MMMmmmmmmm . . . .

Photo found on internet - better than how mine turned out!

I tried a new recipe last week that was a hit for all of us. I don't really even like cooked blueberries and I was saying "Mmmmm" after every bite. Grace said, "If I was on Best Thing I Ever Ate, I would choose this." Collin said that even though it didn't look very appetizing, he was "going to dream about this tonight". So, what was the recipe? Blueberry Crunch! I love a good fruit crisp and this was delish because it had a great crust to fruit ratio. We also had some cream in the fridge and that made it even better. You gotta try this!

Blueberry Crunch

Crust:

1 c rolled oats

1 c flour (I used Whole Wheat)

3/4 c. brown sugar (I used less)

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 c. butter (I used 6 oz)

Filling:

4-5 c fresh blueberries (or any other berry or fruit)

1/2 c sugar

3 Tbsp. corn starch

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix dry ing. and sprinkle over blueberries and stir to coat. Set aside.

Combine Rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Press 1/2 the crumb mixture in the bottom of a 9" baking dish. Cover with blueberry filling. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling.

Bake at 375 degrees for 40+ minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly and top with whipped cream.

Good Things Texas

Our 4th of July weekend got ruined by Hurricane Alex raining out our trip to Corpus Christi so we ended up staying around town. The kids and I had found this great place on our ice cream trip to Brenham and we wanted Jon to come too this time. This is the Southern Flyers Diner at the Brenham airport. Yes, that's right and the food was GREAT!

Their specialty is fried pickles and although the batter to pickle ratio was a little unbalanced, they were yummy. Collin got whooped by the chili cheese dog (yummy homemade chili).

They have a big screened in porch looking out over a pond that makes it feel like you are in someones back yard almost. And the runway is right there too, so you can watch planes take off and land.

Both times we've gone there have been old cars parked in the parking lot so there is something for everyone. I recommend it to any locals lurking!

Summer's Here!

Ok. It's been here for quite some time, but it didn't really start for us till after Jon and I got back from Florida and things kind of got settled down. For most people, summer means it's time to get out. Here it means it's time to get indoors away from the heat, humidity, mosquitoes and rain! Summer started with Scout Day Camp. Long story why we went, since Collin isn't even a cub scout anymore, but we always have a great time and he got to be a Jr. Staff which he loved. This year was great because it was indoors - a rare luxury in the 90 degree and 90% humid Houston summer! Here are some more pics of what we've been up to. . .

This is the start of our 4th year here. We always start the summer by making a trip to the Blue Bell Factory. We came here right after we moved and were living in the Super 8 (Grace STILL wishes we lived there!) waiting to close on our house, so it always marks the year point.

Devouring the Blue Bell ice cream. Nothing says Houston summer like it. Funny that we only eat Blue Bell once a year, at the factory!

So, remember when you were 11 and you were saving up for your first Samurai sword? Yeah, me neither, but Collin is determined to get one and is always thinking up ways to earn an extra dollar. He opened his own stand with lemonade he made himself (almost every "customer" as he calls them asks him if he made it himself).

Jon is obsessed with Gelato. And what better place to get a great Italian cup of Gelato, than at Gelato Cup in Chinatown??

They have a few of the usual flavors, and then ones like Black sesame, Taro (Collins fav), and Green Tea.

They have all sorts of tropical fruit flavors (the pineapple, passion fruit and guava are divine). They are famous for their Durian gelato though. I am very proud of my kids. They both tasted it and they both get un American flavors when we go there. I love that they try new things!

Summer also means swimming lessons . . .

Except that it is also the Monsoon season and the classes get cancelled if there is thunder! The rain also tends to dampen beach plans. More on that later.