"Autumn has caught us in our summer wear."
–Philip Larkin, British poet (1922–86)

Sans takeout, there is not an easier meal than this. [Ed. note: Well dang, woman, why not open up a bigger can of whoop ass for the lede, I'll tell you what.] Took some inspiration from a recipe in the now defunct Donna Hay Magazine (sniff). Please note, you can sub ground beef or turkey if you don't eat pork. If you don't want the carbs, throw this over shredded cabbage. 

In other news, the BF alerted me The Old Farmer's Almanac states Saturday, September 22 was the first day of fall, or the autumnal equinox, also called September equinox. [Ed. note: Oh did I now, he queried while injecting Buffalo Trace directly into his veins.] Mornings and evenings have definitely been crisper, but the days are still pretty darn warm, unlike our dear friend in Washington State who is already harvesting apples and pears from her orchard. Alas, I'm counting down the days until sweater weather.

​Until then, our Marlowe wishes everyone a Happy Fall, y'all​.

PS: One year ago, the BF delved into his past life as a music journalist, and somehow we worked Alien Ant Farm into a recipe for Peanut Butter Scotcheroos...
www.moveablefeast.me/blog/peanut-butter-scotcheroos-20

Adapted from : Donna Hay, Issue 97, Feb/Mar 2018
Number of servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound ground pork
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• ¼  teaspoon sweet curry powder (optional)
• 2-4 tablespoons Mango Chutney (I used 2 tablespoons, adjust to your taste)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional, although I recommend as a contrast to sweet chutney)
• ½ cup Greek-style yogurt
• 4 store-bought naan, grilled
• 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, thinly sliced
• Mint and/or microgreens, to serve
• Pickled onions (completely optional, but I love it here)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large non-stick sauté pan over high heat.
2. Add pork, garlic, ginger and curry (if using) and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up any large lumps with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon. 
3. Add mango chutney, lime juice and crushed red pepper (if using), cook for 1 minute. Set aside.
4. Grill naan. Spread yogurt over naan.
5. Top with ground pork, jalapeno/serrano, mint and microgreens.

Tonight at sundown begins Yom Kippur. For 25 hours we will fast. [Ed. note: A WHOLE DAY AND AN HOUR DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?] This “Day of Atonement” (English translation) isn't Hanukkah, but it's the holiest day of the year, and a day to begin the new year with a fresh start.

When I was young, my mamala used to make her famous roast chicken before the fast and another one to break fast. We lived in a small town about 200 miles (round trip) from the nearest synagogue in Portland, Oregon. By the time services were over, and it was past sundown, we made it home around 8:00pm and started roasting a chicken we didn't actually eat until 10:00pm. It was a long day and we were all pretty hangry [Ed. note: A technical term.] by that point! 

​Although hardly traditional Jewish fare, this Mexican-marinated roast chicken is the perfect way to start the fast and it will be an easy and equally delicious meal to break fast. Best of all, I prepared everything ahead of time, so I didn't have to start the process after work.

A word about the marinade: you're probably thinking mayonnaise is an odd choice, but it's not. It works. The Best of Fine Cooking explains, "Mayonnaise is the perfect base for marinade as it takes the place of oil and keeps the marinade ingredients suspended. The lime juice cuts through the richness of the smoky chipotle and the beer adds depth of flavor."

The spice level is relatively mild, for my taste. If you like a bit more kick, like the BF and I do, add an additional ¼ - ⅓  cup of purée to the mayo.

Serve this chicken with anything! We made burrito bowls, but it's perfect served in a tortilla as a burrito or taco. Our side dishes included saffron rice, black beans, pickled red onions, avocados and a delectable cilantro vinaigrette that was so good, it will have its own blog entry very soon.

To all of my tribe, wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast.

Adapted from: The Best of Fine Cooking, Mexican, 2018
Number of servings: 4-6

​Ingredients

• One 7-oz. can chipotles in adobo
• ½ medium white onion, coarsely chopped
• ¼ cup dark beer (such as Negra Modelo)
• ¼ cup packed fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 medium lime)
• Fine sea salt
• 1 cup mayonnaise; more as needed
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Directions

1. In a blender, purée the chipotles with adobo sauce until smooth. Add onion, beer, cilantro, lime juice and large pinch of salt to chipotles. Purée until smooth. 
2. Transfer mixture to a large nonreactive baking dish. Fold in the mayonnaise and ⅓ cup of the chipotle purée. If you like more of a spicy kick, add ¼ - ⅓ cup more purée. 
3. Refrigerate remaining purée for another use. It will keep in an airtight container for at least one month. 
4. Add the chicken to the marinade. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 4 hours.
5. Heat a gas grill to high or use a stove-top grill pan (as I did). Remove chicken from marinade and grill unil they have grill marks, about 4-6 minutes on each side. 
6. Let rest for 5 minutes, slice and serve.

NOTE: You can make the marinade ahead of time. Tightly covered, the marinade (with mayo) will keep in the refrigerator for up to two days.

So. We missed a week. Let me explain.

If there is one thing that can throw a serious monkey wrench into a personal-chef business, it's a broken refrigerator. Three weeks of no working fridge in the house, so to the rescue come three friends and their three fridges. (You know who you are and I love you dearly.) The BF and I are driving all over town to these different locations, then out to fulfill all the client orders. Extra time, extra hassle, and then of course problems with new-fridge delivery and oy...

Then, a bonus: jury duty. [Ed. note: #@%$#^&*] I was called to attend, but luckily was dismissed on the second day. A side note: in 1993 I served for four weeks during procedures that were deciding whether or not a serial killer was competent enough to stand trial. We determined that he was.

So, with all apologies, am late in getting into the Rosh Hashanah spirit. Even though it started on Sunday and ends today, Tuesday, it's not too late to make this lovely apple cake. This will work throughout the rest of fall and winter, and really, the last three weeks have had a "better late than never" kind of mantra.

Many years ago I made this for my Momala, and it was an instant favorite (and she is a woman who knows her coffee cakes). The BF enjoyed it for his birthday last year, and of course it was brought out again for this Rosh Hashanah. It doesn't skimp on the apples, the entire house smells like apples, cinnamon, and fall.

The BF and I want to wish all our Jewish family and friends a healthy and happy Shana Tova!​

Adapted from: Smitten Kitchen
Number of servings: 12-16
​
Ingredients
For the apples

• 6 apples, McIntosh apples, or a mix of whatever looks good
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 5 tablespoons (65 grams) granulated sugar

For the cake

• 2 ¾ cups (360 grams) flour, sifted
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea or table salt
• 1 cup (235 ml) vegetable oil (safflower, sunflower, olive and coconut oil also work, as does melted butter)
• 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) orange juice
• 2 ½ teaspoons (13 ml) vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup (130 grams) walnuts, chopped (optional, and to be honest I never use them)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease a tube pan (use a one-piece tube, not two-piece). Peel, core and chop apples into 1-inch chunks. Toss with cinnamon and 5 tablespoons sugar and set aside.
2. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Mix wet ingredients into dry ones; scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
3. Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples, and their juices, over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 ½ hours, or until a tester comes out clean.*
4. Cool completely before running knife between cake and pan, and unmolding onto a platter.

DO AHEAD: This cake is awesome on the first day but absolutely glorious and pudding-like on the days that follow, so feel free to get an early start on it. I keep it at room temperature covered with foil.

* NOTE: The apples love to hide uncooked pockets of batter, especially near the top. Make sure your testing skewer or toothpick goes not just all the way down to the bottom, but does a shallow dip below the top layer of apples, and make sure it comes out batter-free. Should your cake be browning too fast, before the center is baked through, cover it with foil for all but the last few minutes, while in the oven.