Visions of autumn danced in their heads...

Getting close to dusk...

an autumn evening....

Autumn All Around

Where did summer go?  Well, having photo-sensitivity makes summer the most difficult season for me, and this year it was a very hot, humid, and long summer.  Sorry ~ I posted nothing.  But there is always next year.  But for me, hey, that's okay, because it is now my favorite time of year! October, November, and December are my favorite months, and I have been loving and savoring this autumn!

I enjoyed a beautiful fall day picking apples with my daughter and soaking in all the colors of foliage that is Autumn in New England (which I find one of the most glorious things). 

We got A LOT of apples!  So, that weekend we made apple pies, one for us at home and one for my mother.  I made them in a pinch, didn't have any particular recipe, so looked up online and used Martha Stewart's pie crust recipe (how could I go wrong ~ the crusts came out flaky and delicious). Then I just loaded that thing with apples, tossed in flour, sugar, and cinnamon.  They came out great.  I used mostly Macintosh apples, with a few Cortland and Honey Crisp added in.  My husband likes his apple pie served with some slices of very sharp cheddar cheese, my daughter prefers hers served warm with vanilla ice cream, and I love mine the best at room temp, just as is.  

But what I am blogging about today is something that brings back happy fall memories from my childhood.  Every year, there would be one night where my mother would make apple dumplings for us for dinner.  After being outside on a chilly afternoon, raking leaves for a while, then hanging out with friends, with it getting darker out earlier, we'd come inside, my nose and toes still cold from being out in the cold air for so long ... and smell that apple-cinnamon goodness coming from the kitchen.  We'd all sit down to the table and dig in, often a friend or two joining us.  It warmed me right up, and tasted just like autumn in bowl.  

I've seen other people's apple dumpling recipes, and while they do look good, and I will try them sometime, my mother's is very different and unique.  She first made applesauce, then used Bisquick to make the dumplings.  And they are ~ amazing! 

Click here for the recipe: Apple Dumplings ~ and may you savor and enjoy every autumn morning, afternoon, and evening!