tell me vincent what you know

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

v.v.g.

they truly make me dream too.

xx penguina

LISTEN TO ME: how to live

it kills me when you get in touch with me again, so later on you can disappear.

don't play around, cause i've got someone else i've found

i've got a life of my own

i've got someone who's shown me

how to live and how to give

i've learned these lessons without you.

******

oh usher

i just can't get this out of my head. i think the last time this happened with him was when the cd my way came out. it's been a while... 

xx

MUST TRY: Nolus Cafe

it's been a couple months now that a friend of mine has been trying to get me to try nolus cafe in al bandar (between abu dhabi and dxb via the yas route). i finally checked it out and man am i happy i did. this place stresses the "healthy eating isn't always bland eating" point to another level. it's just the sort of place i wish i'd find more of in the uae. good thing it's not close to my house otherwise i'd be there daily. 

why's it so good? it's an afghani restaurant with a simple yet eclectic menu. the whole shebang for breakfast including the eggs (any way you like them ;) the fluffy treats i.e. pancakes/waffles (all served till 4pm fyi), and the lunch and dinner options are great when you want choice, and terrible if you're indecisive; you'll never be able to settle for just one dish. 

firstly, there's the always fun option of creating your own salad/sandwich/burger with the freshest ingredients. the salad comes in a huge bowl which really excites me, because when it comes to a salad, i'm a fiend. there's always a soup of the day, main meals that are all cooked with the right spices and apparently a great list of desserts. one dish i can't wait to try is there borani kadoo: sautéed squash in a sauce of saffron, cardamom and spices served on a bed of garlic yogurt. hmm.. maybe avoid it on a date. the word kadoo always reminds me of the restaurant helmand in boston; for the heartiest meals i'd always go there. nolus doesn't have the exact same atmosphere and the food is much lighter, but i love it as long as it's tasty and leaves me sated. 

 it's got a very fresh and organic atmosphere, looking directly out onto the water. apparently when the weather is nice, there's nothing better than enjoying the view with a nice meal. 

i started off with a delicious cream-free tomato basil soup (i stress cream free because i hate creamy soups and love it when a place can pull it off without). i created my own salad: spinach and mixed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, lots of avocado, grilled chicken (i'm very skeptical about chicken in restaurants but this one was so tasty), hearts of palm, asparagus, flaxseeds and sautéed mushrooms. basically a whole bunch of green (i was going extra healthy). 

i then tried the salmon kabob which was tenderly cooked to perfection in my opinion.

i'm pretty easily satisfied when it comes to food, i don't need anything fancy, and since i prefer to eat more healthy options, what i like is pretty straightforward. this place brings all of that and more. if you want a burger while your friend has a salad, or breakfast while your friend wants lunch it's all readily available. 

i also loved the bathrooms and their cheeky labels - "those who sit" and "those who stand." i'd be worried if it confused anyone...

the one distraction i did have was the server who seemed to be rushing to catch a flight with every order. what i definitely don't want to hear when i'm out enjoying a meal is "maybe, if the chef has time." first of all, if i'm asking for a new dish that's not on the menu, sure, or if i'm at la petite maison where you don't dare change a single thing, fine. but at a casual spot to eat that isn't even full, if i ask the server to split my salad between two bowls to share with someone else, he should be able to make it happen. way to be extra disdainful and scold the person trying to enjoy a meal. also, if you offer fresh juices, don't tell me you're not sure if you can squeeze me a little bit of fresh lemon. i hope i don't bump into him again.

but like i said, that's the only distraction. i would eat at nolus daily if i had the chance, and i can't wait for my next meal there!

xx penguina

meet my new man, mark III

i couldn't be more thrilled this week to receive a very special gift; the new canon 5d mark 3. how do i use it exactly? don't ask. it's a new addition to the camera family of the calamawy household. i have to say the other cameras are not taking it too well... that's probably only a joke to people who have been over, or know my family well; my father seems to suffer from an acute disease of an insatiable appetite towards cameras.

for real though, i'm willing to be taught how to use this one, i know it offers a lot. if anyone out there has an idea where i can learn, hi :)

xx penguina

LISTEN TO ME: black crow

won't you help me, be on my way

won't you help me, be on my way

so i can set me free.


xx

how to live

one day, david nicholls

live. passionately.

xx

FIT BODY: are you ready to dig deep?

have any of you come across the insanity workout yet? maybe if you're part of the p90x cult you might have, otherwise i don't know many people who have. a friend of mine mentioned it to me and it looks prettay insane. trained by shaun t (who?), the key to this workout is that it's all about "max interval training" - so long intervals of maximum training followed by short intervals of rest. 

alternating between aerobic and anaerobic intervals, these workouts seem to be great for building your strength, stamina, and lets not forget the whole reaching your fittest body aspect. the package comes with 10 dvds focusing on different workouts on each. apparently you burn up to 1,000 cals per hr; that's a bit intense for my liking, but you can obviously tone it down accordingly. watch the video, it's as intense as it sounds. well, to me at least.

the fact that it calls for your loyal commitment for 2 whole months makes me a little restless at the thought; that's practically a relationship. but if it's good, i'm sure you'll stay loyal. if you don't have time for the gym, yet want results give it a go. i have no doubt if you follow it and eat the right diet, you'll notice changes. might be worth it before summer!

i like to remind people that eating well and working out isn't only about how you look; i know people who hardly eat, living mainly on a diet of cigarettes and wine to reach their ideal figure of being thin. but i've learnt that i'd choose lean and fit over skinny any day; not only for how it looks, but more importantly how it makes you feel. the natural energetic high you have when you're on top of your game is constant and will always shine a positive light on everything around you.

xx penguina

LISTEN TO ME: breaking the law

whatever it takes to get what you need

ignore the alarm

ignore the police 

i'll never stop

breaking the law for you

*****

happy monday xx 

homemade granola -> de-lish!

there are so many reasons why breakfast should be your favorite meal of the day: eating a regular breakfast helps kick-off your metabolism for the day, you go through the day with much more energy and it’s the best time to eat what you want because you’re probably going to work it off.

one of my favorite breakfast recipes is a homemade granola recipe I came across, which of course I found ways to make more healthy and delicious.

ingredients:

music: ce matin-la - air
mood: free to hang around the oven for a while until granola is made

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup shaved almonds
1/4 cup raw hulled green pumpkin seeds
2 Tbs. sesame seeds
1 Tbs. fennel seeds
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup dried currents
1 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. canola oil
3 Tbs. honey
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

in a large bowl combine the rolled oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, fennel seeds and coconut.

meanwhile in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the applesauce, honey and cinnamon until warm, around 2 minutes. combine the wet and dry ingredients.

spread the mixture in an even layer on a large baking sheet. put the baking sheet on the middle rack and bake for 5 minutes. shake the mixture so that it bakes evenly and bake for another 3 - 5 minutes or until mixture becomes golden brown. watch the mixture carefully so it doesn’t burn. seriously, if you walk away for a minute you could end up with a burnt mess. transfer back to the large bowl. let the granola cool down and then break it up or keep it as chunky as you like and add the currents. (feel free to broil the mixture till you reach your desired crunch).

enjoy with milk or yoghurt and fresh fruit. keep the granola in a sealed container, stays fresh for about a week.

bon appétit!

xx penguina

a pirates life is a life for me

a little peak into an adventure i took off the coastline of oman to musandam, which juts out into the strait of hormuz at the entrance to the persian gulf. it turned out to be such a memorable trip that definitely beat the monotonous set of weekends i'd been enduring in dubai. you know, the ones that really challenge your alcohol tolerance in a club with a burnt out excitement fuse and misleading social skills. the only con to such a fun weekend is the need to continuously match the excitement of each ensuing weekend to it. enjoy the photo timeline below:

we faced some angry waters, but luckily i kept everything under control. 

the necessary map for treasure.

the necessary plank for the disobedient.

meet dinghy. he likes to hang out.

we had to fit through that gap, it was an extremely frightful moment. i wish.

i love these frisky free spirits. 

mermaid lagoon. we stayed clear of the commoners.

the water was so inviting i didn't want to get out. nothing beat swimming at night though, with all the phytoplankton. i'll never got bored of those little ravers.

i'm glad i brought my snorkeling gear, that one school of fish was really interesting... not. it's actually amusing to notice how none of the fish are ballsy enough to make their own way. i noticed one try hesitantly, and return. i'm sure it regrets it every minute of its life.

a fruity concoction made with love - not for those with low tolerance i.e. myself.

i cannot begin to explain how perfect this moment was.

what? we just happened to be hanging out up there...

spending some time on land. i must say i'm proud of my photo taking skills. yes fine, and lightroom has great presets blah blah blah.

we did some rock climbing and apparently i meditated (not true) before the ghost of a mountain goat shooed us away. so we settled for a fire and chicken, which was delicious!

the experience at night was unmatched by any other out in nature, for me personally. unfortunately no camera would capture the moment perfectly, but hopefully you have a vivid imagination: pitch black, the sky full of shimmering stars, the moon lighting up the silhouette of the mountains, a beautiful breeze, and four dolphins keeping up with the moving boat by the bow OUTLINED by the glow emitted by all the phytoplankton. i might have shed a tear now that i think about it. wait, yes i did. i didn't want the moment to ever end; i was actually a walking book of cliches. it was like every beautiful feeling in one moment. don't even get me started on the withdrawals.

i highly recommend taking this adventure to musandam before the heat tsunami really strikes. 

xx

Spiritual Thought of the Day

xx

"If this isn't love, I don't think I can handle the real thing"

i had to repost this seeing as this movie never fails to move me. one of my favorite scenes; awkward, yet beautifully made, and i absolutely love patrick doyle's music.

estella was quite the ballsy one.

"she'll only break your heart, it's a fact. and even though i warn you, even though i guarantee you that the girl will only hurt you terribly, you'll still pursue her. ain't love grand?" - ms nora digger dinsmoor

getaway in fujeirah

last week i had family friends visiting from london who had some work in fujeirah, so we all decided to stay there to detox and relax. the detox lasted around three days for me; much better than expected. we spent our days tanning by the beach, working out, getting our nails done, indulging in massages and watching Game of Thrones. i honestly love massages; if i could get one daily i would be a much happier person. maybe then i'd enjoy them the whole way through rather than worry that they're coming to an end. even though our room was garnished daily with pastries, we ate fresh fruit, veggies, fish and drank a whole load of skinny bitches as per our detox... until i cracked with one of the brownies and it all went downhill from there. 

i've noticed that you can always expect a fresh splash of fruit and veggie along the road. for some reason when i'm on the beach, i always crave some crunchy, juicy, sweet watermelon. i love eating it with the skin attached so that i can suck the life out of the white part as well. 

my ingredients for a good tan: a hat, spf 30 and carrot sun oil. even though the weather was exceedingly humid, there was a pretty strong breeze so i didn't experience the impatient restlessness heat usually incites while tanning. i loved this beach specifically; the sand was clean, no stones etc, and the water was the perfect temperature to cool you down. 

how beautiful are palm trees?

i'm trying to experience the whole "living in the moment" thing and i noticed that one of the best ways on this trip was to avoid my ipod. rather than drown out the sounds around me of the crashing waves, wind and laughter, i enjoyed every ounce of them. i know that music enhances the moment, but i also find that it can easily take you to the past or future. better to avoid that when you want to appreciate where you are. 

you reach a point when driving to and from fujeirah where you're surrounded by mountains. i left to dubai around sunset and it was such a calming and beautiful drive. 

i hope you all get a chance to check fujeirah out sometime. the uae has a lot of little gems, you just have to look around for them xx

maintain the sun kiss

once you have that tan you love, maintaining it can be hard work. a rather a sad comment considering the fact that to some hard work is following through a 6-point-plan for peace. anyway, what i recommend is this tan maximizer by lancaster.

"Our clever best selling Tan Maximizer range ! This rich, velvelty firming after sun body lotion gives a delicious, soothing sensation while an exclusive technology helps intensify melanin production, even without sun exposure, to prolong the tan. Skin is soft, supple better prepared for subsequent sun exposure. The tan is beautiful, radiant, longer -lasting."

so... basically a great moisturizer as well.

xx

haute as hello

my current favorite. it's the right shade between coral and pink and would compliment anyone's nails. 

xx

LISTEN TO ME: mathew & the atlas

happy wednesday, it's nearly the weekend!!

xx penguina

♥ my applesauce

i've been having all sorts of problems with my digestion lately, and for someone who eats very well 98% of the time, that's a tad bit weird. i finally decided to get a check up after feeling the equivalent of being food poisoned on friday and spending the entirety of what should have been a fun saturday, in bed. i was so weak i could have slept until sunday if i let myself. the prognosis: some kind of gastric intestinal infection, great! i've started my antibiotics which i really hope solve all my problems, including my fear of heights.

i can only eat easily digestible foods such as boiled chicken, rice and broth. i know, you're all very jealous of my palatable menu. as unfortunate as this situation may be for me, there's always a bright side - i get to eat as much applesauce as i want!! very cheap thrills. anyway, it's a pretty standard recipe, i've just manipulated a couple ingredients:

penguina's applesauce

4 granny smith apples

2 red honeycrisp (preferable) apples

1 1/4 cup water

2 cinnamon sticks

1 lemon freshly squeezed

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

honey is optional; however, i'd try it first after it cools before adding any additional sweeteners

directions:

peel, core and chop apples then put in a saucepan with the water, cinnamon sticks and lemon. bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 

at this point the apples should have softened to a point easy to mash. just remember to remove the cinnamon sticks before you mash the mixture otherwise you won't enjoy it at all. add the ground cinnamon and find out if your taste buds want you to sweeten it up a bit more. 

it should yield around 4 - 6 servings.
store in the fridge, or the freezer if you'd like to save it for longer than a week. 

honestly, you don't need to make this JUST to spice up a bland diet; i like to use applesauce as a butter substitute in baking as well. i hope it comes in handy for you :)

xx penguina

not for the weak hearted

so, circuit factory... not sure how i feel about it. i'm not going to say it was easy but i'm also not going to say i needed to throw up either. i managed to get up at 7am to make the 8:30 class (i'm just proud of that alone). at first i was told it would be the hardest class because the sun was so strong. then at the end while i was panting, patting myself on the back for enduring the hardest class, and certain that i lost 3 kilos, i was told it wasn't hard at all. i was acting cool about that minor observation, but i can tell you i wasn't... very cool about it. after running outdoors under the dubai sun, which is really something i don't think i'll ever get accustomed to, we spent the rest of the time doing squats, lunges, burpees (who gave them that shitty name anyway yes i'm bitter) and running short distances. lets just say i considerED myself fit before class. very cute of me to think that. 

what did i feel right after? my throat hurt me, my arms were in pain, i had blisters on my feet, but i burnt over 600 calories (according to my polar watch) which is pretty good. i know i could have pushed myself more; that would have only been worth it at the time if i hated myself. i did have to take a couple mini breaks i won't lie, but despite my internal sobbing i was not ready to be THAT person who completely stops and makes everyone feel better about themselves for it. talk about egos outta the room. i'm sure the more i go i'll power through confidently. if i go... 

you should all give it a go at least once. happy monday fellow workout fanatics!

xx penguina

feeling floral lately

embrace the floral xx

TGITW: morning eye twister

holy shiiiiii it's already the weekend! bet you'll all be doing your happy dance around the office today. as for me, i was supposed to try circuit factory yesterday and missed it because of traffic, which i was secretly happy about. i decided to go today at 8:30am since i'm pretty adamant about trying it. i'm lucky i have such good friends who went yesterday AND are coming today without much convincing. i've been building my stamina pretty well so i'm hoping i don't end up passed out on the ground at any point. for those of you who don't know, circuit factory is NOT a happy place. but it pays off :p

i leave you with a little eye twister. 

can you guess what it is? please don't comment and give it away when you do, thaaaanks.

HAPPY THURSDAY!

xx penguina

#justwonderin

dearest blind spot,
         why so bitter?


sincerely (i guess),


penguina

random realizations

- today is a very sad day, as i've come to the realization that all the big red my good friend brought back from the States has finished. i'm feeling a little lost and uninterested in all other gum flavors, and life.

- something i love about working out really hard is that there's this moment when you feel like death and you're questioning what the point of life is, but if you just push yourself you completely overcome it. it's all minds play bitchesss. 

- i believe everyone should go on a spiritual journey at some point in their life. 

- glow in the dark face paint at parties is extremely underrated.

- i get a little too excited when it comes to books- i can't read just one at a time.

- tracy anderson's "abs and thigh" workout was painful and i better fricken see results.

- everyone should dance at least once a week. 

- guys who have more than 10 facebook profile photos of JUST their face frighten me. it's weird enough when girls do it.

- it's not easy to find witty charmers who bring forth challenging banter these days.

- i shouldn't spend more than $10 on my shades seeing as i'm notorious for losing them. 

- i hardly watch tv, but when i do, apple tv really enhances the moment. for me at least. 

- people need to stop asking me to cry on cue when they find out i'm an actor. i'll never understand why that's so intriguing anyway; i find an actor who is constantly crying not talented but rather very annoying.

- i truly love effortless friendships. can't say it enough times.

- i really want to watch the avengers.

- being called may during the month of may throws me a little off center; i keep hearing and seeing my name and you know when you say a word so much you start questioning if it's real? like ketchup. that's how i feel about my name: may, may, may, may, may. it's a strange feeling. 

i leave you on that note, and wish you a happy monday!

xx penguina

rei ki

rei "God's wisdom" or "higher power" and ki "life force energy" are combined to mean a spiritually guided life force energy. this japanese technique isn't only used for healing, but stress reduction and relaxation. basically, having someone else get rid of the toxins in our body. this spiritual "cleaning" brings a peaceful well being to your body, emotions and feelings by transferring energy through the palms of the practitioner. with the patient lying down comfortably the practitioner moves through about 12 - 20 positions, spending around 3 - 5 minutes at each position, a touching or a non-touching technique can be used. it's doesn't hurt to do it once a week, if you have that luxury of course.

a translation of reiki's 5 principles created by Mikao Usui, the founder:

"The secret method of inviting good fortune.

The marvelous medicine for all sickness

Just for today:

Do not be angry

Do not worry

Be grateful

Work with integrity

Be kind to others.

Every morning and every night, sit in the Gassho position [hands held palm-to-palm] and speak these words out loud in your heart.

For the evolution of body and soul, Usui Reiki Ryoho"

xx penguina

check out

my tea party top being advertised all the way in barcelona! i know i made it sound much more dramatic than it is, but it still makes me happy :)

I LOVE YOU DANA xx

smitten kitten

when in Rome we landed our first kissi slurred my words but he pretended not to noticeand then he sat down to playmy heart sang a symphonyso far, so swimminglyand then I got up to find my fish in that seawe’ve come so farso who gives a damn about the ages we are
****

age is always an issue. it shouldn't be though. why is it still?
how adorable is this artist? i love the texture and quality of her voice. i can listen to this song over and over again and feel like a smitten kitten without even listening to the lyrics. 

xx penguina

be good anyway

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway..
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.”  

- Kent M. Keith

Thanks Yousuf! Be the better person regardless; it's not your relationship with others but something much more powerful.  

Happy Sunday xx

boys n girls: classic scenario

step 1: boy has his eye on girl.

step 2: girl remains reserved.

step 3: boy manipulates, demands, pushes, flatters, forgets about pride, wants all or nothing because he doesn't need another friend who's a girl in his life.

step 4: girl accepts with hesitation.

step 5: boy and girl enjoy being in a relationship for a week (MAX).

step 6: girl is convinced boy likes her and invests herself.

step 7: boy becomes less interested. (real boy: verbally makes it clear immediately. worthless child: distances himself to let her figure it out).

step 8: girl is confused.

step 9: boy is confused girl isn't interested in being friends.

(somehow Steps 6 - 9 manage to occur simultaneously in a span of a minute).

note: even if girl remains strong and reserved boy isn't happy and peaces out. how is this solved? it isn't. girl needs to learn to get over it until she finds boy who doesn't mess up step 7.

xx penguina

i want

"i'd like some attention now"

beauty tip to the boys & girls

you meet someone, they're not too bad looking, or they're really good looking, either way you're really excited to get to know them, they open their mouths to talk.... and you really wish they didn't.

situation at hand: ugly teeth.

having ugly teeth is like having a permanent chunk of spinach... between your two front teeth. It's just awkward for the person you're talking to.

people really underestimate the power of teeth and the effect they have on our relationships. It's unfortunate to say the least to meet someone who doesn't care or know that they may as well be on mute because of the unavoidable distraction. It makes you question what else' their neglecting...

i'm not saying teeth have to look like a perfect line of white Chiclets, some character is nice, but character doesn't mean yellow-stained, or out of place... just clarifying.

if you've got the means, definitely prioritize your pearly whites, they weren't just made for munching.

xx penguina

cooties!

the awkward years boys had to go through..

oh oh oh oh oh oh

can we just be lazy today?

muslims: enter if you dare!

here at the grocery store you will find that there is a little animal farm action going on as our little porcine friend babe and his cousins get their own "special" section. you will also find a sign pointing out that it is for "non-muslims." i wasn't sure if this was some sort of friendly reminder to the lost muslim, a threat to any daring muslim, or a great way to make non-muslims feel welcome. WHAT IF I felt like perusing the different cuts in there.... i'm not supposed to feel paranoid in a grocery store.

xx penguina

don't worry, be happy

there's always a time of the month when i realize something i need to change about myself. this month it's been about maintaining a steady flow of positive energy. whenever i feel a negative surge go through me i try my hardest to fight it. i make sure to always be grateful no matter what situation i'm in. i might not have everything, but any situation can always be worse.

one of the main changes i've been consciously working on is how i react to anything that frustrates me. when my father sent me an email with the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey it really made me more cautious of my reactions. the principle is the idea that "10% of life is made up of what happens to you and 90% of life is decided by how you react." you might find this extreme, but i've found it true in many ways.

according to this principle 10% of what happens is out of our control, be it a red light, a car breaking down, or someone spilling coffee on a brand new shirt of yours. however, we can control how we react in these situations. if we remain calm, the situation can be forgotten without stress, whereas if we react harshly towards others and stress ourselves out, the rest of our day will face a negative domino effect.

following this principle is worth it; there were days my reactions would irritate ME and controlling them has made such a difference. i still have a lot to work on but I've found that being able to just let go and not let something get the best of me has made me much happier.

remember, happiness is a choice; don't wait for something great to happen. find happiness in the smaller things around you and what you already have. when you're having a bad day it's important to keep reminding yourself how lucky you are, even if you don't feel it.

give yourself a task: try to follow this principle by controlling your reactions, and each day think of three things you are grateful for. if something happens or someone says something that upsets you, count to 10 to calm yourself before you react (i still struggle with that one). despite all the pain and frustration we go through, life is beautiful and nothing is worth stressing about.

xx penguina

why the smurfs were communist

- they live in an egalitarian utopia

- each smurf has a particular skill

- no system of monetary exchange

- papa smurf - karl marx

- brainy smurf - leon trotsky

- the food was equally distributed

- no form of barter

- similar clothing except for papa smurf

- no mention of god, similar to communism which leans towards atheism

- gargamel -> capitalism as he wants to turn the smurfs to gold to satisfy his own greed

xx penguina

warm apple crisp mmm.

i’m a real pie lover but have always found most pies too heavy. that's why this crisp i adapted off the William Sonoma site is the perfect alternative. it can be manipulated to any kind of fruit pie but apple is my pick. this easy and relatively quick treat is great alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream melting all over it! not to mention it fills the house with a warm cinnamon goodness that seduces any nose!

ingredients:

music: fly me to the moon - frank sinatra
mood: don't mind peeling, chopping, and getting your hands dirty

for the crisp topping:

1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

8 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

for the apple filling:

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey (your choice)

Pinch of salt

1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

6 tart apples such as pippin and granny smith, peeled, halved,

cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 6 cups)

directions:

position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 350°F. lightly grease a 12-inch oval or 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking dish with a 2-quart capacity.

to make the topping, in a bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, applesauce and cinnamon. add the pecans and toss to mix. cover and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

to make the filling, in a small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. place the apple slices in a large bowl, sprinkle with the maple mixture and toss to distribute evenly. spread the apple mixture in the prepared baking dish. sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.

bake until the topping is crisp and golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 50 minutes. serve warm. serves 8.

xx penguina