Mom's Apple Pie

While the rest of the internet goes in a tizzy over this election, maybe I'll write about something that maybe we Americans can agree upon. Apple pie.

There are so many great fall desserts that I'd hate to choose a favorite, but apple pie would certainly make the list. And I've never eaten an apple pie that I like better than my mom's recipe. This was the first pie that I learned to make when I was about twelve. Which reminds me that I should teach my twelve-year-old how to make it.

I usually make apple pie with a crumb topping, but occasionally, like last week, I'll make a double-crust pie. I like it both ways. I either use my mom's pie crust recipe or the sourdough pie crust. Both are delicious.



Mom's Apple Pie

5-6 cups peeled and sliced apples
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1 unbaked pie crust plus second pie crust for top OR crumb topping

Toss apples with cinnamon and sugar. Place in pie crust. Cover with crust or crumb topping.

Bake pie for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve warm or cold.

Crumb Topping:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour

Mix together. Sprinkle on top of apples.

Bake pie for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve warm or cold.



Thinking about apple pie didn't cheer you up? Still discouraged by the news? Go read something uplifting. Like this.

Bookmarks - Children's Books on Human Body and Health

God used His incredible creative power to design the human body. Here are some great children's picture books that we enjoyed to our children to appreciate and care for their bodies.

You Can't See Your Bones with Binoculars: A Guide to Your 206 Bones by Harriet Ziefert

A fun introduction to the names and functions of your bones.

Your Body Battles a Skinned Knee by Vicki Cobb

Amazing photomicrographs join fun comic-style illustrations to tell the story of our body's reaction to an injury.

 

Germ Zapper by Fran Balkwill and Mic Rolph

How does your body fight disease? Discover the world of tiny germs, bacteria, viruses and all the cells God created to protect your body.

The Skeleton Inside You by Philip Balestrino

What is our skeleton made of and why do we need it? A fun way to learn about our bones. Warning: A brief mention of Halloween.

Breath In, Breath Out: Learning About Your Lungs by Pamela Hill Nettleton

This book explains the role of your lungs in simple terms. If you like this one check out additional books by this author on other parts of the body.

The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell

With clear illustrations, this book introduces a child to all the major systems of the body in an understandable way.

Does An Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away? And Other Questions about yourHealth and Body by Sandy Donovan

After my children read this book I often heard “Did you know that...?” Look for other child-tested books in this series.

TheCirculatory Story by Mary K. Corcoran

Why do you bleed when you get a cut? Humorous illustrations help tell the story of your blood and heart and their busy life. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Sourdough Crepes

I love when you all share your recipes with me. Andrea shared a recipe for sourdough crepes with me a few months ago and it is a new family favorite.

I had never made crepes before in my life. They are definitely time consuming, but far easier than I imagined. I doubt they will become a weekly tradition, but we enjoyed these crepes for several leisure Saturday breakfasts this summer, especially when we had fresh berries.

Sourdough Crepes

2 cups sourdough starter (fed within the past 12 hours)
5 eggs
4 T melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk (maybe more)

Heat a greased cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
Whisk together sourdough starter, eggs, butter, and salt. Add milk and whisk well. Add additional milk, if needed, to make a thin batter. The amount of milk needed will depend upon the thickness of your starter.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into the center of the skillet. Quickly pick up the skillet and tilt it so the batter spreads over the bottom of the pan.
Cook until the edges of the crepe peel up from the pan and small bubbles form, probably less than a minute.
Flip the crepe over with a spatula and cook the second side for about 20 seconds. Transfer to plate and cover with a towel. Repeat with all crepes, stacking on the plate. Call the children to the table and serve up the crepes with your favorite sweet or savory filling.



We love crepes rolled up with yogurt, a dab of jam, and some raspberries. The children eat them up about as fast as I can roll them. I'd like to try them with sauteed veggies and cheese sometime.

You can find lots more sourdough information and recipes on the sourdough page.

Herb Dipping Oil

Since I'm back to baking more bread after a summer hiatus, I thought I'd share the recipe for my herb dipping oil. My sister-in-law introduced us to this years ago. I love it with a bread such as ciabatta but it doesn't have to be homemade bread, just pick up your favorite crusty bread at your grocery store.

I mix up a batch of this seasoning to have ready when the bread urge hits. To serve I swirl a little olive oil on a small plate for each person and sprinkle some herbs on it. Then we tear into the bread and mop up the oil. Yum.

Herb Dipping Oil Seasoning

1 T oregano
1 T rosemary
1 T basil
1 T parsley
1 T garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Mix all together. Store in an air-tight container.

You may adjust seasonings to your liking. Options would include adding red pepper.

To Serve: Place a thin layer of olive oil on a plate. Sprinkle a teaspoon or two on the oil. Serve with crusty bread.

10 Cool Weather Foods

As soon as the weather starts to cool, my menus change from summer menus to the soups and casseroles that we love. I'm saving the soups for another post, but am sharing links to some of the meals that have been seen on our table recently - or are on the list to have soon.

I wanted to call this "10 Comfort Foods," but right now I'm reading an excellent book by Lysa TerKeurst called Made To Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food. This is not a diet book, but a call to look honestly at our emotions and how they affect our food choices. Even a skinny person like me needs to consider what things I use for comfort instead of turning to God. I highly recommend the book.

Anyway...back to food...we do still need to eat. And here are some ideas for your fall menus.



Cheesy Enchiladas



Our Favorite Lasagna - make three, one for now and two for the freezer.



Chicken Stolzfus - my son helped me make this last night and my family raved



Slippery Pot-Pie




Chicken and Biscuits




Sunday Chicken and Oven Rice




One-Dish Pork Dinner



Hog Maw Casserole - We actually had this twice in the past week.




Three-Cheese Pasta with Sausage and Spinach



Meatball Sub Casserole

What is on your fall menu?

Sew Basic Dress Patterns

Cutting the fabric for a dress has always been my least favorite part of sewing. When I make a dress for my girls I first have to find my pattern pieces. Typically I select a sleeve pattern from one pattern, a skirt from another pattern, a bodice from a third. 

Then I start making adjustments. Most patterns don't fit our modesty standards so I add a half inch to a neckline, two inches to a sleeve, and maybe ten inches to a hem. 

Then, finally, I'm ready to cut out the fabric. The sewing itself is the fun part, except that with all my changing and adapting, sometimes pieces don't fit together well. I consider myself an experienced sewer and can usually manage to find a way to pull and push the pieces together. But it doesn't make sewing more fun.

But several months ago, Michelle Oberholtzer contacted me about the new line of patterns she was designing. This sounded exactly what I needed - simple, easy-to-sew, modest patterns.

Michelle started Sew Basic Patterns to help frustrated moms like me who just want a simple dress pattern for their girls without adjusting three different patterns to find one that works. Michelle just completed the first pattern in what (I hope) is a series of patterns.  Michelle gave me a sample copy of her girl's dress pattern to review.

The girl's dress pattern includes two style of skirt (gathered and fitted) and two sleeve options (gathered and fitted.) I tried both options and both fit together well. It was such a fun simple pattern to use. I made the pattern exactly as it was with no changes except for adding a small cuff or ruffle to the sleeve edge.

I've been teaching my daughter to sew, but I never left her cut out a dress because of the chaos of my pattern. But she was able to completely cut this dress out on her own. The pattern paper is sturdy and not like the thin tissue in many patterns and should stand up to lots of use. 

Patterns are available from size 1 to size 8. I used the size eight pattern. I was trying to make the dresses a bit too large for my seven-year-old. But they are quite a bit too big for her - she is a little bit small for her age. I don't mind, she'll wear them some day and I have more little girls coming along behind her. From what I can tell, the measurements are very accurate so take that into considerations when deciding which size pattern to purchase.

You can purchase Sew Basic patterns at Etsy or contact Michelle at sewbasicdresses @gmail.com I'm hoping these pattern sell well and Michelle is inspired to continue on into junior sizes - which I think are even harder to find than girl's sizes.

Thanks Michelle for serving us moms with your well-designed patterns.

Disclaimer: I received a free pattern, but all the opinions in this review are my own.

Bookmarks - The Underground Railroad

Before the Civil War, many slaves risked their lives to flee north to find freedom. The Underground Railroad was a loosely organized system to help these slaves escape.  This topic might not be pleasant to think about, but I think it is important part of our nation's history for my children to know. Some of these journeys to freedom have been recorded in children's picture books. Here are a few of my favorite.

(Post contains affiliate links.)

Night Boat to Freedom by Nargot Theis Raven, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

Christmas John watches Granny Judith dye thread and dream of freedom. Based on true stories told by former slaves, Night Boat to Freedom contains masterful paintings that depict the moonless journey across the Ohio River.

Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by Colin Bootman

Lindy takes her rag doll, Sally, with her everywhere – even on the Underground Railroad. Sally narrates the journey, and oil paintings bring color to her story.

Moses—When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Harriet Tubman is the most famous “conductor” in the Underground Railroad. This book shares her deep faith in God while reliving her escape from slavery with fabulous paintings.

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Henry’s longing to be free gave him the courage to mail himself to the north. Paintings show the emotions of the slaves who were willing to take great risks to escape slavery.

Words Set Me Free, The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by James E. Ransome

A six-year-old boy with a longing to learn to read is thwarted because of his skin color. Based on his own written accounts, this book shares the story of Douglass’s childhood. Brilliant oil paintings add drama to the account.

Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter

Molly, James, and other slaves use the song taught to them by Peg Leg Joe to reach freedom in the north. This is an account of one method used by the Underground Railroad to free slaves. Follow the Drinking Gourd by Bernardine Connelly is a similar book with the same title.

Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me by Ann Grifalconi, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

A grandfather tells his daughter about his journey to freedom and the kindness he was shown along the way. The illustrations depict the joy of springtime orchards and fear of a dark river journey.