"I'm sooo excited to go up to the cabin tonight, because the cabin has brinoculars!" -Miss G

Autumn Pear Crisp

It's so chilly, rainy, and icy today. Little whirlwinds of light snow sweeping the ground. I must bake.

Mmmm.... pear crisp. Like apple crisp, but with pears. I had five pears that needed to be eaten or used up. They were such nice looking gems that could not be thrown away. I found an apple crisp recipe online, and changed it to my liking (and ingredient availability). Oh so easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy.

Autumn Pear Crisp

5 pears, peeled and cut up
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 teas. cinnamon
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1 teas. cinnamon (again)
1/2 cup butter, softened

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease (pie-sized) pan.

2) Put pears pieces into pan. Pour maple syrup and sprinkle cinnamon over pears. Toss mixture.

3) In another bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbled. Crumble over top of pear mixture.

4) Bake for 30 minutes, or until topping is nicely golden browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. Or just eat it from the pan like I did. Enjoy in front of a window, watching leaves or snow fall.

Serves 6

Sarum Missal

God be in my head,
And in my understanding;
God be in my eyes,
And in my looking;
God be in my mouth,
And in my speaking;
God be in my heart,
And in my thinking;
God be at my end,
And at my departing.
~Sarum Missal

Roasted Broccoli Bliss

I'm not exaggerating. This is one of the best (and easiest) snacks I have ever consumed. I'm not a fan of cooking either, ask everyone I know.

INGREDIENTS:
Head of Broccoli, cut up into bit-sized pieces
Olive Oil (just enough to coat broccoli)
Sea Salt (or any salt if you don't want to be fancy like me)
Black Pepper
Diced Garlic (more or less)
Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and thoroughly dry broccoli. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Lay flat in a baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and turn broccoli over, so it browns evenly. This part will be hard because it smells so good, but put back in the over for 15 more minutes. Take out of oven and toss with a bit of parmesan cheese. Eat. Say "mmm!" outloud.

TIPS:
The more you brown or caramelize the broccoli, the better it tastes
After baking, lay on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil
This same recipe works with cauliflower as well, just bake at a lower temp (375) and for a bit longer, since it is a more dense veggie

"Happy Golden Birthday"

A day late and a dollar short. Really, this could describe my life for the past five years. Andy turned 30 yesterday. On January 30. A golden birthday. Of course, all was recognized, homemade cards were given. But I worked. And we have three little pairs of feet running the house. We are planning on celebrating with his family on Saturday but it still seems he was a little cheated. Sooo to Andy- Happy Birthday Week! And thanks for our two lovely offspring (and one tiny clone of yourself).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
THE MAN OF MY DREAMS
THE GREAT LOVE OF MY LIFE
THE FUNNIEST PERSON I KNOW
-Love you the most