Cooking Thursday: Peach Cobbler

Howdy Friends! 

Happy Friday Eve to you. The air is clearer today and it's going to be HOT for my neck of the northwoods. I'm not complaining. I'm so grateful for less smoky air and I love the summer vibes yet. ☀️

This past weekend when we visited Matt's folks at the lake, we had the living room "picnic" and movie watching I mentioned in an earlier post. And the dessert we had that night was a peach cobbler I had made and served with french vanilla ice cream. I didn't get an after pic - just enjoyed the moment. It was yummy and summery with the fresh peaches that are still so good right now! I followed a recipe I use for apple crisp.  

I share about this recipe here.  It was an amazing time because I had a recipe published in this Mary Engelbreit cookbook. A true bucket list item crossed off for me:

So when I make cobbler I basically follow the same guidelines. I do usually sprinkle a little cinnamon/sugar mixture over the cobbler when it comes out of the oven. And for something like peaches - that are sweeter than apple, I added a little less sugar. I think I cut it by about 1/4 c. total. But other than that....this is the recipe I use. 

Do you like peaches? I know some people that don't. 

I ADORE them...and just about anything I can make with them. If you want another wonderful summer treat - make a big pitcher of peach iced tea. But cut up and freeze some peach slices ahead of time. Then use them as the ice cubes for your drink. So good as it melts and adds more flavor. 

Or make a peach and berry sangria. Fill a pitcher with a white wine you like (I love moscato or a prosecco). Add some peach schnapps, or peach vodka to it. Then add sprite or a peach mineral water if you like for some bubbly. Throw in peach slices and berries of choice (I often do peaches and blueberries). Let it sit in the fridge a bit to chill, and then be sure to serve drinks with chunks of the fruit in the glass. So good and so summer! 

But back to this recipe: here it is a little easier to see...

Instead of apples, just substitute peaches, or other fruit of choice. 

Yay for these late days of summer and all their goodness! 

Enjoy :) 

xoxo

Hot Cocoa Bar

Happy cozy holiday season Friends!  

I'm a Gal that loves my iced beverages in the summer and I LOVE hot beverages in the winter.  It's been such a mild winter here so far, but I'm still loving my hot drinks. I have my coffee in the morning and then I like to have some chai tea, or other hot tea later in the day. Sometimes I'll change it up and have a cocoa or hot cider instead. My kiddos also love hot cocoa or cider as soon as Fall rolls around, and they continue to love them all through our "cold" season. 

So last year I started putting out a hot cocoa bar and it was hit! Not only with the grown-ups, but especially with my kiddos and their friends. However, I'm still conscious of their sugar and they need to ask about having some - I don't leave it as a free-for-all. I just love the convenience factor - that if they ask and I'm okay with it, I don't have to go get all the items out for them. Plus, it looks pretty cute out in my kitchen. ;) 

Just the looks of it makes me feel festive and cozy. For the moment I have out apple cider and swiss miss cocoa cups for my keurig. The keurig is so nice because it's so easy for the kids to operate as well.

Come and help yourself - I'll give you a nice big holiday red mug. Then chose some cider or cocoa and grab a vanilla or peppermint candy stirrer or a caramel spoon (great for the apple cider!). 

The candy stick stirrers are from kits I found at Michael's that included these snowflake or snowman marshmallow candies. Please grab some of those as well!

I gave my snowman cookie jar a festive update with some battery powered wire lights. 

He looks so sweet smiling over all of the fun!

I've got my mug all set - please enjoy yours and happy cozy holiday season to you!! 

I'm joining with Brenda of Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday. 

And with Andrea of Scrapality for Scraptastic Saturday.

Five on Friday: Cozy Drinks

This time of year gets me so excited! Not just because it starts to get nice and cool and crisp outside and I LOVE wearing sweaters and sweatshirts - and bundling under a soft blanket. And of course, there's the beautiful colors outside - and then we transition to the fun and swirl of activities for the holidays and all that great food and family time. But one of the best things about this whole season is the yummy cozy beverages!! There's nothing like a comforting hot mug of something wonderful on a cold day. I have a few of my own favorites -and of course I've been pinning some more on pinterest lately. So here are some I'd like to share with you today!

ONE

This is a recipe I have had for many years. When my hubby and I were married (almost 20 years now!) I was given a recipe box from my Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins that contained many different family favorite recipes from each of them. This is one that my Aunt Mary Jo contributed that has been a favorite of mine for a long time now! I love it in the Fall and I also love it for the Christmas holiday. I do it like this at times and variations at other times. Sometimes I leave out the frozen lemon juice concentrate and do fresh lemon - add a little brown sugar etc. You really can't go wrong, just play with the flavors that you like. It's also lovely as an adult version with some apple brandy added, or maybe even apricot brandy. Feeling cozy yet?

TWO

Here's a recipe I pinned on my pinterest board yummy drinks.  Of course Fall is all about the pumpkin lattes. There are many recipes all over pinterest for them. I found this one by "The Rising Spoon" blog extra intriguing as it's also vegan and little healthier. This gal even makes her own homemade almond milk, spices and whipped cream. I'd take shortcuts on all of that - but it's easy to get the idea to make a mug of something full of pumpkin goodness!

Ingredients
2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (get my homemade recipe here)
2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons of organic raw sugar 
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of homemade pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup dark roast brewed coffee or 2 shots of espresso
Homemade whipped cream*, (optional)
Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)

*The first time I made this I did not use whipped cream. The second time, I happened to have whipped cream on hand that I made with heavy whipping cream, so that's what I used. However, you can easily make your own Vegan Whipped Cream using full-fat coconut milk. Here's a simple coconut milk whipped cream recipe.

 

THREE

If you've never had a hot buttered rum drink - you are missing out! As they say, everything is better with butter ...even drinks! So yummy, especially after being out in a cold snowy day. Here's a recipe from Emeril.

Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
Pinch salt
Bottle dark rum
Boiling water
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Directions
In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Refrigerate until almost firm. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture into 12 small mugs. Pour about 3 ounces of rum into each mug (filling about halfway). Top with boiling water (to fill the remaining half), stir well, and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse, 2002

FOUR

Here's a link from "Cleverly Simple" also off of my pinterest board, all about delicious beverages, for many different kinds of hot teas you can make yourself. What's nice is that there are lot of good hot drinks out there that can even benefit your health! I think this slow cooker apple chai sounds fabulous!

Slow Cooker Apple Chai for a Crowd (or Yourself)  

This recipe makes about 3 quarts and keeps in the fridge a few days. 2 quarts water (I used hot water straight from my electric kettle to save time) 12 tea bags (I prefer a blend of 6 caramel and 6 spiced chai bags--the kind for a single cup, these are) 2 12 ounce cans apple juice concentrate (or cranberry apple juice concentrate if you like) 12 ounces water (to rinse out the cans to get every last drop of apple concentrate) In a 3 quart slow cooker, set to High, steep the tea bags in 2 quarts hot water for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags (worms love this, so does your outdoor compost bin or overwintering garden bed). Pour in apple juice concentrate, then fill up 1 can with water and rinse out both cans, pouring the water into the crock pot. Cover and let it go for an hour, then turn it down to Low for serving - 


FIVE

And then there's my yummy Snow Cocoa, which I've posted on here before. This photo is actually from regular cocoa out on my deck last winter. I don't have a photo of my snow cocoa (white chocolate cocoa) - but I usually serve it with a candy cane for a stirring stick. I also often add a bit of mint Baileys to it. Delish! Here's the recipe:

Not low cal, but definitely yummy!  You must be feeling nice and cozy now, right? 

I'm linking with Amy from Love Made My Home for Five on Friday.

Snow Cocoa

Another busy day here today, so another later post. Helping at school all day set up for our big family night and heading back soon for the event.  I will have more time tomorrow to get back on track and come visit all you dear friends. 

Today I did want to pop in though and share a favorite cocoa recipe. I have completed another page for Annie's cookbook so here it is:

 

 

 

I haven't made it yet this year so I don't have a photo to go with it - but trust me - it's a perfect beverage for these final days of winter. It's so creamy and sweet and so pretty with its winter white color.  Definitely a favorite around here for an extra special treat as it's quite decadent.  Hope you enjoy it and it becomes a favorite too!

clip art: Bing