Fall Crunch, Munch, and Sniffle

Have I mentioned fall is probably my favorite season? I love when the leaves changing colors, I love bundling up in sweaters and scarves, I love steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and I love Halloween. I love crunchy fallen leaves, tasty apple desserts, and the chill in the air. I even love drizzly days like today (pictured above^).

Since Clark will most likely be MIA next fall (due to insanely long banker hours) this is our last "real" fall to celebrate for a while.  Plus this weekend was supposed to be a break after a really really difficult week of papers and tests (P.s. - the crunch). So I wanted to relax and celebrate fall by doing as many fall-y things possible (hence all the trips up the canyon to see the leaves). Like go to a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard.

Growing up my family went to Apple Hill, a huge group of apple orchards that ran an annual fall festival, every year. We would also go to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch or Zittle Farm's Pumpkin Patch. Both of these activities I have missed SO much since coming out to BYU. It just doesn't truly feel like fall without Apple Hill and a trip to a pumpkin patch. So in an effort to make this fall feel "real", I planned a trip to a pumpkin patch. We were all geared up and ready to go, when... BAM. Fall sickness took out Clark. But because Clark is such a sweetheart, we managed to have some fall fun even though he wasn't feeling well at all. (P.s.- this is the sniffle... indulge my lack of creativity)

First off, I really enjoy cooking once it starts to get cold. And even though Clark was feeling sick and didn't want to eat, he let me make a big Creamy Cajun Pasta. I can definitely say it's one of my successful pinterest recipes! Check it out! (sorry it's not a link to the original blog post... I can't find it!) 

P.s. - this is the "munch" part of my not so clever blog title. 

^what it looks like. SO tasty.^

Then Sunday night Clark and I bundled up and walked over to the O'Briens' apartment for some fall festivities. Oh and yes, we walked because our lame apartment complex TOWED our car... even though we live there...Boo. But anyways, we had so much fun carving jack-o-lanterns and making tasty caramel apples! And it was fun to see Clark enjoy himself after a few days of miserable sickness. Thank heavens our friends got us out of our "ba-humbug-halloween" mood! 

^Morgan with one of the tasty caramel apples!^

 ^from left to right: my pumpkin, Clark's, the O'Brien's, the Crawley's^

Me oh my, Strawberry & Peach Pie

One thing I have really enjoyed about life as a married lady is cooking. I love experimenting with all my cool kitchen gadgets and trying new recipes. Now I'm not always successful in my experiments (poor Clark has had to put up with some weird recipes), but I had faith in this pie because Mindy had used this recipe before here. That also meant if I failed miserably - I couldn't blame it on the recipe. It would be my fault entirely. Luckily the pie was a success! And it's pretty easy... except for creating a lattice crust. I should have stuck with an easier crust design. But it's a great pie for anyone to try! As it turns out, making a pie is really fun. Especially if you have wonderful friends to help you out :)

^ My lovely pie-baking friends ^

P.s. - if there is anything in parentheses it means I didn't use it in my pie.

SWEET PIE OR PASTRY DOUGH

One 9- or 10-inch double crust

Stir together: 

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Add:

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

Cut the shortening into the flour using your fingers.  Trust me on this one.  Sprinkle the dough with:

6 tablespoons ice water

Use a fork to blend the water into the dough until it holds together.

^Check out that dough!^

FRESH BERRY PIE

Courtesy of Joy of Cooking

Pick over and hull as necessary

5 cups fresh berries mingled with peaches 

[I used about 2 cups of strawberries and 3 cups of peaches)

(1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice)

^I love summer fruits^

Combine:

2/3 to 1 cup sugar, or more to taste 

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

(1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

If the fruit is juicy, add:

(1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca)

Sprinkle this mixture over the berries and stir gently until well blended.  Let stand 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 F.  Turn the fruit into the pie shell.  Dot with:

1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

^My pathetic attempt at a lattice crust^

Cover the pie with a well-pricked or vented top or with a lattice.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat to 350 F and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool completely on a rack.

^The final result. It may not look too good, but it tasted great!^