Random musings about friends, fall, and football.

1. College football season is upon us again. Holla! It's my favorite time of year.

2. We've seen some slices of delightfully cool weather. Jeans weather. Sweatshirt weather. It reminds me of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, apple picking, and a host of other fall goodness.  And then today I was boiling in my long jeans. Come back, cold!

3. Life can change a lot in one year, can't it? We hung out with our friends, the LeComptes, on the first Michigan game of the year last year, on Labor Day weekend. I was 30 weeks pregnant, and DeeDee was 39. We were both wearing our husbands' shirts in this picture. DeeDee and Chris' twin boys were born the next day.


And then we saw them again this past Labor Day weekend, for the first football game. 3 kids later. And, DeeDee and I are wearing Michigan t-shirts of our own this time around. Gratefully.


I can't speak to what Noah (big kid in the background) is doing in this picture.


I watched all four kids solo for an hour or so. The LeComptes helpfully dressed Drew in blue for me. Will is in "maize", while Caroline is sporting a cheerleader outfit.  We start 'em young.


4. The rest of Labor Day weekend was spent on the West side of Michigan, with my family.  Caroline went on her first Big Whitefish Lake boat ride.


She was seriously harassed by the life jacket.

And really now... how cute are these kids?  Caroline with cousins Aiydan and Aiyannah.


Aiydan drove the boat with my dad.

And then Caroline felt the need to check out uncle Ben.

All in all, a great holiday weekend.

5. Michigan just had them one of the BEST COMEBACKS EVER against Notre Dame. My heart still races just to think of it. I don't know if I've ever felt such a range of emotions in a mere 72 seconds as I did in the last moments of the game.

6. Go blue and happy fall.

Brownie Boy

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

There's really no special recipe here.

It's just this (made according to directions):


Plus this (chopped up):


And it equals this:

I don't even need syrup or butter for these. They're perfect as-is.

Yes, I love pumpkin-related food just as much as I love apple-related food.

Beyond that, I truly and wholeheartedly love Trader Joe's. Having one within a couple miles of my house is one of the best parts of living in the Columbus area.

... And I'm going to need to stock up on that pumpkin pancake mix while it is still in season. To. Die. For.

Apple Crisp

No fall recipe series could be complete without the mack daddy of fall recipes -

Apple Crisp.


I found this recipe online and decided it to try for a number of reasons:

A. There were no nuts involved. I really dislike nuts in all baked goods.
B. I already had all of the ingredients, and wouldn't need to make a special trip to the store.
C. It looked easy.

Then I just tweaked it and made it my own.


It was delicious. I almost ate my entire piece before remembering that I wanted a picture of it.


Crunchy on top, gooey on bottom. Just my style.

I made it on Sunday for our small group from church, and it was well received. Everyone else ate theirs with vanilla ice cream, but eating dessert a la mode isn't my style. It never has been. However, I know that this recipe is generally enjoyed that way.

And here's my revised recipe:
3 cups Apples
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/3 cups Butter
3/4 cups Flour
3/4 cups Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 cups Oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda


Slice apples, toss with the lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and layer in a 9 x 9 baking dish.

Combine all other ingredients, and then use a fork to smash the butter throughout the mixture.

Spread on top of the apples. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until top is browned and apples are tender.

Applesauce

I've always loved homemade applesauce, but thought it would be too difficult to make at home.

Boy was I wrong. Applesauce is really pretty easy to make. I tried last fall for the first time, and lo and behold it actually turned out. And it was really good, too.

Earlier this year in Bloomington I promised my friend Sneha, who is also an applesauce fan, that I'd teach her how to make it for herself. But then we moved away before I got the chance. So on this here blog I'm going to attempt that lesson.

And I'm using a version of Short Stop's recipe.

First you take some apples.


The recipe calls for 3 lbs, which I found to be equivalent to one of these two bags.


First, you peel, core, and slice the apples. Last year I did that with a good old fashioned knife. This year, with all of my many apple-related plans in mind, I sprang for this contraption:

I found it from Williams Sonoma and it works beautifully. Worth every bit of our $28.

The only other ingredients you need are simple: sugar and cinnamon. Oh, and water.


After you slice up the apples, put them in a big pan. Add two-thirds of a cup of sugar (could be more, could be less, depending on how sweet you like it). Add a tablespoon of cinnamon and a cup of water, and turn the stove on to a low heat setting.



Put the top on the pot, and let the apples simmer for awhile.

I checked mine after a half hour and they looked like this:


Not quite ready. See how the apple piece stays on the fork? That means it is not done enough.


So I let it simmer awhile longer. And then checked it again.


Much better.


At this point I could have just taken that pot, and mashed the apples manually with fork or whisk or potato masher. This makes for great applesauce - just on the chunky side. But I like smooth applesauce, so just poured the stuff into my blender.


A couple of seconds later, it looked like this:


MMM MMM good.


Lemme at it. I love it best when it is warm.




And this recipe makes a decent amount of applesauce. Besides my bowl, I got three containers out of it. One for the fridge, two for the freezer.


If you want to save your applesauce to eat later, it does really well in the freezer. It can be in there for months, and all you need to do if you want to break into it is let it thaw in a refrigerator for a day. Easy.

My first batch of applesauce this season didn't make it a week.

Apple Dip

We love our apples around here. And by "we" I mean me.

Josh likes apples, but doesn't have the passionate love for them that I do.

But, for him, the scale tips to "love" when there is apple dip involved.

This is his mom's recipe:

8 oz. cream cheese (or the lower cal version works fine, too)
3/4 C brown sugar
dash cinnamon
dash nutmeg
1 t vanilla

Take the cream cheese out of the fridge and let it soften for a half hour or so. Put it in bowl and use a hand mixer to whip it up. Add all of the other ingredients and mix until blended.

And then...

Cut up some apples into slices.

And enjoy them together.


MMMM.


The dip tastes great without apples, too.

Fall Lovin'

Fall is BY FAR my favorite season. I get giddy just thinking about it.

The crisp air.
The jeans and sweatshirts.
The college football.
The change of colors.
Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
Apples.
Apple Cider.
Applesauce.
Apple Crisp.
Apple Dip.
(are you sensing a trend?)

To celebrate this glorious season, I dedicate this bloggy week to everything fall.



First up: Apple Dip

IU Tailgate

What is fall in Bloomington without a traditional tailgate? Nevermind that 80% of tailgaters don't make it to the football game! We're there for the food, friends, and excuse to drink beer in 40 degree weather at 10:00 am. Well, not us, since neither of us care for beer, but you get the idea.

Some of our best friends in Bloomington:





Jim and Amber brought their adorable new puppy, appropriately named "Coco." She was a hit!

Well, Michigan Football is a Disappointment...

... but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a college football game in beautiful fall weather.

Josh's parents flew in from Phoenix for the weekend and the four of us headed up to W. Lafayette on Saturday for the Michigan/Purdue game. The game was another debacle, but we managed to have fun anyway. I mean, 70 degrees on November 1st? Not too shabby.

A couple of observations from my Purdue game experience:
1. Bad rap music pumped into a college football game is a little ridiculous. So are scenes from Jaws and Jurassic Park when shown on the main scoreboard to emphasize particular plays.

2. Michigan's team is really, really awful, and we're shaping up to be the embarrassment Notre Dame was last year. We made Purdue's third string QB look good.

3. Angry, unintelligent, belligerent fans - even those that are cheering for the same team you are - sour the entire experience when you find yourself sitting in front of them.

4. The slow little train making its way across the field while the players ran out at the start of the game made me laugh. Has anyone seen this phenomenon?

5. The Boilermakers need to choose a mascot and stick with it. Is it a train? The world's largest drum? Or guy in a plastic costume known as "Purdue Pete?"

6. Getting to catch up with old college friends is a delight! I was putting ketchup on my overpriced hot dog when I heard my name being called. When I looked up, I saw Emily (who I call "Emting") and Ashleigh, who were good friends of mine at Michigan and people I rarely get to see. I sat with them during the 4th quarter and loved hearing about what they're up to - campus ministry, an upcoming wedding, plans for the future, and the like. It was wonderful to see them - what an unexpected blessing!

A Weekend With a Jamie-Twist

My friend Jamie came visited me last year around this time, and we decided ages ago to repeat the fun. She flew in Friday and we've managed to pack in as much fall excitement as possible since then.

First, a trip to an orchard with the intent to drink cider, eat caramel apples, and go apple picking.

Unfortunately we were only 2 for 3, since that orchard didn't allow for any picking. Actually, we failed to see a single apple tree on the premises - a little suspicious. But we managed to eat our caramel apple and drink cider all the same, in addition to purchasing a bunch of apples to take home. Not a complete loss.

Here we are looking for apple trees. Do you see any?

After wine tasting and a tour at Oliver (mmm), we stopped for some specialty cheese and bread before heading back home. A classy appetizer for a football game, huh? But delicious. That evening we watched Michigan lose - again - and made what seems like gallons of applesauce. Thank you Sarah for the recipe! It is delicious, and I truly feel domestic after having made it. Who knew it would be so easy?

Sonic: We've Got It, Other's Don't

Do any of you Michiganders get frustrated to see Sonic commercials on TV, only to find out that the closest is in South Bend, IN? We always felt that way when we lived in Grand Rapids, and Bloomington used to be the same way. But when we returned to southern Indiana this summer we were thrilled to find that one cropped up in our backyard.

We therefore needed to make a pilgrimage to Sonic when our friends Patrick and Erin came down from West Michigan last month. This morning we learned that Jamie, who lives in D.C., has the same Sonic problem and was totally excited to try it out for the first time. She wasn't disappointed.
Today we headed over to the cute artist colony/tourist trap down the road for more fall fun, checking out the awesome colors on the way over. We enjoyed tasting fudge, knick-knack shopping, buying old fashioned candy, and (of course) trying on hats.
And did you notice what I was wearing in these pictures? Yes - that's right - LONG SLEEVES. And a puffy vest to boot! Yay for crisp, cool, fall temperatures. It is about time!

Stopping to rest in Pittsburgh

I’m just stopping by this little blog o' mine for a brief respite before I continue on my way.

Life has taken a sharp turn into crazy this month. It isn’t a surprise. We knew it was coming and were prepared… kind-of.

Josh has recently started interviewing for post-grad school jobs (are we really at that point already?!? I thought we just started this process), and he gets to juggle those between class, group meetings, and getting home once in awhile to let the dog out. In the past week my work has taken me to Charlotte, Cleveland, and now Pittsburgh, with planned stops in Cincinnati, Nashville, Memphis, Grand Rapids, and Chicago in the next week-and-a-half. It is exhausting to think about. Much as I enjoy my job, being gone 10 days out of 14 isn’t my first choice. Especially when it means that I don’t get to see much of my darling dog or my cute husband all dressed up in a nice suit.

But despite being away from my two favorite boys, I've enjoyed this journey so far. For one, time alone in the car is peaceful for me. I was able to rent an audio book of The Hiding Place from the library before I left, and the story, though terribly sad, is both refreshing and inspiring. I’ve read it several times before, and it has that effect every time. Here is a woman that loved God, cared deeply for His people, and was used by Him to touch thousands of lives. I love stories of God working through ordinary people. Not only that, listening to Corrie ten Boom's story of faith and courage helps me put my own life - whatever my frustrations, desires, and fears happen to be at the time - back in perspective.

On a more superficial note, I've also enjoyed spending ample time in excellent bookstores (don't worry, Josh, I only have two new books), my solo dinner of P. F. Chang's last night, and finding awesome new jeans on sale at the Gap.

By far my favorite part of this trip (and feel free to call me 75) is witnessing the brilliant array of colors along the road. Yes, it is my own mini color tour! The rolling hills of rural Pennsylvania were nothing short of incredible today, as I made my way down from Cleveland. I've been trying all day to capture a good shot but none of the pictures do it justice. Perhaps this is because I'm trying to take them with the camera on my phone. But in the spirit of cutting down on the number of electric devices and power cords I need to travel with, it is all I have with me.


Okay, so in this picture, the trees look past their peak. Some even look dead. So you'll just have to take my word for it.