A Great Fall Recipe

I guess my blog is turning into a recipe blog, but I had to share this recipe with you because it's just so fall! And I'm trying to embrace every bit of fall I can before it's gone.



I made these for a Fall Harvest Party we had at church, and they just looked so pretty, and better yet - tasted so good!



Crisscross Apple Crowns


1 1/3 c. chopped peeled tart apples


1/3 c. chopped walnuts (these could be optional if you are a nut-hater)


1/3 c. raisins


1/2 c. sugar


2 Tbsp. all purpose flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided


dash salt


1 pkg. (17.3 oz) large refrigerated flaky biscuits


2 tsp. butter, melted (spray butter works great for this)



In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the apples, walnuts, raisins, 3 tbsp. sugar, flour 3/4 tsp. cinnamon, and salt. Microwave 2-3 minutes or until almost tender.



Flatten each biscuit into a 5" circle. (Approx.) Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle a rounded teaspoonful of sugar mixture over each. Top each with 1/4 cup apple mixture. Bring up edges to enclose mixture; pinch edges to seal.



Place seam side down in ungreased muffin cups. Brush tops with butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture. With a sharp knife, cut an "X" in the top of each.



Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

You could also easily lower the calories by using reduced fat biscuits, splenda, and spray butter instead of regular butter.


I think they taste best warmed up. They are so appley and homey and warm on a crisp fall day. Yum!

Triple Berry Trifle

This dessert is a favorite with Aaron's family, and I made it for some girlfriends this weekend and they loved it too. So here, per request of these two, is the recipe for...
Triple Berry Trifle.

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup red raspberries
• 2 1/2 cups strawberries
• 1 pkg instant vanilla pudding mix (6 serv. size)
• 3 cups skim milk
• 1 pound or angel food cake
• Simply Fruit or All Fruit Jam
• 16 oz. cool whip, thawed
• 2 tbsp Berry flavored syrup

With these ingredients, there's a lot of play. You can use more or less of everything, depending on the size of the container. I usually double up and have enough to fill this trifle, plus another smaller container for Aaron to take to work, or to give to a friend or neighbor (because it doesn't store well - gets soggy.) Also, I usually try to find all sugar free and fat free ingredients, and it tastes just as good. It's really refreshing, and looks pretty (this one didn't turn out as pretty because I wasn't as careful with the pudding and I put too much around the edges). This would even be a nice Memorial Day dessert.

Put the berries all together and let them sit while you prepare the pudding, so their juices can mix. Prepare the pudding according to the box. Cut the cake into about 1/2 in. slices, and spread each slice with the jam. Then cut the slices into cube size, I find this makes it easier to fit them in the bowl. Layer in the bowl, cake, fruit, pudding, cake, fruit, pudding until you fill the trifle almost to the top. Then fold the fruit syrup (in the pancake syrup section of the store) into the Cool Whip. Put the cool whip on the top and put in the refrigerator to chill and "meld."

Remove before serving to all those hungry guests - or just yourself... :)

A VERY Low Budget "Music Video"

The song "Smile" by Uncle Kracker was playing and I told Aaron that I wanted to make a music video of Remie and I because this song is about her to me. She makes me smile and dance, sing and spin and dance like a fool. So he took me up on it. This isn't the quite idea of a "music video" that I had in mind, but we thought it was pretty funny. Poor little Remington - I sure do love her! Perhaps this is the "abusive behavior" that the shelter turned us down for...

The Shcnaggle family

A 4 week expedition into the deep woods of Tasmania has revealed a new species of animal. The collaborative effort of U.S. and Australian reasearchers was led by a Dr. Schnaggle. "I was astonished when I came upon these strange creatures, I have never seen such a animal" exclaimed the doctor. He named the newly discovered animals the schnaggle tooth family which included the schnaggle tooth llama and schnaggle tooth boxer. Although no one has ever seen any agression from this species, the local tribes are scared to even go out from their huts because of their razer-like teeth and tongues like sand paper. The doctor assured the tribes that it is safe to go out but don't carry any food because they have very small brains and think with their big mouths instead.

They must have migrated here in search of peanut butter and hay.

Reseachers believe they are descendents of the schnaggle tooth tiger family.

A fossil of the link was discovered lately and it looked to be part tiger and part llama. It had long legs and a big body. They named the fossil Tiglama. After much research and millions of dollars spent they realized it was just a big dog. Oops. Have a great day. Aaron

Our Sweet Little Visitor

We had a very special visitor this weekend. Aaron and I were trusted with a very special responsibility. Tierney came to spend the night with us on Saturday.

I have to honestly say, that I have never, ever, met a happier, more content little girl than this one. She did not cry even once the whole time she was here. You barely even have to look at her and she smiles, and if you talk to her, the smile only gets bigger! She was an absolute joy to have and I hope they'll let us watch her again sometime!

Unfortunately for Aaron, I think Curt and Brenda's evil plan worked and having Tierney around did kind of make me want my own. The only problem is, I don't think that my child will be anything like Tierney unless he/she is more like Aaron than me! Now I'm going to compare any baby to her! Oh - and did I mention she was this cheerful even though she's teething and had just gotten shots the day before?!?

This is her all snuggled up sleeping when she came to us. And even though she was rudely woken up early in a strange place, by a stranger (I don't know who could have been so impatient...) taking her out because she wanted to snuggle her, she just smiled away!

Here's a cute little grin. Look at those dimples!

Aaron must not have told her he was about to take the picture and she forgot to smile!

Here's her favorite new person. She would just smile and smile at Aaron - and even if I was holding her, she would be looking at Aaron and smiling - maybe it's because he's tall like her dad. And don't worry Curt and Brenda - Aaron wasn't under the influence of anything when we took this picture - it was just bad timing I guess!

Aaron was such a good helper and helped with feeding her - although he did refuse to change any diapers - yet... And Sofie tried to be a helper because she was certain that Tierney needed plenty of kisses, and couldn't understand why we wouldn't let her...

...especially since I was giving her so many kisses! But who could resist those adorable little cheeks!

So thanks again Curt and Brenda for letting us watch her - she is definitely welcome back any time. We love that sweet little girl!