what we’re wearing
shop the looks at the links here: https://liketk.it/6sl35
what we’re sipping
apple cider new york sour
gather:
2 oz bourbon or whiskey
1 oz apple cider
¾ oz lemon juice, fresh
¾ oz maple syrup
1 egg white
dry red wine
prepare:
combine all ingredients (except red wine) in a cocktail shaker with no ice, and shake vigorously
add ice and shake again for about 15 seconds
strain into a rocks glass over a large cube
gently layer red wine on top with a bar spoon
garnish with apple slice and star anise
what we’re making
wishbone kitchen’s pumpkin espresso snack cake
gather:
1 cup dark brown sugar, or light brown sugar + 1 tbsp molasses
2 large eggs
½ cup brown butter
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon maple extract
⅓ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup rice flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons espresso powder
½ teaspoon salt
butter for greasing the pan
granulated sugar for coating the pan, and dusting
prepare:
whisk the sugar and eggs for about 5 minutes until pale and fluffy, then whisk in the pumpkin puree, brown butter, vanilla bean paste, and maple extract if using.
combine the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk them into the wet mixture in 2 batches, mixing until just combined. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
grease an 8x8 inch dish with butter, coat it with about 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and tap out the excess. pour in the batter, tap out any air bubbles, and sprinkle the top with another tbsp of sugar.
bake for 20-25 minutes. the center should be just set and still slightly jiggly when you shake the dish, since a light underbake gives the fudgy, chewy texture.
cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes, then cut into 9 even pieces. Mix 2-3 tbsp granulated sugar with 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice and coat each slice.
serve hot with ice cream, warm with coffee, at room temperature, or cold from the fridge, which is the best texture.
what we’re reading
mind magic – james r. doty
doty is a Stanford neurosurgeon who has spent his career studying compassion, and this book takes on a practice that is usually dismissed as wishful thinking: manifestation. his argument is that the science behind it is real. attention, visualization, meditation, and self-talk change how the brain works, and those changes shape what we notice, what we pursue, and what we’re capable of. he lays out a six-part plan with guided meditations and journaling exercises, and he insists the goal is a life of meaning and contribution rather than wealth or things.
