We are ready for fall!

I have to admit that my favorite two seasons are spring and fall. I just love the start of a new season. There is something about getting rid of the "old" and ushering in the new, especially fall. It's nice to put away swimsuits and get out sweatshirts and get ready for picking pumpkins, fall festivals, leaf piles, red apples, cinnamon spice candles, football season (Go Heels!), and for our family, Bryson's birthday party!

Since our weather was so nice last week, I decided to plan a family outing over Labor Day weekend to get us in the mood for fall - which I hope will hurry and get here! So, we all went to an apple orchard to pick our own apples! This ended up being a lot of fun. I think the boys were a little surprised to see all the apple trees and all the red apples on the trees! Bryson just kept walking around under the trees saying "apples!" Bryson and Cameron got their own bag and were allowed to fill it to the brim!

I thought that not only would it be neat to pick our own apples, but also to make something with them. So, over the weekend we made "apple pie party dip" and apple cobbler (or crisp). Both turned out delicious and I fully believe it was because each of the apples used were picked with such care by two of the best baby boys in the world! (Noah picked one or two himself too!)

Recipe for Apple Pie Party Dip:

ingredients for dip:

1 1/3 cups peeled, cored and diced apples

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons apricot preserves

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

combine all dip ingredients in a bowl, then cover and refrigerate the mixture until chilled.

Take 5 (6 inch) flour tortillas and brush with melted butter, then cut into wedges. Arrange on greased baking sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake tortillas at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Let the tortillas cool, then serve with the apple party dip! Serves 4 to 6. Delicious!!!! And pretty!!

Recipe for apple crisp:

1 1/2 cups (I usually add more) of fresh apples

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1 cup self rising flour

1 stick margarine (cold)

1 tsp cinnamon

almond extract and lemon juice

pour apples and water in 9 x 13 pyrex dish. In small bowl combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter (cut into small chunks). Mix all together with hand or fork until it looks like cornmeal. Pour "cornmeal" like mixture over apples and water. Cook at 350 degrees for one hour. Enjoy!