A Taste of Autumn

maple leaf shortbread with brandied pears in a pool of chocolate ganache

For shortbread i don't really use a recipe.  Just knead approximately 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup of sugar into the desired consistency.  Then it's just roll, cut and bake (8 mins).  

Poach pears in brandy (1/4 cup) , water (2 cups) and sugar (1/4 cup) for 30 minutes until tender.  

Brandy and pears:

a perfect pair

Lee's Turkey Farm

Thoroughly enjoyed my recent orchard excursion.  It was a gorgeous day and i picked up all sorts of goodies; petite pears, honeycomb and bushels of yummy macintosh apples.   

Fall to-dones:

þ visit a pumpkin patch  

þ make fall cookies    

þ apple picking

þ bake pies

Bucket List

I've always rebelled against the bucket list concept, having turned quite a few of my grandiose schemes into realities at a fairly young age.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the whole notion of a life checklist, I must say I really like this sweet seasonal variation from Loves of Life's Katie Balla: http://katieballa.blogspot.com/2012/08/fall-bucket-list-2012.html.

It's sweater weather already and I'm looking forward to watching the trees take on autumnal hues.

Enjoy,

dani