Telluride Dreaming // Applesauce Cookies

Cooking hasn't been a priority lately. I've been jumping from one experience to the next and trying to get our house ready for some lovely new roommates to move in. By Saturday I felt all jittery and out of my element and I knew it was time to calm my nerves, pour a glass of red wine, and see what culinary creation I could create.

I'm leaving for Telluride on Friday. Telluride is my favorite holiday of the year because it means, big trees, luminous mountains, bluegrass music waking me up and singing me to sleep, wonderful friends, and not knowing what adventure I will get myself into. I believe the group makes the trip and my Telluride buddies are some of the greatest. Thinking of the fun times ahead, I became inspired to whip us up some tasty treats for the road and dreaming about some creations we can make at our campsite. 

My first car-ride treat are some applesauce cookies with a caramel frosting. I must say, they are absolutely delicious.

APPLE SAUCE COOKIES

• 2 cups turbinado sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 fresh eggs
• 2 cups applesauce
• 4 cups almond flour (you can use regular)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of clove
• pinch of salt

1. Put oven on 375

.

2. Sift all dry ingredients together.

3. Cream sugar and shortening together.

4. Add eggs and applesauce. Mix well.

5. Incorporate both until just combined.

6. Bake 8-10 minutes.

CARAMEL FROSTING

• 6 tbl. butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. In a sauce pan over medium heat, mix butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream.

2. Stir until it begins to boil. Remove from heat.

3. Add vanilla

4. Let cool, add powdered sugar, stir.

There is something about the mountain goodness that makes me long for comfort food. These cookies taste like fall completely. There is also something about Colorado that makes me dream of life-long adventure. It makes me want to be a better person -- more active, more transparent, more thankful, more knowledgeable, braver, happier, taking control of who I am. This type of adventure makes me grow.

Here's to a fun adventure and a time of rest for my body and soul in all the right ways.

Meg

(Photo Credit: Tyler Metcalfe at tylermetcalfe.com)