Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Snapshot #1073: Water! Water!


April 30, 2014.  San Jose, California.  It hit 89 degrees today.  We found respite from the heat thanks to a water feature at a local park.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Snapshot #1072: Last Class Gymnastics



April 29, 2014.  Sunnyvale, California.  It was her last class with Gym Tots today.  Miss Elicia, we will miss you.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Snapshot #1071: Bread Baker's Apprentice


April 28, 2014.  San Jose, California.  She's my little apprentice as I'm practicing for a bread baking class I will be teaching this upcoming Friday.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Snapshot #1070: Mormon Helping Hands


April 26, 2014.  Sunnyvale, California.  We worked at Sunnyvale's City Hall today planting shrubs and flowers.  Good times.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Snapshot #1069: Date Night with Daddy


April 25, 2014.  San Jose, California.  We're out on the town again...not quite 24 hours after her fever broke late last night.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Snapshot #1068: House Arrest


April 24, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Her fever hit 104.5 today.  We aren't going anywhere...except maybe to see the doctor.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Snapshot #1067: Memory



April 23, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Hazel came down with a fever yesterday afternoon so we're in house arrest today.  I'm teaching her the game, Memory.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Snapshot #1066: Easter Egg Hung 2014



April 22, 2014.  San Jose, California.  We had an easter egg hunt for the children on the back lawn of the church today.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #1065: Thee BEST Apple Pie



April 21, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Thee best apple pie I've ever made...or ever tasted...yes, I'm biased.  Click here for the recipe.  I made the following changes:

First, I made my mother-in-law's pie crust--
Combine 2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine 1/3 cup cold water and 2/3 cup canola oil by pouring it back and forth between two containers to air-ate and fill with tiny little bubbles
Slowly mix water/oil mixture into flour/salt mixture with a fork until just combined then divide in two equal balls and roll out between two sheets of wax paper

Then, I took 2 bartlett pears and 6 granny smith apples
I peeled, sliced and cored the apples and pears, then sprinkled them with lemon juice (to keep them from browning and give them a little extra flavor) and placed them in the pie crust.
Put the lattice work crust over the lemoned apples & pears.
Prepare the sauce.  I used salted butter and added the following ingredients:
An extra tablespoon of flour, totaling 4TB flour, added 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 tsp vanilla (the vanilla goes in at the very end, otherwise it boils off)
Once slightly thickened, I poured the piping hot sauce slowly over the pie and crust
And baked at 350, 45 mins approx.  And...Yummm!!!

See My Recipe Below:

Ingredients
1 Recipe pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored and sliced
sprinkle of lemon juice
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1.  Place the bottom crust in pie pan.  Fill with apples & pears, mounded slightly and sprinkled with lemon juice.  Cover with a lattice work crust.
2.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Stir in flour to form a paste.  Add water, white sugar, brown sugar, and spices and bring to a boil.  Reduce temperature and let simmer.  Add vanilla just before pouring over the apples.
3.  Gently pour the hot sugar and butter liquid over the crust.  Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
4.  Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven.  Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F.  Continue baking for 35-45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Let sit for 15 minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream.  Yummm!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Snapshot #1064: Easter Sunday 2014






April 20, 2014.  San Jose, California.  A darling easter dress from Granny, coloring eggs with Daddy, making pie crust with Mommy, and playing in a friend's yard after dinner.  Perfect day.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Snapshot #1063: Marianne's


April 19, 2014.  Santa Cruz, California.  Oh my...I have discovered Marianne's Ice Cream.  It is worth the drive to Santa Cruz just to get another scoop.  And this, by the way, is Hazel's first ever ice cream cone.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Snapshot #1062: Santa Cruz




April 18, 2014.  Santa Cruz, California.  I'm always a sucker for a day at the beach.



Thursday, April 17, 2014

Snapshot #1061: Bay Aquarium...Again







April 17, 2014.  Monterey, California. Third visit in three months to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Working on getting good use out of that annual pass.  The schools of fish are so cool!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Snapshot #1060: "Knock-Knock-Lers"


April 15, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Some toddler words are better left never corrected, like "knock-knock-lers."

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Snapshot #1059: Valparaiso's Easter Concert


April 13, 2014.  Menlo Park, California.  Dave sang with the Valparaiso Singers for their Easter Concert.  Love, love, love, love to hear him sing.  

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Snapshot #1058: Bean Day


April 9, 2014.  San Jose, California.  My two sweet friends.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Snapshot #1057: Gymnastics


April 8, 2014.  Sunnyvale, California.  Only a few weeks left...

Monday, April 7, 2014

Snapshot #1056: Melt-Aways


April 7, 2014.  San Jose, California.  We're making melt-aways as our treat for family home evening tonight.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Snapshot #1055: Hotel Deluxe





April 5, 2014.  Portland, Oregon.  Dave and I got back to our hotel last night and they were filming the TV Series "Grimm," hmmm...never heard of it; but it was on TV upstairs.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Snapshot #1054: Business in Portland


April 4, 2014.  Portland, Oregon.  Dave had a quick business trip to Portland this weekend and I got to come along!
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