Autumn Equinox 2013

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After a long, sweltering summer, the cool days and crisp nights of fall can be a welcome relief. The promise of feasting, trick-or-treating, and Black Friday shopping is on the horizon.

And it all begins on the first day of fall, or the Autumn Equinox.

This year, the Autumnal Equinox, sometimes called Mabon, is on Sunday, September 22. It's a special time when night and day are equal in length. It's about balance, abundance, and preparing for the cold winter months ahead.

 

I like to mark this event with a mini feast much like at Thanksgiving, with scrumptious homemade goodies featuring apples, grapes, nuts, various grains and pumpkins - essentially, foods of the harvest. It's an ancient tradition that reminds me of the connection we all share as human beings on this earth. It's a beautiful thing.

 

If you, too, would like to celebrate with me, here's a recipe for Fresh Apple Cake I've used time and time again. It incorporates (you guessed it!) fresh apples and the spices of the season. Reminiscent of coffee cake, it's not-too-sweet, fluffy, and light with juicy apple chunks bursting with autumn flavor.  It goes perfectly with hot apple cider or a Pumpkin Spice Latte!

 

Pardon the crappiness of the photo, picture taking is not my talent!

 

Fresh Apple Cake

(yields approx. 9 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 medium apples (your preference, though I like Gala or Pink Lady some might prefer the crisp tartness of Granny Smith)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 vegetable or canola oil
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups flour (all-purpose, if we're getting picky!)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie or apple pie spice (or just plain cinnamon, your choice!)

For the topping:

• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp cold butter

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of an 8x8 baking dish.

2. Peel and chop the apples, set aside.

3. Mix the dry ingredients for the topping in a small bowl. Cut in butter and criss-cross two knives until it resembles crumbly pebbles. Set aside.

4. Beat milk, oil, egg and apples in a large bowl. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices all at once (yeah, that's right! Just dump it in!) until moist. Pour into pan and sprinkle topping evenly across the top of the batter.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let sit for 5 minutes to cool, then serve and ENJOY!

Brightest Blessings,

Heather







photo credit: sbpoet via photopin cc