Tomato Cobbler

 Fresh garden tomatoes from Grandma,

 Smashed black peppercorn,

 Carmelized onion that Grampa grew, put it all together and what do you get?  The most fabulous fall meal!

I found this recipe at Lottie + Doof and it is so good! 

Cherry Pie Filling

I was lucky enough to know someone with a cherry bush in their backyard and score some of these beauties!  These cherries weren't incredibly sweet, even though my little one ate an entire pie worth of the branches, so I made pie filling.  

Pick cherries leaving stems attached.  This slows the oxidizing process.  Pit and treat for darkening.  I used Ball Fruit-Fresh produce protector.  

Combine cherries, (I had about 6 cups), 2T. lemon juice, 1t. almond extract, 3c. sugar, and 4c, water (I used the water cherries were sitting in) in large pot.  Heat until just bubbly.  Next... I didn't really measure, so keep adding until it suits your taste:) Nutmeg, cinnamon and cornstarch mixed in cool water.  Add until you get your desired consistency.  Heat again until bubbly.  

You can use this in fresh pie, but I chose to can for later.  

Pour hot filling into clean, hot jars.  Remove air bubbles, adjust lids, water bath for 40 minutes (at 4,000 feet).  

Rainbow Layer Cake

I guess I was feeling pretty ambitious for a 1st birthday, but you only get them once right?  This cake was stunning, but really pretty simple.  All you need is 3 white cake mixes, food coloring gel, and time.  Let me emphasize TIME.  This wasn't a quickie the morning of.  Nope, I started this tower a full week before the party.  So plan ahead.


Mix cake mix according to the directions.  Divide in half and add a different color to each.  Bake, cool, cover in plastic wrap and freeze.  Repeat with each cake mix. 


Remove cake from freezer when you are ready to frost.  This part I did the day of.  Stack each layer with frosting between each layer.  I learned during this project that a crumb coat is really important.  Cover the entire cake with a layer of frosting and let it harden.  Then cover with a second layer, decorate as desired.  If you don't cover with a crumb coat, you will have rainbow crumbs all over the outside of the cake.  Trust me, do it.  


I'm not a professional cake maker like my Aunt Darla, but for one of my first, I think I did alright.  Baby loved it!