use real butter

While Jeremy was volunteering at the observatory on campus tonight, I finally did something with the granny smith apples I had accumulated. My intent was to try a classic apple tart tatin recipe, but I didn’t want to deal with the skillet or making the pâte brisée (the crust) this evening. Maybe later when I have more energy and time.

**Jump for more butter**

While running some errands in town today, I grabbed a few bags of cranberries. You know it’s autumn when the fruits you work with stain your clothing permanently. Everyone loves the fruits of summer, but I associate autumn fruits with baking and keeping the chill of the air at bay. Persimmons, pomegranates, cranberries, pears, apples, grapes, and the coming of citrus. Of course, there is nothing quite like pomegranates.

**Jump for more butter**

My mom told me she had a fruit salad at one of several ladies’ luncheons this past week. She declared, “JenJen, it wasn’t like a normal fruit salad, it had Grand Marnier in it! It tasted so much better!” I offered that most things tend to taste better with booze and she giggled and I realized that maybe Mom had a little too much fruit salad…