A Fall Favorite

On Tuesday I made an Apple Brickle Dip for Jack's clay class reception. As always, the dish was a big hit.

I got the recipe about 12 years ago from someone that can only be described as my second mother. I should also add she's one of the best cooks I know.

Ingredients:
A bag of Granny Smith apples (it's important for taste and the color to use these apples)
1 large can of pineapple juice
1 bar of cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 package of Heath Bits 'O' Brickle

Directions:
Slice all the apples and soak them in a pot of the pineapple juice overnight - this keeps the apples from browning and also gives them the most delectable flavor
When you are getting close to serving time, mix the cream cheese, brown sugar and regular sugar
Add the entire pack of the Bit 'O' Brickle and stir until mixed well

Arrange the apples on a platter with the Bit 'O' Brickle dip in the middle. It's a sweet treat that will have everyone raving!

Any leftover apples or dip will keep for several days in the fridge.

CSA Wednesday

On Wednesday we head to a local farm as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Here's what we got today:

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Sweet Potatoes

Cucumbers

Not Much on the Horizon

I haven't posted much lately because there's not much to tell.

We've been living life here doing the daily things that move us along: work, school, chores and extra curricular activities.

We've also been trying to carve out plenty of time for talks, walks and outdoor adventures.

And because in the span of a year we visited Disney World, North Carolina, Cape Code, New York and DC, we've decided to give our wallet and bank account some much needed time to recuperate.

I was looking at the possibility of Chicago in November for a work conference where the family would tag along, but I decided just yesterday that it would be a better idea to wait until next year's conference in Las Vegas!!!!

We might also be taking a small trip come Thanksgiving, but that one is still up in the air.

Once I finish reading Elena Ferrante's third of her Neapolitan novels (I'm still on the first), I'll be posting about that.

But for now it's likely to be a lot of CSA Wednesday posts interspersed with random thoughts.

CSA Wednesday

On Wednesday we head to a local farm to pick up produce as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Here's what we got today:

More Lettuce

More Butternut Squash

Bok Choy

Bok Choy is an excellent substitute for cabbage in cabbage soup. It's also delicious sauteed in olive oil and garlic. It just shrivels up to next to nothing cooked the latter way.

And for anyone who has followed this blog long you'll notice something quite pertinent has been missing from these posts the last three weeks. I've been incredibly disappointed that no eggs have been included in our pick-ups.

Fridays with Jack

With all the activities, school work and life in general, especially now that his sister doesn't want to nap anymore, there's not much time for Jack and me to chat.

Let me rephrase that.

There's not much time for him to talk to me alone and me to be able to give him my full attention.

So about a month ago we started setting aside Friday night as "our time."

We've been to the movies twice!!

Went to Panera Bread one week.

And tonight was the second production of a local play, "Never Cry Wolf," in which many of his friends were part of. We spent the evening there and then enjoyed figuring out as many opposites as we could on our way home (no connection at all to the play!).

Another positive aspect of mommy/son time is that it leaves daddy/daughter time. With Mattie forsaking all naps, Matt doesn't get to see her much during the week because he gets home so late. He spends quality time with Jack during the time period I'm getting her to sleep and then he puts him to bed.

But mommy/son time was beginning to feel impossible until Fridays with Jack began. It's a win-win for us all.

CSA Wednesday

On Wednesday we head to a local farm to pick up produce as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Here's what we got today:

Sweet Potatoes

Cucumbers

Butternut Squash

Buttercup Lettuce

I love when all the sweet potatoes come in. It reminds me that fall is the best time for making harvest casserole - complete with sweet potatoes, green apples, cranberries, oatmeal and a whole LOT of butter!!!

CSA Wednesday

It's that time again!

The local farm we reserve a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with had the first pick-up today. Here's what we got:

ButterCUP Lettuce

ButterNUT Squash

I cooked half the squash tonight. Mattie ate it up, but Jack wouldn't touch it. Matt and I both thought it was delicious. I'm actually going to try out this labor and time intensive recipe this weekend.

Tuesdays with Mattie

The past four Tuesday afternoons have proven to offer quality mommy/daughter time. In fact, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the past few weeks have delivered some one-on-one moments because of Jack's activity schedule.

It's just that on Tuesday, we do what Mattie MOST wants to do.

As soon as we drop Jack off at clay class, we make a beeline for the park!

Today we took dozens of trips down the slide.

My favorite: resting at the bottom of the slide to look into the trees looming overhead.

Climbed the rock wall.

We even pretended to pick cherries, apples, oranges and blueberries like a game of Hi Ho! Cherry-O.

And had an all around good time.