For the Engineers

I do some of my best thinking when I'm supposed to be listening to lectures and taking notes...

Recipe: Apple Nectarine Crisp

You know what?  Marriage is a wonderful thing.  Two people coming together and becoming one flesh.  Each person brings all of their life experiences, traditions, hopes, fears, expectations, sins, etc.  It's the beautiful and messy juxtaposition of two lives, and I am overcome with how wonderful it is.

My husband brought his love of peaches into our marriage.  He has taught me the joy of a bowl full of juicy, sliced peaches shared with someone you love.  (However, it would take a pretty large bowl to hold enough for the both of us...)  Before I was married, apples were my favorite fruit.  I usually ate at least one apple a day, and didn't get tired of it.  Now, peaches are my new favorite fruit, joining apples & tying for the #1 spot in my heart.

This apple nectarine cobbler is pretty darn close to the marriage of my two favorite fruits.  Nectarines have a nice skin, though, so they worked better for this than peaches would have.  Always peel peaches when you cook them.  It's a life rule of mine.

So, without further ado, the recipe:

Apple Nectarine Cobbler
by Lauren Spare

Filling:
2 Med. Apples (I used Gala, but use what you like), sliced
2 Med. Nectarines, sliced
1/3 c. White Sugar
1 T. Corn Starch
1 T. Lemon Juice

Topping:
1/2 c. Rolled Oats
1/2. c. Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 c. Turbinado Sugar (or sub another kind and use a little less)
1/4 t. Salt
1 1/2 t. Cinnamon
2 T. Melted Butter
2-3 T. Canola Oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together filling mixture and set aside.
3. Stir together dry ingredients of topping.  Drizzle butter and 2 T. oil over the top.  Stir together and add additional oil if mixture isn't coming together (there should be no dry bits at the bottom).
4. Pour filling into a 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish and sprinkle topping over it.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until topping is browned and fruit juice is bubbling.

Notes: I didn't peel my fruit, since the peel has extra nutrients, but do whatever your heart tells you.  Handsome preferred them peeled.  Also, I used whole-wheat because I wanted to feel like it was sort of healthy... again, follow your heart (belly).

ENJOY!

September... Are You Sure??

Hi ya'll.  Handsome and I are headed to Austin this weekend to witness some covenant-making of one of my lovely Forge sisters with her soulmate. That's why I said "ya'll", I'm getting prepared.  I should probably start wearing my cowgirl boots and eating fried chicken... but I digress.

I wanted to let you know I've not dropped off the face of the earth.  In fact, I've been brewing some lovely blog-posts in my head the whole last month... but I have neglected to post them.  So, I haven't forgot about you, lovely readers.

I'm pretty sure in my mind it's still May, so I'm glad it's cooling off again.  It's still a little cool in Kansas during that time of the year... this cool weather is good for my psyche.

Time has been flying, especially now that school's started.  I've begun my victory lap with a sprint, and hope to slow down to a nice jog next spring.

Now, for a picture that makes me happy (because good blog posts have at least one relevant picture, and the best ones devote more area to pictures than text...):

Two of my favorite boys and I at a Labor Day parade!

Happy September, friends!  Please go on a walk and step on any crunchy leaves you find (just for me!)... and if you do, leave me a comment so I can share in your joy! :)