Harvest Time

This year I am so excited to be home and living closer to my parents because they have this killer garden/orchard that gives them so many delicious fruits and vegetables. Right now everything is at its peak and I have been loving the chance to get to learn how to can, make grape juice, dry apples, make apple pie filling, and so many other things. My mom truly is amazing.....she has done all of this for years and it is such a valuable and important thing know how to do....it's kind of an art. I've also enjoyed just learning from her and talking with her, she is so much fun and I love her so much. My dad is so cute because when I come over, he's always playing with the kids and going out and picking all the apples, etc. while we are working in the kitchen, only stopping to ask if we need any more or if there's anything else he can do to help. The kids love hanging out with grandpa and I think both Eli and Mya can't get enough of the juicy apples from off the tree. Mya was chomping on a huge apple for the longest time and she actually ate quite a big piece of it. Eli loves to climb the ladder and be extra helpful, he's such a big boy :). So, this is what we've been up to lately, lots of peeling, coring, juicing, picking, etc. Love it! I'm slowly but surely building up a food storage, go me!

.You capture-Kitchen.

This is my first time EVER doing a photo challenge but I've seen a lot of my blog friends doing it and I thought maybe I should jump in too and challenge myself on a daily basis. This week at I should be folding laundry, the them was "kitchen" in the You Capture challenge and so here's a glimpse into what went on here in my ca-razy kitchen this week :)

I am a recipe freak and I love to collect, save, try, and keep any recipe I get my hands on (if it's good of course).....this is my recipe folder.....umm....there's a reason why you don't see a section for desserts, I have a whole separate folder just for them!! They don't get lonely though, I'm always digging in it looking for something sweet to make, we all have a sweet tooth around here! :) Oh, and I'm also a recipe book hoarder as well....they're just so pretty!

For summer I love to make frozen grapes for a surprisingly yummy and refreshing snack when I'd rather be eating chocolate. It saves my rear end from getting even larger!
I LOVE grapefruit, YUM!
Here's a couple of activities we do in the kitchen all the time....I of course have to have my calendar, otherwise organization leads to complete chaos, and then we like to play the "number game"....Eli's getting really good at it! It helps pass the time while I'm making dinner so they don't maul me for food.
Sorry, for some reason I went on a vintage kick for all of these! I don't normally do that in my every day processing so I thought what the heck, have some fun!
And of course, I always have a hungry face with their hungry eyes watching my every move...saying "hurry up mom, I'm starving! "
Then, if Im really lucky I actually get to eat too! Yay!! After everything is made, children are getting fed and everyone is happy, I get to eat and my kitchen wouldn't be mine if it didn't have my trusty lemon vinagerette that I love to eat on my salads. I owe my insanely fit and gorgeous to-die-for mommy bod to this amazing stuff....and then I get to wash the dishes, yay for me!

Farmer's Market

We LOVE the farmer's market! If you live near Fullerton, Ca you should definately go, I highly recommend it! Eli loves the "choo-choo" ride and there is some amazing food there! I have a bad habit of always getting the crepes there, they are to die for I'm telling you. There's music, lots of fun and Eli is also a big fan of the water fountain there. All the kids bring their swimsuits and run and play in the water. You'll see that I was not prepared and didn't bring his suit but he did not care one bit and jumped right in. He was soaked and we hadn't been there for 10 minutes. ha!  

Most of all, look at these fabulous colors, I'm drooling right now.

Sheepherder's Bread

My first attempt at Sheepherder's bread! My mom had made this while I was home for Christmas and it was soooooooo good so I thought I'd try and make it myself! 

Hello, Lova......Drum roll please..........

It tastes amazing!!! I just couldn't resist while it was still steaming and delicious. It's great with herb butter, jam, etc. 

If you want the recipe it's from Sunset magazine by Anita Mitchell....(I think) Yummmmm