Bridging the Seasons with Cozy Rituals & A Seasonal Recipe

February at Topo Pino is a time of quiet beauty—a pause between winter’s stillness and the promise of spring. The snow-covered landscape invites reflection, while the lengthening days bring thoughts of the blooms and gatherings ahead.

As we embrace this seasonal shift, we’re finding comfort in simple rituals—lighting a candle on a slow morning, planning the garden that will take shape in the coming months, and savoring warm, nourishing meals that bridge winter’s coziness with the brightness of spring.

A Piece of History: Gardens, Gatherings & Seasonal Living

In the early 1900s, when Janet McKenzie Hill hosted her Summer School of Cookery at Topo Pino, the days were shaped by the rhythms of the season. Surrounded by towering pines and fresh mountain air, students learned to cook with locally sourced ingredients, embracing the principles of seasonal eating and culinary precision that Hill championed. Gardens flourished around the property, offering fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers—both for the kitchen and for elegant table arrangements.

Cooking, learning, and living in harmony with nature’s offerings were at the heart of their time here, reflecting Hill’s belief that food should be both nourishing and beautifully prepared.

This year, we’re honoring that tradition as we plan our first garden—selecting varieties that will bring both fragrance and color to the landscape. While winter keeps the earth at rest for now, each seed chosen holds the promise of what’s to come.

A Seasonal Recipe: Warm Spiced Apple & Oat Bake

Ingredients:
- 3 medium apples, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or butter

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. Arrange the sliced apples in the dish.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and melted coconut oil.
5. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir to combine.
6. Spread the oat mixture evenly over the apples.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden and fragrant.
8. Let cool slightly before serving.

Listen to the 'Invincible Summer' Playlist

To accompany this season of reflection, we’ve curated a playlist—Invincible Summer—filled with warm, uplifting songs that embrace resilience, light, and the quiet beauty of winter’s transition to spring.

Listen to Invincible Summer

A Quiet Moment to Savor

February invites us to pause—to find warmth in simple moments and to dream of what’s ahead. Whether it’s the flicker of a candle, the first pages of a garden journal, or a cozy meal shared with loved ones, there is beauty in this in-between season.

We’d love to hear—how are you embracing the last weeks of winter?

With warmth,
Caitlin & Lucy
Topo Pino