Apple and pear pie with pecan frangipane

The first time I ever made a pie, was for Laurens. A deep dish apple pie. Since then I made several and most of them were apple or pear pie variations. I think these two fruits are perfect for a pie, pie is a humble dessert and so are apples and pears. I’ve never been a big fan of pies, I found them boring, but lately I’m becoming a big fan, especially of the buttery and flaky crust.

Apple and marzipan galette

If there is one advantage of short autumn (and winter) days, it is that they force you to get in the cosy mode earlier in the day. And when I’m in the cosy mode I always feel like baking something. There is something comforting in the smell of fresh baked goodies. And eating them is comforting as well.

Nona’s strudel

Yesterday would be my grandmother’s birthday. She was the best grandmother anyone could think of, she would do anything for you and she put everybody else’s needs before her own. But she is not here anymore, she was taken away from us, out of the blue a year and a half ago. The memories are still here though and always will be. My grandmother was good in a lot of things, among others she was a great cook, but if you would ask her, nothing was ever good enough, aways striving for perfection. 

Apple compote

Autumn is here. You can feel it, you can see it and you can smell it. And everybody talks about it, some being ecstatic about it, going all crazy for plaid and pumpkin and others (like me) trying to find little things that would make it more cheerful, because what lays ahead are just dark mornings and cold. There is one good thing about autumn – apples and pears (and cuddling under the blanket with hot chocolate of course).