I’ve got some good things for you Girlfriends!!! MUSICA
Oh, how I’m loving October! 🍂 Weather has totally changed on the island, summer is a thing of the distant past. We’ve had two Nor’easters recently, wild wind and rain out of nowhere . . . ferry boat was stopped, we’ve been cut off, out here alone, leaves flying by the windows. My favorite. Light the candles, make a fire, cook, and cozy-in to the quiet. With Jack. And Joe.💞
Look at me! After three months of an out-of-order broken wrist, I’m painting again!
I wasn’t sure I’d still know how! I’ve started working on the 2021 calendars (yes, 2021 😜, try not to think about it). As you can see Jack has been lending support. I’m still going to Occupational Therapy once a week, working to get all that luv-lee flexibility back. But I’m sooo much better. Lifting little weights! See that writing up there? Now look at this:
This is a shopping list I wrote with my left hand a couple of months ago! I told my brain, “MAKE A ‘G'”, but my brain said, “Is that a right turn or a left?” This took HUGE concentration! I kind of liked it!
Still eating healthy, and still loving it. Doesn’t that look delicious? Well, it was! Best words I ever told myself about losing weight? “I don’t care how long it takes, I’m doing it.” Very powerful. As they say in the Biz, “It’s a Lifestyle Change.”
Here’s a wonderful little healthy snack. If you are a homey cottage-cheese lover like I am (and many aren’t for good reason ➡️), there is nothing nastier than the milky wet cottage cheese you find in so many grocery stores. So I have something new for you to try. Look for Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese. It’s heavenly. Sturdy and creamy. Not drowning in milky wetness!! Available in tons of places. Perfect to put on crackers, or, like above, on buttered, toasted Ezekiel Bread, sprinkled with seeds, nuts, salt and pepper! Sprouts taste good on it too. It’s a treat!😋
Yes, it’s that time of year for Carrot Cake! Lots of Birthday’s around here lately . . . and Saturday is Rachel’s Birthday! 😘😘😘 Sending love to you Ray ~ I really wish you could help yourself (all of you!) to a piece of this! I won’t be a bit surprised if they figure out how to do that someday! Wish they’d hurry! You can wish Rachel a Happy Birthday here in the comment section, OR, write her on Twitter, HERE!❤️
You’ll recognize the recipe for the three-layer carrot cake I took to Jaime’s house for a birthday party . . . I forgot how good it is! Everyone loved it!
If you’ve never tried to make a carrot cake, you really should! It comes together so easily, and it’s filled with fruit and nuts! Right, Jack? Right!
Here I am at the party, sitting on the floor in front of the fire, among my oldest and dearest, toasting Joe through the crowd as he takes a nicely blurry photo of me!
In this one, I have the camera, so you can see what my view was from my floor position. People putting their rings around the candles, so everyone gets to make a wish.
My cake came in last and I was too busy cutting it to take pictures! I’ve made it lots of times, but usually, I just 
put frosting between layers and on top. This time I made extra frosting and did the sides. Decorated with chopped (green) pistachio nuts, a marigold from the garden, and strips of carrot peel I rounded at top with a knife, and made pointed at bottom. Isn’t it cute? I thought it looked like a happy circus cake! There were zero leftovers, no crumb went unattacked! You could do this!!!😘
The fans would love it! This recipe also makes amazing cupcakes. You can tint the cream-cheese frosting if you like.
All home-sweet-home this time of year. Hovering between 50º and 60º most days now. See our wisteria, so insidious, sneaking its way around everything, will crawl under a window and into the house if we aren’t careful! But very gracefully!
I love being a homebody. Garden is changing so fast . . . but we still have a few herbs, some nasturtiums, kale, lettuce, and a couple of tomatoes growing. A few rose buds and marigolds. No freeze yet, so we’re milking the garden for all it’s worth.
The wind blew our yard full of leaves . . .
And, btw, that Carrot cake recipe (and cupcakes) is in the book on the table! (Heart of the Home 30th Anniversary Edition.) If you make it, cool the cake before you put the frosting on!
Look at this! Fun with food! Joe cut into this radish and look what he found! Good enough to sell on eBay! (No, we won’t😅) Had to take a picture of it! Love the tail! Crazy radish bug!
And yes, Casper is back in his high spot, in the guest room on the second floor . . . looking out . . .
Over the neighborhood . . . he’s become a tradition, lighting up this window every October for years.
Cheering a stormy day, a harbinger of Halloween . . . he’s got a perfect view.
I wob him. When we go into downsize mode someday and sell this house, I hope the people who buy it will want Casper too! Because I know he will want to stay.🎃
There is something in October . . .🍂🍁🍂
Out on our walk, the bittersweet is wild!
Such a magical vine . . . invasive, they say, but what a way to go! We’ll be decorating around our front door with it!
The woods are prettier every day . . . we’ve had lots of sunny, crisp, and breezy days . . .
And the rainy days just make it better!
We just make a fire! Last night, girlfriends came over after Mahjong, we sat on the sofa and talked in the quiet, listened to the fire popping, clock ticking, wind blowing outside . . . 🍂🍁🍂
What’s up at the Studio? We’re getting new things all the time, I can’t quite keep up. Doing our best to make our web store one-stop shopping where you’ll find lots of little special things filled with ❤️ ~ with the holidays coming up so fast, it’s that time again!
Just in ~ our brand new Winter Dream Charm ~ like any starry night, you can make a wish for dreams come true.
And these too, precious house cut-outs ~ one of which is now sitting on my stove shelf. I tried it all over the house, on a window sill with my rusty birds, on the mantle with a candle behind it, there’s no bad place! It’s going to be gorgeous with my white Christmas trees!
SO, something else . . . There’s a new article featuring guess who? Me! in Edible Vineyard (the 2019 Harvest Issue), a wonderful island food magazine produced through the Martha’s Vineyard Times. It’s available everywhere here on the island . . . and I have to say, every article in it is interesting! Really well-written. Kind of like the New Yorker of food! I don’t know if the paper is selling them, but I’m sure you could ask.
On October 26, I’ll be speaking and signing books at the 
newly renovated and beautifully restored Carnegie Library on North Water Street in Edgartown, MA, from 2-3 pm, sponsored by the Vineyard Trust and Edgartown Books. It’s free! And they have a gift shop! 😜 I’ll bring signed copies of Edible Vineyard to give out! Come join us! And guess what? Kellee and Sheri will be there (Joe too!). They’re coming to stay with us for a few days next week, to get a little taste of New England fall!🍁 💃
The Edible article was beautifully written by Alisun Armstrong, photos by Lexi Pline. Quotes from the Fairy Tale Girl and Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams. Recipes from the 30th Anniversary version of Heart of the Home and my Autumn Book.❤️
No reason for this photo, just loved the colors!
This too! I told you it was a huge Birthday Month . . . I also had a Birthday Party for Martha . . . this was the table setting. Very simple, purple flowers (Johnson Brothers WindsorWare plates) and plaid napkins on old bedspread, with hydrangeas from the garden.
Colorful! Girl Party! This whole lunch was scarily done without a recipe. When we were in Hudson, I tasted some fantastic things, spicy 
sweet-potato fingers with minted lemon sauce and a Coconut Cilantro Chutney (with hot peppers and garlic and ginger). I wrote down what I could, so I could try making it at home. I was nervous, realizing too late that this might not be the smartest way to do a birthday lunch, but it turned out GOOD. I served it with deviled eggs, minced red onion, and smoked salmon, and toasted walnut bread ~ with homemade Basil Ice Cream and Lemon Polenta Cake for dessert. My wrist allowed me to do everything except Joe chopped the onion and got that pretty green ice cream out of the freezer container! Pretty darn good!
And then there’s this! Because I couldn’t find them on the Island, I had to make them. Since they’re not here, I imagine you may not be able to find them either, so I thought this recipe could come in handy, for Apple Cider Donuts! They’re easy! They bake in the oven like a cake! You have to have them!🍁
So Here’s what I did . . . first off, on the stove, out of sight, is a pan filled with Apple Cider (the plain, non-alcoholic kind) boiling down to a syrup (don’t worry, I’ll put the recipe at the end of the post). Then I buttered the donut pans with melted butter and set them aside. Don’t have donut pans? Stay tuned . . .
I lightened the flour by stirring it with a whisk so I wouldn’t have to sift it. Then I measured it out lightly and put it in a medium bowl . . .
and whisked it together with baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
In another large bowl, I whisked together egg, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
whisking . . .
. . . adding in the reduced cider . . . whisking until it was blended.
Then, because it’s too difficult to get the dough neatly into the tiny donut pans with a spoon, I poured the batter into a plastic bag …
. . . then squeezed the messy thing down to get most of the batter in the bottom of the bag,
then I twisted it up at the top, and cut off a tiny bit of corner, so the batter would come out in a controllable manner.
. . . and Voila . . . into the oven they go!
While they baked, I melted some butter and mixed together sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon for coating the donuts when they were done.
And here they are, hot from the oven. I slipped a tiny spatula around them and they came out like buttah.
I dipped them, tops and bottoms in melted butter, and laid them into bowl with the sugar and spice . . .
Spooned over sugar, pressed it in, until they were well coated. Pushing Joe, get away. no touching. Oh, poor baby, okay, eat one. Gimmie a bite.💋
I wrapped the rest of them in an old linen bridge-table tablecloth, put them in a basket and walked over to lowely’s for Mahjong . . . we start with tea, and yesterday, with donuts still warm from the oven!
The recipe made six large donuts and ten small ones. So, who wants to make donuts? Leave a comment, we’ll have a drawing, and the winner will receive the exact tins I baked these donuts in! Two tins, used once only, they’re festive, they have red bottoms, together they make six large donuts and a dozen little ones . . . there are more in our web store, just in cases. And I’m including a package of holiday recipe cards!
I’ll toss in a signed copy of Edible Magazine too…
So that’s it . . . sunshine through blowing leaves, through kitchen windows, sliding across the stove, weaves through sugar-donut fragrance, skips along the floor, over the table, dancing fairy-like over a bowl of apples, and shimmers onto our walls.
Our world sometimes feels upside-down, we can feel overwhelmed by daily happenings, making ends meet, meeting the needs of our beloveds, drains energy, there’s no rest for the weary or the worried! Dreaming of a better tomorrow? Let it show in everything you do. Let the things you value in life shine through, home, family, friends, the little things that make life sweet. Do stop and smell the flowers, run and catch a leaf in mid air. Watch an old movie with your petty pet. You’ll feel better, I promise. Kisses and blessings on you and yours. Take a deep breath . . . ahhhhh.
Don’t forget to leave your comment for the drawing! HERE is a little chart that shows you how to sign up to get this BLOG delivered to your email address.❤️
A P P L E C I D E R D O N U T S
Makes six large donuts and ten small ones.
Set out 1/2 c. whole milk and one egg to come to room temp. Slowly melt 1 1/2 c. (12 TB. or 1 1/2 sticks) butter (you’ll ned some to grease the pans, some for donut batter, and some for the topping). Put 1 1/2 c. non-alcoholic apple cider in small saucepan. Bring to boil, then simmer until liquid reduces to one-half cup. 👀 Watch it. Takes about 15 min. Set aside to cool. Use a pastry brush, butter the donut cups.
Preheat oven to 350º
- 2 c. all purpose flour, whisked to lighten, then measured
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. cloves
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 egg, room temp.
- 1/2 c. whole milk, room temp
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 TB. melted butter
- 1/2 c. reduced apple cider
- 1/2 c. dark brown sugar
- 1/3 c. granulated sugar
T O P P I N G
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice*
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- the rest of the butter, put in shallow wide dish.
Preheat oven to 350º. In a med bowl, whisk together first 7 ingredients. Set aside. In large bowl, whisk the egg, then whisk in the rest of the ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet and whisk until smooth. Fill a large plastic bag with batter. This is messy. Once filled, hold it at top and squeeze batter down, twist the top so batter is pushed into bottom. With scissors cut a tiny corner off the bottom of the bag (not too much, you can always cut it bigger). Squeeze the batter into the donut cavities, filling about 2/3 full. Bake 10-12 min until they spring back when you poke them (I baked the small donuts slightly less time). Let cool 5 min in pans, Use a small spatula to loosen each one and turn them out onto tea-towel-covered cooling rack. While they are baking, make TOPPING: in a small bowl, mix together first 3 topping ingredients. Put the rest of the melted butter in a shallow dish. When donuts are cool enough to handle, dip tops and bottoms in melted butter, put them in the sugar mixture and spoon over generously, patting them so the mixture will hold on. Eat! Lovely in a cloth covered basket to bring to tea! Excellent with a cup of coffee!
*You can make your own PUMPKIN PIE SPICE for the topping, just add 1/2 tsp.nutmeg, 1/4 tsp.ground ginger, and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves to the cinnamon.
Autumn – absolutely wonderful time of the year! Even here in New Mexico we do get some color in trees (not like New England though) – mostly yellow Cottonwoods all along the Rio Grande River. Apples are a-plenty and so is cider (which I love). Thank you for your delightful e-newsletter. So much fun to read and see all your photos of your life there. Carrot cake is one of my all-time favs, so now I’m inspired to make that as well as the donuts. What a great idea to bake and have your home smelling so amazing, so inviting. A very happy Autumn to you and all your family and fans! One – two – three …. start baking!
So glad fall is here! Love, love, love it! Wood burning fires, leaves, crisp air, decorations absolutely wonderful. I have already made carrot cake for an October birthday, such a tradition. The donuts will be next! Yum…
Glad you are on the mend. Baby steps!! Thank you for sharing life experiences with us, always making us smile! I hope to receive a signed copy of Edible.
Thank you for your sunshine!!
Dear Sue,
So glad your wrist is getting better. Enjoy this lovely Fall, the Queen of all the seasons.
Lillian O. XOXOXO
Glad to hear your wrist is getting better. I made the carrot cake this weekend for my sons birthday and everyone loved it. That cake is so moist and delicious. Looking forward to having a piece tonight after dinner, again. I can’t wait to make these donuts next. I love all your cookbooks. Every recipe is wonderful. Have a great day.
All the food looks delicious. Can’t wait to try to make the donuts. I hope I win the pans. Thank you again for sharing part of your life. Love.
Wonderful post – glad your wrist is better. I want some of those donuts!
Oh my, oh my, oh my! Your words & pictures paint a wonderful Autumn world. But the recipe of Apple Cider Doughnut is the “cherry on top of the sundae”!
Thank you for a delightful give away, as well!
Peace & all good things!
Deb
My first trip to Maine and Newport, RI (and nearby states) last week. Fantastic fall & next time I hope to visit your island as you write so magically about it. The colors have not yet arrived in NC. Thank you for bringing so much beauty to life through all your giftings.
I recently bought some Apple Cider donuts – tasted so good the first day, but quickly went stale. I have a donut pan, and am super excited to make these! Stay tuned for the results. So glad to hear and see that your wrist is better. Wonder if I could make a “Casper Two”? He looks so spooky in the window.
One day, I will visit Massachusetts – it is on my bucket list, especially if I can go in the Fall.
Happy Halloween to you and Joe and Jack!
I think you could make one . . . go here and scroll down, I showed how he was made . . .
I’ve been wanting to make cider donuts for the longest time but was waiting for a recipe I knew would be wonderful – and now I have it because every recipe you share with us is wonderful! Thank you, Susan!
I have always wanted to make my very own carrot cake!
Since it’s my BD this week guess what! I’m going to do it!
Thank you Susan
Love kitty
Hi Susan- I have always wanted to make a carrot cake and since it’s my birthday this week, I’m going to do it!
Thank you!!!
Kitty
Happy Birthday Kitty!
I love your posts and the new updated healthy menus, plus the personal photos of your beautiful home and surroundings. I was looking forward to purchasing a new book on your trip to England and Scotland of some time ago. Is that just not happening for Christmas anymore?
Not for this Christmas . . . but it’s coming along!
Such a great post! I smiled thru the whole thing. So glad you are healing and are happy. Have a wonderful Halloween! 🎃 Kit
Thank you for the lovely taste of Fall on MV, Susan. Looking forward to being there myself some day. Gonna have to make those donuts ~ Judy
What a lovely post, Susan! I adore the early days of Autumn. I always have, but even more so since we have been living in New Hampshire. The photos of you making the donuts look delicious and I would love to have those pans to try them on my own. (Fingers crossed.) What a blessing to have many dear friends you can shower with love through cooking and baking. So glad to hear that your wrist is healing and you are back to doing what you love.
So glad you are back to painting Susan! Hope you continue to get your flexibility back.
Things are not yet very autumnal here in coastal North Carolina, but our fall produce – apples, grapes and greens are coming in.
Thanks for the donut recipe – I don’t need them but I’m pretty sure my 3 year old grandson does!!
Would love to win the donut pans..
Have a great fall!
Susan, you make fall so festive. 🙂 Can’t wait to make apple cider donuts!! They look sooo fun to make and so good. Love the carrot cake too! My husband birthday is in September and he changed from chocolate to carrot cake for his new favorite. Happy you are healing and enjoying this beautiful fall.
Really your blog feels like I’m home, talking with an old friend. Thank you!
So enjoyed reading this lovely post on my tea break today… refreshing! Those donuts look delish! Glad you’re back to painting. Blessings!
Sorry I arrived so late to the party…but I just cannot read the newsletter on my phone! Not because I can’t see it, but because I want to enjoy the Musica, all the drawings on the edges, just everything. This is my silent indulgence! I will be making the Apple Cider Donuts, no matter who is the lucky winner. Enjoy 🎃🍁🍂🍎🍩☕️🍷
Thanks for another terrific blog. This is just a hint, but the 2 adorable birds and the quote in the middle of the blog would make a Great bookmark . Happy Fall Susan.
Reading your blog I can see, taste and smell fall. I am recuperating from a total knee replacement and reading this made me forget the pain for awhile. Thank you ❤️
So happy you are able to paint and write again!
Those donuts look delicious!
Enjoy this cozy time of year.
Happy Halloween!
Homemade donuts remind me of my childhood. I can almost smell them cooking. Can’t wait to try yours out.
Hope your therapy continues to improve your wrist! Always love getting an email that takes me to Martha’s Vineyard. Good for my soul.
Your apple cider donuts take me back to my first trip to New England. I didn’t know there was such and seeing your delicious looking batch has my mouth watering and me longing to go back again! I’d love to have a set of the pans and try to make them myself. Thanks for the recipe. I love the cozy days of autumn too!
The doughnuts look and sound wonderful!!
Apple cider donuts YUMM!! I am lucky to live where there are several places that make and sell them and I always have to have at least 1 every Fall. They make pumpkin donuts which are very good too. Thanks for the give away and your lovely words and pictures. So glad your wrist is getting better.
Hello there Susan,
Back home, recovering haha….Thank you for the give away!
Nicoline
xxx
congratulations on the edible vineyard feature! and part of me wonders (hopes?) that you’ll work on a healthy-eating cookbook. you know, in your spare time …. 😉
We have Louisburg Cider Mill here in Kansas and I have to stop for a dozen when we pass. This recipe would be healthier as it is baked! And with a hot cup of tea….oh my. Wish we had an abundance of bittersweet. Mine is getting very sparse.
These sound delightful! Thank you for t recipe.
Good morning Sweet Susan!
I’m so happy for you that your wrist is healing up nicely and your having that WAAHOOO! surge of feeling like yourself again. Thank you for the cider donut recipe. Our son and daughter in law are coming this weekend for our annual Halloween Party, I’m going to make the donuts for the morning after! We have you carrot cake for Easter every year, it’s always a big hit!
SB recipes grace our table at every holiday, but Thanksgiving is full monty Susan Branch. When my now 29 year old son sees Corn Pudding come to the table he always says,
“Cheers to your lady!”. That’s how my darling, mischievous husband has always referred to you as , “is that recipe from your lady?” or “who are you guys talking about? OMG, your lady? I thought it was someone you knew!” To which we boo him and toss napkins at him and say in unison, with fits of laughter, we DO know her! He rolls his eyes while grabbing a handful of your ginger spice cookies, so proud of himself for riling up the girls.
Enjoy this gorgeous Autumn day!
❌⭕️❌⭕️,
Tawni Urrutia in Lodi, Ca
LOL, Your Lady!!! Ha ha ha, that’s so funny! You are too cute, Tawni. Give everyone a big kiss from the lady!
Susan,
What a wonderful post! Fall is, indeed, a most magical time of the year. The donuts look marvelous! Thank you for the recipe and it would be a fantastic surprise to win the donut pans. 🙂
Your fall pictures are beautiful, we are getting some good color in Indiana too.
Happy Fall!
Kathy
So glad I took a few minutes to read your post before I start the day. I would be honored to bake my first batch of donuts in your pans! Thanks for the positive messages and yummy food ideas.
Good Morning Susan,
I so enjoy getting the email that says you have a new Blog post!
You talk about all the things that I love about home and family.
Your blog makes my heart happy!
Enjoy fall!
Karen
You. Are. Awesome! Thank you for the cider donut recipe. They do have them here at our local orchard, but only on the weekends. Haven’t had gumption to make it there yet, very busy there with tourists on the weekend.
Thank you for your beautiful blog. It’s so nice to read some positive news❤️
I love the fall season – I live in coastal Maine, and it’s beautiful every season of the year, but fall is my favorite. It just kicks off the whole holiday season, and all of your posts are such an inspiration! Thanks for another great blog post – you always have the best outlook and advice!!
Oh my goodness… autumn in New England. How I miss that (my mother’s family all from Mass./New Hampshire and I lived in NH for 5 years as a teen when my dad worked for Boston newspapers in Gilmanton NH and Derry NH – huge apple farm right at my school bus stop and got fresh apple every day when I got off bus at end of day). Glad your wrist is healed and thank you for the yummy donut recipe – I so miss Apple Cider donuts!!! And thank you for the chance to win some goodies!
Living in Florida, I really miss the change of seasons, especially Fall! but reading your blog brought back pleasant memories…thank you! Can’t wait to try the apple cider donuts 🙂
Hi Susan,
With plans to travel to Europe next week, I haven’t enjoyed all the feelings of fall until reading your blog today. You help me remember to breathe and take in all that nature has to offer this season; thanks! The donuts sound so delicious, I won’t feel sad having to leave Italy-I can make something yummy and homey when I return.
Cecelia
So want to try the apple cider doughnuts. Yum!
you always brighten my day! thanks for all you are and do.
LOVE Jack’s face! That would make me smile every day! Makes me miss my boy Floyd. Thank you for all the joy that you send our way, Susan!
So glad your wrist is so much better. Your blog makes me HAPPY YES and autumn too.
Lots of love
Willemien
Another wonderfully happy post.Thank you! We normally go up to Ipswich, MA for apple picking and cider donuts but the EEE virus threat scared us off this year. So we are making our own kind of Fall happiness at home!
Much love to you Susan,
Marybeth
Those donuts sound (and look) heavenly!! I can’t wait to try the recipe!!
Apple Cider Donuts are a Autumn must
You can buy them from the Vermont Country Store catalog
or follow the Susan Branch recipe or bust
While visiting Vermont in September we had some on
a lovely store
As we walked through the door you could smell them galore
I can hardly wait to bake some
It will make my ❤️ Him!!!
I love this post. Why is it human nature to want something someone else has? But it is and I do. As I look at the raindrops on your window and see the fall colors, I am envious, I want what you have. Right now we are having hot, dry, Southern California Santa Ana winds and they don’t mesh with who I am. I am longing for the fall colors and rain from my childhood. I can completely relate to your broken arm, I broke my right arm late last year resulting in surgery and a plate. It is at that moment you realize everything we take for granted. So happy you are healing and nearly healed. Can’t wait to try the donut recipe and enjoy that beautiful fall weather.
So funny. Today I closed the car door with my right hand for the first time. Little party in my head! It’s the little things!
Sounds wonderful!
Thanks for this crisp Autumn blog! I love it all, even the rain! Happy Halloween next week, and glad you are feeling better!
I just opened my 2020 wall calendar and love all of your photos of England. I have enjoyed your artwork and books for many, many years.
Thank you for the lovely post making me look forward to autumn. I’m out of the country now but returning to Vermont soon. You make hear the crunch of dry leaves and smell that mushroomy smell. I always love your illustrations, quotes and photos.
So happy you are writing again. I am trying to remember to stop and smell the flowers. Thank you for being you
Dear Susan—delicious post! When I saw the topic of donuts, it reminded me of a time when I was in an airport security check line recently. Ahead of me was an absolutely buff young muscle man wearing a sleeveless workout outfit and shorts, displaying his bulging muscles for all the world to see. This man obviously worked out a lot to sculpt his body and he looked great. He was carrying two huge sacks of Krispy Kreme donuts as his carry-on! I thought it was so cute and he probably was going to share those donuts with many friends, but I think we all deserve a treat from time to time. Especially donuts! Love to you and Joe from Bev and happiest of birthdays to ever-so- sweet Ray!
Cinnamon cider doughnuts sound like the perfect fall treat. Thanks for your blog which always reminds me to enjoy my life and my home.
Oh my! Those donuts sound sooooo yummy Susan. I’m going to try them for sure. Autumn goodies are the best! It’s grand news that you’re up and painting once again. Yay, and thanks for your goodness,,
Thank you for making fall even more wonderful! I want to make a carrot cake even though it is almost 9 pm. Keep healing and sending love to the world!
Don’t break my heart. I hope the note about “someday” going into downsize mode is not taking root anywhere. I cannot even imagine you and Joe anywhere but in that house … or anyone else living there. Sounds like you’re enjoying the beautiful season of autumn. I know you know California…it’s not quite autumn here, even though it should be. Way too warm. Wishing every day the temps will take a dive. Gotta try those Cider Donuts. Oh, yum. Thanks!!!!!
Those donuts would be a smash hit with my family! I love that they are baked. Congrats on the Edible Vineyard feature story. I love Fall in New England. 😉
Happy Autumn, Susan!
It’s been a year now since we were on Martha’s Vineyard. Our visit on your beautiful island was one of the most wonderful vacations we’ve ever had!
We’re from California so we don’t see cider donuts that much out here, but we did discover some on an apple farm while visiting New Jersey. My husband Paul is the baker in our family so I’m printing out your recipe and hoping to win the donut pans. Can’t wait to try the Carrot Cake too!
So glad your wrist is healed and your back to creating again.
Thanks for brightening our day!
Love doughnuts!❤️ Love your blog!❤️
These pans would be lovely for a Gluten-free version….I miss doughnuts almost as much as I miss REAL pizza dough!
Mmm…..Autumn. Just lovely.
Yum! That is the word. The cake,the doughnuts….even the sunshine on the door and yard full of leaves is yum. Okay , maybe not yum for those last two. But all so fun! Put my name in for the prize! Please.😇
The donuts sound delicious! I love that they can be baked instead of fried. Very nice!
Your fall post is lovely. I wish we could freeze October…there is so much it is perfect for! Thank you for the chance to win.
Across the miles,
Rebecca
Cider donuts make me miss New England. I will definitely try your recipe ❤️
I’ve never made doughnuts because I don’t like to fry… but these….YES!!! My family is so super excited for doughnuts this weekend! thank you!
MAHJONG!!! I play, too. My aunt learned when her husband was working in Malaysia and taught some of us when they came back. She lives near me now and we play often, just a few days ago, in fact! We have so much fun! And I also saw a post yesterday on Facebook that said it’s good for your mental health – who knew!
Susan, I love hearing about the nor’easters , your gardens and your cooking! You inspire me to bake things like your Ginger Crisp cookies and now the donuts! I’m not to the eating healthy part yet, but I’ll keep working on it! Thanks for all the inspiration and the feeling of home you provide in your writings! Love you! Nancy
Dear Susan,
I’m glad your wrist is feeling better and it’s always so much joy for me to read your blog! You’re UNIQUE!!
Fingers crossed that I can make those yummy donuts!!love, love, love!
So excited for your book release! Do you have an ETR ( estimated time release) ?
Oh Susan! Your cider doughnuts remind me when my little grandson, Lincoln, was about one and half years old. Lincoln, my daughter and I went to the pumpkin patch in Lynden, WA (near the Canadian border). They were selling the most scrumptious mini cider doughnuts. My daughter is really into eating healthy, and did not want Lincoln to have but a taste of the doughnut. Well, when his mother wasn’t looking (but I the mischievous grandma was :o) …) Lincoln stuck his tiny hand into the white doughnut bag and pulled out a doughnut covered in sugar and stuffed the whole little doughnut into his mouth all at one time. He and I just laughed! I have it on video, and it is one of my sweetest memories. He is now 7 and I would love to make this doughnut recipe with him!
Oh, when you talk about downsizing, it hurts my heart! I want you stay in your home forever! But if you do downsize someday, I know you and Joe will find the sweetest little cozy home. Thank you for sharing your sweet ways with us all.
Susan – Someone may have already mentioned this to you, but FYI just in case you didn’t know this: The American Bittersweet is not invasive. BUT the Asian Bittersweet IS!! Here on my hill in Michigan and surrounding township, there is a terrible invasion. It wraps around trees and eventually kills them. Environmental groups are finally waking up to the problem of removal. Time consuming, hard work, and expensive. Hope your Bittersweet is the good stuff, because it is so pretty.
Love your fall post…made me feel very “fallish” and now I want to curl up by the fire and eat cider donuts!! Thanks for sharing your love of everything you love, makes me love it too!
Good morning Dear Susan
Thank you for you in this world. You truly are a beautiful person.
Have a lovely, beautiful day being a homebody with Joe & kitty too❤️
Your friend & true homebody
Peg
Dear Sweet Susan. With tears in my eyes, I am thanking you for this post. At the end when you said that life overwhelms us, I felt like you were talking straight to me. I won’t go into details, but life has me very tired right now. But your blog lifted my spirits. I will go outside and look at the leaves and count my blessings. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Dear sweet Susan. I felt like you wrote the last part of this blog post just to me. Life has me very, very tired right now. I’m not sure if my first comment went through, it just disappeared. But I want to thank you for lifting spirits, inspiring us to enjoy each day, and make beautiful things happen in our home.
xoxo
Happy October Susan!!
O my goodness! I can’t wait to make the apple cider doughnuts! I was just thinking the other day about finding a recipe to make apple cider doughnuts! I am gluten free so I am unable to eat the doughnuts at our local cider mills. I can’t wait to make them!!! Thank you!!
I made your cranberry apple crisp last weekend for our friends and it was DELICIOUS! I also made your homemade macaroni and cheese the other night. I used my gluten free noodles and it was so YUMMY good!
I live in MI and fall has arrived and blowing through so fast! I love looking at the leaves as the sun shines through them. They are like jewels on the trees. Thank you for your inspiration. I wish I could see how you balance all you do. So happy to see you are painting again and finding joy in creative pursuits! Until next month, BLESSINGS sweet girlfriend!!!
I loved this blog!! My very favorite time of the year is Autumn . To me it is so beautiful, and so cozy. A quiet time, after a busy summer. It is such a homey time and the rest of the year coming with Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Thank you for always reminding us that we can make our own safe haven right at home. No matter what is going on in this sometimes crazy, scary world.
Love, Mary Jane
These look delish !!!! I look so forward to your blog !!! Thanks for all you do !!
I think it would be a toss up for what would be better, the taste or the smell! Yum!
Your word and pictures always put a smile on my face and a peaceful feeling in my heart. I also love reading everyone’s comments! Such lovely people, I wish I knew them (and you!) personally as friends! God bless!
Fall is my favorite flavor! Thank you for sharing your treasures with all your girlfriends. You are wonderful!
Awesome blog – can smell the fire burning and the donuts baking! Such a pleasure to read! I will be making donuts at the holidays when the crew is home! Happy Autumn!
Yeah for the update on your wrist! Thank you for ushering in fall for us! Enjoy the holidays!
Another wonderful post Susan! Such good news about your hand. Love the donut recipe, and LOVE Casper watching and welcoming all. Thank you again for sharing your words and photos. Love and hugs to you and Joe, kitty rubs and tickles to Jack. Karen
Your posts are always lovely! I like to read them when I have time to savor them. And now I must make donuts!!
Apple Cider Doughnuts! It’s been a long time since I had one, fresh out of the bag (we used to shake ours in a brown paper sack with cinnamon sugar inside)! The perfect post-leaf-raking reward! So glad your wrist is improving, and Happy Birthday to all October babies (my sis-in-law, Kelly B. too) may you all have a magical year ahead!
Thank you, Susan for being you and for sharing yourself and your life with us. I walked by your sweet home several times a few years ago when we visited Vineyard Haven, and love seeing the little pumpkins and Casper. Have a wonderful holiday time!
I so look forward to your posts, Susan! There is always something that I like and inspires me to try. Thank you!
It’s never occurred to me that I could make apple cider doughnuts myself and now you’ve obsessed me with the thought! Thanks for the chance to win the pans & recipe cards! Happy list-making and calendar-creating with your newly-nimble wrist!
You have such a gift in your descriptions & illustrations of all the good things in life! Happy to hear your wrist is healing well & that you are enjoying all of the Autn goodness you can! Thanks for sharing your thoughts & talents with us! It truly makes the world a nicer place!❤️
What a wonderful little give-away! I’m so glad you are able to paint again. I absolutely have to have my Susan Branch calendars all over the house! And I loved the last paragraph of this blog. It’s something I needed to hear right now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your life with me.
What a wonderful little give-away! I’m so glad you are able to paint again. I absolutely have to have my Susan Branch calendars all over the house! And I loved the last paragraph of this blog. It’s something I needed to hear right now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your life with me and the world.
Hi Susan,
I wrote a comment, but I can’t find it, so I’ll try another one…. So glad to see your wrist is better, love those yummy things you make! Love the Fall! It smells so wonderfull outside! Sending love/Groetjes from the Netherlands,
Willemien
Hi, I don’t see my comment that was sent about a week (or so) ago so leaving another to have a chance at the darling donut pan. I love apple cider but don’t believe I’ve ever had an apple cider donut and will have to try making your recipe. They look wonderful ! I just wish we could get some nice fall weather here in Calif. but maybe next month 🙂 Thoroughly enjoyed your blog as always. Also enjoyed reading many of the comments sent by all the “girlfriends.”
Love the fireplace pic with Jack! Super Halloweeny! Happy healing wrist and Happy Autumn! 🍁🍂🍃
Your apple cider doughnuts look delicious. I’ll have to try them one of these fall weekends! Thanks for sharing!