Apple-scented Mornings

Some days ago, I went by the market again, catching the last of the roadside stalls before they would close for the winter. Came back with 12 little Empire apples, and left them in a glass bowl in the middle of the dining table. This morning, I woke up to the faint but distinct scent of apples wafting through the apartment. Lovely! Ontario is Appleland, and I've lost count of the types of apples the grocery stores carry. I wonder if the lovely scent had anything to do with the fact that they were homegrown...

I've learnt to do lots of things with apples. I used to think of apples only for desserts and salads, but I realise now that they are very good in soups (provide crunch and body), and excellent as a stuffing! Who knows what else I would learn if I were here, say, another 3 months?

Apples are lifesavers here too because as winter approaches, food and cooking tend to get heavier - thicker sauces, heartier dishes, and more tubers and root vegetables. Apples lighten the palate and provide a healthy dose of sugar. Someone remarked to me today, "When the days get shorter as they do now, I feel like a bear - my metabolism is so low and I just feel like hibernating by about 4 in the afternoon..." Ok, good. So it's not just me...