THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer and oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." ~ Stanley Horowitz MAPLE LEAF 'Artistic' MAPLE APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE ~ Delicious autumn flavor ... the maple syrup infuses both the apples and the cake ( FOOD & WINE )  1  cup pure maple syrup   3  Granny Smith apples ... peeled, cored and cut into eights or smaller 2  cups all-purpose flour 1  tsp. baking powder 1/2  tsp. baking soda 1  tsp. salt 3  large eggs 3/4  cup buttermilk 1  Tbs. pure vanilla extract 1  1/2  sticks, unsalted butter, softened 1  1/3  cups sugar Preheat oven to 350º. Butter and flour a 10-inch round cake pan (I used a 10-inch springform pan). In a large saucepan, bring maple syrup to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until very thick and reduced to 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes. Pour thickened syrup into cake pan....

"The sweet calm sunshine of October, now     Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mold The purple oak-leaf falls; the birchen bough     drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold." ~ William Cullen Bryant ROASTED TOMATO SOUP ~  awesome Autumn fare, perfect while tomatoes are still in abundance (slightly adapted from  Smitten Kitchen ) Soup 3 lbs. plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2-4 ' unpeeled ' large cloves garlic 1 tsp. finely  chopped  fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 tsp dried 1/4 tsp. (or more to taste) dried crushed red pepper 4 cups organic chicken or vegetable stock Topping 4 slices rye bread (toasted until hard and lightly buttered on one side) 1 Tbsp. grated raw red onion 1 cup (or more) coarsely grated white cheddar Soup : Preheat oven to 400º. Wrap garlic cloves in tight foil packet. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on large baking sheet. Spr...