Peach Picking

Oh..my, I never been so relief when temperature reach 98 F - weather just so crazy, we had 106 F for almost 10days. No rain but 2 days ago.. 2 hours rain almost, gave wet on the ground little bit. But again, can't complain since people in other state still struggle without power during heat wave.. :(

We try the best not to get much heat, but I said 'Yes' when my husband, asked me to go for peach picking over the weekend. The place we visited was Eckert's Farm - it's about 1 hours drive from where we live. The Eckert's Farm is a family farm that you can pick your own fruits, depending what the fruit season is, eat as much as you can in the farm, but pay the rest of fruits that you bring home . It was a nice experience for my little one, well.. another fun day she spent for summer break.  This time we be able to picked peaches and blackberry. Really, the peaches got benefit from HOT weather, their become more sweeter than ever.  But not for apples, what I heard from the farmer that they will get trouble with apples if no rain.  Oh.. so sad

I made an ice cream from some peaches we bought. What a perfect way to cool off from summer heat.

Peaches Ice Cream

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon table salt

2 cups milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 egg yolk

1 cup peeled and coarsely chopped peaches

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Preparation

Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a large heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and whipping cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.

Whisk egg yolk until slightly thickened. Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot cream mixture into yolk. Add yolk mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly.  Cool 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, cook peaches and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes. Coarsely mash, and let cool 30 minutes. Stir peach mixture into cooled cream mixture (i using mixer to get more smoother effect)

Place plastic wrap directly on cream mixture, and chill 8 to 24 hours.)

Summer Break (Part One)

I(we) 've been so lucky spent 10 days summer break this year traveling around several Europe countries, the main goal was to meet my in-laws in Germany. But since my visa is schengen visa so it was easy for me to traveling to another countries too.
The first destination was Hanover. Hanover is situated at the very edge of the North German Plain. The city has been recognized as ‘The City of Trade Fairs’ from years . What surprised me was, the summer weather over there was so pleasant. It was chilly in the morning and in the afternoon mostly not much than 70 F. What a beautiful weather comparing with summer in my city right now, which is reach 100 F every days.. phuiih..

Hanover was badly damaged in World War II, but after 1945 numerous old buildings were reconstructed and many modern structures were erected. Hanover is particularly known for its beautiful buildings, wells, fountains and parks. Please enjoy some pictures I've been taken and I will continuing my story from different countries soon :)

And enjoy the apple kuchen, the famous cake from Germany. You can buy German apple cake in a bakery or make it yourself, where the smells of baking apples and lemon will brighten your house. This popular apple cake recipe is considered standard for many bakeries and cafes, but it is simple to make at home with ingredients from the grocery store. When I bake this cake, my mind came back to the bakery store that i visited one day morning to get the fresh breads. the aroma from fresh breads and cakes is always make me happy :)

Kuchen is a German word for cake--It’s pronounced “KOO-khehn”—and is leavened with yeast and filled with either fruit or cheese

Apple Kuchen

4 -5 cups baking apples, Granny Smith
1 1/4 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk

Topping
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tsp oatmeal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix 1 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, 2 tsp sugar, and salt and sift once.
Cut 1/2 cup butter into dry mix with a pastry blender to pea size.

In a small bowl, beat egg with milk and add to dry mix.
Mix thoroughly and pat dough into a greased or oiled 9x13-inch baking dish.
Pare and core apples. Cut into thin wedge slices and place on dough in rows until covered. We would cover the thin end of one apple with the thick end of the other. Dot apples with butter and mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 Tbs flour and cinnamon together. Spread dry topping over dotted apples, and bake in oven for 45-60 minutes, until golden brown.

Glad to be back (home - old home) ..

Always nice to come back home, create something new around kitchen again :D - well, yes I missed my own kitchen, I missed my own garden ! I know .. I know sometime we need to spend time alone, I mean away from husband for awhile *grin*

it was a great moment in my life, spent 62 days with my parent, sisters, families. Met friends , met very very old friends .. oh GOSH , time flies so fast - and to be honest I don't know when I can see them again *hopefully every year I have a chance to see them :) *

I enjoy every moment that days even I must took care of my daughter, who was sick 3 times because of the weather changes.. but overall I was happy ! Seem I just re-charge my 'life' batteries ! To many things on mind, to many good memories to share, make me confuse what should I write - Sometimes it is interesting to hear the story behind the photo and you see the photo in a new light. But in most cases a photo shouldn't need a story to back it up. It has to speak for itself.

So, let me share some of pictures to you and i let you know how i spent 62 days ! next tell me if i had fun or not :D

(1)meet old friends, new friends, sisters, great reunion !

(2) i spoiled by very tasty and delicious local foods, the foods that i loves most !

(3)shopping 'till drop ? why not

(4) try to introduce traditional transportation to my daughter ,

but seem not only her feel exciting ,even adult enjoy the ride too :D

And did i mention that i met a very talented photographer's friends too ? Yes, they are great photographers and don't forget the model too . LOL

Thank you for all my friends who spent great time with us, hopefully someday we can meet you again *cross finger* :) . And for fans, sorry no food for today, I promise will come back tomorrow with food from my kitchen * LOL *

To Windy City

2 weeks ago, we spent 4 days weekend in Chicago. Drove own car from our home St.Louis to Chicago, is around 266 miles , and because we have a toddler so we need to stopped so many time in rest area, and spent almost 6 hours drove ( If you go straight is around 4 hours only).

The trip was good, we visited many tourist attraction, many events especially we had chance to attended Taste Of Chicago, the world’s largest food festival. Just imagine scores of restaurants, hundreds of dishes, dozens of concerts, millions of people and the awesome beauty of the Windy City as a backdrop - what could be better, especially in a food town like Chicago? Unfortunately I didn't take many picture, my hand busy with kid and another hand too busy with turkey leg LOL. (Don't worry I still have some pictures I can share with you guys)

It was funny, when the night time my 3yo daughter missed home a lot, she always said : "I want to come back home, I want to sleep with DORA (her's toy)" - and when we already back home, the first night at home she said : "mommy, I want to sleep at tower home - she called hotel was TOWER HOME" . ha..ha..ha..

As I remember, I did not shopping a lot at Chicago, but from beginning I told my husband, the one place I want to visit was, an IKEA STORE . Honest to God, that store made me crazy - all the stuff over there was so cute, the good things my car trunk already filled up with suitcase and cooler, otherwise I will buy too many stuff ^_^ Do you know what I've got ? many yards of cute fabric, who can stop thinking about the nice fabric at all ?? The fabrics still in the plastic bag, waiting my new project ^_^

Like I always do, every time we go picnic I always try to bring own food, well .. not in a good portion, I mean (at least) we don't have to stop to buy snack or meal. I made Pistachio Financier for snack, so easy to make and taste delicious..

Pistachio Cherry Financiers

adapted from Tartelete

70g ground almonds

70g flour

70g shelled, unsalted pistachios, ground

6 egg whites

120g sugar

2 tsp orange blossom water

120g unsalted butter, melted

8-10 pitted sour cherries

Pre-heat oven 160°C (325°F).

In a mixing bowl, combine the almonds, pistachios, flour and sugar, using a whisk.

Add melted butter and the orange blossom water. In another mixing bowl, beat the whites very slightly, with a whisk.Add the whites to the pistachio/almond mixture.Mix well.Fill up financier pans or muffin tins with half the batter.

Drop 1 pitted cherry (2 halves) in the center and cover with the remaining batter.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly golden.