peach+blackberry crisp

There's no doubt about it, that familiar feeling is creeping in. Fall is on the way and all I can think of are naps outside in the fall breeze with my baby, boots and scarves, and fall foods. I'm so excited to show EJ what my favorite season is all about. In honor of that, this weekend Lisa and I made a peach and blackberry crumble.

I don't tend to measure the insides when I make this, so use your best bakers intuition.

Inside:
Fresh peaches
Fresh blackberries
Brown sugar
White sugar
Lime juice ( I like to really lime it up, but I have particularly tangy taste buds)
Cornstarch

Outside:

1/2 cup brown sugar (don't worry about packing it)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 + 1/4 cups all purpose
A little more than 1/2 cups oats
A stick and a fourth of butter (Plugra is the best. You literally have not lived a full life til you taste that butter!)
Salt
Couple tablespoons of water

Mix insides and place in pie dish. Mix outsides and place on top. Bake at 375 til golden brown and insides are bubbling.

Goodbye berries, hello peaches and apples. This was a nice transition.

curses

It's Friday y'all!!

Of course every day feels like Friday lately. We are having a family reunion and are seeing family from Australia.

I made my great grandmothers famous Caramel cake.

Like literally...famous.

She made thousands of them and sold them like crazy in Camilla, Georgia. Mine doesn't even compare, not even close. But it will have to do. I'm sure Virginia got a great kick out of me looking down from heaven last night. She is the only human being who can make this darn cake. I hope she forgives me for cursing her last night...

And this morning when I made a second one because the first wouldn't do.

She is the first person I want to talk to if I make it to heaven...

key lime cake

This Key Lime Cake is such a refreshing summer dessert.  I modified this recipe here and just used things I had at my house.  Instead of white chocolate icing I just made a basic cream cheese icing.

It turned out to be extremely moist and very dense but delicious.  Next time I would double the icing for thicker layers in between and add a pinch of salt to the cake batter and perhaps a few more zests of lime

(is that how you'd say it?)

.

cake

1 3/4 cups sugar

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

4 large splashes of REAL lime juice

several zests of lime

splash of vanilla

few drops of green food coloring

bake at 340 for 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

icing

4oz cream cheese

4 oz unsalted butter

3 cups powdered sugar

splash of vanilla

garnish with some zest of lime and lime slice

yum.

I swear, if these things get ANY bigger....

Last night Mr. Murphy got home from work at 10:15.  

He walked in to the bedroom and I pretended to be asleep, but I am really bad at that game so after 5 seconds I just started laughing.  

He did a flying jump from across the room and landed on the bed and I screamed, "DOUGHNUTS" at the top of my lungs.

I haven't really been one of those pregnant ladies that has a lot of cravings but last night all I could think of were doughnuts.

Glazed Doughnuts...

Powdered Doughnuts...

Chocolate Frosted Doughnuts...

He is so wonderful about complying with my pregnant needs.  So we watched an episode of Friends, put on our clothes, and ventured off to the grocery.

We were walking around the fruits and veggies and I passed by the honey dew melons.  Do you want the truth? This is how my body feels right now...

A lot of pregnant women look forward to the perk of slightly bigger tots when they are preggs.

NOT

ME.

I repeat, NOT ME! Things are getting a little out of control over in these parts. And my biggest fear...its only going to get more ridiculous...

We made our purchase of:

strawberries

french twists

martinelli's apple juice

martinelli's passion prickly juice

and

POWDERED DOUGHNUTS...my pregnant heart was singing

We came home and watched more Friends and I made a simple delicious dessert that everyone should try.  It needs a name, but I don't have one for it.

1 package of French Twists

1 carton of fresh strawberries

-slice up french twists

-top with slices of fresh strawberries

Has anyone else noticed the incredible list of women with child in the blogosphere?  Its a pretty impressive list.  Here are a few of my favorites:

her

her

her

her

her
her
her

Here's to bigger tots ladies! Happy child growing!

Plump and Juicy

This week I resumed some much needed baking.

Baking is like therapy to me.

Not to get all Julie and Julia here, but I love knowing that If I grab the right spatula its going to do exactly the thing that I want it to.

If I add a dash of vanilla to anything, it will instantly be delicious.

I love that the sound of the Kitchen-aid gearing up sends my heart pumping.

I love creating something outside of myself and then watching other people enjoy it.

Friday I went with my dear friend Lisa to pick berries at Adam's Farm. We went for the blackberries, which I came home with.  In addition to the 5 pints of blackberries I also got 6 pints of blueberries, local blueberry syrup and sweet and hot vidalia onion chow-chow!  I don't even know what it is but it looked snazzy, so I grabbed a jar.

(these are some of the fresh berries I picked with my own little hands)

As I was sitting underneath one of the blueberry trees with my berry filled bucket I was dreaming of jams, pies, homemade blueberry pancakes,and the look on John's face when I presented each of these items to him.

The farm was a magical place.  When the wind blew it carried sweet aromas of berries to my nose.  Although I must say, it felt like I was soaking in the fresh smell through every pore on my body.  It was early in the morning and the blueberry trees were still covered in their chalky white dew.  It was a dear time to me and I was taught something there in the blueberry trees.  

I had never seen the way that a blueberry tree was harvested before.  Each tiny berry had a stem of it's own and each tiny berry had to be picked on its own. I had always wondered why the price of berries was so high.  Its because each berry requires tenderness, caution, and individual care when it is plucked from the tree.  If not, they can be crushed when plucked in a bunch.  If not, they can fall to the ground when plucked in a bunch.  There was no fast and easy way for it to be done.  

It reminded me of the human soul.

We likewise, require so much personal love and attention.  We are all individuals that need to feel special.  We need to feel important.  Our price is so high because we are worth so much.  We have so much potential and promise.  I am so grateful for that lesson I learned there at Adam's Farm.

So, when I got home I decided to start with the Blueberry Pie since it wouldn't be my first rodeo with that.  I started making it last night around 9 o'clock and it wasn't finished til a bit after midnight.

I used this tutorial to do the lattice crust.  Next time I'll cut thicker strips but I still think it turned out great!

Speaking of plump and juicy, husband has been just that lately.  No, that's not a fat joke.  Since I have been preggs he has been an unusually and fantastically stellar hubs. Its amazing how our love continues to grow deeper and deeper.  I love marriage so much.  And blueberry pie...






***I have been overwhelmed with some incredibly sincere and soul-touching messages regarding my last post.  I can't tell you the good that they have all done to my heart.  I am so grateful for the love and support of the blogging community as well as my personal friends and family.  Please know that I will respond to each one of you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.***

Flash Mob in Kroger

Kroger in Grayson had its very own and no doubt first flash mob dance breakout last night.

We strolled down the unexpected freezer aisle and them shamelessly broke out in to a terrifically choreographed dance number. 

We are happy because we dance in the grocery store in an aisle all to ourselves at 11 o'clock at night.

We left bearing goods of Pomegranate Pops and Ben & Jerry's 'Everything But The...' ice-cream.

(a little picture of our new bedroom, we still haven't found the nuts and bolts to put our bed together so we have been sleeping with our mattress on the floor. no doubt they will show up in the very last box i unpack)

We exited Kroger in slow motion to the sound of "Chariots of Fire" playing overhead. (dun dun dun dun duun duuun ch ch ch ch...you know what i'm talkin' bout)


(Kroger always seems to bring out magical moments in our marriage.)

My first time making sweet sweet whoopie...

...Whoopie Pies that is.

Geeze guys, get your heads out of the gutter!  (Although that was fun too.)

When we have our giveaways we request that those who enter the giveaway send us a recipe.  We receive so many amazing things and can't wait to try them all!  

The first official Tunes and Spoons Recipe Feature is from Elizabeth (I mean Emily) Day at daileyeday.blogspot.com  She is a clever little San Diegoian with a love for all things JJ and vintage.  She lovingly sent us a recipe for her Grandmother's Whoopie Pies.  Even in her G-ma's very own handwriting.  (In fact she is having a schmancy giveaway herself right now.  E.day not her G-ma)

Here is the recipe.  It's old school so you don't have step by step directions, you just kind of throw things in bowls and mix them together. We are so babied nowadays. 

(Step 1. Get out butter Step 2. Take off wrapper Step 3. Mix dry ingredients Step 4. Mix wet ingredients Step 5. Alternate mixing wet and dry ingredients sifting the dry. BLAH BLAH BLAH, JUST THROW IT IN THERE!)

We got this vanilla in Honduras on our honeymoon.  I'm not sure what I'm more concerned about:  the fact that I've used that much vanilla in 5 months or the fact that its called vainilla.

After making the filling I made the batter for the pies.  That stuff was SO thick it made my mixer motor get hot!  The beaters were struggling.

After they came out I let them cool for about 10 minutes, which was really hard for me.  I like to eat things right away.  In fact I eat the stuff more before it's baked....oh salmonella hasn't gotten me yet!

Then there you have it. 

Me, making whoopie at 1 in the morning

I thoroughly enjoyed it and from the look on John's face he liked it too.  

Making whoopie is fun and delicious and you all should try it too!

LAST REMINDER: Enter our GIVEAWAY for a CUSTOM MADE GUITAR STRING RING AND 4 BEAUTIFUL ANTHROPOLOGIE LATTE BOWLS

(enter here)

We will announce the winner tonight!

C'est Fall!

Do you feel that kids?  That's right, its fall.  The real deal;  I mean wind-blowing, leaves falling, crunch beneath your new shoes and feet real deal fall.  Today I babysat and opened up the doors and listened  to the wind bellow and tinker through the trees while airplanes flew by.  Other than the fact that the kid pooped three times while I was there, it was bliss.

Today I rushed home after work to be with the love of my life.  We were both STARVING and I was having one of those "oppositions to the kitchen" nights.  So, we went to Sandy Springs knowing there were about 15 hundred restaurants that would suffice.  

"How about Flying Biscuit? Fresh 2 Order?  Nothing but Noodles? Or we could try that French place in Perimeter?"

Um, yes please!  I can't believe I have lived in Sandy Springs for for almost 5 years now and I haven't been to la Madeleine! 

(Look at those fall clouds creepin' in like creepers)

We had read rave reviews on their Tomato Basil Soup; we had to try it.  So we had:

2 Bowls Tomato Basil Soup

1 Quiche Lorraine

1 Quiche Florentine

2 Ice Waters

...and all the fresh French bread we wanted

This is me in my old lady sweater.  I got it at Loehmann's because it was cashmere and Juicy Couture, but really its just a geriatric poop-green sweater trying to be cool. What a wannabe. But I sure do love it.

P.S.What's up with that USA Today newspaper box in the background CLEARLY trying to ruin our French ambience?!

Miss Lorraine

Miss Florentine

Soup Soup Soup Soup

French Sourdough

Wheat

Then we did something we shouldn't have...

So, these French desserts were just staring at us!  How rude right??  We went over to see what they wanted and then they begged us to buy them and take them home to eat.

Fine, "We will each get one."

I picked the Sacher Torte

Husband dearest picked the Strawberry Napoleon

"Oh what's that you say? We got a coupon for another free dessert when you printed out our receipt?  Geez, I guess we will have to get the French Vanilla Berry Tart..."

John and I took our treasures home and sat at the table and tasted each one...slowly...one...by...one...

We think we will move to France just for the desserts alone.  I mean, if American French desserts are this good, I can't imagine how good French French desserts are!

Our favorite was...

...the Sacher torte which was layers of chocolate sponge cake, with chocolate mousse, chocolate icing, and apricot jam in layers.

Yes, we ate all of them...oh, France we want to move to you so bad right now.

We have beautiful vegetarian friends

You know those people who just give you good vibes?

I do, I know a lot of them.  We spent our evening with 3 lovely friends, Michele and her husband John (they are real hippies.  Also, 2 Johns's in the house made it a little confusing) and also our friend Sara.

Michele and John are moving to the BIG APPLE and we are so excited for them.  They are leaving in 6 days which made us feel so good that they would take time out of their crazy schedules and come and see us before they left.  Michele probably invited us to come visit her in NYC approximately 25 during the night.  I think we will go.  

I love cities.  Atlanta has done it for me for about 5 years.  I love Atlanta.  There is something about the energy of a city.  I love that there are millions of people all working together who don't even know each other but somehow we all work together to create this amazing microcosm.  I love walking down the sidewalk and feeling small next to the buildings, I love feeling like I could help an outsider get around in the city, I love that everyone has somewhere to be.  The expanse of the towering skyscrapers all the way to the depth of the subway systems challenge my mind to think about how small I am compared to this huge place I am living in. (sorry for the tangent)

Anyway, I would love to live in the heart of a large city someday.  Who knows, maybe we will join Michele and John in NYC?

So, Michele is vegetarian and I really really wanted to try to make a yummy vegetarian meal.  I have NEVER eaten tofu in my life but I wanted to try to cook it.  So, I searched and searched for the perfect recipe, we are talking probably an hour or two!  I found the recipe for Tofu Vegetable Stir-Fry.  YUM!  

So, I made it (with husbands help of course)!  I have to say, for my first vegetarian meal it was pretty great!  I would love to know if anyone has any other vegetarian suggestions.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE meat, it's just always nice to try something new! (Plus I still have a package of extra firm sitting in my fridge) 

*Find Tofu Stir-fry Recipe here*

We also made homemade sweet potato fries and Michele brought a vegetarian dish and I don't know the name of it!  Michele help me out...here is my best guess at the spelling Quinoua?!?

I also made a Sour Cream Chocolate Cake, oh my it was great.  The batter was the silkiest and smoothest batter I have EVER made.

For cake layers:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs

For frosting

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup whipped cream cheese
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Michele was so funny.  She said when they went apartment hunting in NYC, she purchased a Glamour Magazine for the first time since middle school!  She is trying to read up on all the latest fashions, which is quite precious (and smart).  She says that the "just got out of bed" look for hair is still in.  YES!

I gave her the middle part.  Apparently thats not going anywhere anytime soon either.  I think she is beautiful.

Her hippie hubs, John.

Sara sporting a beautiful messy bun.

Moi, in my workout clothes.  Don't be fooled I was not working out, just babysitting, which is basically a workout.

(Yes, we use a day bed for a couch)

Then John and I performed two of our original creations for our friends. We will post a recording soon.  We love sharing our music and we hope you like it too.

Good luck to Michele and John, we will miss you!