Blueberry Pickin'

This is always one of my favorite days each summer. Blueberry picking day. This is the 9th year in a row that I have made the hour and 15 minute drive to Maiden Rock, Wi to the Rush River Produce Farm. It is a beautiful scenic drive along Lake Pepin and the farm itself is equally gorgeous.

This was the first year that I didn't have my wingman. Drew has always been my faithful helper-- but this year schedules and weather didn't line up. He was very much missed but I did meet up with my Mom and my sister and her kids for a morning of berry picking.

2 boxes equalled about 18 pounds of berries.

I froze most of the berries, but not before I made some of our favorite Blueberry Muffins. {recipe}

And tried a new recipe for 'The Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake with Lemon Glaze {recipe}

which was amazing and one that I definitely will be making again.

And of course our favorite Blueberry Pie {recipe}.

Now the challenge is to make the frozen berries last until the next picking season! :)

Super Bowl {cupcakes}

I have been making these cupcakes every Super Bowl for years and years. For whatever reason, I tend to make them only this one time of year and this must be the reason that my family calls them 'Super Bowl cupcakes.' :)

This has always been one of Jake's favorite treats and so this year I thought I would make a batch a few days early and mail him a little care package filled with these cupcakes to enjoy on Super Bowl Sunday.

Jake texted me this morning: "The cupcakes have arrived!! Ohhhh. Thank you!!!!!"

Priceless!

Click {here} for the simple but so delicious recipe.

{weekend lens}

farmer's market flowers : zucchini bread (recipe) : jalapeño poppers : smoked pork : 

Notre Dame football game

a recipe:: Salted Peanut Chews

I made these treats this week to bring for our Wednesday morning bible study. This recipe came from my Mom who made these often while I was growing up. They taste like salted peanut rolls and are so good!!

Crust:
1 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg yolks
3 cups mini marshmallows  

Topping:
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
12 ounce package peanut butter chips
2 cups rice krispies cereal
2 cups salted peanuts

Directions:
Combine all of the crust ingredients except for the marshmallows, until crumb mixture forms. Press into bottom of an ungreased 13x9 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Immediately sprinkle with marshmallows and bake for an additional 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows begin to puff.
Cool completely.
Meanwhile, in saucepan heat the corn syrup, butter, vanilla, peanut butter chips until smooth. Stir in cereal and peanuts. Spoon topping over marshmallow layer and spread to cover. Chill and cut into bars. After bars have been cut, store at room temperature.

weekend lens {apple orchard & some cooking}

This past weekend was one of those perfect Fall weather weekends. We took advantage of the cooler temps and had an evening bonfire {which I may have worn a winter coat and my Ugg boots.}

I harvested a ton of tomatoes from my garden.

I chopped a bunch of them and seasoned them with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano and a touch of sugar and roasted them in the oven for about an hour at 400 degrees.

After they were done roasting I threw some basil fresh from my Mama's herb garden. We had this over ravioli~ so delicious!!

Pete, Drew and I made our annual trip out to Pine Tree Apple Orchard. We have been going to this orchard since Tyler was a baby, and I think we have only missed a couple of years. This has become a fun family tradition that always brings back lots of memories.

We took a tractor ride through the orchard.

And grabbed two bags of delicious Fall apples and some other bakery goodies.

I made  Pioneer Woman's 'Spicy Pop Pulled Pork.'  A very easy recipe that I threw in the crock pot and was delicious.

I also made an apple pie using {this recipe} which always turns out so good!

A great Fall weekend.

weekend lens {Olympics & pickles}

Friday night was the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and we decided to stay home, order some pizzas and spend the evening watching this on TV.

I made a fruit pizza for dessert to go with our 'Olympic and pizza' themed night. :)

Saturday morning we headed out to the Minneapolis Farmer's Market to find the things I needed to make dill pickles and dilly beans.

Organizing my canning supplies.

The big bag of pickling cucumbers.

dill

I haven't canned pickles for a few years- it is quite a bit of work, but it is always worth it!

While I was busy doing my canning, Pete and Drew worked on the Z.

And Drew took it upon himself to trim a tree that was taking over the basketball hoop. :)

I made the easiest rib recipe ever and they turned out amazing!

All I did was put some 'country style ribs' (no sauce or anything else) in the crock pot and cooked them on low for 8 hours. Then we thew them on the grill to char them up a little and brushed them with BBQ sauce.

So good and so easy!

We also had some great corn on the cob from the farmer's market.

It was nice to have a weekend at home that was quieter and to have time to do some of those extra things (like canning) that we have been wanted to do this summer.