PW'S Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

We actually got out a little this weekend, which was a nice and much needed change (this job is a blessing, but takes a toll on you with 28 little love bugs running around...yes some of them actually running lol). We scoped out some local sights including the sun dial bridge and a farmer's market at Turtle Bay.

We both have been eye balling peaches lately and these were so soft and juicy-so we got a few pounds because I wanted to make a peach dessert.





It feels weird doing a food post lol it seems like forever since I have baked of cooked something new...for the last month we have been eating whatever we had in the pantry and quick thrown together dinners, so it was nice to try a new recipe.



I was so excited to read on someones blog that The Pioneer Women
one of my all time favorite bloggers/cookbook author is getting her own cooking show on the food network! I am totally going to DVR it and it premieres this Saturday.


So in her Honor I decided to make her Peach crisp and it turned out way yummy!


To make the Maple cream sauce (I made it ahead of time because it needs to chill in the fridge)
you pour 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, 5 tbs. maple syrup and 3tbs. light Corn Syrup in a sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until thick and reducing about 1/3. She noted that this takes about 15 minutes so I stuck with that...after you put it in the fridge it thickened up a lot more too.





To start the crumble in a medium bowl mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg and 1/4 tsp salt using a fork or I used a pastry Blender.






Cut butter into small pieces and add to flour mixture.

Then peel and cut up 5-6 peaches and add the zest and juice from 1/2 a lemon.

Add 2 tbs real maple syrup to peaches and stir.

Put peach mixture in small pan (8" or 9 ") and cover evenly with crumb topping.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then take foil off and cook for 20-30 more minutes... I kept mine in for 35-40 minutes after because it was having problems crisping up-real juicy peaches!

Serve warm and drizzle Maple sauce all over ! Yummo!

Meet- and -Greet

Ready or not... School starts this week! I am a barrel of nerves and excitement. Tomorrow we have a meet and greet with the incoming kinders and then school starts Thursday! Thanks to Claudia (who came and I worked to the bone-sorry!) the room is all set and I have been spending my time planning and tinkering lol.

For those who say teachers are lucky to have summers off have never had to set up a classroom...and in a week no less. Although the long days and sleep lacking nights, I know as I see all those excited faces coming in my door -looking up to me-it will be completely worth it!

I'll give you the tour of my home away from home...

Play area, library/computer area/small group/intervention table, my desk

Calendar and cubby area

At the moment I have 25 on the roster, but it has been changing...16 boys 9 girls ;)

Wow! I can't believe the first day is almost here...

What else we have been up to...

http://s940.photobucket.com/albums/ad250/ecklesstephanie/?action=view&current=blogphotos002-1.mp4

I took a video with my camera of the house, but it was taking days for it to upload so here is the like to it on photo bucket-hope it works.

Sorry for the distance friends and family, Greg and I are pooped...busy busy busy! xoxo

Hello outside world!

WOW WOW WOW...these past weeks have been a whirl wind and it's going to stay that way. Ever heard the term be careful what you wish for? ....why? because it will probably happen all at once and you won't have time to catch your breath, or eat, or pee...or remember your own name!

That being said we are so blessed and I am soooooo excited beyond words to have my CAREER(isn't it great people)! I mean only having a week to setup and plan for a brand new kindergarten year is a small price to pay for getting this tremendous experience I have been dying for (more like whining for I think lol).

Well here is your first glimpse of Ms. Eckles' Kindergarten Classroom :). he he...

So I was at the school for ummm.... 8 hours today and this is what the room still looks like. You must be thinking I'm crazy, but this picture was taken after 2 giant loads of unwanted things were removed and two loads of trash. See this room became a storage room-good for me because teachers put lots of goodies in here that will definitely help a first year teacher! not so good because I had to spend a day to go through it.

So basically this weekend and next week this classroom will be my life, my hopes are that I can actually start decorating by Monday... then oh I guess doing a little thing like planning what were going to do the first week of school lol. Thankfully there is a really great kinder team and principal...the whole school really, that are very supportive and helpful. I'll post more when it's close to a finishing stage...hopefully that's before the first day of school lol.

An o"fish"ally Cute Thank You

I wanted to do something for my co-workers for my last day of work (which was supposed to be this Fri, but I am going to come back and stay with Greg's uncle and work the last week of camp..need the $). I knew all my baking stuff would be packed so I wanted something cute and low cost.

I got this super cute and clever idea here on a blog post for teacher appreciation gifts. All I bought were the fish and the clear pillow pack envelopes (they were $7.00 for 50-so I have extra for I don't know maybe a ... baby shower ;) I went the cheap route and just used some ribbon I already had (I pictured using a thick red and back poka dotted ribbon) and I had left over printable labels from Drews Fire Truck cookies. I had to make quite a few for the big bunch so I tried to turn them vertical and use the ribbon/label as an optical illusion so you wouldn't notice it wasn't filled with fishies.

I have met a lot of great teachers and friends at this school-they have been a source of support, resources, laughs and joy and I will miss all of my new friends, but will hopefully keep in touch !

A long week ...& another one on the way.

I took this Tuesday through Thursday off of work so Greg and I could go house/job hunting in Redding. Our day started off on Tuesday with some very very VERY exciting news! I am going to be an AUNTIE! I still almost can't believe it (I mean I knew they were trying), but my sister is going to be a mommy! I am so anxious I almost feel like it's me having the kid lol. Heather and J.d are going to be amazing parents and raise one cute and cool kid. It won't hurt that the kid is going to have a stellar aunt right? ;)lol.

I will admit it is a little bitter sweet me going so far away now. I wish I could be around to see my sister's belly grow and hug the lil bundle of joy once a week (gulp-holding back the tears I'm a wreck lol) , but I am going to be one determined auntie I have a title to uphold...world's greatest aunt ;)lol

The past few days we have seen a lot of houses and a lot of Redding lol ( I wasn't trying to be picky-just a lot of the houses in our price range were outdated like 60's 70's outdated and Greg knows how much I hate wood paneling so we kept on searching lol). When morale was low we stumbled on this lil dandy. It's in the south of Redding a lil bit out of town (lol it's going to be funny to say I have to go into town, but Target is really only 10 minutes away lol).

When we went to sign the lease we forgot the camera so all I have are phone pictures, but I'll do a post move in blog lol.

front.




living room

Master bath...so glad we have two baths...and two sinks in ours yeah!

Kitchen. I already decided the cabinets/counters to the right are going to be my baking nook lol. We just need to get a cheapo used fridge.

Guest bath.

We are heading back up for good the 30th it's coming so fast! We think we will be ok up there it has some nice views and it has a smaller town feel...there's only like one of everything kinda weird for a socal girl lol

Next box to check off is a job for me, I did get cleared to sub while we were up there and I have/had some interviews so we will see..

Pick-Me-Up

It's known that things have been busy here and a lot of things are in the unknown lol, but my sissy cheered me up this week by sending me a little gift. Look how cute, this little cupcake pedestal and bag totally made my day.

Not to mention I got a card from my mom and sister in the same day , so I was feeling awfully loved thanks for making me feel better ladies!!