Fall Splendor

Autumn is a second spring, where every leaf's a flower. - Albert Camus

More trees along the way

Fall is my favorite season.  I absolutely love the crisp air, the trees full of color,  fresh apples and fall baking.  I love running outside and as I mentioned earlier today was special because I got to go running.  I didn't have any set path or destination.  I allowed myself to turn any which way looking for the most beautiful leaves.  I get simply mesmerized by how beautiful they are.  I could look at fall leaves for hours.  Somehow it often seems to me that God was thinking of me as he colored the leaves.  I think God changes their color just because He knows that it makes us smile.  After my run, I went back by the tree that I determined was my favorite so I could share pictures. What do you think about when you look at a tree full of brightly colored leaves?



  View beneath my favorite tree of this morning's run.  A sidewalk never looked better! 



My well loved running shoes

The Three BEST Words!

Happy Saturday! 

This morning has been awesome and it's only 8:45!  I got to go for a run today (a special treat because my knees do not like the chilly morning weather).  Went to the farmer's market and got my favorite type of apples.  But the best thing of  all was hearing Carson say "I love you" for the very first time!!  I hope your Saturday is off to a great start as well!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Crisp Bark

I knew that I wanted to make Cherry Chocolate Crisp Bark for my pastor, but I am a real sucker for peanut butter and chocolate.  So I figured why not make some Crisp Bark with peanut butter?  The result was basically a Crunch candy bar with a little bit of a peanut butter flavor.  If you want a stronger peanut butter flavor, increase the peanut butter.  I wouldn't blame you if you tried out a bit (or more) while you're making this to make sure you have the right ratio of peanut butter to chocolate.  Not that you would really do that, just sayin' if you were to :)

Peanut  Butter Chocolate Crisp Bark  Source: Abby (An 'A' For Effort)

Ingredients:


1/2 Package of chocolate bark
1/4 C Smooth peanut butter
1/2 C Rice Krispies


Directions:


1. Line a 9 x 13 jelly roll pan with wax paper.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate bark for 20 seconds on high in the microwave.  Stir. 
3. Stir in peanut butter and microwave for 25 seconds.  Stir.  If the chocolate is not fully melted microwave for 15 seconds intervals until it is.
3. Stir in Rice Krispies.
4. Spread into the lined jelly roll pan and put in the refrigerator until hard.
5. Break into chunks and enjoy!

Cherry Crisp Chocolate Bark

Chocolate is the answer- no matter what the question is!  In order for us to be friends you need to agree with that statement.  Do you agree?  Good, I knew you would! Ok, so October is Pastor Appreciation Month and since the answer is always chocolate I didn't have to think too hard :)  My pastor has this thing for cherries.  He likes pretty much anything with cherries it or Cardinals baseball.  I can't do anything with the Cardinals but cherries and chocolate I'm all over!  So in honor of my pastor I made this Cherry Crisp Chocolate Bark.  Of course, even though this was technically for Pastor, I had to do more than just a little sampling and umm, licking of the bowl :)  

Cherry Crisp Chocolate Bark Source: Abby (An 'A' For Effort)

Ingredients:

1 package chocolate bark
1 C dried cherries
1.5 C Rice Krispies
Toffee Bits (if desired)

Directions:

1. Line a 9 x 13 jelly roll pan with wax paper.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate bark for 90 seconds on high in the microwave.  Stir.  If the chocolate is not fully melted microwave for 15 seconds intervals until it is.
3. Stir in cherries and Rice Krispies.
4. Spread into the lined jelly roll pan, sprinkle with toffee bits and put in the refrigerator until hard.
5. Break into chunks and enjoy!

Crockpot Barbecue

Crockpot recipes are good.  Barbecue is really good.  Crockpot Barbecue is really really good!!  I love the convenience of crockpot recipes on a busy day.  While there have been busier days, Wednesday I had plans to go to the library for the morning story time and a park play date with friends from church in the afternoon until dinnertime.  All day I was happy knowing that when we came home hungry from playing at the park dinner would be practically ready to go.  Add your favorite barbecue sauce to make this irresistible!

Crockpot Barbecue  Source: My Mom

Ingredients:

3 lb Roast (I use Eye of Round or whatever looks the best in store)
1/2 C Water
3 Tbl Vinegar
2 Tbl Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
1 1/2 bottles of your favorite Barbecue Sauce

Directions:

1. Trim the fat from the roast and place in crockpot.
2. Stir together the water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder and cumin.  Pour over the meat.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
4. Remove the meat and discard the cooking liquid.
5. Using two forks shred the meat and return it to the crockpot.
6. Stir in the barbecue sauce and cook on high for 20 minutes until heated through.

How to Freeze Basil

I am fortunate to have a few friends with vegetable gardens.  Corey recently told me that she had more basil than she could possibly use.  Well, of course, being the friend that I am, I was willing to take some of that basil  off her hands! :)  Lincoln and I went over and picked the basil together.  It was fun having Lincoln help me and talking about how Corey planted the seeds, watered them and waited for the basil to grow. 

Have you seen those little packages of frozen basil at the store?  I bought some at Trader Joe's when I was there a while ago but haven't seen it anywhere else.  Because the closest Trader Joe's to my house is over 2 hours away I decided to freeze some of the basil myself.  The process was very easy and the final result looked just like the frozen basil I had bought at the store. 

How to Freeze Basil  Source: Adapted from  www.eHow.com

Ingredients:

Basil
Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Wash the basil
2. Finely chop basil using either a food processor or a blender
3. Add a very small amount of olive oil to make a paste or at least get the basil to clump together
4. Put the basil into an ice cube tray, cover with tin foil and freeze
5. Once frozen pop out the little 'basil cubes' and put in a freezer grade ziploc bag

Frozen basil may be added to dishes during the last 20 minutes of cooking.

Adjusting the Sails

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails. Yesterday morning we had plans to meet Uncle Jeff & Auntie Val but throughout the morning Lincoln seemed completely intent on irritating Carson.  You know all the little stuff that wears on you.  Nudging into him while walking by,  tipping over the train he was playing with, standing in front of him so that he is blocking the television, and the list goes on.  Moments before we were to leave Lincoln pushed Carson down.  Not only had Carson had enough, I'd had enough.  I really didn't want this to be one of those days! :(  Tempted to call Jeff & Val and cancel, I reconsidered our position.  Even though Lincoln certainly was not deserving of a special trip to the park, Carson and I were and I knew a change of scenery would do us good.  And boy did it ever!  The boys had so much fun attempting to catch a grasshopper, picking up sticks and most of all throwing leaves.  The irritations of the morning blew away with the leaves and rest of the day was wonderful.  What do you do to 'adjust the sails' of a bad start to the day?

Peanut Butter & Nutella Sandwiches

"There's chocolate in here!  I love love love chocolate!"  This is what Lincoln exclaimed today when I served lunch.  But it could have just as well as been me though because I was just as excited :)  How I have lived into adulthood without ever trying Nutella is a miracle.  Ah, but I am ready to make up for lost time!  Several weeks ago a friend has us over for a playdate and had nutella sandwiches.  Immediately I knew that I was going to need a jar of nutella at my house and quick!  Please if you haven't tried Nutella do yourself a favor and go get some.  These sandwiches are basically the same as Peanut Butter & Jelly only way way better :) 

 Peanut Butter & Nutella Sandwiches  Source: Mary

Ingredients:

Bread

Nutella

Peanut Butter

Directions:

Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, nutella on the other and Enjoy!

Rosati's Pizza

Pizza is my all time favorite food.  The dough, marina sauce, cheese, all the toppings, what's not to love?  Speaking of love, I just love trying out new pizza places.  Rosati's is new to our town but it is actually a chain that started in Chicago. 

 And the proof was in the pie for me!  Tonight we had the 'Monster' which has sausage, pepperoni,  Canadian bacon,  ground beef, mushroom, onion, green pepper, bacon, green olives and black olives. And a plain 'ol cheese for the boys.  The crust was thin and crispy and the sauce had a good tomato flavor to it. 

Now I have to give you a close up of the 'Monster'.  The name was truly fitting.  LOTS of toppings on this guy!

Yea. LOTS of  toppings.  Not that I was complaining or anything :)  We will definitely be going back to Rosati's, plus they have great specials.  Our local Rosati's has a Monday night football special where all pizzas ordered through the EatCU website are half price!  Give them a try and let me know what you think!