Showing posts with label Iowa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iowa. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Apple Pear Crisp

I was excited to whip up some apple/pear treats after our harvest, and figured I would make one of Zach's favorite desserts, a crisp!

I started with a recipe from Our Best Bites, found here, but substituted pears and apples. Here is my version!



Apple Pear Crisp

Filling Ingredients:
3 1/2 lbs ripe but firm pears and apples (6-8), peeled, cored, and sliced into 3/4″ wedges.
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch salt
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg




Crumb Topping:
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350.


Directions:
For fruit filling, gently combine fruit and sugar in a large bowl and let stand for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Whisk cornstarch, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in small bowl. Toss juice mixture with fruit and transfer to an 8 or 9 inch square pan that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. 
For topping, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon and either grate the cold butter with a large-hole cheese grater, or cut it into small cubes and use your fingers to crumble the mixture together. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit in pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes.  The topping should look golden brown and crisp and the fruit should be soft.  Let cool to luke warm before serving.  Serve with ice cream.




















Breakfast of champions!


I will definitely use this recipe again for future crisps! I even enjoyed eating it for breakfast the next morning warmed in the microwave, then served with milk, like a bowl of oatmeal. Yum.




Thursday, October 17, 2013

Iowa: Good Eats

Yum! Look at those cheeks. I want to eat that baby!




Only half kidding, we were actually at my new favorite restaurant in Iowa, Bubba-Q's when these delicious baby pictures were taken. (Bubba Q Bacon Cheeseburger, please!)




Oh my, cuteness x2!


We also enjoyed some good ol' home cooking provided by Greg and Kay. Yum!


Some kind of caramel, coconut, pecan cake. Mmm. 



Burgers & corn on the cob = good ol' Iowa eatin'!



Kay's famous Dirt Cake recipe, for posterity's sake.






 What are your favorite foods to eat when you go home? I'm already starting to think about making classic Christmas treats to help us make new memories in our new home.

Share any delicious tried and true family recipes below!



Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Family Dinner in Iowa

To end our three week vacation to Iowa, Kay graciously hosted a family reunion so that we could see and visit everyone. We had a delicious pot-luck dinner and enjoyed chatting and spending time with family.

Lucy and Clara got to meet everyone. Lucy especially loved meeting baby Max. Other highlights of her evening included: Aunt Dixie sneaking her cookies before dinner, a "Big Sister" shirt from Aunt Dixie, and a gift bag of bracelets , clothes, and books from Aunt Bonnie! Lucky girl! (She insisted on changing into her new clothes immediately.)

Clara loved being snuggled and held all evening, her new embroidered blanket from Aunt Dixie, and gift bag of baby clothes and ball/rattle from Aunt Bonnie!

We sure do feel loved in this family. Thanks for all the gifts!




Lucy trying to kiss and hold every baby at once.






Sooo much food!



Desserts!



























Proud grandmas!


















The siblings.



With spouses.

















I feel so blessed to have married into this great family. From the first day I met everyone I felt so loved and welcomed. I can't wait to visit and see everyone again soon!




Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Clara has discovered a new skill set: toe touching, baby push-ups, and ...*drum roll*.... rolling from back to front!













Monday, October 14, 2013

Iowa: Back Porch Fun

In addition to the pear and apple harvest we enjoyed, Lucy loved checking out Papa's potted garden on the back porch. She loved helping pick tomatoes, and eating them too!















Tennis ball in her hand, not a huge unripe tomato.



Pretty!


Some other adventures Lucy enjoyed while on the back porch included "tennis", sidewalk chalk drawing, running around in a bathing suit while Papa sprayed her with the hose, and bubble blowing with Nana.















Saturday, October 12, 2013

Girls Night: The Little Mermaid

Another activity we did while in Iowa was a fun girls night out while Zach had a guys night with his brother and friends.

Kodie and Ireland invited us to attend The Little Mermaid musical put on by the local kids in the area. We really enjoyed it. Lucy wanted to dance in front of her chair the whole time while the music was playing. I don't blame her! I love the soundtrack to that movie.

It was Lucy's first time attending a live performance. Looking back I should have prepped her more before we went, and have her watch the movie so that she understood the plot. ("Why is her dad breaking all her stuff?") She still enjoyed it though!

Clara did surprisingly well, even though I had to take her out once.



Nana with a few of her grand daughters.



Lovely ladies.



From the other end.



Haha! Twinners.



A Lucy original. 


Thanks for the fun night out Kodie, Ireland and Nana! We love girl time. 




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