Sunday, September 19, 2021

It's Zucchini and 🍎 Apple Season by Merri Maywether

Remember that scene in Forrest Gump where he makes a catalog of the variety of ways to cook shrimp?  It was probably a good minute long, and it was an extensive list. Well, this is the season for bakers far and wide to make a similar list with the ingredients of their choice.  My two lists of ideas come from apples and zucchini. The funny thing is I grow neither. 

When we first moved to Montana, I opened my car door to find a zucchini that was so large it needed a seat belt to stay in place. Those who grow zucchini have no problem sharing their harvest. This would also be the beginning of my journey into baking with the unusual vegetable. 


Last week my friends made zucchini relish. I have a sweet tooth so I shred some of the zucchini and freeze it for: zucchini chocolate chip muffins, zucchini brownies, zucchini bread, zucchini cake...see what I mean about the list. 


I developed a love for baking zucchini that was so intense, it became the theme of a tradition in Three Creeks, Montana. In Honey, I’m Home the characters compete in a zucchini cooking contest at the fall festival. I loved writing those chapters. 


Just when I think, I am at the end of my list, apple season begins. Every day when we have a short break, the kids gather a handful of apples off of the tree outside the door. We munch on them and talk about the changing season. Soon, it will be snowy and we’ll all want to huddle indoors, which makes us appreciate the simple joy of eating an apple off of a tree. 

Our cousins grow apples. So I make apple strudel, apple crumble, apple crisp, apple sauce, apple cheesecake, apple topping for pancakes, and the list continues. 


While the food is good. The giggles with my friends and baked goods exchanges add to the anticipation. 


The first time it happened, that scene in Forest Gump came to mind with a gasp of ‘Oh, I get it’ awareness. Talking about recipes pertaining to food that we have in abundance is a pleasant pastime that connects people. 


Dear reader, you may be too far for me to drop off a gift bag full of dehydrated apples, or apple cider donuts. Thanks to Pinterest, we can share recipes. I invite you to visit my Pinterest dessert board and try making some of the tasty treats. This also is an invitation. If you have a recipe you think I might like to try, share the name of it in the comments. While it isn’t the same as sitting across the table with a cup of coffee, it is the easiest way to bridge the miles. 


In the meantime, I’ll be trying to make the air fryer apple cider donuts.


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She's had a lot of luck. What she wants is love.

Overwhelmed by the aftermath of a breakup, Sarah Thompson impulsively bought a lottery ticket...and won. The small-town waitress at Keane's pub didn't really expect to win. But now that she has, she makes plans. She can buy out her brother's half of the house. With the rest of the money, she can do some nice things for people.


Small town lawyer, Gavin Bloom sat at Sarah's station every day for lunch. He'd been there so long, Sarah knew his order before he opened the menu. In a gesture of goodwill, Gavin offers to take Sarah on as a client to help her manage the changes in her life.



In this sweet romance, unlikely friendships are formed, and hearts are tested. Some will learn too late to hold onto those you love. If Sarah doesn't pay attention, she might be one of them.


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Merri Maywether lives with her husband in rural Montana. You can find her in the town's only coffee house listening to three generations of Montanans share their stories. Otherwise, she's in the classroom or the school library, inspiring the next generation's writers. 

2 comments:

  1. Yum! I love this blog, Merri! I'm working on a recipe for Apple Cider Muffins. I'm still thinking it through. :)

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  2. Ooooh, you have added another idea to my list. I'm looking forward to an update and recipe share.

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