fall

I love fall. Especially days like today--chilly enough to wear a sweatshirt. I went grocery shopping and picked up a large bag of apples from a local orchard, with the thought of making apple crisp. So, here is my easy, delicious, and healthy apple crisp recipe! It's not fancy, but it is quick and surely serves its purpose.

4 medium apples, sliced (I used a mixture of granny smith and a red tart apple)
3/4 cups packed brown sugar (I used 1/2 cup slenda, 1/4 cup brown sugar)
1/2 cup flour (I used wheat)
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter, softened, NOT melted(I used Smart Balance)
3/4 teaspoon each Nutmeg and Cinnamon (I always add a tad more!)

Heat oven to 375. Grease sides and bottom of 8x8x2 pan. Place apples in bottom of pan.

Mix remaining ingredients. Pour over apples.

Bake in oven for 30 minutes, or until apples are fork tender and topping is slightly browned. This is excellent served warm with vanilla icecream (no sugar added, of course!!!)

Thursday's moments of comedic relief

1. You know you love junk food too much when this quote comes out of your mouth:

"...and then it started hailing. How big was the hail? The size of a peanut M&M. I am not kidding." (not, the size of a dime...or the size of your thumbnail...no, instead, the size of an edible!)

2. At work, we use digital voice output devices for students who are unable to speak or efficiently communicate their thoughts. The device we use holds 8 pictures and when one is pushed, a preprogrammed message of our choice plays. This week we've been studying nutrition. So we made a healthy snack today--trail mix with low sugar items. Yum. I asked my teaching assistant to program the device before class began with the steps of the recipe. Unbeknownst to me, she had another friend of ours "help" her out. Each button was a step of the recipe read in a rather dramatic fashion, with a flair that only Mr. Eddie could add. The last button was SUPPOSED to say "Now eat your healthy snack." Instead it very clearly said, "Now eat your healthy snack. Libby your fly is down." Next time, I suppose I'll have to test each button before allowing my students to use the device!!!!

What comedic relief have you had over the past few days?

Quirky Restaurant, Great Food

Have you ever recommended a restaurant based solely upon atmosphere? I haven't, and don't plan to start. Seriously, what is great atmosphere without the food to match? So, with the thought of great surroundings and food, I want to make a suggestion. If you have never ventured to the Paper Moon Diner on W. 29th Street in Baltimore, you MUST. The diner is just south of Hopkins. You can't miss it. It is the purple restaurant with a crazy mannequin, bathtub, you name it, out front. The diner is open 24 hours, which to some makes it more convenient, to others, that is simply a fact. Who really wants to head to the city at 3 am for a bite to eat? I said the atmosphere was great. Let me explain. Barbie dolls, random superhero memorabilia, coins, tree limbs, menu covers made out of old book and record covers, mismatched old wooden tables. Everything eclectic you could possible imagine lines the walls, ceilings, floors, counter tops. But, decor aside, the food is a decent bang for your buck. Their breakfast foods are delicious. Their sweet fries are incredible. And their desserts, well, I crave the peanut butter pie just thinking about it. Warning, your server might be tattooed or pierced up, but hey, who isn't these days?!