Sunday Morning Idea.

Matt has to work most weekends. So while he's at work I like to be productive with my time off.  Mostly, I like to cook and try  new recipes.  This morning I was craving apple fritters.  I love the ones from Starbucks but have no idea how they make them.  So I did a little research, found a recipe and realized I had everything I needed already in the house!

Not only was this exciting because I could make them right away but also because I didn't have to change out of my pjs :)

I found this recipe:

6 large cooking apples, peeled and chopped

1 c flour

1/4 c sugar

2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 large egg beaten

1/2 c milk

oil for deep frying (I used vegetable- its what I had in the house)

powdered sugar or cinnamon/sugar

Mix all dry ingredients.

Beat egg and add milk.

Add egg mixture to dry mixture!

Add apples and mix until fully coated in mixture.

Drop teaspoon size balls into 1/2 inch of hot cooking oil (I heated mine on high in a deep pot)

Make sure to flip them once! Cook for approx. 3 minutes total. Remove from oil and immediately top with sugar- I used cinnamon-sugar.

*NOTE* You will want to eat more than one.

pancakes and pie, oh my.

ooooh, apples how I love thee!

So far we have enjoyed two apple crisps, some fluffy apple pancakes and tonight- apple pie!

Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure:

I mixed shredded apple into the batter.

The pancakes were served with cinnamon, syrup and fresh apple slices, of course!

The smell of the pie baking and the pancakes frying = intoxicating.

My very first attempt at a homemade apple pie.

They don't have apple picking in Texas.

When I was working as a youth director in San Antonio, I met with a fellow staff member to discuss ideas for youth activities for the fall. I immediately suggested apple picking and a hay-ride! The staff member replied to my idea with, "um, that sounds kinda gay." I wasn't sure whether I was more shocked by her choice of words or that she'd just completely dissed my idea!

Needless to say, we did not host apple picking or a hay-ride that year. But now that we're back in the midwest you bet I'm going apple-picking! My hubby and I ventured out to a nearby apple orchard today. We joined a group of chitter-chatter filled little ones and rode on the trolley tracker (it looked like a trolley but they called it a tractor) towards the acres of apple trees!

Matt and I wove in and out of the trees in search of only the most perfect apples. Mid-way through, in all seriousness, Matt said, "we aren't looking for average apples here." Ha! This man meant business!

Here are some very serious pictures of our apple-orchard outing.

filling up our 20lb apple bag!

the cute little country cottage that sold the most delicious apple cider we have ever had!

                          

Yes! I found the perfect apple.

I love how this apple is sitting on the branch.   

show me the cheeziest smile you've got!

a perfectly pickable pair!

Our sweet lil apple bag is finally full!

 Taking a much needed break to sit with our lovely apples.

 I wanted to take this lil guy home with me!

apples anyone?

time for some apple crisp!

mmm... smells like autumn.

while i was waiting for the apple crisp to finish baking I had some fun with what I call "apple art"

big apple. little apple.

swirly mini apple.

decorator apples.

such artsy apples.

this isn't the best picture but at this point i was hungry!

this picture says it all.

 

our backyard.

"Ignore the eyesore in the backyard, it will grow and be really nice" our realtor said.

As I stepped out onto what is now my back porch, I spotted the "eyesore". Eew. A pit of mud would have been an upgrade. We loved the house, the yard was nice but, wow was that mud well, about as appealing as mud!

Thankfully, our realtor was right. Where a mud pit once existed, now lives tall grasses, sun flowers, pussy willows and lots of wild life. Every morning I sit at my kitchen table and look out at the tall grasses as they blow in the calm wind. I sip my coffee and think, hmm what mud pit?

Our baby trees... yet to be named.

One of our last lil flowers.

Sun flowers! They grew all by themselves.
The leaves are starting to turn already!

Our beautiful tree and our "mud pit" to the right.

Check out the grass. thank you husband!

One of my favorite colors.

Anyone know what these are?

A few lil buds... soon to be covered by snow.