Recipe: Apple Coffee Cake August 31, 2009

Straight from the good old Betty Crocker cookbook!

• Streusel topping (see below)
• 2 cups Original Bisquick (I used Jiffy)
• 2/3c milk
• 3T sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 medium apples, peeled, thinly sliced (2 cups)
• 2T chopped nuts (I didn’t do this)

Heat oven to 400.  Grease bottom and sides of a square pan, 9×9x2, with shortening.  Make Streusel Topping; set aside.  Stir Bisquick, milk, sugar, and egg until blended; beat vigorously 30 seconds.  Spread half of the batter in pan.  Arrange apple slices on batter; sprinkle with half of the topping.  Spread remaining batter over apple slices; sprinkle with remaining topping.  Sprinkle with nuts.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 20 minutes in pan.  Drizzle with glaze*.  Serve warm or cool.

*I didn’t like the glaze in the recipe.  Use any powdered sugar type glaze.

Streusel Topping

• 2/3c Original Bisquick
• 2/3c packed brown sugar
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4c firm butter or stick margarine

Mix dry ingredients together.  Cut in butter using a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.

Recipe: Caprese Salad August 31, 2009

This is a great way to use garden fresh or farmer’s market tomatoes and is a super simple salad.  I found this recipe on a cooking blog.

• 1lb chopped tomatoes
• 1/2-3/4lb fresh mozzarella, cubed
• 1/4c basil pesto
• 1 -15oz can, white beans, rinsed & drained

Mix ingredients and serve.  Only keeps for a couple of days.  Note: I used red & yellow tomatoes.  The yellow added nice color!

Recipe: Pickle Dip August 31, 2009

For those that love pickle wraps, but hate (like me) to spread cream cheese on countless slices of thin meat slices.  This dip recipe is from one of my co-workers.

• 1pkg dried beef, Buddings (3oz), finely chopped
• 1pkg cream cheese (8oz)
• 1/2c sour cream
• 3T chopped green onion
• 1/2-1c chopped dill pickle
• 1/4tsp pepper
• 1/8tsp garlic powder

Soften cream cheese and combine with remaining ingredients.   I like to serve the dip with the Tollhouse Flipside pretzel crackers.  Note: a food processor makes this recipe sooo easy, just add all your ingredients and it chops everything for you!

Wow ‘em Dessert August 29, 2009

I just made these rich and delicious chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and thought I would share the filling recipe because they turned out so good.  It’s a great dessert for dinner parties or just anytime.

I saved time and used the break & bake cookies.  Here’s the recipe:

Ganache Cookie Filling

• 4oz bitersweet chocolate, chopped
• 5TBSP heavy cream
• 2 1/2TBSP light corn syrup
• 2 TBSP Creme Fraiche (I used sour cream)

Put chocolate in a bowl.  In a saucepan, bring the cream and corn syrup to boil; pour over chocolate and let stand for 1 minute.  Whisk until smooth, then whisk in creme faiche/sour cream.  Refrigerate, stirring occasionally until thick and spreadable, 1 hour.

Let cookies cool completely before filling.  Makes about 18-24 sandwiches.

Baking Extravaganza August 29, 2009

I just finished my four hour baking marathon.  I’ve got a picnic tonight, plus church refreshments tomorrow and I finished it all in one swoop.  I was finally able to make a few things with the 10lbs of apples I picked last weekend at Wilson’s.

Here’s a look at what I made: apple breakfast cake, apple tarts, pickle wrap dip (not pictured), chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, and a caprese salad.

Grocery List August 28, 2009

I always, I mean always shop from a grocery list and what did I do today…I walked into the store without my list.  Probably because I was talking on the phone, but at least I remembered the reusable grocery bags!  I should have just gone out to the car to get it, but I had my cart, and a couple of items already.  So, I yelled at myself and tried to remember all the items on my list.  And I hate wandering through the store like I’m lost, zig-zagging my way through the store…I hate backtracking.

When I got home I went through the list and crossed off the items I picked up and to my amazement I remembered 90% of the items.  I was quite proud of myself because I’ve got a picnic on Saturday and church refreshments on Sunday, so there were key ingredients I needed to make my dishes.

I wanna win! August 26, 2009

I’m feverishly trying to win this hot little necklace on Ebay to go with a LBD (little black dress) I bought for $6.26.  It will cap off the outfit perfectly for a wedding we have coming up in October.  Its a sold-out JCrew necklace that retails for about $200…I’m trying to score it for considerable less.

Cross your fingers I win…only 13 hours left on the auction!

New Sheets August 25, 2009

Since we bought our new bed in January, I’ve been noticing that the elastic in our fitted sheets has been stretched because of the thicker mattress and just not doing the job of a fitted sheet.  I decided it was time for some new sheets.

Sheets are rediculously expensive!  I went through The Comany Store online, JC Penny, Kohl’s, and Target searching for the best price for a nice set of sheets.  I ended the search at Target between a set of organic cotton and a sateen set.  I went home with the sateen, washed them up, and last night they went on the bed.  The minute I tucked myself in last night I hated them!  They are not soft and luxurious like I wanted. 

I’m very dissapointed and I can hear Josh right know thinking, “you’re not buying more sheets, we’re using these!”

Apple Picking August 23, 2009

Today I picked apples for the first time ever at Wilson’s Apple Orchard just north of Iowa City.  I was surprised that there were even apples ready to pick, but as I looked closer the orchard has apples ripening from August until mid-October.

I went home with about 10 pounds of yummy apples and can’t wait to make crisps, pies, applesauce, and more.  And I can’t wait to head back at the end of September for the Honey Crisps.  Thanks Cynthia and Audrey fo inviting me along!

Celebrating…Josh! August 23, 2009

Josh’s birthday is coming up in early September (the big 3-0!), but between football games and weekend trips the only weekend we had free to celebrate with his family was this weekend. 

Josh’s mom went all out to make him feel extra ‘old’ and special!  Party horns, a special cake, skeleton, and his grandma made deviled eggs (one of Joshhis favorites!).

     

He could not have been more excited, though, for the weather radio his parents gave him.  Now his emergency kit is complete!

And the birthday boy with his family: