Sunday, October 25, 2009

saucy

In all honesty, I've not felt terribly inspired in the kitchen recently. Is it noticeable? The light is fading so much earlier these days, the night is quickly turning from chilly to cold and everything seems to slow down with these changes. Shifting into colder days, my energy has begun to ebb with the sunlight as I adjust to the rythym of late autumn and onset of winter. No bad thing - just a temporary lull.
And in these still evenings, tucking under a quilt on the sofa has become quite appealing. As have homey, simple things (simple is the key) like slow-cooked soups and simmering applesauce.
A strong cup of chamomile tea, a drizzle of honey and a few straggling apples don't ask for much from the cook.
No recipe to follow - just a little peeling and chopping and then off to the pot to perfume the house and simmer into a sauce.
Plenty of time to curl on the couch...

8 comments:

Lucy said...

Ah, you almost make me miss the cooler months. Almost.

I love that feeling of the days closing in - would never have thought about chamomile with stewed apples but, wow, what a lovely combination! Stay warm...

smoo said...

I made applesauce and apple butter recently and my house smelled amazing for about a week!

kathryn said...

Now is that chamomille tea bag really in with the apple and honey? If so, what an interesting, interesting combination.

Chelsea said...

Thanks all.

Lucy - warm bowls of yummy things are the best part about short days and chilly evenings! Your own cold weather posts always give me a bit of wistfulness too - even on the prettiest summer days.

Smoo - I love that smell; I only wish I had made this in time for your apple challenge. But, then, from the looks of it you have a well-tested recipe already - yum!

Kathryn - the chamomile is in with the apples and honey, but not the teabag. I brewed a cup of very strong tea (then discarded the teabags)and added it a bit at a time to the chopped apples and honey. The scent is lovely and there is a subtle, delicate floral taste that seems to work well in the finished sauce.

Callipygia said...

I'm not a huge chamomile fan but it seems the right fit with apples. I am completely with you about the change of season's ability to stop one dead in one's tracks. I should get saucy too..

emma wallace said...

Ooh! How wonderful! I so love the coziness of chamomile and combining that with apples and honey sounds divine!

iamemmamusic.blogspot.com

Arwen from Hoglet K said...

I like your Winnie the Pooh spelling!

Chelsea said...

It's funny you mention not being so fond of chamomile, Callipygia, as it's not one of my favorites either (don't know why I have a box tea, actually). But it did seem to match the apples.

Emma - cozy is just the word for it!

Arwen - thanks :) That label gives me a little giggle each time I reach for the jar.