Apple Crisp

This is my favorite recipe for apple crisp.  I love how the house smells while this is cooking.  I typically make it more in the Fall but I had a large amount of apples on hand so I thought it would be a good idea for dessert. 

Apple Crisp
8 cups of apples that have been peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup of white sugar
1 Tablespoon of flour
1 tspn ground cinnamon
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of quick cooking oats
1 cup of flour (all purpose)
1 cup of brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup of butter

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the sliced apples in an 8 X 8 inch pan.  Mix the white sugar, 1 Tablespoon of flour and ground cinnamon together and sprinkle over the apples.  Pour the water evenly over the apples and flour mixture.  Combine the oats, 1 cup of flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together.  Crumble evenly over the apple mixture. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until bubbly. Serve with ice cream and enjoy!

Happy Birthday Dad! We are thinking of you. Love, Sarah

Country Herbed Chicken

It is probably in poor taste that I follow a post about buying chicks and raising them with a post for a wonderful herb roasted chicken recipe but this would be a fabulous Easter dinner.

Country Herbed Chicken
3 1/2 lb. whole fryer chicken
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
grated zest of 2 lemons
juice of 2 lemons
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, cream the butter, parsley, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, lemon zest, salt and pepper.  Spread the mixture over the chicken and then squeeze the lemon juice over the top.  Place the squeezed lemons into the chicken cavity.  Place in a shallow baking pan.  Roast for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Enjoy!

How We Almost Ended up with Chickens........

We made a detour this weekend by the Tractor Supply Store after seeing a sign that said the chicks had arrived. We really only went to look and possible hold a chick or two. By the end of our ten minute visit, the girls had already picked out the chickens that are the most heat tolerant and the highest egg producers. Who knew that the USPS ships them to your door? I also didn't know that one chick is only $2.49 which makes a dozen of eggs seem incredibly expensive. I had to tell the girls that we live in the city limits and it is probably illegal. I forgot that they can google too. When we got home, I was told that they are not illegal in the city limits but I was incredibly thankful for a small part of the statute which states that the chickens have to be 150 feet from any residence. Let's home they don't get out a tape measure. There were a lot of groans when I told them the news. I have seen the special order forms in various places around the house though so I am going to have to keep my eye out for the postman.

Kid Fish Saturday

Saturday was kid fish day at our local State park. We took the girls and Don invited his second grade class. Not a lot of fish were caught but everyone did have a great time. The weather was perfect and there were even prizes that were won!

The Easiest Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge

In honor of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, I decided I would post a recipe for peanut butter fudge.  It's easy, it's quick and if you like peanut butter, it's good.  I am not a peanut butter fan which is why I cook a lot of desserts with peanut butter in them.  That ensures that I don't eat them.  How's that for backward?  My family tells me that it is good though, really good.  This time I decided to add some chocolate (although jelly might work too) and so just before I poured it into the pan, I added about 1/4 cup of chips and then once I poured it, I added some on top for the chipped look.  Start to finish, this takes about 5 minutes and I always have the ingredients on hand. 

The Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup of peanut butter (I actually used chunky in this recipe because that's what I had)

Put the sugar and milk in a pan and bring it to a boil  Boil for 2 1/2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla.  Stir until mixed well.  Pour the mixture into a greased pan and let it cool.  You can put it in the fridge to help it set quickly.  Cut and serve.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Decorah Eagles - A Really Neat Look into the Nest

This is a really neat website that allows you a live look into the nest of the Decorah Eagles who currently have three eggs in their nest.       
       
www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

A Book Wreath - It's Finished !!

I was able to put the rest of the wreath together tonight since the book pages dried onto the wreath.  They were attached by taking Elmers glue and water and making a thin paste which the strips of the book pages were soaked in and then placed onto the form.  The rest of the wreath was the decorating with the kit from Michaels with birds, bird cages and butterflies.  I also made the two smaller book flowers with scraps and buttons I had on hand.  I love it!  Not only that but now that I have rediscovered my tub of old buttons, the possibilities are endless.  I already have another idea with small buttons and some old frames.