Salted Caramel & Whiskey Apple Pie

Hello, friend. 

Is it too early in the season to share a recipe for apple pie? I don’t think so! When you taste this spiced-buttery goodness that is this pie you’ll understand why I’m sharing it now. My version puts a boozy twist on the classic recipe by using whiskey in the filling. A flaky, buttery crust creates the perfect contaminant for the sweet and tart cinnamon apple filling. The filling is made the night before allowing time for the apples to release their juices. These juices are then reduced in a pan over medium heat before being added back to the filling. Then it is lattice topped before being brushed over with an egg wash and sprinkling with sugar and baked until golden brown perfection. A warm salted caramel sauce is drizzled over the top for one of the BEST pies ever.

baked vanilla custards with poached spiced apples, Oatmeal, & the Oh Hellos

Hello, friend.

This past Wednesday night, a group of friends and I went to the Canopy Club, a local music venue, to see the band The Oh Hellos. I wasn’t familiar with the band’s work before the show, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. I knew they had a folk, alternative vibe with a bit of bluegrass mixed in, but that was the extent of my knowledge. As we entered the theatre, the speaker’s blared loud pop music and the stage glowed a soft ocean blue from the spotlights . The ceiling seemed to stretch on forever in the darkness above. The theatre was packed with flannel wearing 20-somethings, all drinking fancy sounding beers and cocktails. I knew I was with my people.

Frog Jam & Honey Yogurt with Pan-fried Apples & Toasted Graham Topping

Hello, friend.

Autumn seems to be upon us once more. The Midwest becomes a smeared palette of vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges. The season of harvest beginning. The weather changing state. Long, humid days turn to cool, windy nights. These next months are for soft, wool sweaters, bonfires, and drinking coffee under a starry night sky.  Warm lattes and jittery bodies roam the quad. Breathes become ocular, resembling the appearance of exhaled smoke. Leaves fall like student’s willpower to study. Cold mornings only make it harder to leave the warming embrace of the bed. All the while, the looming thoughts of midterms leads everyone to question the reason pursuing higher education was even a considerable option in the first place. Welcome to fall, I suppose.