Halloween~

Halloween~  is right around today's corner..

It's my friend A's birthday.. we met on Gardenbuddies and have stayed in touch.
I never forget her birthday..because..well it's Halloween..
Nothing frightful about her..all goodness..and talent.
Great mom..
One of the best photographers I know.
And a school nurse:)
How good is that:)

I am a muffin person more than a dessert person.
A favorite thing for me to do..is not to go out to restos for dinner..but to stop at lunch and get a coffee and a muffin somewhere charming.And treasure the moment~

Or ..at home.

Our homes are charming to us..
Is there never a time you get home from the city..or a trip..
..walk into your dear  home..or apartment.. and think..and say:
"I just love it here".Far from the crowd..away from it all..
Up a colorful street..or around a pleasant corner..or up a few familiar steps.
It's got the people I love in it..or close by..memories..souvenirs.. books..kitchen stuff..paints..ribbons..stamps..flower pots..a cozy bed..a quilt..a bath,shampoo,picture frames..warm socks..water,food.
We are the lucky ones.

 Getting back to muffins..
I had found the cute downloads here..look how adorable  she made her cupcakes.

I love printables..send them off to Bureau En Gros(Staples) and pick them up..
I wanted to use of some of our still crisp delicious apples..and Googled for a new Apple muffin recipe..
I found the one I altered here~
Really good.. w/ a cup of tea or coffee..as the leaves continue to fall..
They are hanging by a shoestring now except for our neighbor's large oak..

La Recette

Adapted by me.
Make sure your ings are room temp..in my case I had to soften the butter.
Read through the whole recipe before starting:)
12  muffin wrappers
Muffin pan


Pre-Heat oven to 375F


2 cups of flour + 2 tsps flour** (see chopped apples)
1 stick of butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
 2 tsps of cinnamon..plus more for topping...and the chopped apples
1 tsp cardamom..plus a touch more for the chopped apples
1/4 cup milk
 1/4 cup apple sauce
2 cups chopped apples coated in the 2 tsps of flour..and  add a touch of cinnamon and cardamom..
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Topping
 1/4 cup melted butter
 1/4 cup sugar a few piches of vanilla sugar
 2 tsps cinnamon
 1/2 tsp cardamom

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
Beat in eggs one at a time
beat in vanilla

Sift  the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, salt together with cinnamon and cardamom..
gently fold into the butter mixture alternately with  1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of apple sauce that you have mixed together beforehand..(That's why I say read everything first:) )
Gently fold in your chopped apples that you have coated w/ flour and spices..

Fill your 12 muffin cups
Bake for ap 30 mins until a toothpick comes out clean.
Meanwhile melt your butter and mix your sugar,cinnamon and cardamom..
Once the muffins have cooled a bit.. brush the tops w/ the melted butter and dip in the sugar mixture..

Add toppers..
Or a candle to sing Happy Birthday to Arlene~.


PS..I also love salads..in oranges:)
Bon Weekend~