It is Autumn
So many things to let us know that it is autumn. Today is Election Day and I will be going to vote. I tried for early voting but decided to wait. My husband took the day off and we will spend quality time together in line to vote. First we'll got to Jazzercise though.
Sunday we drove to Ellijay and bought our apples. Last year we purchased 1 1/2 bushels and I made a lot of applesauce. I have a couple packages still in the freezer and I used some for Loving Meals, so this year we only got 1 bushel. I got half Winesap and half Cameo after tasting about 8 varieties.
We also stopped at the outlets on 400 on the way up, stopped in Williams Sonoma, needed nothing and left with a gorgeous Staub Dutch oven in the shape of a pumpkin. They had them in orange and basil and I loved the basil. It was a great deal - regularly $200 for $40. I might even use it to cook!


On Sunday I also made sure to get all my ingredients for fruitcake. We had plenty of time since we did not fall back. We rushed to church, thinking we were late for the 8:00 service, got to the parking lot, saw no cars, remembered it was only 7:00 and went to Publix first, back home with the groceries and then to church on time.
I love fruitcake and have been using the same recipe from a Betty Crocker cookbook for probably 30 years. I stopped cake baking for several years because although I love it, and my mom and dad loved it, not many other people look forward to fruitcake. Since my mom and dad died I haven't made it.
I decided to go back to baking the cake because I do enjoy it and also my stepdaughter Beth enjoys it. I did forget that the reason I devote a day to the baking is not that it is difficult to mix up, but it takes 3 hours to bake. After my morning menu office work yesterday I made fruitcake. I have 3 - one for me, one for Beth and one more in case I find another person with good taste!

I also am included in a nice article in Points North magazine about using Thanksgving leftovers. The story is in the magazine and the recipes are online. There are several recipes from Atlanta chefs.
My Jazzercise recipe of the week for holiday gift giving is Candied Pecans. My mom got this recipe from Aunt Betty many years ago. Aunt Betty was reluctant to share but my mom convinced her sister. My mother was the oldest child.
Candied Pecans
- 1 egg white
- 1 pound pecan halves (or walnuts)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Grease a baking sheet with butter.
- In a large bowl mix sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
- In another bowl, large enough to hold the nuts, beat the egg white with the cold water until frothy. Add the nuts and stir to coat.
- Add the nuts to the sugar mixture and stir to coat.
- Pour onto the baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring three times during baking.
Our fall weather has been gorgeous and the leaves are very pretty too. Enjoy the leaves and sun while in line to vote!




















