Seduce Me
;)
For my inaugural Let’s Lunch – a virtual lunchdate that brings together food bloggers from around the globe – I wanted to write something fancy, something that gave me credibility about this month’s theme: seduction. In the weeks leading up to today, I had a post planned in my head, with an intricate five-step recipe and details about how I seduced my husband with a decadent dessert boasting mascarpone and dripping in gooey dark caramel.
But the truth is, seducing my husband didn’t involve anything elaborate. It didn’t even take turning on the oven.
When Oscar and I first met in New York City (at Chocolate by the Bald Man by way of match.com), our respite quickly became visiting my family in the Hudson Valley – where my small town wrapped its arms around us the moment we stepped out of the Metro North train. Born and raised in Venezuela, Oscar loved everything that was different about my hometown – its red and yellow leaves each fall, its windy roads without double yellow lines, and the way everyone referred to me as if I was a four-year-old: “Leigh Leigh.”
;)
What became tradition for us each visit, was stopping at the local farm next door and stocking up on sticky apple cider donuts, still warm from the fryer. My grandmother had spent years behind the conveyor belt there, sorting apples, and sneaking me slices of creamsicle fudge. The farm was a comforting place as a child -- to have my grandmother there, the warmth from the oven, the smell of mulling spices. Oscar not only loved the insanely sugared donuts – so covered with crystals, you could hear the crunch – he also loved the stories the staff would whisper in his ear about how I used to traipse through the peach orchards as kid, wearing red and black cowboy boots.
Turns out, Oscar was seduced. Not just by the apple cider donuts, but by the lifestyle of small town USA – something that was so foreign to him up until we met. Since then, we've moved back home and live in an old farm house from the 1800s, not far from my parents and both brothers.
So in keeping with this month’s theme, I made the one thing that came to mind when I thought about seducing Oscar: baked (read: healthy) apple cider donuts. Small town America has it benefits – mentioned above – yet it also has limitations. Case and point: There are no donut pans within a twenty-mile radius. I trekked high and low to locate one (frying is not only unfriendly to the hips, it’s intimidating), but was unable to get my hands on one. Enter: Babycakes Donut Maker.
;)
The verdict: Oscar was, in fact, still seduced by the sugary apple cider dough combo. To check out the full recipe, visit thekitchn.com.
---
This post is part of Let’s Lunch – a virtual lunchdate with food bloggers around the globe. Want to join us in the kitchen? Comment on this post or tweet using the hashtag #LetsLunch.
--
Want to be seduced? Check out other Let's Lunch posts.
Joe Yonan's Overnight Marinated Swordfish Stew
Grace Hwang Lynch's Pasta Puttanesca
Linda Shiue's West African Groundnut Stew
Mina Khan's Red Hot Seafood Soup
Monday Morning Cooking Club's Pavlova
Steff's Flirty Italian Snack
Cathy's Roasted Red Pepper Jelly
Apple Cider Donuts, Babycakes, Food, Healthy, In the Kitchen, Let's Lunch in Activities, Home, Let's Lunch 
Reader Comments (3)
What a fun story, and I grew up in a small town in NC so can relate to the feeling. I haven't eaten, so I'll blame you for these hunger pains and seducing me into wanting these donuts now :D Welcome to Lets Lunch!
Love the story! Being from Bangladesh I totally understand Oscar's love affair with smalltown life. My hubby introduced me to German/Polish culture and the Cowboy way :D. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ooh homemade donuts, who could resist? Love it!