Thursday, August 27, 2009

Quick Takes: Summer

 Can you believe it's almost September? Summer is waning, fall fast approaching, and I still haven't made my garden markers! But summer vacation flew by so fast! Absurdly fast. I didn't have the time! I was only just putting putting away our sweaters and coats, and and now I have to think about getting them out again already.

The whole summer's been a blur, but the last two or three weeks have been especially hectic, as we've scrambled to get all the children where they've needed to be for the school year, with all the things they'll need while they're there. It seems like we've had an amazing number of side-trips and activities through August, too, on top of trying to get geared back up for our own year of homeschooling. It's been a circus! But, things are finally settling down a bit now that the big boys are back in Omaha and it's just us girls and the little boys home again. At least the trapeze artists have come down out of the high wires. Still got the clowns going on, though, of course, and a little lion taming now and then...
But I finally have a little bit of time to look back at the summer. And, looking back, I can say it was a good one.
Busy, but good.
Chilly and rainy, but good.
Short, but good.
I thought I'd take the chance to use today's Friday Quick Takes to scrapbook our summer - and what I liked best about it. (Click on the button to access lots more Quick Takes!)
1. Summer Cooking
Palisade Peaches
Peach Cobbler
8-9 peaches, peeled & sliced
1/2 c. water
3/4 c. honey
2 tbsp. flour
Pinch salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2-4 Tbs. butter
Prepping the Peaches
Cook peaches in water until tender. Mix flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add to peaches. Mix. Pour in bottom of 9x13 pan, drizzle and lightly mix in honey; dot with butter.
Pastry for the Cobbler
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
1/2 c. sweet milk -- for a loose dough.
Blend flour, salt and shortening to coarse meal texture. Add milk. Pour (it's "globby") over peaches. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until top is brown.
Sweet Cherries:
(The pic below looks gruesome, doesn't it? Looks like I'm carving on someone's spleen or something...)

Cherry Conserve
Ingredients for four pints:
1 quart pitted sweet cherries
2 oranges peeled
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 1/2 cups sugar
water
Directions: Finely chop oranges (with Cuisinart or by hand). Places oranges and juice in a sauce pan, cover with water and cook until oranges are soft. Cool. Stir in cherries, lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and clear or until juice sheets from a spoon. Pour into clean hot sterilized jars or jelly glasses. Finish off in boiling water bath, ten minutes.
Zucchini:
Our Favorite Zucchini Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts (if desired)


Directions:
1.Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2.Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3.Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4.Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes clean


2. The Park


Our favorite one -- in Georgetown, CO

3. The Garden


(You can see who my little garden and kitchen helper is, can't you?
Not that the girls aren't a great help, but Gabey is particulary gung-ho! )

4. The Flowers


5. The Hikes


6. The Fun

(Why everyone's shirts are all stretched out around here...)

7. The Faces






9 comments:

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Love the song and my goodness what a full and wonderful summer you have had!!! Looks most productive to ME!!! Have a grand day! Cathy

Laura said...

I am grateful for the cobbler recipe.
I have always wanted to make one.
Great summer wrap-up.

Kim H. said...

Okay, that cobbler looks delish! I think I'm snaggin' that recipe.

And I love the summer in photos recap. Pictures are definitely worth a million words.

Friday HUGS!

Diana said...

Hi Lisa,
A lot of beautiful memories of summer you have! I'm sure fall will bring many more! I saw your cauliflower and wondered if you've ever tried mashed cauliflower? It is fabulous! Let me know if your interested.
Love Di

SQUELLY said...

I agree the cobbler looks great! I can't believe that the end of summer has come so soon! You always have such fantastic pictures - it all looks so much fun! :-)

Joannof10 said...

Thanks for sharing your wonderful summer---and make sure to get a new camera, I would miss seeing all you beautiful children. :-)

MightyMom said...

my summer wasn't near as busy or as memorable.

Maria (also Bia) said...

i am totally using that zucchini bread recipe.

The Jaracz Family said...

Love all the pics. The garden looks wonderful! I like your theme gardens, the ones dedicated for a saint. Thanks for the recipes, gotta make peach cobbler today! What an awesome tower!!!