Applesauce Friday

Another post in our First on Friday series where we share a new activity from the week season.

Suddenly winter has come to wine country: cool weather and lots of rain. We’re finally packing away the summer clothes and cooking warming foods on the stove.

We’ve been making lots of applesauce, a new something for the whole family. It turns out that applesauce making is incredibly easy and delicious. So easy and delicious that I can’t believe I waited until I was thirty years old to try it. And so easy and delicious that I will never buy jarred applesauce again.

Here’s what you do:

Peel, core and dice up a couple apples. Throw them in a sauce pan with a little apple juice or water. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 15-25 minutes until the apples begin to fall apart. Mash the apple mixture up with a fork. Taste. Nearly die from the deliciousness. Run out to buy more apples to make more applesauce. (Just kidding. About the last part anyhow.)

You have got to give applesauce making a try!

As my friend Sarah Gilbert says, “It’s such a feeling of power and revelation, isn’t it?” She nailed it. Oh, yes, it is! That’s exactly what it’s all about. Not only does cooking from scratch taste better, but it feels so satisfying.

I have apples in the fridge. I think I’ll go make some applesauce to eat with breakfast. Excuse me.

Holiday Tunes

We’ve been listening to all sorts of holiday tunes this month. Here’s a sampling of what’s playing in our house:

1. Erran Baron Cohen Presents: Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah
2. The 99 Most Essential Christmas Masterpieces
3. Wintersong (Sarah McLachlan)

4. Midwinter Graces (Tori Amos)
5. Christmas (Rebecca St. James) (note: this is a very Jesus intensive album!)
6. Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Other great holiday songs:

– One Little Hanukah Candle (Susan Salidor) (for the kids!)
– Miracle (Matisyahu)
– Candlelight (Maccabeats) (see their video here)
– Peace (Norah Jones)
– Winter Song (Sara Bareilles with Ingrid Michaelson)
– Silent Night (Jewel)
– Sleigh Ride (KT Tunstall)
– It’s Almost Christmas (Elmo and Sheryl Crow)

Albums I haven’t heard yet, but intend to request from the library:
– The Hotel Café presents… Winter Songs
– And Winter Came (Enya)
– December (George Winston)
– Christmas Classics

What are some of your holiday favorites?

Celebrating the Light

We’re cherishing these moments of light brightening up the darkness in our rainy, cool California winter.

Each night, we eat dinner to candlelight. We sing holiday songs, such as this emphatic rendition of “I have a little dreidel!”

Each morning, we wake up in the dark. Now we tiptoe downstairs and turn on our tree. Suddenly the early morning wake-up routine feels so much more bearable (for Mama!) with a beautifully lit tree welcoming us downstairs each day, as we watch the sunrise.