Peach Cobbler

When I got married, the ladies at my church gifted me some of their favorite recipes. One of the recipes was for a fruit cobbler. I've skipped over this recipe many times, as I thought it was more of fruit crisp and I already had a tried and true recipe for fruit crisp. Last week, I glanced at it again, and realized it wasn't a crisp, but a type of magic cobbler where the fruit is poured on top of the dough. While cooking, the dough floats to the top. This was simple, easy and perfect with a scoop of vanilla!

Fruit Cobbler

Fruit Cobbler

Preheat Oven to 350.

1 Stick Butter--Cut into small pieces and scatter or spread in a 9x13 baking dish.
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
3/4 Cup Milk

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk over butter.

Top with 1 quart fruit (fresh, or if canned, drained).

Cook 1 hour or until browned.

I halved this recipe and put it in a 8x8. I used 2 large fresh peaches for the fruit. It only took about 30 minutes to cook.

This recipe is also posted at Tasty Tuesday

Menu Plan Monday 9/28/09

Last week's menu was good, but my menu planning wasn't great. I planned a recipe without making sure I had all the ingredients. So, I had to substitute tacos for chicken and gravy with homemade noodles. Ben enjoyed the anniversary dinner. I made Sirloin Steak with Dijon-Port Sauce. The meat was okay (I still haven't figured out how to cook a proper steak), but the sauce tasted good. I served it with homemade applesauce and a peach cobbler. The cobbler was a new recipe, but it turned out really well! I will post the recipe Tuesday.

This week begins our rainy fall weather. I am looking forward to trying new recipes for the cozy weather!

Sunday: Eating a late lunch, so leftovers for dinner
Monday: Rosemary Garlic Porkchops with applesauce and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Ina Garten's Roasted Chicken (make broth with the leftover carcass) with French bread and leftover applesauce. This is a new recipe I'm really looking forward to.
Wednesday: Double Decker Cheese Burgers with potato fries and fruit salad. (sunny weather is predicted....I'd like to grill one last time) Burgers aren't new, but this recipe is.
Thursday: White Bean Rigatoni with Sausage from Better Homes and Gardens (a new recipe)
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Not sure....maybe twice baked potatoes?

For more great menus and meal planning ideas, visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Three Years

Thank you for proposing, for your vows, and for working hard for us. I love you!

Menu Plan Monday September 21, 2009

Okay, so it is really Tuesday....and the latest I've ever posted a Menu Plan Monday. But, whose counting? :)

Last week, I had success with two great new recipes: sweet potato fries and The Best Carrots You'll Ever Taste. I recommend both! The sweet potato fries are a delicious alternative to our regular oven baked fries. For the carrots, I substituted chicken broth for the wine. We prefer brown sugar glazed carrots, but this has to be the best herb carrots dish I've tried. I also tried Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Cooking During Stolen Moments (one of my new favorite food sites). It was very tasty, and hearty. Plus with a cold, it hit the spot. I don't know if I make it too often, however, as I have mashed potato soup that tastes quite similar and it is easier to make. Nonetheless, it was a nice change of pace that I can make on occasion.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This week, we're having nice warm weather (in the 80s and 90s). I'd love to start more fall recipes, but the rainy weather will come soon enough, so I'll enjoy the warmth a bit longer!

Sunday: Loaded Baked Potato Soup (roll over from last week)

Monday: Blackened Chicken Caesar Sandwiches ...since it is Tuesday, I've already made this. I decided to turn it into a salad. The chicken was good, but we both agreed it would've tasted better if I'd made it into a sandwich. As a salad it was a tad boring.

Tuesday: Hot Dogs, Sweet Potato Fries and Fresh Fruit.

Wednesday: I'm making a surprise dinner for our wedding anniversary. It consists of this main dish...(don't peek Ben) and the rest that I'll reveal later this week.

Thursday: Not sure, I have a long work day, so I'm toying with breakfast for dinner or tacos.

Friday: Chicken Gravy with Homemade Noodles. A new recipe. I am planning on making the noodles from scratch too. I'll serve this with salad.

Saturday: Eating Out.

Check out more menu's at Laura's I'm an Organizing Junkie. This week, there are over 400 menus. This is a new record!

Anniversary Trip to the Coast

Our anniversary is next week. To celebrate, Ben treated me to an overnight trip to the coast. As usual, he did a wonderful job planning!

Thursday afternoon, we drove down to Lincoln City. Ben reserved a very nice room at a beach front hotel!

Surftides Hotel

Our fancy room......

Check out the view from our room!

We were blessed with excellent weather

Getting ready for a morning walk




Ben caught me spinning!

After we walked the beach, we walked the downtown stores, picked up some salt water taffy and visited the outlet stores and made our way home. It was the perfect celebration!

Menu Plan Monday, September 14, 2009

Last week's menu winner definitely had to be the Perfect Every Thyme Grilled Chicken. I expected the honey taste would be stronger than it was. Yet the chicken was not bland. I let it marinade overnight as directed. As a result the meat was very tender and juicy. It is a nice switch from a citrus based marinade. I will add this to my summer meal rotation.

Perfect Every Thyme Grilled Chicken

Here's the menu for this week!

Monday: Butterflied Pork Chops. However, instead of cooking the sweet potatoes with the pork chops, I'm going to try sweet potato fries. The fries are a new recipe. Another new recipe I'll also make with the chops is The BEST Carrots You'll Ever Taste, from Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen. The directions seem to be missing a step at the end, but the ingredients look good. I think I can figure it out.

Tuesday: Lemon Crockpot Chicken. I am not sure if I still want to make this as four breasts are a big sacrifice if I don't like it. However, I need to use up the sour cream I bought for it, so I figured I might as well take the chance. Plus, I am curious to see what it tastes like.
I'll serve it with fresh fruit and corn on the cob.

Wednesday: Leftovers!

Thursday: Another new recipe: Blackened Chicken Caesar Sandwiches. (I am toying with omitting the sandwich and turning this into a salad.) Served with corn on the cob and hopefully a peach crisp.

Friday: I think we're eating out. :-)

Saturday: Loaded Baked Potato Soup

For more menu's check out Laura's I'm an Organizing Junkie. I just love reading through the menu's each Monday. I get so many new ideas every week.

The Perfect Background Music....

Menu Plan Monday...Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Last week's big challenge was Friday's Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken. This was my first attempt at cooking the chicken in a crockpot. I have a few observations.

1. My crockpot (4-5qt) seems large for the two of us, but I purchased a 2.6lb chicken and that was just large enough. I planned to wrap a few potatoes in the foil balls to place below the chicken. When I tried, the chicken didn't fit. So, I just stuck with 4-5 balls of foil.

2. I was nervous about overcooking the chicken. The recipe said 4-6 hours, but some commenters mentioned theirs finished early. So, I baby-sat that guy and tested it with my thermometer after two hours, three hours, and 3.5 hours. I let it go to the 4, but should have pulled it after 3 hours and 45 minutes as four was too long....190 degrees. By then the meat was falling off the bones and the breast meat was just a bit too dry. However, the dark meat was quite flavorful, and I appreciated how the aluminum balls held up the chicken and let all the meat drip to the bottom. I shredded the breast meat, and turned it into sandwiches.

3. I don't know if I'll make this again. It was easy, but the smell of cooking meat in that hot heat was rather strong. I just might have to get used to that.

Here's this week's menu.

Monday: Labor Day. We had company over and served meatloaf with honey glazed carrots, and Kelli's foolproof buttermilk biscuits.

Tuesday: I'm finally getting to the Perfect Every Thyme Grilled Chicken. It is marinating as I type and my husband is planning on grilling it shortly.

Wednesday: Beef Stroganoff (I use the recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook)

Thursday: Leftovers.

Friday: I planned to make Taste of Home's Butterflied Pork Chops. It is a delicious autumn dish that I made last year for our anniversary. However, after reading Laura's post, I think I'm going to try the Honey-Soy Pork Chops instead. Grilling season will end soon, and it is going to be warm again this week. I have to take advantage of the sunny days!

Saturday: Hashbrowns for Breakfast. And I cannot go wrong with Best Chicken Ever for dinner!

Sunday: Leftovers/FFY

For more menus visit Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie.com!