Autumn is my favorite season. Crisp weather allows for better fashion (accessorize more than summer, but no need to bundle up as in winter) and when the sky is shiny all the landscape shimmers with multi-colored jewel tones. Geese origami themselves to punctuate the sky. And that's just looking up.
Beneath my feet, lush green lawns are seemingly strewn about with the confetti that nature intended. Canary yellow, amber, ruby, ochre- dappled on a backdrop of emerald-moss-velvet. Leaves that can be picked up and pressed-preserved routinely desiccate themselves into little crackles that electrify each step and announce when something or someone is a-twitter. A sharp-eyed squirrel stashing nuts. Grandpa furrowing curbside, looking for dropped cash. And this weekend, perhaps a tremulous trick-or-treater.
Like any self-respecting foodie, my personal menu changes with the season. When mornings start so cold and dark I need food that is both warm and comforting in my tummy, to radiate energy into the day. Hot/crisp Pepperidge Farm cinnamon-raisin toast dotted with butter in the ephemeral state of solid/liquid. Or, a thick Wolverman's English Muffin fork-split and, of course, toasted, but spread with jam and lush, semi-melting Devonshire Cream. A cheddar omelet laced with ketchup and Tabasco. A steaming bowl of perfect oatmeal.
It has come to my attention that many of you are making oatmeal in the most un-delicious prison-style possible. That would mean: plain ol'instant oatmeal, with WATER. This is sad. This is why I never liked oatmeal growing up-- a substance akin to wallpaper paste, or paper-mache glue. Aren't they the same thing?
Here is how we do One Serving of Oatmeal in Mary World:
Start with 1/2-cup old-fashioned oats in a small saucepan. Stir in 1-cup cold MILK (soy, if you prefer) and a dash of salt. Only AFTER this is stirred up do you put it on the stove, high heat. This step makes for creamier oatmeal!
Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat so it simmers for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat. Cover the pot for a minute or two, until it's the oatmeal-equivalent of 'al dente'. Pour into serving bowl.
Now, make your oatmeal unbearably luscious by topping it with:
A dash of cinnamon
A splash of cream
A pat of butter
and small streams of (real) maple syrup when you see fit.
Enjoy!
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I also love strongly-scented candles that warm up the house and keep the spooks away, so here are links to my two favorite candle e-tailers:
www.azaftigwoman.com -Soy candles with amazing scent throw; they burn very clean. Great shea butter body creams too.
www.sweetscentscandles.com -excellent 3-wick candle tins and always-changing scent selection. (I'd avoid the cherry scents though, a bit too cloying.) Has great flat-rate shipping (a-hem, good for gifts!) and sells on E-bay.