A HINT OF AUTUMN IN THE AIR (THANK YOU HURRICANE GUSTAV FOR 'COZY' SEPTEMBER RAIN) / APPLE PECAN MUFFINS

"The best kind of rain, of course, is a cozy rain. This is the kind the anonymous medieval poet makes me remember, the rain that falls on a day when you'd just as soon stay in bed a little longer, write letters or read a good book by the fire, take early tea with hot scones and jam and look out the streaked window with complacency."

~Susan Allen Toth

(England For All Seasons)

~ Good reading for 'cozy' rainy days

(A peek out 'streaked' window at beloved Oakleaf Hydrangea)

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APPLE PECAN MUFFINS

~ A treat to nibble on a 'cozy' rainy day ... don't forget the cup of tea

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1 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 large organic egg

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (and zest of lemons)

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups coarsely grated peeled Granny Smith apples

1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease muffin tin.
• Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into medium bowl.
• Whisk sugar, oil, eggs, lemon juice, zest and vanilla in large bowl. Mix in dry ingredients, then apples and toasted pecans.
• Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each prepared muffin cup. Bake about 35 minutes or until tester inserted into center comes out clean. Turn muffins onto rack; cool slightly. Serve warm. (about 12)

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"And a little fall of rain ...

And rain

Will make the flowers

Grow. "

~ Eponine (Les Miserables )

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Gardener's Note: Late summer and autumn rain is nature's way of nurturing plants and trees so they can manage to make it through a long and often difficult winter.