impassioned speech on gender equality to launch the "HeForShe" campaign at the U.N. Headquarters in New York that had people standing on their feet in thunderous applause.

Here's what she had to say about the definition of feminism:

"...my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, I'm among the ranks of women who's expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men, unattractive even. Why has the word become an uncomfortable one?"

"[I am from Britain] and I think it is right that I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that will affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men." 



Pushing back against recent campaigns like Women Against Feminism, she is educating us all on what it truly means to be a feminist. I am especially interested to hear what Kate has to say when her Women and Globalization class meets this week as this will certainly have an impact on their topic of discussion. Perhaps she will finally be heard when she says, once again, it's all about equality.

"It's not the word that's important, it's the idea and the ambition behind it."

I watch my girls work very, very hard for all that they have achieved so far, but I worry that they, too, will struggle with the inevitable choices all women have to make. Will they make enough money to support themselves, or will they have to rely on a man to help them? Will they get passed over for promotions, receive less opportunities, and be given fewer chances to further their careers?

Citing Hillary Clinton's 1997 speech in Beijing about women's rights, Emma states that "...less than 30% of the audience were male." Reminding us that feminism is a male issue as well, she talks about how her father's role as a father was just as important as her mother's, but not given equal value. She goes on to say:

"We don't often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are, and when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence."

"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time we all perceive gender on a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals."

"If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer and this is what "HeForShe" is about. It's about freedom."

"I want men to take up this mantle, so that their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice, but also, so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human, too."

Towards the end of her speech, she makes light of who she is. But she is exactly the type of person who should be saying this. She has the ability to influence a new generation of both men and women to help them rethink what history has taught them.

" Statesmen Edmund Burke said, 'All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing.'" "If not me, who? If not now, when?"

"You might be one of those inadvertent feminists that I spoke of earlier and for this, I applaud you. We are struggling for a uniting word, but the good news is we have a uniting movement. It is called "HeForShe"."

I count Emma Watson among one of today's role models I actually want my girls to listen to.

And I am proud to call myself a feminist.

Please listen to her entire speech here. And visit the HeForShe website.

Photo: Emma Watson and U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon - justjared.com

A Change of Season

Do you have plans for the weekend? Because our focus has shifted since school began (We'll be heading out of town as much as staying in town.), David, Amanda, and I are driving to Boston to meet up with my parents and visit Kate at school. My parents split their time between Massachusetts and Florida, so they weren't able to see Kate last year because of a change in travel plans. I'm excited to show them around campus, and around Kenmore Square and Fenway. Maybe it will bring back a few memories of them visiting me when I was just around the corner at Northeastern. It's hard to believe I'm the mother and not the student.

I'm told the girls will be ditching us at some point so they can catch The Maze Runner at the theater across the street. That's okay, I'm sure we can find something to do while we're in the city.

I hope you have a great weekend. Here are some fun reads for you to check out...

What Jim and Pam taught us about love.

15 career tips from smart women.

The duet you've all been waiting for. (She is just incredible!)

What is the color of your aura?

I've got good news and good news.

Photo: Cunningham Pond, Peterborough, NH

Hearty Beef Stew

This past weekend, I made my second batch of beef stew of the season per request of my oldest daughter, Kate. So I sent David to the store for the ingredients and I got out the crock pot. This is not the type of recipe you can just whip up. Well, it is, but it takes 8-10 hours to actually cook in the crock pot. The photo you see is the stew just about done. Once you add some flour, it thickens up in the last 20 minutes of cooking. This is real comfort food. Serve with mashed potatoes and some delicious crusty bread.

Hearty Beef Stew

• 2 pounds of stewing beef (I used a combination of stewing beef and beef tips)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped (I use Vidalia and chop it in small pieces. The choice is yours.)
• 4 carrots peeled and chopped (I often use ready-to-eat baby carrots and cut them into quarter inch rounds.)
• 5 large russet potatoes peeled (or not) and cut into 1" cubes
• 1 28 oz. can of whole plum tomatoes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning or Oregano
• 3 cups beef broth, divided
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and then brown the meat in batches. Set aside.
2. Pour the can of tomatoes into a crock pot and mash them with the back of a large spoon or fork to break them up.
3. Add onions, carrots, and potatoes.
4. Sprinkle Italian seasoning or Oregano over the vegetables and then add the beef and all drippings from the skillet.
5. Pour 2 1/2 cups of beef broth over the beef and vegetables. Stir it all together.
6. Add bay leaves

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

About 20 minutes before serving, add salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and the remaining 1/2 cup of beef broth until smooth. Stir into stew. Replace the cover and cook until thickened. Remove bay leaves before serving.

I used certified organic products, including the beef broth. Use low-sodium if available.

Fall Nesting

As I was unpacking my fall decorations, it struck me just how many times I'll take the same items and reinvent them again and again. Books are a decorators best friend, so there's always a pile of those lying around. I have several baskets of every shape and size, dishes, vases, and vessels of every kind to hold just about anything. To add a bit of fall to your home décor, simply gather a variety of organic materials—both faux and real—and have fun playing.

I stacked a few books, topped them with a square dish and then added a couple of faux over-sized acorns. My copper-handled tureen holds everything from flowers to Christmas ornaments. This year I decided to line it with faux laurel leaves and then fill it with real hazelnuts. You could use Spanish moss, dried maple leaves...just about anything. And a bag full of hazelnuts is just a grocery store run away.

I hang this 3' long basket on an interior door, but I brought it outside because it photographed better. This basket is filled with tulips in the spring, pine boughs in the winter. For fall, I've collected a good amount of berry branches, twigs, and grasses to mix together. The key is to pay attention to color, texture, depth, and height. The majority of materials should be gathered at the mouth of the basket. Mix the colors and textures to balance the arrangement. Anything free-flowing, like branches, should reach for the sky. Tuck and twist until you get the look you want.

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Fall Mood Board
Fall Home
DIY Fall (Door) Decoration
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Fall Mood Board

Fall is well on its way. Here's a little inspiration to get you thinking about everything fall... the colors, the clothing, the decorating, and preparing for the holidays. It's all just around the corner, and this is the week that starts it all.

Images: Top left - David Fuller. Bottom right - Gary Grossman

What a Weekend in the Country Looks Like

This is what I/we did last weekend...a little writing out on the porch, fixing the driveway culvert, and adding additional drainage to the driveway. New England weather is brutal so we're always dealing with one fix or another. This year we're actually trying to get ahead of it for once.

So what's on the agenda this weekend? Kate is coming home, so I expect to be doing laundry, cooking her a batch of Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Muffins, then helping Amanda get ready for her homecoming dance, and maybe stacking some wood. I don't know about where you are, but the temperature is really starting to dip here. A nice cozy fire sounds good to me.

While you're enjoying your weekend, take a peek at some of the things that caught my eye this week.

7 things you didn't know about Seinfeld.

Did you know your state has a super food? Mine is pumpkin.

Fall nail polish trends. I just purchased Essie's Wicked.

What do you think about the color khaki?

Land's End Pink Thread Project.

Thinking of Halloween already? Me too. This site has the best ideas.

Chatham Orpheum Theater

My family loves the movies, whether we watch them at home or take a drive to the large stadium theater 40 minutes away. However, we're fortunate enough to have two (I'll call them boutique) theaters in both our home towns, one here in Peterborough and one on the Cape. The Chatham Orpheum Theater was under construction last summer, so when we took the drive into town this past July, we were thrilled to see that it had opened. We bought our tickets for Jaws right on the spot, knowing they'd be sold out if we didn't (which they were).

As you walk in, you see this amazing mural of Hollywood stars. "The After Party", by artist Hans de Castellane, is just amazing. You can dine in the theater courtesy of Vers Restaurant, or simply munch on popcorn and candy. The seating is extra wide and very comfortable, and the sound system rivals any larger venue. They show first run movies, art films, and classics. They'll even email you "rainy day showings" for kids when the beach is not an option. Of course, Chatham is a beach town, but I can imagine taking in movies all winter long in this cozy space.

We happened to go on the night of the big storm. A tropical storm had been forecast all day, but didn't arrive until all seven of us were in the theater clapping and cheering and yelling, "We're gonna need a bigger boat." with the rest of the crowd. So the party continued as we cautiously made our way back while the wind howled and the rain pounded the pavement.

David and I went back on date night to see Chef. After dinner at the Squire, we just made the 8:00 show and literally got the last two seats in the theater. We had a really fun night.

Do you think a 3-1/2 hour car ride is too much to go see a movie?

DIY Fall (Door) Decoration

While I was out in the yard this past weekend mowing and weeding, I came across several large bushes that contained these pinkish red berries. I have no idea what this is, but I decided the shape of the leaf and the color of the berries would make a nice front door swag. I grabbed my clippers and my ball of twine and started to construct a layered door swag—long and narrow towards the bottom, wider and denser towards the top. I just clipped and gathered. Knowing I had to go get my clear door hanger from the basement, I quickly stuck my swag in my iron flower box. Then I looked at it and liked what I saw. It's a bit unconventional as I usually have pots of flowers sitting in there, but I've decided it's staying put. I will gather up more branches to make one for the front door later today.

I honestly don't have any idea if this is going to dry well or simply shrivel up and die. (I'll certainly let you know.) That's the beauty of using what you find outdoors and enjoying it, even if it's just for a little while.

Onward

Preparing for college, visiting college campuses, making decisions about the rest. of. your. life. is a daunting task. This is my third go-around and the experience has been different each time. When it was time for my son to decide which college to go to, he simply chose one and went. Kate, my oldest daughter, applied to 9 schools in a panic thinking she wouldn't get into any, never mind her first choice. She got into every single one. Amanda, my youngest, is somewhere in between. She's applying for early admission, something the other two didn't do. She narrowed down schools long before her siblings did and they're all in the same state. Three children, three very different experiences. College visits are on hold for now, although we may end up re-visiting schools just so she's sure.

With that task (sort of) behind me, I can start to focus on a few house items that need attending to and business as usual. But...it's Friday, which means a little leisure time. Tomorrow we're headed to the Otter Limits Olympic Triathlon. Amanda is biking 25 miles for Team Orr, hopefully not in the rain. And since David and I have been running tractors and bulldozers, shoveling dirt and stone, and building mini rock walls, I'm not sure we're doing much of anything as my muscles are still recovering.

Photo: Brown University campus

Quinoa

This past summer, I discovered Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). I had heard about it before, but I was hesitant to try it. I already had my many sources of protein in my diet and I wasn't eating many grains (cutting back on gluten). However, I am a fan of finding recipes that I can use again and again and ingredients that can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. Enter quinoa. This not-so-new super-food is technically a seed but prepared like a grain, it's packed with protein, iron, and magnesium. It's considered gluten-free in its raw state, but I'm told you should be cautious if you have a sever gluten allergy.

I bought some prepared quinoa at Whole Foods and ate it with spicy chicken breasts. It has a nutty flavor, but it's a bit bland all by itself. My nephew prepares in with chicken, vegetables, and a little heat and eats it every day for lunch. I think it would work well with my Orange Chicken Stir Fry recipe. Prepare the quinoa with chicken broth and place the stir fry over it like rice. I'll try it and let you know. For now, I'm just mixing it in with various left-overs and baking some Apple Cinnamon Muffins

How to Cook Quinoa

1 cup quinoa

1.25 cups cooking liquid (water, chicken, vegetable or beef broth)

Add one part quinoa to one and a quarter parts liquid. As always, choose the liquid that best suits the dish you are making. Depending on the ad ins you are using, you may or may not use a bit more liquid. Bring to a simmer and then reduce to low. Cover and cook for between 30 and 35 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for an additional five minutes. Fluff and add to your favorite dishes.

Apple Cinnamon (Quinoa) Muffins

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 cup quick oats

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup chopped apples (I used macintosh, but any type should work nicely)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add your cooked quinoa and quick oats. In a separate smaller mixing bowl, combine your cinnamon, nutmeg and sugars and then add the spice mixture to the quinoa and oats. Then add the maple syrup, apples and eggs and mix until just combined.

3. Spray your muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Make sure to spray the top of the pan as well. The mixture will overflow out of the cup a little bit, so you don't want the tops to stick.

4. Fill each muffin slot a little more than half and bake for about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Enjoy!

10 Things to do in September

I can't believe it's September already. I've always considered September to be the start of a new year. I guess it's because summer always seemed like the end of something special and once school started, it was time to begin fresh. My girls are now both in school. We dropped Kate off yesterday and she starts classes on Wednesday. College move-in day in Boston is always crazy busy, but the energy is just electric! May your September be filled with new beginnings.

1. Attend a country fair. A throw-back to another era, country fairs still exist. 4-H clubs show off their animals, candy apples and fried dough are a must, and of course you can't leave without going on some rides. David and Amanda went on this contraption while Kate and I (happily) watched from below.

2. Go apple picking. This is something we have done as a family every September for 24 years! We head back to the same apple orchard in Massachusetts, eat a picnic lunch on the town square lawn, and go home with enough apples to munch and bake with for a good month.

3. Enjoy some comfort food. I have already made a batch of beef stew, baked an apple pie, and today I'm baking a chocolate cake for Amanda's 17th birthday! Soon enough, I'll be baking peanut butter cookies for our apple picking picnic, a pot of chili for Sunday football watching, and a roasted chicken thrown in for good measure. Yum!

4. Makeover your garden. I just replanted my porch urns with two large burgundy-red mums. The plants that are partially dead have been cut down, and I'm getting ready to prune some bushes. Once flowers and plants have passed, it's a good idea to get ready for next season and cut back any over-growth as well as freshen up beds. This mini make-over will now allow me to transition into fall and make room for pumpkins and cornstalks in October.

5. Go crazy for magazines. I haven't subscribed to many magazines in a while now. Unfortunately, with all of the new technology, I can pretty much get my fix on a variety of subjects without having to purchase any. However...fall is the exception. Vogue, September issue—a must. Fashion and decorating magazines galore fill my cart. I just love the fall!

6. Spruce up inside. Spring cleaning is certainly something I do every year, but I also clean and organize in the fall as well. I get my home ready for winter by packing away summer items first. The flip flops are still out, but the straw bag is not. I will concentrate this week on transitioning my interior by swapping out accessories and warming up the color palette with pillows and blankets. I got to play decorator yesterday when I helped Kate with her dorm room. Her bedding was given a fall makeover this year. We added two leopard pillows, deep plum-colored pillows, and topped her comforter with a cream and coffee-colored spread. By the time we were done the room was too dark to photograph well, so you'll have to wait to see.

7. Plan for the holidays. Yes, I'm already making lists for gift-giving. The girls have mentioned a few things that they want, and I can tell you from past experience; if you don't buy it now, it won't be there later. I find that even if something costs a little extra, I'd rather get them something they truly want than run around in December trying to piecemeal together a few acceptable gifts. I keep a list and take photos of anything I come across. Sometimes I'll buy it on the spot (when they're out of my sight) or I'll simply go back or order it online. Once this practice becomes the norm, you can then concentrate on what the holidays are really about—family.

8. Enjoy the outdoors. Just because we start to focus inward as the temperatures drop, doesn't mean you can't enjoy fresh air and sunshine, even if it's only for a short time. Bike rides, picnics in the park or your backyard, a campfire, nature walks...it's still all there just waiting for you. So grab those sweaters and jackets, pull on some boots, and enjoy the changing scenery along with the changing temperatures.

9. Start something new. Since I think September is the month of new beginnings, why don't you take that to heart and jump in with two feet. Attend a class—art, yoga. Start a journal. Make something—a wreath for the front door, salvage an old piece of furniture and use it in your home. Consider starting a new hobby that you do at least once a month. Think bigger and consider starting a new career (maybe on the side). Do what you love and the money will follow. My husband put himself though college working construction. Between our house and other mini projects, we've actually talked about re-vamping houses in our next stage of life. The wheels are definitely turning.

10. Embrace family. Although I do see a lot of my extended family during the summer months, visits start to dwindle once we're all back to our school-year schedules. But, I've decided that I'm going to use those night-time hours to get things done around here and save the weekends for more family time. I'm definitely heading into Boston more to see Kate and it's a great meet-up destination to see other family members as well. Trips to a couple of museums are already in the works. If you live a good distance from your family like I do, maybe there is a destination spot where you all can meet up for lunch, dinner, or a bit of sight-seeing and catching up.