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.
A baked donut sounds much healthier!!!😊
I need to try to make those donuts. They are all about fall! I can smell them now!
Those look like the donuts we get at the apple orchard!! How lovely Susan. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thank you………….and hi to Jack 🙂
I love autumn and collecting cider recipes! I have spiced cider in fridge now. I definitely want cider doughnuts and to be in your contest🍩 Sooooo glad your hand is recovering well! 🍂🧡🎃💛🍁gmapat
My mouth is watering. Healthy doughnuts? Bring ’em on!
Such a cute idea for your carrot cake! It looks so yummy!The cider doughnuts sound so good too!
Those donuts look fabulous, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen donut pans. My mom used to make donuts in a deep fryer when I was a child, but I have no idea really how she made them. Fall is such a beautiful time of year with all the coloured leaves. Even here on the south coast of Vancouver Island there are vibrant reds, yellows and oranges with lovely bright greens. And fields and fields and fields of pumpkins. So glad your wrist is healing so well. We could not do without your gorgeous watercolours.
so those donuts must be low calorie since your baking them instead of frying them right? LOL. I’ve never seen donut pans. didn’t even know they made such a thing! and that carrot cake looks lovely, Haven’t made one in years.
Donuts look good. Delightful post.
Just returned from a late night at work and taaa daaaa! a new blog post!
what a treat just before i nod off to dreamland. I’ve been healthy eating too, but slipped a little after a vacation and slightly stressful reentry…lol , so it’s great encouragement to see your still at it. BUT i will be making these doughnuts for our neighborhood Halloween gathering. Lots of neighbors stop in for a cup of soup, glass of wine and this year a yummy doughnut! How perfect!
So happy to see the wrist listening to the brain and remembering what to do.
Good PT is so valuable and you’ve been a good patient too.
Fall Hugs from NC
Donuts are my downfall! Never met one I didn’t like!😊. This is such a lovely gift for you to
give away. ❤️ Hoping my name will be drawn. Enjoy all your posts and ALL your books.
Most sincerely!
I love Apple cider, donuts and everything Susan Branch!!
Even though you inspired me to eat healthier a few months ago (down 5 lbs. and sticking with it!) I think those apple cider doughnuts would be the perfect splurge.
👏👏👏
Thanks for so many inspirations!! Pick me!!
Your cider donuts look better than any I have had! Yum!! I will be looking for the recipe.
What a happy post!!! Loved reading it. Feels like I’m there with you. We’re starting to cool down here in DFW Texas. Usually this time of the year we begin to feel the cool air rush through. We may have a few more days of unusually warm days. That’s OK. I love cottage cheese but I’m lactose intolerant. I found some lactose free cottage cheese at my local grocers. I’ve been enjoying it immensely. I love carrot cake, as well. We have a restaurant here in Arlington called BJ’s. They serve carrot cake muffins with our meal. They are delish!! Hope someone enjoys the donut pans. I have some and really enjoy them. Guess I need to get them out and make some cider donuts. Thank you for recipe. Have a wonderful evening. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACHEL!!!
Fondly, Sharon fromTX
THANK YOU SO MUCH Sharon xx I appreciate it! 😘
Susan, you’re inspiring me to do some baking. Going to enjoy this autumn season before it’s gone. I’m happy that you’re able to paint again!
Bet those donuts taste very fine! Can not wait to make them.
Love the Fall as well.
Starting my baking season very soon, donut tins would come in handy!
Glad your wrist is getting back to normal. So many new calendars, cups and illustrations to plan and draw for 2020.
Delightful post! Fall is finally here in the south! Oh, how I love the cooler weather and all nature has to offer! Happy adventures to you!
Dear Sue and Joe
Happy Fall! I would love to have donut pans. I have had cinnamon sugar donuts before, but never cider donuts. I can’t wait for the recipe. Could the batter also be used for cupcakes? I’m so glad that your wrist is coming along.
Love Sue
Love-lee post! It was like getting a letter in the mail from a friend! Happy happy!
Your post made my day! Taking care of my beloveds has become all consuming these days. Nice to be reminded of how truly wonderful your day can become by eating a donut, watching a red maple leaf fall or having a cup of tea in your favorite SB Pumpkin Head cup! Thanks and love for always cheering up your Girlfriends.
Oh my, the donuts looks delicious and I do love the pans!Thanks for another wonderful post.
Susan, my heart skips with joy when reading your post, such color in your words & doings. Colorful like the fall leaves. . . . . . . Hugs to you & glad your wrist is doing sooooooo well.
Have NEVER made donuts, but these look so wonderful, I am determined to try!
I will anxiously look forward to the recipe. What fun! Nothing beats a New England fall!
Happy Birthday Rachel! feel like I know you. Give Alice a hug from me.
Can’t wait to make your cider donuts Susan. Loved the article about baking. Baking makes things better! I been doing a lot lately. 😉 Debby in the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks so much Debby, so sweet of you…and i’m hugging Alice right now xx
Thank you for making me love my house even more as I try to do what you do. We live in Washington State and the fall is wonderful. Thanks for all you do. You make us all very happy. Blessings
Thanks for sharing Fall in your neighborhood! Glad your wrist is better and that you can paint again—I’m sure it was frustrating not being able to paint and do other tasks while you were healing. Love your window ghost—Casper was the very first Halloween costume I wore—I think I was 2!! Those donuts sure look yummy too! You definitely brightened my not so bright day!
🍂These look amazing~would love a recipe! Love your books, calendars, & blog.
😋 mmm…. O Susan those cider donuts bring back memories of a fall preschool field trip to the orchard with my now 22 yr old daughter. We had a hayride and ended with these donuts and fresh apple cider. Sweet memories, thank you for all your inspiration. You pass your ‘happy gene’ onto all us girlfriends.
👏👏👏❤️
Yummy yum yum … I say keeping my fingers crossed Vanna will pick mine!
And, lucky you. We’ve already had our first freeze!
That looks like the most beautiful carrot cake I have ever seen. I am definitely going to make that for Thanksgiving.
Those donuts look wonderful – it wouldn’t be fall in Wisconsin without tasting a cider donut at a local apple farm. I would love to try and make them and then give them away to friends and neighbors! Lovely! Your pictures were so beautiful this post as usual. Thanks for finding color and art in the small details of life!
Yummy yum yum … I say keeping my fingers crossed Vanna chooses mine.
And … Lucky you! We’ve already had our first freeze.
Love this post! I want to see the bittersweet around your door. Love from the bunnies and me!
Yuummmm! Cinnamon, apple cider, deviled eggs, carrot cake! All that and Jack by the fire! I feel all cozy just reading about your renewed activity and fall festivities! Thank you for sharing!
When it’s time for downsizing, Casper will help sell your charming home.
Diney
Yes, he will. He will help, and then, attached as he is to that spot, he will stay and take the house into the future with our hearts.
I love Fall. I especially loved Fall in New England when I lived there! But I moved with my daughter to WI whe she was 4 and our tradition became to go to the Apple Hut for apple cider donuts every fall. Even when she went away to college I brought her apple cider donuts at the fall family weekend. Now as my daughter is turning 24 we just moved to Oregon, and we can’t find apple cider donuts *ANYWHERE* !! Now I can make them myself with your recipe! I’m so excited! And also was wondering where I was going to find pans like that! Thank you for sharing your New England pictures and experiences with us, and for sharing your recipe with us! I have loved you and your art and your recipes and your books since I bought The Heart of the Home in the 80’s! Thanks for all you share!
I always enjoy your blog postings so much, I feel as if I’m dropping in on a friend!
Love this post. Sitting here dreaming of a way to take the ferry next weekend to hear your talk on Marta’s Vineyard. Maybe……….
Thank you for sharing such delightful photos! I love Apple Cider Donuts. We have a community of apple orchards nearby in Placerville, CA that celebrate fall with great fanfare. Selling apple cider & donuts is a glorious part of it. Mmmmmmmm. Seriously, the apple cider donut I had there was one of the best things I’ve tasted.
I couldn’t wait to kiss my kids goodnight so I could get cozy and snug in my bed and read your post! The apple cider donuts look delicious, I can almost taste them through my phone screen. Happy Fall and every wonderful thing that comes with it! Xo
Hi Susan
Would to try your cider donuts!
“Catch a leaf in midair, make a wish…” What a delightful way to add enchantment to daily life. Glad your wrist is better!
I’m coming to your island next week, so excited, another check off my bucket list.
Such a heartwarming post! After a few years of losses, our third grandchild was born 2 weeks ago-first grandson! I am feeling so blessed and grateful and I see a rainbow after the storms! 🍁🍩🌈🌞
Wow! Those sound delish! Can’t wait for the recipe. Thank you, Susan; it is so wonderful that you share so much of yourself with so many of us who you’ve never met.
This has been a spectacular Autumn in the Pacific Northwest 🍁 The only thing to make it better would be some Northeast donuts!!
Thanks for all the joy you spread!
Mary
I love cider donuts! They are hard to find. October is wonderful but it is the month my dear father died in 1999. October was his favorite month also.
I have a friend here in CA that’s birthday is October 20th. I think that’s a good omen.
I still really miss him.
I know just how you feel. 💋
We just had cider donuts for our G.S. investiture but yours look better and ours came from the bakery….. Complement !
I love the way Jack watches you paint! Glad your wrist is better. Have you been able to work on your latest book?
Thanks for the lovely post.😊💕
Nancy (from Bakersfield)
0h..yum yum and another yum! I have been reading about cider doughnuts and they do sound so good, I remember my Norwegian grandmother frying doughnuts in her heavy black pan…we, Sister and Brother always got to eat the holes! they were so very good…I hope some day to make some myself…but baking in the oven sounds a hole (whole) lot better than frying…LOL…I, too love the Fall and have been digging out all my Halloween “stuff”…time to get it ready, right? I do love your Casper…he does need to stay…Hugs
Homemade doughnuts remind me of Grandma’s = love!
How delicious do those donuts took?! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Happy Birthday to Rachel!!🍁 Yum I love doughnuts and apple cider so I will have to make your wonderful recipe for apple cider doughnuts!! It was a year ago when I met you at Apple Farm so these doughnuts will have to be my special remembrance of you until we meet again or talk on Twitter!!🍁🌻😉
I am already detecting the wafting odor of cinnamon and sugar
permeating the house!
I own a mini donut iron that i used just the other day to bring a batch to school after being on fall break for 2 weeks. I am the librarian and have blank recipe cards available for anyone wanting to share their treats. I assembled an electronic school cook book for another school I worked at and they just loved it. I’d love to add your donut pans to my collection!!!
The donuts look delicious!
You are an old friend by now, Susan. So many years since I first saw one of your cookbooks and I had to have it, even though I couldn’t cook. At all. I’ve learned a few things over the years, one is that your recipes always work, if I just follow the directions. Now, I have so many of your sweet things. One of my favorites is the geranium print, signed and numbered by your own hand. Well, that and the Jack in the books mug. And some really old things that I had to look far and wide to find, that I’ve gleaned from other’s collections. I have your stuff everywhere. They inspire me. They wrap your arm around my shoulder and give me a tender squeeze. You’re a talented artist, a gifted soul, but you’re also real and dear to my heart. For all of this, I just love you. Besides, we both have kitties, black and white ones, both named Jack. And like you, I let the cat on the kitchen counter at times. It’s okay to do that. I used to try and hide it but then I realized how openly you display Jack on any counter or desk, and I thought, of course, it’s okay. It’s actually nice. And it makes me happy. Thanks for being a friend to all of us who love you so dearly.
That geranium print was the first painting I ever did! I still can’t believe what a path-finder that painting turned out to be!!! Us kindred spirits know we have no power over our kitties. Only the dishcloth and sponge! 😅 Thank YOU for being my friend, I’m very touched by your kind words!❤️
I think I’ll try to make them gluten free!
So glad to hear your hand is doing so well. I’m sure it must have been terribly frustrating at times.
Fall at your house looks so much more fun than at ours in Southern California but at least the nights are gloriously cool here now. I love reading everything you write!!
The cider donuts look yummy! Will definitely try making them soon! Thank you for the post and the recipe!
You inspire me to do better on my healthy eating. I’m trying to make small adjustments, but I need to ignore my Danish sweet tooth more often. I love to bake. I have a pan for little cookie cups, but many times they fall apart in the pan. These donut pans look marvelous. Happy autumn, my favorite season.
It is half past midnight in Colorado and I want one of those delicious looking donuts right now!!!!
Thank you for sharing. You are wonderful and I really enjoy your photos and descriptions of your fantastic life, friends, family, food,Jack and Joe! You look so cute in your pictures.
🍁🍂Delightful! Thank you for all that you do and share with us🍁🍂 Grateful your wrist is healing well and you’re able to do what you love🍁🍂 Happy Fall 🍁🍂
Oh, donut make me wait! (See what I did there?)
What a relief that your wrist is better and the magic is still there!
XOX
What a lovely blog post. My favourite is 🍂🍁Autumn- made even more special because you signed my Autumn book at Stourbridge! The end of the post brought a tear to my eye…wise words in troubling times xx
Cider donuts sound so perfect for fall ❤️
Love to read and re-read your delightful “letters” and be immersed in whatever season it is. Thank you!
I’m going to run and catch a leaf in mid air AND jump into a pile of leaves! Ah autumn!
This SoCal girl is currently visiting Pullman, Washington (Go Cougs!) and I am loving the cool weather, rain and the leaves changing color. Your post fits right in with the cool temps. Now to find some apple cider donuts! Thank you for another lovely post!
The donuts sound so good and easy that I want to make a Christmas package and send it to my granddaughter. Always good to have your inspired ideas to turn into gifts. Thanks.
ive never made doughnuts but am inspired to try! to be honest i devour your blog posts as soon as they come out …better than doughnuts, a smile on my soul!
thank you for your heartfelt sharing and generosity of spirit Susan!
Love doughnuts but never tried cider apple ones they sound just the thing for windy autumn days. X
I just tried my first apple cider donut ( from Trader Joe’s) and was a little disappointed, will now have to try your recipe! Love October cos all 3 of my kids were born this month (ok there’s a set of twins in there but still!
Susan, I can’t imagine how delicious those donuts must be – gotta try the recipe.
I’ve never made doughnuts, but I’d love to try. Happy Birthday to Rachel too!
Dearest Susan,
Everything you do is so inspiring and makes life so much more happy! Thank you for always bringing the magic and reminding us to do the same! xo
Hi Susan, you are making me homesick for fall in New England. 🍁🍂. Out here in Southern California it will be in the low to mid-80s the rest of the week. Ugh! Your Carrot cake looks wonderful with the slices of 🥕 s on the sides!!! And will have to try your baked cider donuts 🍩 as they would make my home at least smell like fall! I used to have a donut hole recipe that I would drop by the spoonfuls into hot grease and then roll in cinnamon sugar. My three sons loved them!! Thank you for sharing your homey life with us and making us all feel like your close girlfriends. You make my day when I see your e-mail!!
Your donuts looking very good-never made these!
So will have a go when I have found something to use for making them.
Have made carrotcake several times and love it!
Have a great weekend
Greetings Trudy from Holland
What a lovely blog post. Enjoyed reading it! I visited the island years ago, with my daughters and granddaughter. We walked by your house. What a lovely memory I have of that wonderful time!!
I just pulled your Heart of the Home Notes from the Vineyard Kitchen off the shelf to look up the carrot cake recipe that I plan to make when my sister visits me for my birthday in November!!! It sounds delicious.
Thanks so much for the last paragraph. It is true, lately I feel overwhelmed by “daily happenings”, mostly the daily happenings coming to us through the news. But it is also true, as you said, that we have some power in our hands to make our days enjoyable, turn off the TV, the cellphone, go for a walk, hug a loved one, cook a nice dinner. Thanks for reminding us the joys of everyday life!!
Cooking puts such a normalcy, goodness in your heart, it brings joy, kitchen love, warm stove, all things good for the soul. xoxoxo
The donuts look amazing! Can’t wait to try them. So glad you are better and drawing again.
good morning Susan
I had so many things to say but I am so stuck on what you said* downsizing one day!!!! I thought you would live there forever* its your dream house**
It is, and my honor to have spent the last 30 years being the caretake of the moment, for its next 30, and the 30 after that. But times change, and needs change, and even interests change, and not all for the bad either! What will be, will be is my attitude, and I work toward the future with joy! Life is good! xoxoxo
Yes life sure is amazing isn’t it* and I just know you would be happy any where you lived*
I feel pretty sure of that too! xo
I’ve become a homebody, but not my choice. But, your “fantasy island life” inspires me to see the upside of homelife by just making a decision to embrace its possibilities. Recently, I asked my young grandson what his favorite food was and he replied “donuts” much to my delight and surprise. So, I think Grandma has to step up her game and be remembered for silly talks over donuts. Cider donuts is a beginning. ❤️
I love that happy thought Diane! xoxo
I, too, LOVE FALL! My favorite time of year! Here in Tennessee we have had a summer to beat all – in the 90’s still in October, then suddenly . . . . 50’s in the mornings, cool, crisp, sunny days – I love it, and Fall doesn’t last long enough here. I’ve been itching to have a bonfire, and our family is having an Octoberfest celebration at the end of this month – fun! I might have to include some of those donuts! Oh, fun days!
Hi Susan, So glad your wrist is better. I read that it is good to challenge yourself as in using your left hand for writing if you are right handed. Not much fun if you are forced into it though! I am looking forward to making the carrot cake and the donuts. Perfect Fall food.
xoxo
Pam
Oh dear – I made a comment but now I don’t see it…..must be the computer glitch gremlins…………..anyway…..
Susan, you inspire me! I’ve been doing the healthy eating as well – down a few pounds (19.7 to be exact!) and so happy to be living/eating the healthy way.
I am still cautious about the ‘sweets’ (not that I was ever a big fan of the cakes and pies and cookies) but your baked cider donuts sound so good! I can’t wait for the recipe!
Congratulations!!! That’s fantastic!
Oh Susan! Everything you write about always tugs at my heart strings! You have such a way with words that when I read them, it’s as if I was right there beside you stirring that flour, or walking around your garden or down those shady laneways..(with my hubby..not Joe..haha! How wonderful it would be to sit and sip tea and talk and laugh and eat carrot cake and apple cider donuts with you! I love it when I see a newsletter has arrived in my inbox! Thankyou for always starting my day out in such a special way. 😊
Thank YOU back for the sweet words! I’m soooo glad you’re here!
Oops..forgot to add..if you like hummus, try this. Spread some hummus on toast and put some sliced cucumbers, salt and pepper on the top and enjoy it open faced! So yummy!
Sounds delicious!
Ooo, nothing says fall like apple cider donuts! Your pictures make my mouth water :0)
MMMMmmmmmm, those donuts look really yummy Susan! You describe how to pipe the batter out of the bag the exact way I remember my mum handling the icing bag when she decorate a birthday cake too 🙂
I love cider doughnuts ❤️
Love to hear from you… Always makes me smile…
Thank you for giving so much of yourself to inspire and brighten our days.
Your post came at just the right time for me. I got back home to England after a wonder river cruise down the Danube only to get bogged down by all the Brexit wrangling again! The whole country is heartily sick of it! I needed your timely reminders to enjoy Autumn in all its glory – including comforting food. I must get my copy of your Autumn book out again for some more inspiration 😄🍁
Watching the gazillions marching on London right now! What a nightmare. I just hope the country comes out good, happy, whole, strong, and POWERFUL! We need the powers for good to speak loud and clear! Deep breath Miriam!