Don’t you just love the fragrance of a crisp fall day? Autumn has always been my favorite season. Growing up in New England, I’ve had a front row seat for nature’s annual magic show of brightly colored foliage in a rainbow of rich hues. But besides the fresh air, the bright sunny days, and the glorious shades of the falling leaves . . . there are the apples! Perhaps you enjoy visiting an orchard at this time of year to hand-select your own fall apples, or maybe you enjoy watching the operation as cider is pressed.

But, even if you buy your apples already bagged at your local grocery, one thing is sure; the cooler autumn temperatures make this the ideal time to return to your kitchen and do some serious baking. No need to worry about heating up the house too much – those muggy summer days are behind us now! Something baking in the oven will do a nice job of taking the chill off a fall afternoon, not to mention offer an additional benefit – aroma therapy! Is there anything more wonderful than the smell of warm cinnamon and apples?!? It can cheer even the most curmudgeonly of roomies!

So, in honor of “Apple Season, 2008”, I’d like to share a recipe that was my grandmother’s. She’s gone now, but I carry many memories of her in my heart. She was delightfully funny . . . witty, actually!  She was the original organized homemaker, but then that’s really all that girls of her generation had to strive for. She was rather shy (but a great story-teller), very generous, and had a way of letting you know she loved you . . . without a lot of words.

I still miss her, but I know she’d be tickled that I’m sharing this recipe with you. It’s delicious and easy to make!

 Helen’s Apple Squares

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1 cup flour

2 tbs baking powder

1 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs

3/4c chopped walnuts

3 large apples (diced)

brown sugar to sprinkle on top

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Mix together first 8 ingredients and

 Pour into a greased 9″x13″ pan.

Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Cool and cut into squares.

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Yum!!!   🙂

We can call it “comfort food”, but I’m thinking that the true comfort comes from realizing that we are part of a nurturing continuum.

As we pass on recipes, ideas, knowledge, stories and love to our families and their families, and to our friends and their friends, it suddenly hits us:

Sharing with future generations is (as they say in the commercial) – PRICELESS!