On Thursday we had to go into Montréal~
Our GPS..shows 45 minutes away..our destination was in the city centre..
we know Mtl is 45 minutes away..but..w/ traffic,for a morning appt..give yourself 2 hrs.
we are used to this and had given ourselves 1 hr 45 mins..by the skin of our teeth ,we made it.
We left at 7 AM..and got there at 8.30 ..and my husband had to drop me off at the door to whip upstairs..I don't know how some people do it every day.
Many take public transport ..I don't blame them.
If I had to start over and work downtown:(
Kudos for those who do it .
Give me the country..forever I hope.
The day was chilly in the AM..but we decided to go the Jean -Talon market..Little Italy..about 20 minutes away..from where we were..we went because ..it's bounty season..
apples,tomatoes,garlic,chilis,beans,eggplants herbs,you name it they have it..mums..
so so pretty to go there..and I am glad some "éducatrices" think it is such a great experience for wee ones..we saw 2 groups ♥
So cute.
I must add..I have no sense of direction..moved out here when I was 21..so 40 yrs ago..never got to know the city..I went to McGill university for 6 monts..public transport..
so I do not know my way around anywhere..nor how to get there.Let's not even talk about traffic..I was a realtor in the country ..
My husband is my chauffeur..he knows Mtl inside out.
Grateful..what would I do?
On Sunday Mylène invited me to go apple picking w/ she and Noah and Giuliana..
we went to a place that is now my favorite..
It's organic..young family run..along shore road ..
J'aime♥
We had bought our apples at JT..but I did buy honey and Mylène bought juice and 10 lbs of apples..
It's a beautiful orchard..bio/organic..run by a beautiful young family who started it in 2003.They planted the trees etc..In 2013 they were ready to open to the public.
Cute cute cute place.
Next year I will go directly there for my apples..
So nice that you know nothing has touched them..
Ok so the apple crisp..you can really make any apple crisp you love already..
I have made this one w/ Martha's,with my mom's version..with the Killer Apple Crisp recipe ..that Linda had sent me a few years back..I now make an apple crisp that combines all therecipes and varies every time;)
the topping makes enough for the 3 dishes above and another 3 inch ramekin.
The only thing I do differently from all the recipes I have gleaned and combined.. is that I pulse some Lotus Biscoff (3-4 for the following recipe) cookies and add them to the crumble..and some chopped pecans..the pic is unbaked..as I made it when Noah came for dinner and there's no time for pics then:) Serve warm w/ ice cream..make sure the apples are fork tender..never omit the spices..I have tasted some very bland apple crisps in my day..an apple crisp w/ out cinnamon..etc..is not an apple crsip;)
Noah loved it..he even loved my lasagna and garlic bread.
He is the one w/ the most developed taste palate.
La Recette~ but kind of..I switch it up all the time~glean this one..
6-7 apples of your choise peeled and cut into large chunks
2 tbsps lemon juice
1/3 cup of sugar
Topping~
1 cup plus 2 tbsps brown sugar packed..I like old fashioned brown sugar
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg..I only use fresh..grated
10tbsps cold butter diced
1 cup chopped tosated pecans..I use less
Preheat oven to 375F
In a large bowl combine the apples lemon juice and sugar and set aside.
In a small bowl stir flour,sugar,oats,spices.With a pastry blender or a food processor..cut in/pulse the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbsstir in nuts..
Spread the apple mixture in a greased oven proof casserole..
Sprinke topping over top..
Bake ap 55 minutes or until top is bubbling and golden..
My notes..I add the ground Biscoff Lotus cookies to the topping..and a touch of cardamom..
I bake until I can enter a skewer in the crisp and it slides in..
I sometimes add a pat of butter on top of the apple mixture:)
Jean Talon~ is always a very special treat~
Montreal always seems like such a neat city, so i am a little envious :) are you near old Quebec too? i don't know enough of the map to picture where you are.
ReplyDeletea day at the apple orchards sounds so perfect and the pictures of your grandson are so sweet, must have been a fun day...
Hi Jenni..Old QC..is about 3 hours away..it has a lot of charm..you would bring your paints.
DeleteI love Montréal..especially my mini town♥
Thank you.
Noah looks so much like his mother in the first profile photo! What a wonderful way to spend a day ♥ It looks like a charming place. I think you did this with them last year also? I've been in an apple mode lately also with all of the farmers' market beauties but I like to buy organic. I wish we had an organic orchard nearby, I would buy from them exclusively. I was at my favorite farmers' market on Thursday. Lots of garlic for sale but it's all mixed varieties. No one could tell me the names :( I know what it's like to drive across town at peak travel times during the week here and Milwaukee is not nearly as big as Montreal. Not fun! Your apple crisp and scarecrow - what an adorable couple. It sounds delicious and I am in an apple mood now!
ReplyDeleteThen don't worry about the name and call it Nana2.
DeleteBuy one bulb and plant the cloves somewhere sunny..just try it:)!!!!You will be hoked..
He looks so much like his mom(character..is very much she also..busy..:))..and so much like his dad,,Mylène and Alain look like they are related.Thick thick hair:)
I didn't do the apples last year..Did I?:)
I have to go look..I know we did strawberries..and blueberries..but not apples? Not sure..
I never want to be right ;)
I want to check first..
I have been caught too often in my"so called..know it all" mode~
We had to go back today...for 1.30..left at noon..got there at 1..traffic/no traffic..makes all the difference.
Your posts always make me think of so many thoughts. Your grand is growing - what a cutie.
ReplyDeleteI would love to get my hands on some of those apples. It is getting more difficult to get one that has not been through some type of GMO or fertilized with scary chemicals. When I was very little I remember my Dad talking about how people used DDT and he would warn against it and people would laugh at him. Until they didn't....
Exactly.
DeleteI love this place for that..and also..how cute everything was..
:)
Thanks Madonna..
The images you share never cease to amaze. The perfect shots make me long for a trip of my own to an apple orchard. ;-)
ReplyDeleteRecently I visited an olive grove, but believe me, it is not the same. Closest thing would be our peach orchards that I visit in the early summer. Thanks, Monique! I feel as if I've had a lovely outing.
When we walked into the orchard to the right side of the barn..I said to Mylène,my daughter..I would have LOVED to do this..
Deleteyounger..this could have been a life..I would have enjoyed..
The barn..the orchard...baking..chickens..not in that order..a flower stand.. pies by the roadside..
it is far too late and I have loved my life..but to start over.
This would be it.
My daughters would be in their Holly Hobbie dresses behind the vintage cash rgister..my engineer husband would be figuring out all kinds of things for our orchard..and that would be ..just right.
I would love to sneak in a sailboat.
Somewhere.
Oh, I still miss my farm life of many years ago, a little table set up at the farmers market with my children - it was huge fun and hard work, so appreciate the farmers today. Such lovely pictures, as always!
DeleteI think I would have loved that life.
DeleteLove apple picking! Now I'm going to be singing that Joni Mitchell song all day :) Love it! Great, great, great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tricia~
DeleteGorgeous Crisp! I must try the cookies one day in mine! Noah is getting to be such a big boy! Adorable! I could just kiss his face!
ReplyDeleteBisous xoxoxo
Oh I do kiss his face ..:)
DeleteA boy probably wouldn't think this was a compliment but I think that little Noah has the face of an angel :) Love that market, just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI told his mom you said an angel face:) Noah.. :)
DeleteThe first photo of Noah and the apples -- a dream, a fairy tale, superb!
ReplyDeleteI still like a point and shoot for outings..:)Makes life easier!Thanks Gail..I am having it developed..I like to develop or "book" some:)
DeleteI so love picking apples. As in all fruit they taste best just off the tree.
ReplyDeleteAnd it was so peaceful in the sunshine..I loved it..
DeleteYou've really been having fun Monique. First the city and then the apple orchard. I adore the photo of Noah with the apples. Funny about your husband being your chauffeur. Mine is too, only I'm the navigator :)
ReplyDeleteSam
If I was the navigator..we would never go anywhere.I have absolutely NO sense of direction..none..imagine..none.
DeleteYou two are a great team.You are.
Why I like this post ! The pleasure to catch the apples from the tree, old wood in the house and put my finger in this honey.... only a moment of joy. Christine
ReplyDeleteToutes des choses qui me plaisent aussi.:)
DeleteWonderful photos--especially of Noah!! I'm just off to the local market for apples.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Enjoy..here it's gloomy today..we need it once in a while..
DeleteIt looks like you had a perfect day. Noah is adorable. He reminds me of our Frankie only he has shorter hair and a lighter skin tone. He does resemble his Mom from pictures I have seen. Your crisp looks good. I have never made one, maybe soon. I have to pace myself or else....
ReplyDeleteI hear you,but you really should make one...warm..with vanilla bean ice cream?
Delete:)
He does have Frankie's coloring:)
I love long hair on boys..I love your Frankie's hair.
Love that dark haired Noah...what a cutie pie!!
ReplyDeleteYour crisp looks like the one I make..except now..
I have altered my recipe, with gluten free flour and had to buy special oatmeal..as my daughter has Celiac :o(
Well worth it, as she loves it!!
That orchard looks like a lovely place to visit...
I bought a small basket of Peaches yesterday...need to make my boyfriend some Peach jam...
Hideous weather here...POURING rain and humid...YUCK!!
Enjoy the rest of your day Monique!
Same exact weather here today..but the temp went down 20F in like an hour!
DeleteI am sure your crisp is excellent..you are a wonderful mom:)
I found your beautiful cowl!
DeleteLove that yarn...I tried to crochet with that...did not turn out well, at all!
Love the flower you added!
You are good to have found it!
DeleteWow;)
What a wonderful day, love the Joni Mitchell sign.
ReplyDeleteThe topping on your crisp looks perfect, can't wait until it cools down here so I can start baking.
Me too..I was so taken w/ the sign..because of the song//the French part says..
DeleteEvery apple is a flower that has known love~♥
Hello Monique, how are you? Apple season is the best. I am going to try new apple recipes this year. So much you can do with apples, just beautiful-))
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Yelena
We have had a beautiful month of September..you too?
Deleteeaves are late..
I was looking at Springerle molds today thinking of you,Debbie and Bridget from Bake at 350.
So many!
The apple picking and the apple crisp - it all looks wonderful! What a fun day.
ReplyDeleteYes I think days like thar are right up your alley..Your camera..your recipes..:)
DeleteIt's funny Heather..with your wedding preps..you did so much on your own and so prettily..that everytime I use my handmade stamp I gleaned from you and bought at Hobby Lobby..I think of your wedding.
Such a sweet post. Apple crisp is so perfect this time of year. I am so behind. This week has been so busy. Maybe Sunday, I can slow down.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's all dancing:)
DeleteOh boy, now I am wanting Apple Crisp! I will have to figure out a way to have it without doing myself too much harm! haha Having spent a great deal of my growing up years in the Annapolis Valley surrounded by orchards apples speak the language of autumn to me. I always loved visiting the orchard farm shops in the autumn, picking apples, cooking with apples, smelling apples, etc. Also when we lived in the Georgian Bay Area. Apple country. Love your beautiful photos and words as always. Love and hugs and apple smiles to you today and always! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is such a liffe changing event food wise for you..but I know you can do it Marie..a nice baked apple..with cinnamon etc..you are making me want to find the perfect substitute for you..
Deleteit's rainy and chilly today..I am glad we went when we did.
First of all, J'adore la citation: "Chaque pomme est une fleur qui a connu l'amour." So poetic. Your photos of the trees, all illuminated with gorgeous light ....
ReplyDeleteI hear you about Montreal, and other big cities like Boston. So many changing lanes and such speed! I only take the train or bus to Boston these days & once there, walk a lot. A friend of mine just went applepicking with her grandboys. An experience to remember for a life time! Love the little ones at the market. I used to take such groups to our downtown farmer's markets when I taught preschool! Happy!
I can see you enjjoying every moment of that..
DeleteMoi aussi Rita.. cette citation de Félix Leclerc m'a touchée♥
Beautiful pictures, and beautiful grandchildren, too! - Donna
ReplyDeleteNoah's mom likes reading comments about her darling boy:) Thank you!
DeleteI had to come back to look again at those beautiful pictures - and especially love the ones of Noah, rosy-cheeked and much bigger than I remember:) And I smell the scent of apples through your sun-dappled photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's not pretty here today..nor yesterday..so glad we went when we did.
DeleteI wonder if you had an orchard also..:)
So far, no visits to farms - yet, anyway. Remember when we always had the same weather a day or so apart (when I was in NH)? I hear not only lots of rain now, but a deluge is creeping toward New England, and you, I suppose. So glad you got these pictures when the sun was out! Stay dry!
DeleteI wish I could go apple picking with you. What a magical place and that photo of the tree weighed down by fruit is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Most of the apples trees had magical shapes..I will definitely go back next year..imagine your niece and nephew w/ a wagon there:)
DeleteLast year when I went to visit my daughter in Philly we went apple picking. It was grand! And they also charged about 3 times what I would pay for apples in the grocery! But the experience was worth it!
ReplyDeleteI agree!:)
DeleteAnd encouraging local organic growers ..such a plus:)
It looks like the apple trees in Canada were loaded like they were in our orchard. I never saw so many apples this year, everything was perfect weather wise for a good crop. Your crisp sounds very good with the addition of the cookies to the topping.
ReplyDeleteYour trees must be magnificent right now!
DeleteKaren..your memories will live on..you have others to make now!
Over the weekend I picked a bevy of gorgeous apples just waiting for their moment to shine. It is always a pleasure to come to your gorgeous site and scroll down.
ReplyDelete