a few fall pleasures

every fall i start baking and cooking again after a summer of salads, and this year i baked possibly the best apple tart ever, complete with zacapa rum soaked raisins. mcintosh, granny smith, and pink lady apples all got thrown in for flavor and texture.  nutmeg.  lemon zest.  lemon juice.  butter.  sugar.  simple.  perfect.

sweet pastry dough for tart:

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sifted soft as silk cake flour

4 ounces unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

5 tablespoons crisco

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

tart filling:

wash peel core and slice about 7 apples

toss with the juice of one lemon

grate some lemon zest and nutmeg in the bowl

add about a 1/4 cup rum soaked raisins
finely chopped walnuts
fill unbaked tart shell with apples

sprinkle with sugar

dot with butter

bake on 350 till golden

last night I returned home to brooklyn after a week out of town doing all sorts of strenuous and serious and exhausting things.  waking up this morning to a cold blustery real fall day was delightful and wonderful and just what the doctor ordered.  i put on a pot of coffee, did a happy dance, and kept the flannel pjs on all day, swimming in them, size xl from targets christmas selection last year.  my favorite kind of day.

absolutely in love and over the moon about my new brushed tartan faux shearling coat from anna sui.  i will be wearing this all fall. it will be perfect with jeans and loafers.

stay cozy!  xxoo