Recipe Sat Oct 03 2009

Neighborly Love

After a week of what seemed like the true beginning of fall - crisp temps, necessitating jackets; leaves starting to turn and fall off their branches - I woke up to what I would expect for an autumn Saturday morning. My condo was still and quiet, and I lay in bed, just reading and enjoying the lazy early hours.

But somewhere around 11:00 a.m., my upstairs neighbhors, whom I rarely hear due to different work schedules, began what sounded like the makings of a pretty sweet dance party (or at least a rousing soundtrack for a weekend cleaning spree). To some, this beat-laden accompaniment to the peaceful weekend may have been a nuisance. To me, it was an audible reminder of my community, of the friendly 9 people who have been my neighbors over the last year and a half in our 6-unit Bucktown condo.

I started to think of what life might be like if I lived in a house, if the majority of the sounds I heard would come from my own activities. Living on my own, I appreciate the occasional audible reminder of those who are around me, of people living their lives, of those moments of both joy and sadness that emanate from behind the doors (or above the floors) of those who are "closest" to me.

And so in celebration of this community, I decided to whip up a batch of muffins to share with my condo-mates. What better way to recognize the cozy fall season and offer a show of neighborly affection than to share one's baked goods. The Gourmet Cookbook's Raw-Apple Muffins (borrowed from Marion Cunningham's Breakfast Book) is a fantastic recipe for fall. Try Stanley's on North Avenue for inexpensive, organic produce.

— Caroline Kraft / Comments (0)