Red River Gorge, KY

Last weekend, Austin and I headed off to Kentucky to finally get back outside and on some ropes!  I was starting to forget why I even liked climbing but once we got outside where it was quiet, away from any sounds of traffic, and the air was clean, it all came back to me.  

The weather was perfect, the rock was gorgeous (and hard), and the company was great.

These pictures were from a climb called "Too Many Puppies" which was on some of the prettiest rock I have ever seen.  Beautiful red sandstone with black veins swirling through it...not quite Navajo Sandstone, but I'll take it!

This trip inspired me to get outside even more, so we are off to Shenendoah National Park tomorrow for some hiking and bouldering, but mainly to see all the changing leaves.

Apple Pie

Were you wondering what to put in that delicious flaky crust you now have sitting in your fridge?  How do you feel about a classic?  Apple pie!  Warm, cinnamony, and always delicious.  In my opinion, it's even better the next morning for breakfast!  This is one of those recipes that I always thought was some Flinn family revelation.  A secret only for us.  It is so good, it had to be something special.  Nope.  It's in the checkered cookbook (Better Homes and Gardens) that every home is almost guaranteed to have on its shelf.  But a delicious recipe like this, has to be shared.

If you're lucky, it might just be the best apple pie you've ever had!

Pie Crust

It finally feels like fall here!  Actually, the past few days have felt a little more like winter, but I'll take it either way.  I am 100% ready to walk outside and not have my hair stick to my sweaty face.  I love fall.  Fall means sweet potatoes and pecan pie.  Fall also means the holidays are on their way, and you know what that means?  I get to go home!

Speaking of pie...I've never made it that much.  Maybe it's because up until a few days ago, I didn't have a rolling pin.  Maybe it's because I (still) don't have a pastry brush.  Maybe it's because I'd rather have cake.  Who's to say really?

Anyway, when I did make pie, I never made crust.  It seemed like a pain.  I'm not going to lie: it is kind of a pain, and the frozen pillsbury kind that you roll out tastes good anyway.  I don't blame you if you just use that.  BUT!  If you want to feel fancy, make this super simple pie crust!

Quee-chee!

Sorry for the long break between posts.  I have been working on some stuff over here and it hasn't left much time or energy to be cooking, let alone posting about it.  However!  This is one of the easiest meals you'll ever make so you (I) really have no excuse.  Also perfect because you can customize it to whatever you/your family likes to eat.  Let's be honest - you can customize it to whatever you have in the fridge.  You don't need a specific type of cheese, or a certain vegetable/meat.  Just throw in whatever you want and it will taste delicious!

QUICHE

Recipe from The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen

1 pie crust

2 c. +/- cheese

veggies, meat, herbs

3 eggs

1 c. milk

1.  Spread out crust in bottom of pie pan and prep ingredients.  Veggies can be raw or cooked.  (*Meat needs to be cooked before you put it in the quiche though*)

2.  Layer bottom with cheese.

3.  Add all of your toppings.  (Sorry, bad picture - it was all a little steamy still)

4.  Mix together eggs and milk.  Pour over top.

5.  Bake at 375° for ~45 minutes.  Knife test.

"Easy as Pie" Pie

Sometimes do you wonder where the phrase "easy as pie" came from?  Peeling and coring fruit, mixing, baking, checking to make sure the filling doesn't explode or flow over the crust onto the bottom of the oven and set the house on fire.  That doesn't sound that easy.  This pie is where that phrase came from.  This is easy.  Any way you slice it!  (Haha, pardon my pun!) 

An added bonus is that you can pretend that it's still summer.  Here in DC, we're not really having to stretch the imagination too far.  This is probably the easiest pie you will ever make and it tastes just like pure summer!  It's especially easy if you cheat on the crust like I did.  If you have a great crust recipe, make that one.  I'm sure it's better anyway.  Better yet, share the recipe with me.  You can make this pie in any flavor that pudding comes in and the hardest part is waiting for your pie to set in the fridge!

Vegetable Pizza

Happy Labor Day!  I've really grown to like Labor Day.  Before I always thought it was just a stupid holiday like Flag Day or Columbus Day, but now I really like it!  You know why?  It's the only holiday out there that's just for you.  For you, the hardworking, under-appreciated working man/woman.  So go out and celebrate it!  Enjoy the great outdoors, have a cookout, build a fire, and eat some of the last fresh, summer vegetables that you'll get until next year.

This recipe is very "midwestern."  Which is not mutually exclusive of "delicious."  Yes, it has mayonnaise.  Yes, it has ranch dressing.  Yes, it has unsophisticated yellow cheese.  It's not made with créme fraiche or a vinaigrette or some fancy cheese that comes from a goat.  This is an american dish for an american worker!

Irene's Brownies

We've been through a lot since last Tuesday.  First, there was the earthquake.  I'll admit for a split second I too thought that we were being attacked, but then I realized what it was.  I realized that everything was fine.  And I didn't feel the need to tell everyone in the world that I felt a shake (Yes, I realize the irony of this post because of course, I am doing exactly that.  Nonetheless...).

Then on Friday we had to make hurricane preparations.  Having never been in a hurricane before, I didn't really know what to expect.  I can now say that there was a bit of over-preparation in DC for Irene, but I gave in and filled my bathtub with water too.  I sat around all day Saturday watching the Weather Channel as they tried desperately to hold onto their spike in ratings for as long as possible.  When we got bored of that, we went up to the roof to really feel it.  You know what a hurricane feels like when your are at a safe distance inland?  Windy.