Autumn's Apples

Shorter days bring crimson sunsets. Falling leaves float around crisp breezes. Scents of cider, smokey chestnuts and flavorful figs fill the air. Autumn is slowly sneaking in, and it’s my favorite time of year.

For the past two years I’ve felt as though time has just slipped past me. Seasons have come and seasons have gone without much distinction for me, except for maybe the evolving plates with the fruits or vegetables de jour or maybe it was really only the addition or stripping of an extra layer of clothing…

But this year, I can finally see time changing before me. With a new job that affords me the luxury of having my evenings free, and a newfound perspective on truly savoring the moment, I have vowed to take advantage of what the world has to offer WHEN it offers it.

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After work one day last week I was strolling through the Union Square Greenmarket. The breezy air was perfumed with the barrels of just picked apples and pears and plums that lined the crowded walkway. I picked up an apple and inhaled. It was sweet, fresh and crisp. A lovely scent permeated its thin skin. Picking up that apple brought back memories of apple picking at orchards back home in PA. I smiled, remembering my first impression years ago of being able to harvest your own barrel of apples straight from the tree. Suddenly I had an overwhelming desire to pick an apple, just to hold.

That evening I treated myself to a simple dessert to celebrate the apples I had purchased. Greeted by my tiny kitchen that housed my cabinets laden with equipment, my fridge filled with fresh ingredients and the basket on my counter overflowing with a variety of apples, I began. I carefully sliced apples, split and scraped a vanilla bean, caramelized some sugar and swirled in a pat of butter. I measured sugar, cracked eggs, whisked together a warm spiced cream, and then tossed everything together, allowing it all to soak in.

An hour or so later I was relishing each bite, the entire experience of savoring this years’ autumn. It is rich, warm, cozy, tender and creamy. Even with a real depth of flavor, full of sweet caramel apples, buttery brioche and warming spices, it can be quite humble. Rustic and simple. Caramelized apple bread pudding. I usually think about desserts like warm bread puddings as the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a cold winter night. But it was perfect for right now. Oddly enough, one spoonful and I felt re-invigorated. Every mouthful felt more and more like I was back in my parent’s kitchen sitting on the counter, whisk in hand, just a young girl trying to have fun after a day of apple picking.

Perfect for a crisp fall evening or a frosty winter day, this is just simple classic comfort food.

The kind of food you can cuddle up to.

See more of the Pastry Princess' dessert recipes!

gilded fork, dessert, recipe, pastry, princess, Monica Glass, chef