When I was invited to contribute a story to The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice, I was very excited. Not only because the stories centered around Halloween, one of the best holidays of the year, but because it allowed me to write about my favorite season. When I think of fall, I think of cozy cardigans, spiced lattes, and apple pie. Crisp fallen leaves and reading before the fire. In short, I think of hygge.
If you haven’t read Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness or The Little Book of Hygge, you might not have heard of hygge. It’s a Danish and Norwegian word meaning a mood of coziness and a feeling of well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. In 2016, the Collins English dictionary named hygge as runner-up for word of the year.
So what are some ways to practice hygge? When autumn rolls around, I pull out the quilt I’ve been working on—for years now—and snuggle up on the sofa and sew away. I think I’ve given up hope of ever actually completing it, but the act of stitching the pieces together is an act of zen for me, the end product not nearly as important as the journey.
Or I pull on a pair of reading socks and a soft sweater and find a reading nook to lose myself in a book for the afternoon.
Or bake a delicious apple pie or chocolate-chip scones which I may or may not share, depending on whether I want to spread the hygge, or keep it all to myself.
Hygge is supposedly so important to Danish culture, that the word is as equivalent to the Danes as the word ‘freedom’ is to Americans.
So this fall (and winter, spring, and summer), find a little hygge in your life. Joy isn’t always found in the big moments; seek your happiness in the simple things. And to help you in your hygge-way, below is a delicious and easy way to welcome fall – a recipe for apple cider mimosas. The drink is a welcome addition to any brunch, or an evening with feet up before the fire. Basically, mimosa are a day-long drink for me.
Apple Cider Mimosas
- 1 bottle champagne or prosecco
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
Mix sugar and cinnamon and place on a small plate. Wet the rims of the champagne flutes and dip in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Fill glasses a fourth of the way with the cider, then fill with champagne. Enjoy!
Every autumn, Moonbright, Maine, is the picture of charm with its piles of crisp leaves, flickering jack-o’-lanterns . . . and a touch of the sweetest kind of enchantment.
Witches, goblins, the occasional ghost—they’re all sure to be spotted at the annual Halloween parade, where adults and children alike dress in costume to celebrate Moonbright’s favorite holiday. And no place has more seasonal spirit than Bellaluna’s Bakeshop, a family business steeped in traditional recipes, welcoming warmth—and, legend has it, truly spellbinding, heart-melting treats…
Between good-natured Halloween tricks, frothy pumpkin lattes, and some very special baked goods, for three Moonbright residents looking for love—whether they know it or not—the spookiest thing will be how magical romance can suddenly be…
Praise For The Cottage On Pumpkin And Vine
“This wonderful, well-written collection calls to mind brisk autumn nights cuddled with a loved one.” –Publishers Weekly
“This diverse trio of stories bring three couples to love with a charming, slightly sexy Halloween flair . . . Sassy, funny, and dusted with magic.” —Library Journal
“Delightful and spicy. . . . With humor and a little mysticism thrown in, each story winds its way to a happy ever after. Every pairing comes to fruition in a unique way.” –RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Includes cookie recipes!
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