February Randoms

I can't believe it's March already. Currently we're awaiting a big storm, expecting about 6-10 inches tomorrow. And just a few years ago I lived in Hawaii and thought that March automatically means Spring. Guess I know better now. It looks like we'll be lucky if we even get a Spring. Anyway, here are some February randoms. 

One of my many weaknesses

Even though he didn't win the Super Bowl, we still love you Peyton

EVERYTHING is frozen

Appropriate coasters for spiced rum and pineapple juice

Winter lips

Homemade hot cocoa

Our wedding venue... in Winter

Giant snow drifts

Sparkles in Milwaukee

My loot from Ono Kine Grindz in Wisconsin

Icicles for days

Avocado sliders

Free range chicken, cole slaw and corn bread from Black Dog

Good hair day

Happy Valentine's day

Soy, ginger and sambal marinated skirt steak

Tofu pho, my cure-all

Getting back to reading actual books. Sorry Kindle

The snack that smiles back

Sun and snow

Does this mean I'm going to get paid more, or die?

Excitement

Finally an actual good hair day

Going for a snowy walk

I plan to do a lot of flying in March, weather permitting. It's a big month. St Paty's, Spring, my birthday and maybe a little photo session with our wedding photographer. Who knows what will happen? So many possibilities.

-Akemi-chan

Apple Picking/ Apple Crisp

It's getting really hot. Like middle of Summer hot. My hair has been the longest I remember and it was time for a change. I took some inspiration from a few magazines and just chopped it off. I made a hair appointment and came out feeling 5 pounds lighter... and I might've been. 

Rockin' my new hair do I ran some errands and started planning for a nice day off. Since it was my only day off before we go to visit, I wanted to do something special. It's the end of Summer and beginning of Autumn and I'm in the mood for some apples. Good thing it's apple picking season at Curtis Orchard.

Apple donut anyone?

Gettin' his apple cider slushie on

Nom nom

Teeny tiny Jonathan apples

After picking the apples, I was determined to use these beautiful babies. After some flip flopping between apple crisp or apple pie, I landed on crisp. 

Jonathan Apple Crisp

10 Jonathan apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1 cup white sugar, divided

1/2 tsp flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup quick oats

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide apples into baking dishes. I used a 9x9 square baking dish and a bread loaf pan, one for home and one to bring to work. 

Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over apples. Pour water over apples. 

In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, flour, oats, baking soda and baking powder. Mix in melted butter until mixture resembles crumbles. Crumble mixture evenly over apples. Bake in oven for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm. 

Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan