pumpkin patch

every year, we go to the pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins. we have been going there since i was in grade school. paul and i grew most of our pumpkins this year and i just needed a few more and some corn stalks. conrad came with kels, mom and i and wasn't interested in the pumpkins. he cared more about the blow up decorations and the rocks on the path. mom of course doesn't know when to say when. when kels and i saw what she had, she simply said "dad isn't here". she has a lot of pumpkins, but she really knows how to decorate with them.

-ash

challah (jewish bread)

here is the recipe. it is great for rolls, braided bread, french bread, sweet rolls etc...

1 tbl yeast

1 1/4 c. warm water (between 115*-125*)

1 tsp salt

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. oil

2 eggs (slightly beaten)

5-5 1/2 c. flour

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbl water (brushing the top)

1 tbl sesame seeds (to sprinkle on top, optional)

dissolve yeast in water, add salt, sugar, oil and eggs. gradually beat in 4 1/2 c. flour. turn dough out onto a floured surface and kneed until soft and smooth (10-20 minutes). cover and let rise until double in size (1 1/2 hours). divide and shape dough into desired shapes. cover and let rise again (about 1 hour). using a soft brush, spread egg/water mixture evenly over the tops. bake in oven (350*) for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

-ash

cravings

the past few days i have really wanted only one thing...ice cream...not just any ice cream, but italian gelato. when we were in italy, we had ice cream 4-5 times each day! it was perfect. there were so many flavors, i didn't taste a bad one. i have tried different "italian gelato" places around here and none of them taste as good as the original. the only thing i can think of is to fly there and get some.

-ash

paul and i in venice with our very first taste of gelato

peach season

our peaches are done and boy oh boy are they perfect. we have a few trees that are later bloomers than the others, but that just means we get peaches a little longer while they are in season. i love making fresh peach pie (i can't make it too often...i eat the whole thing and i will post a picture later of it). paul likes a variety of things for breakfast. he asked me to make him some bread with peach glaze. they were delicious...

-ash

our peaches

paul's special bread

this = warmth

here we go again! bring on the cold....

-ash

our coal pile for winter

keith urban

i love keith urban and his concerts are always really fun. it was a girls night out with mom, kelsie, lindsey and me. we got dinner at crown burger, since hamburgers are not my cup of tea, i got some chicken strips (not real chicken) so i had fries and a little bit of a shake. we also were privileged to hear (as half the restaurant) some angry man talking very loudly to his friends about the need to repent. we got to the pollution solutions arena and got some pictures taken, then headed inside. kelsie and i got a shirt (yes his face is on my chest) found our seats at the very top of the top, next to the cement walls. they were great seats because no one was behind us telling us to sit down. we were able to act as crazy as we wanted, sing as loud as we could and have the best time. it was wonderful...it was nice to be there with just us girls. mom started out next to linds, but made her way to me because of lindsey's hair flipping in mom's eyes. i would look at mom here and there to make sure she was having a good time, and her hand was sort of covering up her ear...when i asked why, she said she was only thinking...what a handsome man...sure!

-ash

notice the hair toss in this group...scary

how do you eat?

i think i found the best way to not waste the parmesan cheese after you sprinkle it on garlic bread. conrad loves to help me in the kitchen and keeps me very entertained. he helped me knead the dough, shape into french bread and sprinkle the few ingredients (i must say some of the slices had holes and in some areas, a lot of garlic/parmesan cheese topping). he loves doing what big kids do, but most of all i love watching him as he discovers new textures and flavors. pretty funny! i really do feed him...i promise...

-ash