Spending A 5AM Misty Autumn Morning In The Countryside

Our first misty autumn morning at home. We were up at 5 AM, picking apples from the garden before taking an early walk through the valley. Back home, the apples became a French apple & cardamom spread, an apple, whisky & bacon spread, and a simple apple spice cake. And somehow, after such a crisp morning, we enjoyed one last warm summer evening on the patio. Raspberry Apple Oatmeal: 50 g (½ cup) rolled oats 200 ml (¾ cup + 1 tbsp) oat milk 100 g (¾ cup) raspberries 1 handful blueberries, optional ½ apple, thinly sliced 8 g (1 tbsp) walnuts, chopped Coconut flakes Instructions: Cook the oats, oat milk, raspberries, and blueberries over medium-low heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until creamy. Transfer to a bowl and top with sliced apple, walnuts, and coconut flakes. ____ French Apple & Cardamom Spread: 6 large apples 500 g (2½ cups) granulated sugar 5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed Juice of 1 lemon Instructions: Peel, core, and finely dice the apples. Add everything to a pot and bring to a boil. Cook uncovered for 30–40 minutes, stirring often, until thick. Blend slightly if you prefer a smoother texture. Spoon into sterilized jars and let cool. ____ Apple, Whisky & Bacon Spread: 6 slices bacon 1 medium apple, peeled, cored & diced 120 ml (½ cup) whisky 50 g (¼ cup) brown sugar 60 ml (¼ cup) apple cider vinegar 40 g (¼ cup) red onion, finely chopped ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground cloves Salt & pepper to taste Instructions: Cook the bacon until crispy, then remove and crumble. Cook the onion and apple in the bacon fat until softened. Add the whisky and simmer for 2–3 minutes. Stir in the sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, and cloves and simmer for 15–20 minutes until thick. Stir in the bacon, season to taste, and let cool. ____ Apple Spice Cake: 220 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened 200 g (1 cup) light brown sugar 3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 1¼ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp ground ginger ⅛ tsp nutmeg 80 ml (⅓ cup) apple cider 1 apple, peeled & grated Lemon Glaze: 120 g (1 cup) powdered sugar 2–3 tbsp fresh lemon juice Instructions: Preheat the oven to 165°C (325°F). Mix the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients, apple cider, then fold in the grated apple. Mix until smooth. Pour into a loaf pan and bake for 55–60 minutes. Once cooled, mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice and drizzle over the top. Music: Artlist Filmed & Edited: Owning Hills ____ You can find me here: • Instagram -   / owninghills   • TikTok -   / owninghills