not to us

The tree out front is beginning to turn.  A few of its leaves are a bright fire-engine red.  The past couple of days have been cooler with strong breezes that flow through our open windows.  The air smells so fresh and crisp.

If you add in the football and the strong urge to make a big pot of chili...

Well, it's official:

Fall is on its way!

WAHOO!  :)

After a summer without air conditioning, I am more excited than ever to welcome this autumn season.  Ruby and I checked out a book from the library called Applesauce Season.  It's the story of a young boy whose grandmother makes applesauce with him each autumn.  In the back of the book, it has a recipe for homemade applesauce.

So, in the spirit of the season, the kids and I set out to make applesauce this afternoon.  They were so excited about the prospect that neither of them would nap.  Seriously, Ruby spent an hour in her room calling out, "Momma!  I'm ready to make applesauce!"  When I got upstairs to get her up, I heard Burke saying, "Appuh!  Mom!  Appuh!  Mom!"

Obviously, they were thrilled to begin the process!

The recipe called for six pounds of at least three varieties of apples.  We like to excel in our endeavors, so we picked four varieties.  Ruby was disappointed, because they had an apple called the Pink Lady.  However, the store was sold out of that kind.  :(  I convinced her that the Jazz apple would be just as fun, because Jazz in a type of music you can dance to!  :)  Here are our apple varieties for our first batch:

Our first order of business was to remove the stickers:

And, of course, the apples needed a good "bath':

Then, we rinsed them:

We cut them up and put them in a pot to stew:

While the apples cooked, Ruby settled in to watch Night at the Museum (again!), and I decided to use our leftover apples for another fun fall-time treat.  I started the first phase:

Before I could finish the pie, the apples were ready to be mashed.  Ruby enjoyed grinding them through the food mill, just like the character in the book:

By this time, Roo was tired of the pictures, but she continued to be a good sport.  :)

Finally, it was time to add the cinnamon and sugar and stir it all up.  The recipe called for us to taste test the applesauce until it was *just* right.  Roo was HAPPY to help with this part!  :)

Once we got it all stirred up, we put it into a quart jar.  (Who knew that six pounds of apples only make a quart of applesauce!?!??!)

With the applesauce finished, I could continue making the apple pie:

Now, let me tell you:  In my next life, I wanna come back as the world's best baker.  I want to make yummy cookies that are perfectly chewy.  I want to make fudgy brownies that melt in your mouth, but don't crumble in your hand.  I want to make cakes that taste yummy and have the proper amount of hydration.  I wouldn't mind being able to decorate like a pro, either.

However, in this life?  I suck at baking.  It must be the precise nature of the beast.  I can't get it right.  I do well enough (Hello!  I'm fifty pounds overweight!), but I'd like to be able to do better.

But pies...  I can do pies.  I don't know what it is about pies.  It comes naturally to me.  I made this one from scratch, straight outta my head: dough, filling, and all.  And, in the end, this is what we got:

Yeah, I can do pies...  :)

I hope you all are looking forward to fall as much as we are!  What is your favorite season?  Which is your favorite fall activity?  Would anyone be interested in having a fall get-together at our house (complete with chili, pies, football, and lots of Euchre)?

We love you all!  (Deborah, I hope you enjoyed this story about Ruby.  :)  And Amy, I hope you appreciate the fact that I didn't use the "M" word when talking about cakes.  I love both you girls!!)  :)

See ya on the flip side!