Weekday Cobbler

My mom used to call this Weekday Cobbler because that is what my Grandma called it.  It was the perfect treat for a weekday night.  It was quick and comforting and most things were in the pantry.  It works with different kinds of fruit so everyone can get a chance to have exactly what they want.

1 16 ounce can of fruit
1 stick of butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
3 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Melt the butter in a 8x8 baking dish in the microwave; while combining flour, sugar, milk and baking powder.  Mix well and pour over the butter  DO NOT STIR.  Pour the fruit undrained over the flour mixture and bake for 30 - 40 minutes until golden brown.  

This has been an interesting few weeks.  I caught whatever it is that is going around and have been knocked down for the last 15 days.   Thankfully it is nothing serious and I am not contagious but it really makes you stop and think about what really has to be done.  The cough (which is all that I got) has been keeping me up and it has been too long since I was able to get a full night of sleep. 

We spend so much time in our lives in a hamster wheel.  We just keep going and going until eventually we just crash.  What really needs to be done each day?  Love.  That is all I really have to do.  I have to show my family that I love them.  Is anything else really necessary? No.  

So that is what I have been doing.  The dishes have stayed in the sink, meals have been a bit lazy, but my family still knows and see that I love them and truly that is what it is all about. 

And now for a few more recipes to add to the collection of 150 that will be coming your way this year.  Right now I have an abundance of Apples.  I love Apples.  Our whole family loves Apples.  However, since our oldest had his braces out on it is difficult for him to eat them if I don't cut them really, really small.  I love him but who has time for that.  I have found a way with some of these recipes to allow us all to enjoy the flavors of Apples, in a new way.

Let me know what you think.


Apple Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped and pared apples
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

(you can use butter instead of shortening, it changes the texture a little and might be a bit denser but still so yummy)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.

Mix 1 cup sugar, shortening, eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until smooth.  Stir in apples and spread the mixture into pan.  Mix 1 tablespoon sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle over the batter.  Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.  This should take about 50-60 minutes.  Immediately remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.

(You can use self-rising flour and just leave out the baking powder and baking soda)

I am so happy to kick off my goal of posting 150 recipes this year.  I wanted to start with one that brings so many comforting memories of my home growing up.  I hope that you enjoy this and please post comments or memories that you have......What was your favorite dish growing up?  What food evokes strong memories of family and home?  Share with us.

Apple and Oat Crumble

I remember my mom making this for me whenever I was looking for some comfort.  It is so simple to make and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand at all times.  Since my mom was a single mom who worked long hours this dish was perfect after work.  It doesn't take a lot of time and the smell is amazing.

This is also a great dish to make during the summer because you don’t even have to turn on the oven.  I always loved mine with a bit of Vanilla Ice Cream served on top.

5 cups peeled, sliced apples
1 cup flour
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter

Arrange apple slices in the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish.  In a mixing bowl..combine flour, oats, sugar, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.  Cut in the butter, blending until the mixture is crumbly.  Sprinkle mixture evenly over the apples.  Microwave for 15 minutes (rotate the dish every three minutes if your microwave does not do this automatically) until the apples are tender.  


See you in a couple days for more #150recipes

Hello lovely readers.  It has been a while since I have posted and I am so excited to be back.  Between vacations, family illness and losses, and just the general chaos of the holidays things have been on hold the last couple of months.  This new year is full of wonder though.  Let me tell you what is coming!

1. February 1 will launch my goal of posting 150 recipes this year...are you ready for that?  Keep checking back and follow along to get each and every one.

2. I am still working on my book and hoping to finish this summer.....I would love for you each to stay in touch and look for more information as I work to get this beautifully haunting story published.


Today I want to talk about Sugar and Scribe Bakery in La Jolla.  If you follow me on Instagram @simplelifecitywife or on twitter @slcitywife (which I hope you all do) you know that I post about this soulful bakery a lot.  It all started when I stumbled in sometime before Thanksgiving.  I was met with the warm and inviting lilt of an Irish accent and the sweet smell of love.  I remember baking with my mother and the second my nose caught the scent of sugar it immediately filled my mind with memories. 

As I looked around I could tell that this bakery had something that so many others do not.  Love.  It is so clear when you see the beautifully decorated pastries and treats, that this owner LOVES what she does, and why she does it.  It is home.  And then as I made my purchase I saw it, the postcard that sent a jolt through me.  This owner was going to be on Food Network Holiday Baking Championship!  If you know me, you know that I love all things Food Network, or Baking....as do my kids.  They about jumped out of their chairs when they found out that a local baker would be representing San Diego on a channel they watch constantly.  We set the recordings, and as the competition went on my children, especially the youngest, watched with hope that Maeve Rochford of Sugar and Scribe would make it to the next week.  We visited the bakery often and the kids were able to meet Maeve, which just made it more important that they support her.  As we continued watching the youngest would send her notes, and jumped for joy when she WON! 

This bakery is more than food....it is a collection of people who love the work they do.  It is a bakery that honors the traditions and heritage of family, a bakery that oozes heart with every morsel they make.  If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Sugar and Scribe I hope that you do. 

Some of my favorites are the Berry Tart that is out of this world.....It has a flaky crust with a custard that is smooth as silk.  Another great option is the Trifle Mousse Cup.  This trifle blew my mind.  It is bright and rich and only a bite would describe the pure joy that comes with this temptation.  It is decadence defined.  Okay my mouth is watering again and I still have another one to tell you about. 

As much as I absolutely adore sweets..there is an item here that I simply can't ever leave without.  I think I buy at least 3 each time I go because they are that good, and I do not share.  They have a Cheddar and Herb scone that rivals any I have tried.  I love scones, all kinds of scones and could eat these every day.  Sweet and Savory alike.  This one is the best I have ever had.  It doesn't matter how you eat this scone, cold, warmed with butter, 3 days later.  Nothing takes away the sheer pleasure you get savoring this scrumptious scone. 

Please visit and say hello to Maeve Rochford and the crew at Sugar and Scribe.  Take some time to savor the moments, and memories that this bakery evokes.  This bakery is the real deal and proves a quote that Maeve has on the www.sugarandscribe.com website.

"Cooking is my soul's desire; Eating is my heart's calling" - Maeve Rochford

One step in this bakery and there is no question that eating will be all that you want to do.

Once Halloween rolls around it as if everyone forgets about Thanksgiving.  It becomes this forgotten holiday between Halloween and Christmas.   I am not sure when this took place but I wanted my children to remember what Thanksgiving is about, why we celebrate it, and truly take the time to think about what they are THANKFUL for,

For our family this is especially important because we had ancestors on the Mayflower and the Speedwell.  When I think about what the Puritans went through as they made the perilous journey to America I am in awe.  I do not know if I would have been that committed or had that much faith to make the trek during that time. 

This year our family started a new tradition, the Thanksgiving tree. 

We purchase the trees at Target and the silk around the bottom of the tree is from our nature Table.  These great silks were purchased from Gypsy Forest.  Each of the kids picked a few cards and wrote what they were thankful for.  Looking back, I need to be more specific since one of them said "Our Kindles".  However, the rest of them were actually more detailed and deeper than that one. 

Then when our friends and family came we had each of them do the same thing.  I then took a piece of twine and looped it to form a knot and hung them all on our trees.  We ended up having to put two of them next to each other because of the many things that we were grateful for.

I am sooooo excited that the holidays are almost here.  I absolutely love the feeling in the air when October hits and that feeling just continues until after the New Year.  I will be sharing some of my favorite holiday ideas, recipes, and crafts over the next couple of months so I hope that you will follow me.  Today I am sharing my super easy Ham and Egg cups.  These are perfect for any morning.  When my children were younger they were super picky, that hasn't changed to much but they are trying new things...finally.  This recipe was one way that I could get them to eat ham or eggs.  It is completely versatile and can be changed or adapted to suit your taste buds.

Ham and Egg Cups

Ham slices - (I use Black Forest Ham from the deli, you need to have enough to use 2 slices per cup you would like to make.  If they are too thick it will crack)
Cheese
Eggs
Salt and pepper
Melted butter (about 2 tablespoons)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Take one Muffin Tin and butter the bottom and sides of each cup you will be using

Use 2 slices per cup and put them in the cup crisscrossed so each area is covered (this can be a bit easier if the ham is not straight from the fridge or microwaved for a few seconds.

Put a bit of cheese in the bottom of each cup

Crack an egg into each cup and top with a bit of salt and pepper (I am not the best at egg cracking so I crack them in a bowl and gently move them to the ham cup)

Bake them for about 15 to 20 minutes or until set to your liking.

This can be modified -

If you like your eggs scrambled you can mix them up before putting them in the cups.

For a southwestern flavor...use mexican cheese on the bottom and use diced green chiles in the scrambled eggs.

It is all up to you.  This recipe can also be frozen once made.  Just microwave them for about a minute when reheating. 

Enjoy...and share pictures of your modifications on my twitter or instagram feed.  It is always fun to see what others do.

twitter - @slcitywife
instagram - @simplelifecitywife
pinterest - @slcitywife

So many things have happened over the last few weeks that I want to share.  I had the opportunity to attend the WOW summit a few weeks ago.  This event is a collection of mothers who connect and discuss many topics that influence each of our families.  At this event I had the opportunity to meet several bloggers.  I urge you to visit their sites.  Each of us have a unique view and opinion.  Hey, maybe we could form our own youtube sensation like the one show that is on television with so many different women.  ;)  Those sites are at the bottom of this post.  Some of them have been at this for years and are truly inspirational.  I am still in a learning curve.......but hopefully I will figure it all out soon.

A couple of weeks ago my Grandmother passed away.  While she had been in hospice this event hit me hard.  My mother passed away in 2011 and the loss of my grandmother means that there are no other women in my direct family.  This has made me realize the changes that I am starting to put in place are so worth the crazy and difficult times. 

I left my position teaching in July to spend more time with my children.  I was missing so much and there was this empty place in my heart.  I started teaching in 1998 and have worked in various positions and grades since then.  I love teaching.  It fills my soul to see the faces of students when they truly begin to understand something.  But education has changed so much over the last several years.  I feel that many aspects that used to make education so meaningful for students has gone to the wayside so that we can work to have better test scores.  My children are more than a test score and this new system worries me.  Makes me worry about them. 

This realization has made me decide that I want to go back to school to study the Waldorf Teaching methods.  The Waldorf approach to teaching is genuine, and real.  The way that they see children and teach them where they are makes my heart sing with joy.  I have read so many books on the subject and can see the validity that this educational system has.  I am currently running a Go Fund Me to try and pay for this new schooling, in the hopes of not adding to the student loans from my Masters program.  If you would like to contribute please visit gofundme.com/9m9zvnuc

This week will be spent gathering myself in the midst of tragedy and light to go forth and create a home where my children and I can spend moments together, not just time.  Where they can remember the love and how it feels not just what is said.  I hope that you will stay with me on this journey and share your own comments.  I am off to the kitchen to start making a special treat for this Friday afternoon.  Please try this.  It is such an easy recipe and I can tell you there are never leftovers.  This one goes quickly!


GRAHAM CRACKER TOFFEE

Preheat oven to 250

1. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with canola oil.

2. Line up the graham crackers so that the cookie sheet is covered.

3.  Melt two sticks of butter and between 1/2 cup and 3/4 cup of brown sugar in a pan over medium heat.

4.  Once the mixture melts and comes to a boil...let it boil for about 2-3 minutes.

5.  Remove from heat and pour mixture over the graham crackers.

6. Put in oven and cook for about 10 minutes. (watch to make sure it doesn't burn)

7.  Remove from oven and place a 12oz. bag over the crackers.  Let it sit until it starts to melt then spread it out.

8.  This must cool completely.  (I sometimes put my tray in the freezer for about 15 minutes to get it started) Break into pieces.

Try to save some and not eat it all in one sitting.  Keep refrigerated once it is cooled and broken up.


http://www.mainlyhomemade.com
http://theparentologist.com
http://www.butterandbeats.com

I absolutely love Artichokes.  I can remember my mother boiling the artichokes after trimming them and the smell of the melting butter on the hot stove.  I can remember how she taught me to eat each leaf and savor the taste of the earth.

This recipe incorporates artichokes in a way that makes it easy and seamless to do any night of the week.  The recipe varies depending on how many people.  The one below is for 2 people with enough for leftovers.  This recipe usually takes about 15 minutes total to cook, however it will seem as though you slaved away for much longer than that.  Reminds me of that commercial from years ago when the mom sprinkled flour all over so that her family would appreciate the time it took.  :)


Gorgonzola Artichoke Chicken Pasta
1/2 box of penne or any other tube pasta
1 container (usually 6 ounces) of Gorgonzola cheese crumbles.
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup - 1 cup heavy whipping cream (depends on how rich you want this to be)
1 can Artichoke quarters (or 2 depending on your taste)
Cooked and shredded Rotisserie Chicken (precooked from the store is perfect)
Some sort of White wine (optional, to taste)
cracked black pepper

Cook Pasta according to the directions

While the water boils remove chicken from bone and cut into cubes and drain artichoke quarters

Heat large skillet and put 1 tablespoon butter in to melt

Add 1 can evaporated milk

Let this heat until a very soft bubbling forms

Add Gorgonzola cheese crumbles and stir the mixture (you must stir the mixture often to melt the cheese and keep the sauce from burning)

After crumbles are melted, add in 1/2 cup cream (you can use more evaporated milk instead of cream to cut calories)

Add wine to taste

Add chicken and artichokes to the sauce mixture, you can add mushrooms or other items that you would like at this point

Keep stirring........look at the sauce and if you would like more liquid this is the time to add more cream or evaporated milk to reach the consistency that you would like

Add cracked black pepper to taste

Drain penne or tube pasta and add to the sauce mixture

Grate some fresh Parmesan on top right before serving.

ENJOY!

There are a lot of changes coming and a bit of fear is involved.  I am worried for what will be coming but have this sense of excitement as well.  Summer has brought with it a few challenges, having two boys home all day and keeping them entertained, but I have loved every moment.  Yesterday we baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (with a few additions without the kids knowing), and they were delicious.  The best part is seeing the growth in the kids.  From height to maturity, they have become little adults....most of the time anyway. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with a few surprises

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
2 1/4 cup flour (all purpose)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon wheat germ
1 teaspoon flaxseed
One 12 ounce bag of MINI chocolate chips

Mix together all dry ingredients, including wheat germ and flaxseed, and set aside.  Beat together sugars and butter, add vanilla extract.  Add one egg at a time and make sure that they are incorporated well.  Add dry ingredients a bit at a time and mix.  Next add in one 12 ounce bag of MINI chocolate chips.  This helps to get a bit of chocolate in every bite.  Which is so yummy!

Bake in oven at about 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes in a 9x13 pan.  Make sure to grease the pan before pouring in the batter.

Enjoy! :)