Peach Pie

Peaches are a staple during the summer here in the South. I made this recipe with local South Carolina peaches.

Homemade Peach Pie

2 pie crusts

10 ripe but firm peaches

1 lemon, juiced

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon or pinch ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or regular salt

3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Egg wash:

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare the bottom crust. Peel and cut the peaches into 1/4 inch thick slices. You should have about 7 cups. (My future mother-in-law showed me that you can boil the peaches for 30-45 seconds to make them easier to peel.) Toss the peaches with the lemon juice and almond extract in a large bowl. Whisk the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in another bowl, making sure there are no lumps. Stir the flour mixture into the peaches and mix well. Pour the peaches into the pie crust. Scatter with the pieces of butter. Cut the other pie crust into 1 inch strips and top the pie with lattice strips. (It took me a few minutes to figure out the lattice work. You just have to fold back every other strip and lay a strip crosswise.) Crimp the edges to seal. Beat the egg and milk together and brush the lattice and edges with the egg wash.

Pop in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, and then lower the heat to 350 degrees F and bake until the crust gets brown, about 50 minutes more. Cool about 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

20 Questions: Take 1

I've gained quite a few followers in the past week or so, and I thought it would be fun to share some things about me. Now that you know I'm a violinist.

I found these questions in a magazine about Greenville, and I thought they were fun.

***

What one thing really makes your day?

I always smile when I get a sweet text from Daniel.

Is your desk messy or neat?

It's messy at the moment, but usually I'm very neat.

What was your first job?

I'm looking for it.

What is your pet peeve?

Besides people invading my personal space, it annoys me when people don't know how to drive. That's pretty much the entire population of Greenville.

What is your favorite thing about Greenville?

I love that it's close to the mountains and only a short drive to the beach. I also love that it has the cultural appeal of a big city yet still retains a lovely small-town charm.

What was your first car?

A mauve 1995 Toyota Camry.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Macaroni and cheese. And chocolate, of course.

What is your idea of a dream vacation?

Well, if we're talking about a location I've never been to, I would love to relax by the blue waters of Santorini, Greece. But London will always hold a special place in my heart.

What store would you choose to max out your credit card?

J. Crew. Or Banana Republic.

What is your favorite thing to cook?

Chicken and snow pea pasta.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Music, of course. And English.

What advice would you give a student just starting out?

Do what you love!

Do you prefer the mountains or the beach?

Mountains!

Have you ever met a famous person? Who?

I've met lots of famous classical musicians including Arnold Steinhardt and Lynn Harrell.

If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would you invite?

Jane Austen, Itzhak Perlman, Elizabeth I, Johannes Brahms, and Abraham Lincoln

What is the best gift you have ever received?

An education!

What makes you laugh?

My friends.

What chore do you really hate to do?

Wash the dishes.

What do you like to do on your day off?

Curl up in a comfy chair and read. Watch movies. Craft.

I can't live without my...what?
Computer. Sad, I know.

If you want to find out my favorite things about summer time head on over to Maegan's blog, Chesterrific, where I'm being featured today!



Poppyseed Chicken

Here's another recipe I made while Daniel and I were at the beach. This has always been a favorite in my house, and I think Daniel really liked it too!

Poppyseed Chicken

6 to 8 boneless chicken breasts

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 8 oz. can of sour cream

1 stick of butter or margarine

1 box of crackers

1 can of poppyseeds

Boil chicken until cooked and then slice into small parts. Mix in a bowl with the soup and sour cream. Put into cooking pot or casserole dish. Melt the butter and mix in crushed crackers. Put this on top of the chicken. Sprinkle poppyseeds on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with salad and rolls.

Note: I usually halve this recipe, and it feeds 4-5 people.

Let me know if you try this out!

Ocean Isle Beach

The week after graduation, Daniel and I headed with his aunt and uncle to their beach house in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. It was an absolutely glorious week of swimming, reading, eating, and being completely lazy.

The view from the beach house was amazing.

Daniel's aunt and uncle brought along their two dogs, Chap and Toto.

We ate extremely well at the beach. Daniel often likes to play with his food and was creepin' me out a bit one morning with his talking grapefruit.

One night we had burgers, grilled corn, hand-battered shrimp, and homemade blueberry pie for dinner! During the week, we also made coffee cake, strawberry shortcakes, pasta, poppyseed chicken, and a chocolate pie.

We went putt-putting, and we both got several hole in ones.

I was also introduced to crabbing. I was skeptical. I told Daniel that he was getting punched if I got pinched by a crab. Alas, we caught nothing. But I did stand in the water with a chunk of meat hanging from my string.

After crabbing, we went over to Sunset Beach to visit my great aunt, where we had a yummy low country boil. I was also basically hazed during this visit. I was forced to dump a live crab into boiling water. And the poor bugger fought back.

This was the view for dinner.

It was a fantastic week! I got to unwind from the stress of the semester, and of course I loved spending a whole week with Daniel!

News: Daniel is moving to Columbia, South Carolina in July! That's only an hour and a half away! Yay!

Dear Daniel

*Warning: Please excuse the extreme mushyness ahead.*

;)

Dear Daniel,

I know it's only been about four months since we started dating, but I feel like I have spent some of the best moments of my life with you.

The long awkward silence when we met for the first time...but then we ended up talking for hours for the rest of the weekend.

You sending me "snow" for my birthday.

Ice skating by The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago.

Seeing Chicago and kissing you from the top of the John Hancock Building.

You teaching me how to make latte art and the giggles that ensued.

You waiting for me and hugging me at the end of my first half marathon.

Stuffing our faces at Paula Deen's Restaurant on Valentine's Day.

Sharing my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Underground, with you.

(Coffee Underground)

Sitting in a swing by the Reedy River and talking about the future.

Watching the sunset from Caesar's Head.

Dancing with you at your cousin's wedding in Charleston.

Still getting butterflies when I look at you...

Thanks for sharing in our adventures! It's been a wonderful journey so far!

I love you.

Adventures in the South: Part Three

The day after the half marathon, Valentine's Day, Daniel and I stopped in Savannah again on our way back to Greenville.

Why?

We had lunch reservations at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons!

Much deliciousness (and butter) was had.

Just to make you a little more jealous, here are some pictures.

We browsed through Paula's store while we were waiting for the restaurant to open. Meanwhile, our stomachs were grumbling.

That's me in front of the restaurant!

Before the resataurant opens, this lady comes out and rings a dinner triangle while saying, "Come and get it!" And then they leave you hanging for 15 minutes...while your stomach is still grumbling.

We finally got called in, were shown to our table, and then made our way to the buffet.

Mountain o' fried chicken, anyone?

And here's me with my plate of goodness...

Before dessert arrived, I hear an "aww" coming from the restaurant. Huh? Oh. Those are for me?

Daniel had these gorgeous purple flowers delivered to our table along with Hiccups the bear. It was only slightly embarrassing...but mostly awesome.

And why yes, Daniel is, in fact, the best.

Dessert was also amazing. Paula knows what she's doing.

And here we are at our lovely table by the window!

We both agree that it was the best Valentine's Day ever!

:)



Adventures in the South: Part Two

After our stop in Savannah, Daniel and I drove on to St. Augustine. We got there a little late in the afternoon after dropping off our luggage on Amelia Island, but we still got to see a few sites.

We stopped by The Old Senator, a 600-year-old tree near the Fountain of Youth.

(We missed out on the Fountain of Youth, and I think Daniel was secretly glad to not try the water. I was going to make him taste it. It is, in fact, disgusting.)

Daniel insists that he doesn't take good pictures, but I love this one of me beneath the tree.

I also love this one of Daniel. The weather was so gorgeous that afternoon!

Here's my ever-improving man pose with the old City Gates.

We also walked around the Castillo de San Marcos...

...and watched the sun begin to set.

We got our picture taken by the marina...

...saw the oldest wooden school house in the United States...

...and enjoyed walking around downtown to find a place for dinner.

I hope we can go back someday to do more exploring!

:)