Staple

I feel like I've been lacking in the recipe posts lately. I'd love to try to make at least one new thing each week. The cookbooks I checked out at the library are slightly overwhelming, since we don't always stock fresh herbs or buy fancy cheeses.

I think I've just been too busy with our "staple" meals, which are super easy, require no recipe directions, and always turn out delicious.

Here's what we usually eat: spaghetti, pancakes and eggs, grilled cheese and soup, fried rice and pot stickers, and bean burritos with homemade salsa (plus all the fix-ins)...

I guess they're not the healthiest of meals, but I'm trying to get better at eating more of the veggies than the main course.

Now pass me those chips...

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Listening to: this song by Cookie Monster. Seriously, listen to the lyrics. It's so cute and Cookie Monster singing it is THE BEST.

Decided: to try painting. I need to hang some art in my house, and unfortunately for my house, this is the cheapest way to go.

Absolutely delighted: that this inexpensive pizza oven alternative exists. I don't have to wait for William to build me an actual brick oven. Now to find me the perfect pizza dough recipe...

Cracking up: at this face and hair--

Love my girl.

Thankful Day 5

William and I have been snacking on tons of treats, including caramel apples (made by my lovely friend, Amy), cookie dough ice cream, donuts (Krispy Kreme Pumpkin Donut + Milk = HEAVEN. Thank you mom and dad!), and Carolina's tortillas (always a treat for me).

Today I am thankful for generous, treat-giving family and friends. I am also very thankful for treats, because unfortunately tomorrow William and I are starting a diet.

I'm not sure what our diet plan is... how can you expect us to have a strict diet in November and December?

Readers (both of you), feel free to leave any dieting tips. We're gonna need them.

Pie made from Scratch

I MADE A PIE FROM SCRATCH. Seriously, everything was from scratch! I can finally cross that off my bucket list. (Getting into Club 33 is next.)

Making pie is like reupholstering your couch: the end product is amazing, but the process was not worth the effort.

Or maybe it IS worth the effort, I just happened to have a tiring experience.

Here's why:

First, it took almost all morning and afternoon to make. Why did it take so long? Keep reading...

Second, when it came time to pour the ice cold water a few tablespoons at a time, I enlisted William's help. Being the jokester he is, he thought it would be funny to pour what he thought was a cup of SOLID ground beef grease that I had strained cooking dinner the night before. It wasn't solid. That nasty beef grease poured right into my beautiful, buttery, delicious pie crust dough. I had to start all over. (Don't worry about William... I wasn't angry. Instead, I laughed until I cried and then laughed some more for a solid 15 minutes after the fact... and then he bought me this shirt because I think he felt bad.)

Third, did you know that you need almost 16 peaches for ONE pie? I started with 7 and soon realized it wasn't going to be enough. (I had to run to Walmart, which I hate doing in this heat.) Thanks Paula Deen for the heads up. I will no longer make fun of your 'Ham in the Face' incident.

Here's the recipe:

Crust (via Martha Stewart)

1. In a food processor, pulse 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar. Add 1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces. (I don't have a food processor so I just used a hand mixer very carefully)

2. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces remaining.

3. Add 1/4 cup ice water; pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed. (If needed, add up to 4 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.) Do not overmix.

4. Turn out onto a work surface; knead once or twice, until dough comes together. Chill.

Filling (via Paula Deen)

7 cups fresh peaches, peeled and thickly sliced (can substitute frozen slices) (About 16 peaches.)
½ lemon, juiced
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon almond extract
¼ teaspoon nutmeg (I used cinnamon)
5 tablespoons butter, divided

1. Pre heat oven to 425º F.

2. In a large sauce pan, add peaches, lemon juice, sugar and flour and stir until coated. Bring fruit mixture to a low boil. Reduce heat to low and cook until fruit is just slightly tender.

3.Remove pan from heat. Stir in almond extract, nutmeg (cinnamon) and three tablespoons butter. Allow to cool slightly.

4. Remove pie pan from refrigerator and fill with the cooled mixture. Dot the top of the fruit with the pieces of the remaining two tablespoons butter. Roll out the second crust and decorate the top of the pie with a lattice top or any special way you like.(Decorating the top was my favorite part)

5. In a small bowl, melt butter and brush onto top of pie crust. (I also sprinkled sugar too)

6. Bake for 10 minutes then lower heat to 350º for an additional 40 minutes or until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbly.

Isn't it pretty?!

Anyway, it turned out very delicious. There's just a few things I would change:

1. Don't cut the peaches so small. (I like a chunkier filling)

2. Don't worry about handling the dough too much. (I was really nervous to)

3. Enlist William's help. (So I can get more clothes)

Hot Hot Heat and 5pm lighting

I can't believe how quickly this week went. I feel like I was busy, but when I think back to what I've done, I can't think of anything.

Usually, the heat of AZ gets to me by the end of June. I managed to make it all the way to the middle of August... but now I've nearly lost my nerve.

What is it with running errands with a baby that makes you feel 100 degrees hotter and as sweaty as Kent's hands?! (Sorry Kent, I needed to prove a point. The next time I see you, I'll let you tease me about my secret crush on Freddie Prince Jr. when I was in 9th grade in front of William... oh wait, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.)

Anyway...

This morning I had my favorite breakfast, cereal and bananas:

Every so often, William asks me if I could eat one food everyday for the rest of my life, what it would be. I ALWAYS say cold cereal. There's no doubt that I could eat it everyday, because I (almost) already do. That and cheese quesadillas.

Okay, now for the boring stuff.

Remember how I'm trying to be a better photographer?

Continuing my notes on lighting at different times, here is 5pm lighting:

Now let's compare 9 and 5:

Not much of a difference, but I think I like the 9am better... it's a TAD bit softer. (I'm actually just pretending that I know what I'm talking about.)

I'm going to try a few more lighting times and see if I can get dramatically different results.

The next thing I want to try is achieving a lens flare in my photos, as seen in recent photo trends, and the last two J.J. Abrams movies. (Next time you watch Star Trek or Super 8, those flare shots will be all you'll notice...just wait.)

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Listening to: the Bob Dylan Station on Pandora. SO GOOD.

Laughing at: Clair on 'The Cosby Show' doing an aerobics class. One of my favorite scenes (it's the best starting at 1:29).

Researching: How to plant an herb garden.

Reading: 'Virus on Orbis 1' (almost done), but I just started 'The Westing Game'.

Eating this:

Thanks for the cupcake, Mom. It hit the spot after a hot day.