Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

I like to wake up and eat hot, nutritious breakfasts. I don't care if its a cold winter day, where the cereal will warm my insides and keep them warm on the walk to school, or if its a hot summer day and my insides will slowly roast for the next couple hours. It just isn't a good start to the day if there isn't a steaming bowl of cereal in front of me.
Almost every single morning for the past 18 years, I have eaten a large bowl of Coco Wheats for breakfast. By now, I don't even really taste the coco wheats--they have just become a part of my morning routine. I bet I could make them blindfolded. I cook them methodically. Put in exactly the same amount of sugar. The same amount of milk. Make sure I get exactly the right amount of lumps. It's has become an art form.
So last night, when my dinner choices consisted of Coco Wheats, Cream of Wheat, and oatmeal, I was okay with this. My cupboards may resemble those of an old woman, but I can't help but love the subtly sweet, easily digestible, creamy wheat and oat cereals. And so I made this pumpkin spice oatmeal again for dinner. And it was wonderful.
This pumpkin spice oatmeal tastes like pumpkin pie. And you get to eat it for breakfast! And its healthy! I love letting the brown sugar melt on top. It makes brown, sugary rivers through the oats and it reminds me a crème brûlée. This oatmeal tricks your mind into thinking you are eating a decadent dessert for breakfast (but your body is happy from all the nutrition). The perfect breakfast for a brisk autumn morning.

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Apple Tart with Almond Cream

I recently had a weekend of back-to-back dinner parties with friends. As everyone knows my favorite meal of the day is dessert, it was no question as to what I would bring. I had a few apples on hand and, after a bit of recipe searching, this tart was born.
Both a blessing and a curse, I have high standards with myself when it comes to dinner parties. I just can't seem to bake something simple or something that doesn't involve spending 4 continuous hours in the kitchen. I tend to go out of my way to make something complex or decadent, like the pumpkin bread pudding I brought for Thanksgiving. I can't help myself. The wanna-be pastry chef in me aims to impress.
This apple tart with almond cream is a traditional French tart, also known as a Normandy Apple Tart or, as the French would say, Tarte aux Pommes à la Normande. The almond cream is rich and dominant. The apricot glaze keeps the almond flavor in check and provides a good flavor contrast. And the apples? Well, they are there to look pretty. The flavor of the apples are present, don't get me wrong, but they are subdued in light of the almond and apricot. This tart is really something to experience, with the multiple flavors and textures mixing and mingling in your mouth.

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Butternut Squash Custard

I look forward to the autumn season every year. The leaves and landscape beginning to change colors. The earth beginning to hibernate. The brisk smell of smoke and leaves hovering in the air. The dissonant sound of leaves clashing with cement underfoot. Drawing the hot chocolate out from the back of the cupboard. Snuggling under a warm blanket, sipping apple cider, and reading a good (cook)book. These are my favorite moments of fall.
Last weekend, I went rock climbing with a few friends. We drove an hour outside the bustling city of Montreal and into the heart of the Quebec countryside. I was floored. Coming from the plains of North Dakota, it is rare to see more than a small cluster of trees at a time. Quebec has thick forests that spread out for miles and miles over the gently rolling hills. And the colors! Dark greens, light greens, orange, red, pink. All in transition. Gorgeous.
It was one of those perfect fall afternoons. The sun was shining, the air was chilled, and the wind smelled heavily of the death before spring's rebirth. We traipsed through the worn forest paths to conquer the rocks.
And conquer them, I did.
There are very few moments more compelling than climbing a difficult rock face, reaching the top, bruised and battered, and being greeted with this. The sun setting over the vibrant forest beneath my feet. I was the queen of my own domain.
This butternut squash showcases the flavors of autumn. Cinnamon and nutmeg compliment the deep flavors of the squash beautifully. The caramelized sugar crust adds just the right amount of texture. This custard is comfort food at its finest. After a long day out in the brisk fall air, this hits the spot. Perfectly.

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