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.
I love the paragraph at the end of this blog. And am so happy your wrist has healed and you’re painting again! Xoxo
So happy to see your wrist is letting you paint again. Lovely to see your photos. Thanks for sending us all your news in such a cheerful, pretty way.
Those donuts look amazing! Would love to try making them
Cider donuts are my favorite!! 💚💚💚
Colorful October!
How I love to get your letter! I have been making that carrot cake for birthdays ever since I received your book as a birthday gift probably 25 years ago! I’m a big fan. I have 6 or 7 of your books but they are hard to find. Loved the wonderful book about your meeting Joe.
A Fine Romance! It definitely is!
💝💐Blessings on you too! Love your newsletter! It is such a treat! You are an amazing artist and I could look at your work all day! So glad that you are healing so well! Thank you for the opportunity to sign up for the awesome gifts! Have several of your books and would love to win! Thank you!💐💝
Happy fall to you all …..
I love sugary spiced donuts. I’ve never made them, but would love to try to. Please remember to post how to do it without a donut pan, for all of us losers(LOL). On your last post, you wrote a special note to Nicoline. I “met” her thru your blog. When I saw the post, i wrote her a note. “Ahh, Nicoline you’re on the blog”. She was excited to see it too. How sweet of you to do that. Of course you also had her in a blog showing off her lovely quilt. She’s a sweet lady. Blessings to you and yours.
Sweet and talented, and so good hearted. You are right Valerie!
Oh dear, I have to say duh! I thought when you said “Don’t have donut pans? Stay tuned…..” that you were going to tell us how to make donuts without a donut pan. But lucky for one, they will win a pan. I have gone online to see if it is possible to make these without a donut pan. Yes it is! So, for all of the losers (again, LOL) you can wad up a piece of parchment paper in a ball and place it in the center of a muffin tin, put the batter around the paper. Viola!
~v~
Yes, and you can just pipe blobs of dough and make donut holes!
I made your recipe. They are delicious! I do not recommend the parchment paper, unless I did it wrong. The paper did not want to stay at the bottom and kept floating up with the batter.
I made 6 large ones, and ended up cutting a hole out of them with a knife, and I made a dozen small. Since the paper didn’t want to stay at the bottom of the large ones, I just filled the mini muffin pan about 2/3rds full and after I dipped then in the butter and rolled them around in the topping, they came out looking like donut holes.
I will make these again. So good!
I can almost smell the donuts.
I get excited when I see you have a new blog post. Thank you!!
Fall is my favorite season of the year…though I wish it would last longer. The donut recipe looks yummy! Thanks for sharing all of your interesting ideas and photos in your blog.
Hi Susan,
So happy your arm is better. Thanks for sharing the shopping list. I like how the onions in the beginning of the list are described through “Spanish,” but the last item is shortened to “blueb.” 😂❤️
Stay strong! You’re holding us up.🏋🏻♀️
Yes, by the time I got to blueb. I was done!😅 That list took forever!
I used to eat tons of cottage cheese, but it is loaded with salt and alas, I am not to eat it anymore. It is difficult because all things contain salt, even uncooked foods. Makes me cranky just thinking about it. Getting old is a challenge. You know what has hardly and salt? CHOCOLATE! lololo
Even when daily life seems like it’s in a free fall, I always feel better after reading your posts. Balm for the spirit!
Love your art what an inspiration you are.
I am not able to find the donut recipe or the carrot cake recipe. Can you help me find it.
I would love to make snd share your recipes and I’d love to get a copy of the edible vineyard. I’ll try to find it.
Thank you for all you share with us, Susan.
I rather loved your chatty post! Please enter me for the drawing!
This post makes me love fall!
Oh my gosh!! I am so in trouble now! I had cider donuts for the first last week while in Kinderhook, New York! They were wonderful!!! Thank you for the recipe!!
Oh yes, I want to make apple cider donuts! Please include me in your giveaway. It would be an absolute delight to win something from you.
Happy October!
xoxo
Melanie
I plan to write your donut recipe inside the cover of my –your– AUTUMN book! The book is an important element each Fall around here. It has a special display position in my fancy plate rack. Thanks for a baked donut recipe!
Cider donuts! Yes please! Sounds like a wonderful new autumn tradition.
As always, wonderful blog! LOVED the picture “for no particular reason”. It gave me a chuckle. Donuts look fabulous! They will be on my “Must Make” list. Autumn blessings to you dear Susan! So happy the wrist is feeling better! Anne
Beautiful post. I enjoy your blog so much. Thank you.
Those donuts look so good!!! Apple cider are one of the purest pleasures this time of year, both the donuts and drink. Loved to see Jack helping. Just like my boy Cinder, gets in my lap while I sit at the breakfast bar enjoying the paper or whatever, front paws on the bar and reads away. Even better if his mom is eating something because we try for a tidbit. My boy is definitely a carb junky!
Enjoy this wonderful weather we are having, rain and all and all those flowers still hanging on. Will be so sad when that first frost comes and takes them away!
Apple cider donuts 😋
Can you tell me where to find the recipes on this post for the donuts and carrot cake. For some reason I can not find them.
Thank you for always sharing with us and for all your beautiful inspiration. I so appreciate you snd your beautiful art and nature.
The donut recipe is now at the bottom of the post. I didn’t put the carrot cake recipe up because it’s in a book, Heart of the Home, so many of you have! Thank you Kathleen!
Those donuts look yummy! When I was growing up my father made donuts once a year in an ancient deep fryer. They were good fresh, but if you waited forget it! We lovingly called them “clunkers”
PS – Where’s the recipe for the donuts in this post, did I miss it?
Thank you!
It’s there now! At the bottom!
How fun! You make October look so fun! My four boys would love those cider donuts! I’ll have to try them! As always, thank you for sharing bits of your creative life!
I love dramatic fall weather too. Yesterday my husband called me to the window to see a full double rainbow against a dark sky. It was breathtaking…and gone in moments. What a gift. Thank you, Susan, for the gift of your beautiful blog posts. They brighten my day. Cheers!
Yummy donuts! Thank you!
I’ve been seeing so many recipes this fall for cider donuts made in pans like this. But I don’t have any. I would love these pans!
How wonderful you are able to paint again! So glad you are doing better. Just in time for the holidays! And, yummmmm. Cider donuts. I can’t wait to make some.
So happy to hear that you are able to paint again! Those donuts looks so yummy! Thank you for always thinking of us!
Such a delightful October post ! Seeing your name in my email
Brings sunshine to my day ! I love seeing your adventures and handsome Jack !
I’m so happy that your wrist is healing so well . Have a wonderful weekend !
Your healthy eggs, avocado, toast, and peas looks delicious. I will be having that for breakfast tomorrow. Yumm. 💖
Mmmmmm! Yum.
Your post was so home-y! The doughnuts look like something I’d like to try making.
Susan. Great blog! Enjoy it all. My sisters and I have a great pumpkin that stands guard out in front of our front door. He glows orange and protects our neighborhood from oct 1-31 every year for the past 19 years.. for my bday my sisters got me some Susan b goodies and I’m using my pumpkin mug all of October!!!! I simply love it. Your blog is so needed as well as wanted. Cheers to you and yours and especially to that adorable kitty.
Linda
I’m drinking my tea from the pumpkin cup right now! So, here’s to October, and here’s to us!
Your delightful letter filled with cozy, Autumn inspiration is the perfect way to begin the weekend, dear Susan! 🍁🍂🍁 I’m so grateful to hear that you are painting again! Your garden still looks lovely as the seasons change. This weekend the Japanese Wind Anemones will bloom along my white, picket fence! Ever since I first saw them blooming in the Black Forest a few years ago, I’ve dreamed of their delicate blossoms in my cottage garden. It’s the little things that bring great joy!
It’s so heartwarming to imagine you happily painting in your cozy studio, Susan! I’m busy creating a special scrapbook filled with love and memories to give my parents for their November birthdays. It’s a very special way to count our blessings this year!
Heartfelt thanks for your words of joy and wisdom. Wishing you and Joe a Happy Sweetest Day! Sending Happiest Birthday wishes for Rachel!
With much love,
💗Dawn (in Illinois)
Always wonderful to hear from creative you, Dawn!❤️😘
Huge hugs!!💕
Loved this post! Do you think you will be able to downsize?!?! I have tried, still have lots!
I have NO idea!!! 🤣
I am reading this at bedtime and now craving a donut! That is a real problem when trying to stick to an eating plan with limited carbs. I’ve lost over 25 lbs. with that plan but sometimes it is hard! I am also perplexed because I keep reading descriptions of photos in your blog that sound wonderful, but the photos aren’t there. There are a few but it seems like so many are missing.
You are doing GREAT, Barbara! If photos are missing, refresh the page, they will usually come back! xoxo
I’ve been wanting donut pans! These look amazing!
I have never tried to make donuts but these sound delicious so think I will have to try them
Such a wonderful post – all things autumn, recipes, friendships, Jack overseeing the new calendar and best of all – your advice at the end. This is exactly what I needed to read/hear – looking for less stress and focusing on my many blessings. Taking a deep breath~Thank you, Susan~
Love donuts!! Pick me!!!!!
Looking forward to trying these donuts. Baked donuts are delicious! Not to mention the smell Colli g the home while waiting for them to bake. And you are right! Those are tough to find around here (Southern California). Thank you! Also, the winter charm is lovely.
Hi Cindi!
Just saw you are a follower of Susan Branch too!
How cute!
Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Oh my! Doughnut pans! Now that would be a huge incentive to make your apple cider doughnuts. I’ve never had that flavour, but they sound fabulous.
It’s just wonderful to hear your wrist has healed so well.
Your cakes looks amazing! I’m going to be 46 on Nov 2. I think I need a cake like this! I am excited to try making apple cider donuts. I’m a big lover of all things fall! These will be a hit! I can’t wait to get baking. I’ll need to find some pans first.
Happy Birthday Heidi!
Thank you. Glad your wrist is doing better. I’m a crafty person so I know I would be beside myself if I couldn’t do any with my wrist being out of commission. You reminded me it’s time to get my 2020 calendars too! I’m going to call my mom and find out if she has donut pans! I’m just so excited to make these donuts. I always love reading your letters to us. Happy fall! Many hugs to you!
You had me at “Oh, how I’m Loving October!”..It is my Favorite month and I think possibly the most Beautiful October I have ever seen here in the PNW…so much color… I just have to try the donuts…will grease up my grandmothers 110 year old cupcake tins and cross my fingers that they will taste just as good with no hole ~~
I would love some of your recipes and ideas for healthy eating — in a new cookbook perhaps? Love your blog!
I love reading your Blog. You paint such a wonderful picture of a simpler time. Thank you for your kind, gentle spirit. It shows in everything you do.
Dearest Susan, there are layers and layers of care and love woven through every message to your girlfriends. This Fall message is cozy uplifting and a reminder of all the title things that each season brings. Wind, leaves, shadows & light playing games, baking, warm toasty kitchens turning out homemade goodies. Fireplaces ablaze. Thank you so much. Susan
Thank YOU for being here . . . it does take a village, and we are a good one!
Oh Susan – these look delicious. I do so love your blog posts. We are off to England for a month at the end of October. We go each year to the Beautiful Yorkshire Dales. I always think of you when we’re there. Have a lovely weekend.xx
Have a wonderful time. Love to be thought of in one of my favorite places in the world. xoxo
Susan,
Your so right that life is sweet. I’m always looking forward to your new posts, they are always so home spun, with uplifting stories pictures, awesome art,and yummy recipes – thanks I’ve always wanted a donut pan and am thrilled for the opportunity to enter the drawing.
Denise
Please…Choose me!!! I’ve purchased all your books since the beginning when both of us were very young! I’ve always loved your illustrations, your writing style, your recipes, your blog, everything. It would be such fun to make these donuts in your very own pans:-) I’m so happy for your success. You add much to this crazy world. Thank you. I wish you and Joe continued good health and much happiness.
Love & Hugs
Thank you for the kind words Martha! ❤️
It’s always a delight to read your blog posts and see your beautiful pictures. I love your live style, as well, and I’m so glad to see you can now draw and paint again! It must feel so very good and liberating!
I didn’t know donut pans existed… I love the idea since I like donuts but resist buying a frying machine and don’t want to heat oil on the stove…
Happy fall to you and Jack and Joe.
I will be making apple cider donuts. From Karen, in wonderful Minnesota.
The leaves are really coming down in our beautiful state.
I brought home a bottle of apple syrup from a wonderful trip to New England many years ago. I tried to duplicate it by boiling apple juice down, but it just didn’t work. Maybe it has to be apple cider? Anyway, the cider donuts are going to taste delicious. I look forward to Autumn all year round. I’ll bet it’s fantastic on Martha’s Vinyard.
Hi Susan, We visit Martha’s Vineyard every year to visit our son. It’s all that you say it is and more. As a matter of fact, we happened to be marooned there on Thursday due to high winds and no ferries. Oh well, it gave us an extra day with our son.
I do love your art, your books. You are an inspiration.
That’s another good thing about this island, there is always the *possibility* of marooning! Fingers crossed!
Happy Birthday Rachel – so nice you & Paul had a quick visit with Susan and Joe.
I swoon for donuts in October! Reading your words continue to be balm for my spirit and soul❤️
Susan, we just downsized but upward. The culling, however, was a trip to Hades. Glad your wrist is better. Hugs
Hades here we come!🤣
We were talking about pumpkin spice doughnuts today! We usually get them here in California at Krispy Kreme limited to October/November only, but health issues have kept us home for a bit. Would love to try my hand at the cider doughnuts and read your article from the newspaper. A warm and cozy post…..most grateful for that.
Those donuts look mighty good.
Oh, How I would love to win this combo! I could follow your directions and I could make cider donuts for my family. Pick me! Pick me! (LOVE your blog!)
I used to live in Pennsylvania but now reside in Arizona. Every fall I think about those cider donuts we always ate this time of year and miss them so much. Never thought of looking for a recipe. Thanks so much! Would love that red donut pan. ❤️
Love Fall!
Hi Susan,
Fall looks so magical where you live! I am a Texas girl, so I am still waiting for our temps to drop.😊 I love love Casper in your window👻…must be so cute at night when passers pass by. Happy Fall to you and thank you for sharing yours with me.🧡🍂
Anne
Cider apples….mmmmm. Thanks for sharing the pictures of fall at your home. I love it! Glad your wrist is so much better.
Love Cider Donuts in the fall. Please pick me as your winner!
You all really know how to party! Delicious food , good friends, I was hoping you would tell us where to get the do nut pan lol,, wonderful prize!
It is nice to see you painting again! I’m really happy your wrist is getting better. 🙂 You set such a lovely table. You have always inspired me to make an extra effort on my table settings. 🙂 I have never made homemade donuts before, but this recipe actually seems doable! I am sure these donuts smell divine! I can’t wait for the recipe. 🙂
Yep, gonna make the donuts for sure! Yum!
Happy Fall, Susan. Your apple cider donuts look delicious and are, no doubt, healthy since they aren’t deep fried. I can’t wait to try them. I think I can almost smell them already.
Your posts always make me smile! Thanks for sharing your sweet life story. You’re an inspiration.
PS I just adore Jack!
Yum! Worth doing some things fro
m scratch!
Oh, how I love cider donuts! God bless you!
Oh my gosh… everything looks wonderful… not sure which I like best… the carrot cake or the donuts? Guess I’ll need both!! 🙂 love the pic of you sitting on the floor.. so relaxed and happy… 🙂 xoxo
I’m glad your wrist is healing nicely! It sounds like you had a lovely weekend. I’d love to try your cider donuts, they sound so good. Your blog is charming and cozy. Have a happy Fall and Thanksgiving! 🌻🍂🍁🌾🦃
I can’t wait to try these donuts with my students! It is a Special Ed class and we cook every Friday. The weather is getting colder and it will be fun to have these warm, out of the oven, treats!
I love cider time of year and Casper looks adorable peering out!!
As always your post is glorious with color, and scents. Autumn in Vermont is gorgeous too. Lots of gold and reds are finally showing. I never knew there was a special pan for baking doughnuts. Your carrot cake is just great and I have that book so I shall look for the recipe. Happy that your wrist is now behaving. And say hello to Jack and Joe and Casper for me.
OH thank you Susan! A doughnut is my favorite treat, especially an apple cider one or pumpkin. I’m so glad your wrist has mended and you can cook & paint again. I wonder if I can order a copy of that magazine in which you’re featured. Hmmm? No matter how I feel, your blog always lifts my spirits.
Lovingly,
Julia
So happy you’re healing and painting. So ready for apple cider donuts, love the idea of baking them. I’m getting back to baking after being down for a year. Healing takes time. Your post help so very much. Thank you for your inspiration.
Two thumbs up for cider donuts with cinnamon sugar. Love the donut pans in two sizes … one for the grown ups and one for the little ones. Btw hope you are soon on the road to recovery.
I love your blog so much Susan. I smile the whole time I’m reading it. 😊 Came to Martha’s Vineyard on October 2. Had a whirlwind 3 hour tour. It was as if I could feel your presence. A very beautiful place!! The donuts looks scrumptious. As does the carrot cake. 💕 Yum. Happy Birthday Rachel 👑👑👑🎂🎂🎂🎂
My job is making me pretty unhappy. You’re blog lifts me out of the trenches and helps me smile again and get ready to try try again. Would love the donut pans!
Susan
My husband & I have visited Vermont twice -1st in 2015 & this past Summer & we made sure we enjoyed apple cider donuts😊 I would love to bake them myself with your donut pan & use your recipe, which looks so delicious. Thank you for all your inspiration & bringing a smile to my day.
The carrot cake and donuts both on my list to make soon. Love reading about life on your island.
Friendly cottage cheese – I haven’t seen in Colorado. Where Trader Joe’s is pretty good.
If you click on the Friendly’s link I gave they show a nice long alphabetical list of where you can buy it.
Oh Susan, it’s always wonderful that you take us on your meanderings. The donuts look amazing !
Love your blog Susan. It makes me want to move to New England!
The donuts look amazing! Welcome autumn, with all it’s wonder!
I love reading your posts and I wait to read them until I a free from all other interference, so usually before I go to sleep. I have several of your books. Your notes help to keep my world centered, even in the midst of still recovering from divorce, parent caretaking, and parenting. Thank you for the beautiful creativity you share. It helps to make the world a better place and gives me hope! Looks like a delicious recipe! Thank you again! Best, Marlene
One day at a time Marlene, as I know you know. Your words show you’re doing great. xoxoxo
Your Casper is 100% Hallowe’en magic.
Cider donuts say fall..delicious!!
You bring so much happiness into my life! Thank you!
Just finished making my Grandson a homemade “Elf on the Shelf” Halloween costume . Only had a few pieces of felt and my old faithful sewing machine. I would love to sit with hot tea and a cider donut. Happy 🍁🎃
😘