Home Baked Goodness!

Happy Saturday all!

How true the ole saying, 'Necessity is the mother of invention' can be. Today I'm going to share with you a yummy recipe I've tried with both peaches and apples in the last month using what I had on hand.

Preheat your oven to 350*.
Take a sheet of frozen pastry dough out of the freezer for 40 minutes or so before you begin.
As soon as your're able, lay it flat.

Peal & core 3 apples (Honey Crisp pictured) or peaches (I used white peaches).

Chop your apples/peaches & place slices in a Large bowl.

Add cinnamon to your liking.

Add dark brown or light brown sugar to your liking.

I used 3 packets of Sweet & Low but you could use 2 tablespoons regular sugar. No Salt!!!

Add pre-chopped walnuts to your liking.

Mix well until all pieces are thoroughly coated; if using apples, you may need to add a 1/4 cup  of water to help get things coated.

Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick spray then line the bottom with the pastry sheet.

Spoon your apple/peach mixture onto the pastry, adding as much or as little of the juices as you like.
(If using peaches, there will be a lot of juices, and more come out when baking).

Fold your corners over, using a bit of water on your fingers to stick the pastry together where it overlaps.

Do the same for the remaining two corners.

Keep the holes open at the corner sides & cut 2 more holes in the top.
Bake in the oven at 350* 30-40 minutes. (Depending on how well done you like the pastry/crust).
For a flakier top, brush lightly with melted butter before putting in the oven.

Once it has finished baking, let it cool for 30-40 minutes before serving.
Delicious warm from the oven with whipped cream!

And there you have it!

Simple, quick, easy and above all, delicious!  Leftovers were just as yummy, cold or warmed in the microwave.  Perfect for Autumn and the colder months.

Enjoy!

Welcome Autumn!

Happy first day of Fall everyone! 

My favorite, Favorite time of year is upon us and I couldn't be more excited. Even both of us being sick isn't dampening my spirits! (Pesky sinus infection & cold).  All week long I've been catching signs of the season, some of which I'm sharing here with you because they make me happy, and in honor of the day :o)

Aren't they the cutest?! Faces only a (vintage) Halloween lover could love perhaps!

Autumn sunsets are among my favorites

Yes, we're still The Garden State, more visible at this time of year than others

Now that's a whole lotta pumpkins! (They stretched outside the frame on both sides!)

Speaking of Autumn, in other exciting (and somewhat unrelated yet related) news, after many, many (many!) years of writing, I *FINALLY* have an opening for a novel! A place for it to begin. (cue squeals, jumping up & down and excessive smiling) Whether or not it leads something entirely new or a combination or new & old remains to be seen, but I'm excited to find out!  (And one day you'll find out how this news relates to Autumn!)

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

If You Love Beans...

You'll want to check out my latest edition of Adventures In Gardening on The#gardenchatBlog for my first "how-to" on freezing green beans!  Just click here.  

Wordless Wednesday

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Out Of My Comfort Zone

(Please excuse the spazzy spacing in this post! I've tried correcting it & haven't been able to).

A week ago today, I set out on foot in the beautiful Autumn-like morning weather and headed downtown for a pottery class that I signed up for through the Library.   Yes, a pottery class!  Something I've heard people do, something I've never done before but thought, "Why not?!" 

While I was getting ready to leave, I realized I was actually nervous (really nervous) and laughed out loud at myself. "Come on! It's a pottery class, what are you nervous about?!"  But, I don't do things like this.  Do I?  A pottery class?  Me?  What's the point?  (Aside from supporting a newly revamped Library/Friends Of The Library program).  I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb amongst my bookclub gals.  Most have children.  I do not.  Most are healthy.  I am not.  Most are of better financial means...  Ack.

Seriously, only I can over think a multitude of nonsense getting ready for a pottery class!     

There was nothing to be nervous about (as usual) and I had a great time!  Lots of laughter & chatter.

After a 'field trip' for foliage, etc & after we got our clay ready, we set to pressing into the clay.

Chatting about our creations & all manner of things.

Getting ready to prepare our next pieces of clay, the 2 smaller pieces.

Creating my 'large' piece.

My 3 pieces, left to right (accidentally cropped off part of the 3rd); can't wait to see them after firing/glazing!

Cleaning up after painting parts of our creations.

Everyone's pieces were left to set, then they will be fired & glazed for us, ready for pickup next week!

After we finished up, a friend & I went to the diner for lunch and had a good, long over due chat.  I went down to my favorite spot to sit a while at the harbor beach.  (Photos to come!)  Such a peaceful spot.  Wind, ocean waves coming in, seagulls.  (happy sigh)

It turned into such a great day!  One I will be thankful for for many moons to come, especially after such a rough August.  Each of my pottery creations will be a lovely reminder of this good day, which will help me through the bad.

What have you done lately that was out of your comfort zone?   

On this September 11th...

Through my tears, on this beautiful Autumn-like day, much like it was 11 years ago, I am taking the time to especially appreciate my blessings today, in the garden & out. After today I can stop holding my breath.  Until the wheel of the year returns us to this point once again.

A single, white memorial candle is lit on the mantle and will stay lit until I go to sleep tonight.

I will never forget.

I am thankful for this day in spite of the tears & heartache because it is without a doubt the best reminder for me to appreciate being alive, living with disease & all.  (If you would like to read my September 11th story, please click here).  I listen to the names being read from the WTC site memorial and then spend time taking stock, followed by planning for Autumn.  It is a deeply reflective day for me.

My love to all today.   

Stormy Weather

It has been a day of wild weather here in the Northeast/East Coast & Mid-Atlantic! Full of t-storm & tornado warnings, rain, gusty winds and tornado's!!! (At least 2 confirmed in NY and 1 unconfirmed in NJ).

My sincere apologies for being fairly MIA here recently. I've had an upper respiratory infection (right ear, eye, sinuses & throat) & "a touch of bronchitis" (as the doctor put it) and it's pretty well been kicking my arse!

There's lots to catch up on and I can't wait to share oodles of photos with you! I hope you're all well (and safe if you're in any of the areas affected by today's storms or recently affected by Issac).

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®