Ms. Martha!

So, the highlight of the week: Ann and I went to Martha's booksigning at the new Michael's on Columbus and 100th. I don't know what I'm more excited about...that finally there is a Michael's in Manhattan or that we were able to meet Martha.


She was super nice! She posed for pictures and talked to everyone. I, of course, was so star struck that I couldn't even speak when she talked to me. Lovely.




You decide: which sister was more red when she met Martha? :)


So many projects, so little time

After the first chill in the air I instantaneously get the urge to knit. I get so many ideas and am drawn to soooo many different yarns that I have more projects to complete than time to do it in. I have a 'current project box' that I try and keep everything I'm working on in (small apartments require 'homes' for everything) and currently the box is over capacity - time for me to get working. My first project to complete is the black hat (it's shameful to admit this, but i started it, ahem, 2 years ago). Once I get all of these hats, scarves and gloves done I want to work on socks and sweaters. I think that all my friends and family may be getting handmade gifts this Christmas!



Behind the Seams: Taylor Aiden at Work

We are SO excited to announce that our e-commerce site is up! That's right, it is FINALLY up! And we have so many projects planned. I think this is how race horses must feel when the gates finally open and they can unleash all that energy. We are in "GO! GO! GO!" mode. Hope you enjoy!

A is for Apple

We went apple picking last weekend and if you have ever been you know that it can be very addicting; before you know it you have more apples than you know what to do with. With the abundance of apples I picked (14 pounds) I decided to venture into my first ever apple pie and let me tell you, it was simple and delicious. I highly recommend trying your own. There are many different varieties of apples that are good in pies, just ask the people at the apple farm what is fresh at the time you go.





Recipe courtesy on Bon Appetit magazine.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Tart apples and sweet ones come together in this all-American favorite.

Ingredients
Crust (I used store bought crust)
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (about) ice water

Filling (I used 4 large Cortland apples)
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 3/4 pounds sweet apples, such as Spartan or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, thinly sliced (about 5 1/2 cups)
1 3/4 pounds tart apples, such as Granny Smith or Pippin, peeled, cored, thinly sliced (about 5 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon plus large pinch of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1 tablespoon whole milk

Preparation
For crust:
Whisk flour and salt in large bowl to blend. Add butter and shortening and rub in with fingertips until very coarse meal forms. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons water; toss until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Soften slightly at room temperature before using.)

For filling:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch-diameter deep-dish glass pie dish with nonstick spray. Stir all apples, 3/4 cup sugar, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Let stand until juices form, about 15 minutes. Mix in flour.

Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Place dough in prepared pie dish. Spoon in filling; dot with butter. Roll out second dough disk to 13-inch round. Using small bottle cap, cut out ten 1/2-inch-diameter circles from dough for decoration; discard circles. Drape dough over filling. Seal top and bottom crust edges together; trim to 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; crimp decoratively. Brush pie with milk. Combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and large pinch of cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over pie.

Transfer pie to baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce temperature to 375°F. Bake pie until crust is golden brown, apples are tender and filling is bubbling thickly, covering edge with foil if browning too quickly, about 2 hours. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; store at room temperature.)