Normandy State of Mind

It’s definitely apple weather here in Paris and all I want to do is go to my château in Normandy, pick apples and make apple butter. The only problem is that I do not have a château in Normandy. The other problem is that I would have to teach my caregivers how to pick apples and how to make apple butter but considering my caregiver told me today that she “did not know how to use an oven” I’m pretty sure that apple butter is not in my future.

I have been addicted to apple butter since I was young. In the 1970s, my mother and grandmother would take my sister, brother and me to Amish country and we would buy our apple butter from the Amish off of the back of their horse-drawn carts because they are the experts. Don’t let my Parisian lifestyle fool you, I am pure hillbilly at heart. I used to eat apple butter out of a Mason jar with a spoon. I didn’t even bother putting it on toast. Then, because my family is the original know it all, do it yourself, crafty homemakers ala Martha Stewart… We started making our own apple butter. Look look look…

That is my fancy, pearl wearing, country club going, snobby grandmother…making apple butter…outside! My family is such a dichotomy. We will cut down our own Christmas trees but we’ve never taken out the trash on our own. We will build and paint our own gazebo but we don’t do our own manicures. We will lay brick around the pool but we’ve never cleaned the pool on our own. We will gut a turkey but we’ve never washed our own cars. We are all about getting down and dirty…but in a certain context. Do you hate me?

In homage to the autumnal weather, apple season, fall leaves and my imaginary Normandy château, 
let’s cook up some delicious apple recipes! I have curated a little selection of sweet and savory apple recipes that will get us through the crisp weather and keep us cozy. To see the recipes, click on the title.

Apple Butter

 Brie & Cheddar Apple Beer Soup with the Cinnamon Pecan Oat Crumble

 Spiced Apple Cake

 

Chipotle Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Chorizo & Caramelized Apples

Cider-Brined Porkchops with Sautéed Apples

Apple Galettes with Whiskey Salted Caramel Sauce

Apple Butter BBQ Ribs

Turkey Cheddar Apple Butter Panini

Maple Brined Ancho-Scallion Boneless Turkey Breast with Butter Pecan Stuffing

Apple Sausage Stuffing

 

Apple Fritters

 

Caramelized Apple, Bacon & Blue Cheese Pan Pizza

Apple Crisp Stuffed Apples

Apple Cider Marshmallows

 

A toute!