Voodoo Donut!

After dinner on our 1st night in Portland, we walked to the famous Voodoo Donuts for some dessert. We were so stuffed we ended up saving them for breakfast the next morning. They had flavors there I've never even heard of: bacon maple bar, blueberry cake glazed, icing and oreos, captain crunch, and peach fritter to name a few.

*jelly filled voodoo doll donut

Sammy's

 *1st stop: dinner at Sammy's in Pleasant Grove

Have you ever been to Sammy's Cafe? There are 2 in Utah and 1 in Idaho. They have delicious food and a super fun atmosphere. Ryan's best friend is the famous Sam behind "Sammy's." Ryan has been to Utah loads of times to visit Sam over the last couple years, but I never go with him because it's usually kind of a dudes trip, plus we can't afford it. So I had never been to a Sammy's and was very excited to finally get a taste of a real pie shake! (that's where they put a whole slice of real pie into your shake and blend it up.) We convinced Sam to take us on a Sammy's tour: 1st stop- dinner at Sammy's in Pleasant Grove, 2nd stop- dessert at Sammy's in Provo. I got a yummy burger with sweet potato fries for dinner and, no joke, a couple different real pie shakes for dessert. If you're ever in Pleasant Grove, Provo, or Rexburg, do yourself a favor and make a special detour to try the banana cream pie shake (that one was my very favorite).

 

 *2nd stop: real pie shakes for dessert at Sammy's in Provo 

Wendy LOVES uncle Sam. It took her a while to warm up to him, but he really tries to win the nieces and nephews over and he wore her down. She now wants to name our next baby boy "Sam" and names any boy "Sam" when she's playing pretend (she likes to pretend she is the mom, "Vanessa," and I am the dad, "Sam." She gets mad if I don't talk in a deep man voice when I'm playing the part of Sam... I'm not allowed to talk with my normal mom voice when she's supposed to be the mom.) She was so excited to discover that both she and uncle Sam have burger joints named after them: Wendy's and Sammy's. In a battle between frosties and real pie shakes, I have to say, I think real pie shakes would win.

The Evolution of my Apple Tree

I have lived in my current home for FIVE years and it was only this spring that I realized I have an apple tree in the back yard that grows edible apples. I always thought they looked too small and too green to be edible. Apparently, I only really look at them when they're not ripe yet. One day, my friend, Stephanie, came over and said, "You have an apple tree? I'm so jealous!" She walked over to the tree, picked an apple and took a big bite. "STOP!" I told her. "I don't think those apples are edible." She told me I was crazy and that they were delicious. I must be stupid, I think, not crazy. Who's ever heard of a poisonous-tiny-green-apple tree? I have been missing out all these years!

*March

*May

*July

I love having a fruit tree. Free produce that's organic and delicious and (did I mention)FREE! It makes me want to plant a garden. It also makes me feel safer knowing that my family will have fresh fruit to eat when "the big earthquake" hits and we're living back in the dark ages, living off our emergency food storage. You never know...

Heather's Favorite Apple Pie Recipe

Dough Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tps fine salt
3 tbsp granulated white sugar
12 tbsp butter (cubed, cold/frozen)
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Dough Instructions:
Freeze butter. Place mixer bowl and paddle in freezer as well.
Mix flour, salt, and sugar until mixed then add butter a little at a time. Add water 1 tbsp at a time. Stop adding water as soon as the dough comes together (it will form small, pea sized balls). Do not add too much water or your dough will be slimy. When it comes together sotp working it, otherwise the dough will get over-worked and tough. Divide the dough in half and flatten it slightly to form a disk shape. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 min (while you make the filling). On a floured surface, roll each disk out into a 10 - 11 inch circle to make a 9 inch pie.

Filling Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
6 - 8 medium tart cooking apples, pared, cored and thinly sliced
3 tbsp butter, cubed

Filling Instructions:Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; mix with apples. Divide pastry dough in half. Roll to 1/8 inch thickness and line 9 inch pie plate. Fill with apple mixture and dot with butter. Roll out remaining dough and place on top of pie. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 F for 50 min.