Apple Picking

So I was having a bad day, enough said. But Nanc is the perf pal and was like, "want to go apple picking?" yes. Because that's what you do on a perfect fall day, duh.

Also Nanc was a perfect wingman, because being me i totally couldn't help myself from climbing trees (how can you not?), and she was all, "hide! there's a truck driving by!"  

 We picked Cortland, a couple Macs, and Henry David or something (of the heirloom variety). Then we made Apple Crisp:

Or really Nanc made apple crisp and i peeled apples. 

It's really just peeled apples cut up with a heavenly cinnamon flour layer on top.

It turns out sour apples are the best for cooking, which was proven true by our heirloom bounty. While they were cooking mom was like, "why don't you make some of my home made hot chocolate and sit by the fire your dad made outside?"

It's good to be a Pappas.

So my mom went to the health raffle (i don't know the details or what 'health'), and won!

It's an ionizer.

me: what's an ionizer?
dad: it cleans things.
me: does it clean the counter?
dad: of course, it's an ionizer.
me: does it clean the floor?
dad: it's an ionizer!
me: does it clean furniture?
dad: it's an ionizer!
me: does it clean clothes?
dad: it's an ionizer!
me: what exactly is an ionizer?
dad: i have no clue.

actually no one here does, but we have one!

Meanwhile:

Some fucking delicious shit was concocted. If you think (or haven't yet experienced) just picked apples are delicious, try them baked with cinnamon. Throw some whipped/ice cream on top of that and it is "the shit!" Happy Fall y'all (ha, rhymes)!

Stew Season, Bitches!

Today the new Michael Chabon book came out, who is one of my favorites. I can't actually read this book until i finish the other two books i'm half way through (personal rules), but for some reason i still had to buy it today. Also i wanted to check out the bookstore up the street from my work, so bam. Then i walked back through the park, and i came up with a book called: Tuesday in the Park with Lauren (how original). It's basically just writing down my random thought process as I walk from one side of the park to the other, with some brief bench sitting action. Some spoilers are: The recipe for beef stew (no way!) and whether my parent's cat misses me when i'm away (i think yes, though she'll never admit it).

I'm dedicating this to Phil because he's a blog inspiration and my best friend (second to Harvey). And so i now present to you: BEEF STEW!

Because it's that time again folks! Also because LK texted me and was like... You should make stew for dinner. I would totally buy all the stuff and make it, but you're home way before me, so it just makes sense. Also make sure it has a ton of carrots. She did offer to bring home some really nice wine though, so cest la vie! 

So i called up nanc for some tips. Now i know what you're thinking, "You dad makes beef stew everyday during the winter, why wouldn't you ask him?" Well, the majority of my dad's recipes come from 3 places: Yiayia, my mom, and Old El Paso. Also mom picked up the phone first, so i just asked. 

Ingredients:

 According to Nanc you can use beef broth, but Pappas's usually just use water, because it develops enough flavor, and is official home made (OHM: for those in the know). You don't hAVe to use bacon, but why wouldn't you (that's how Julia did it). So chop some bacon and onions and let them sautee (which is probably the best scent known to man).

Mix some flour with salt and pepper and flour your meat! You can use stew meat or steak tips, or chop up some rump. Steak tips cook faster, but the other two are cheaper, so do what you will.

Throw them in the pot and brown all sides:

 What magic. Next: Wine (that's good, but not too good).

 Add the wine, and pour a little for the home team.

Add some water, bring to a simmer, cover, and wait. Forever.

I had a snack in the meantime, because i forgot to eat today. It's aged gouda and chianti salami, which might be a little bit of a faux pas, but no one here gives a fuck (me).

Then the meat will start to easily come apart. Cool. Add some potatoes and carrots because they're delicious. Cook until cooked (40min? less if cut small). Through in some frozen peas at the end if you're game (i forgot that part). Then:

Wha-la! It's fucking fall!

PFV: Finally/How Nanc Infultrated My Blog.

I don't how 'up' you are on my previous blog comments. I only know about them because i get emails. If you do go back and read the comments, then: Wow, you're a champion. If you don't then allow me to enlighten you on the title of this blog. On my last post PFV: Day 4 i was alerted of a new comment, which is super exciting for me. Imagine my surprise (eyes wide with hope) as i click on the blog only to discover that Nanc, under the name oldpappster woman decided to write an entirely new blog post under my previous one. And you know what? YOU CAN'T DO THAT. You can't just take over someone's blog because they're not writing it fast enough (maybe i had plans to, you know, actually make something? that's the point, right?). I mean, manners mom.

But you know what? I never thought to ask Nanc if she ever wanted to KaBlog, and maybe i'm the asshole (usually). So i'll cut her a break... this time! But i swear mom, next time just ask or we're gonna have words.

So here it is folks, the Pappas Family Vacation Day 5: Deleware.

I don't see an entry for Day 5.  (No shit.) We drove from Carolina beach to Lewes DE, just north of Rehoboth. The main reason we are in Rehoboth is not for the beach, as I would have hoped (never mind we went to three different beaches already), but for Lauren's passion, BEER. 

 So at 0830 LP is like,"Lets get over the the Dogfish Head brewery where we can sample beer all day (Okay, but really try to get on a tour. And they only give you 4 samples)! I don't know about you, but Oldpappsterwoman does not usually imbibe before at least noon (Uh huh). I am not especially good at these testings, mainly because I like to take the entire sample. ONe taste usually does not cut it. (I think this means she wants a full glass? No one can be sure.) So we head for the beach to kill an hour or 4. I am the only one swimming, but briefly while the others sweat it out in the heat (or wade around quietly in the ocean without taking up everyone's time by changing twice). We make it to Dogfish Head brewery at about 1200 (the tour was at 11am). 

So awesome. Everything here is awesome. 

I will make a note here and point out that I don't really like any of the Dogfish Head beers, either those that we tried at home, at the brewery or later when we had lunch at their pub. I don't know what to say guys, some people just don't know a good beer when it's sitting in a sample cup in front of them.  Since they make "spirits" as well, I decided that I would take a "spirit flight" with their Blue Hen Vodka (pure gasoline), Spiced Rum (what spice?), Gin (not a good mix with the others) and Vanilla vodka (OK, but I will take Grey Goose anytime over that). Those were whole shots ladies and gentlemen, but don't worry because it was after noon.  

They had this new seventy-five minute IPA (right) where they basically take 1/2 parts 60 min (left) 1/2 parts 90 minute (not shown) and cask it for a few weeks. It's delicious, if you want to know.

There food is pretty fucking awesome too.

I ate it all.

These were two of their other specials. The front one is a Belgium wit, and the back was called "Black and Red" and it's made with fermented grape juice (wine) and for some reason tastes minty (toothpaste-y really). This one wasn't my favs, but i could see sipping it on a cool winter's day. That's the thing with these beers, they're sipping beers. Also you should probably stick to one at a time, two tops. But we were in the brew pub, so i went cRAzy.

 Before lunch we try to change our Ferry reservation back to Cape May to earlier, but finally have to settle on a 5:15 PM crossing. What to do? Yougn pappas women (DPL and I), "Lets hit the beach, we want to swim! . Now as an old woman, it takes me twice as long to "zip" (there's no zipper) into a swim suit as it takes the young females who are only wearing strips of cloth. (Which, no. Also this statement was apparent earlier in the day.) My speedo (yup) was also wet so an inordinate amount of wiggling was necessary (no comment). When I got to the beach, I figured I had about 10 minutes to swim before heading back to the showers for the lengthy process of changing out of the suit and into clothes (fo r the third time this day) (On this day, August 30th, 2012 let it be known that Nanc changed in and out of her bathing suit on two separate occasions. Sound the trumpets!) and getting ready for the trip. Being so time conscious did not pay off as there was a line of women with children ahead of me and one young woman who stayed in the shower no less than 20 minutes ("I'm sorry, I tried to hurry"! as she steps out of one of only two shower stalls with hair combed and make up in place. Yeah right). That was pretty annoying, we didn't get to shower cause dad was flipping out about the ferry. I surprised myself and finished in 10 minuues. She surprised all of us. Both of the young Pappas females are not yet even at the showers and it is 4:45 PM (see.). Meanwhile Phil is literally broiling in the sun having opted to sit on a bench and wait for us, not a water lover, my old man. Naturally he wants to know why the girls are still in the water. (see).   "me no know Kingosaby". (<-Never.) So finally all together at last we head the 1/4 mile drive to the Ferry and miss the turn ending up at some state park. (Pappas style!) We get back to the block long entrance that no one saw and get in line behind the man of forty questions who just won't go. (Sofa King annoying.) We end up being the last of three cars on the Ferry. Whew! 90 minutes later we begin our final drive from Cape May to Chester. 3 hours for 140 miles and no traffic - home at last! (Longest part of the trip.) Amazingly we are still speaking to each other.Barely (DPL's words, not mine). 

Good KaBlogging Nanc. Well done. 

Anyway... of course i'm brewing beer. It's an IPA, and it's gonna be sick.

Barley Crushed. 

Grains steeped. 150 degrees, perfect.

Then i strained it, and got it all over the kitchen (sweet!) Then i cleaned the kitchen, and now we're entering the boil process. 

So this is the point where i hop this shit out of it, then basically let it cool, and pitch the yeast. You don't really need pics of that because it's pretty boring, plus been there, done that. BUT! i think i'm going to keg this one, so stay tuned!