Peach Crisp

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Yesterday afternoon, Fox and I needed a change of scenery, so we decided to be really adventurous and go hang out on the bed instead of the living room floor.  We were playing with toys and books when Adam came home.

While we were catching up on the events of the day, we kept hearing this weird noise coming from the far side of the bed.  It wasn't constant, but happened often enough, that Adam went to take a look.  After going through everything that was by the bed, he determined that the noise was coming from inside the wall, and to be specific, behind the power outlet plate on that side of the bed.

I was totally freaked out, but Adam kept his cool and got a glass bowl and some paper.  He unscrewed the outlet and put the glass bowl over it.  Into the bowl crawled a GIANT wasp.  It was probably close to two inches long, and kept whirring around the bowl as it tried to fly away.

I kill insects in the house, if they are small enough (okay fine, Adam gets to handle anything bigger than an ant), but this one was huge and stings, so squishing wasn't an option.  I put on my bravest face and took it outside.  I carefully removed the paper from the bowl, jumping back as far as possible, and happily watched it fly away, all the while hoping that he won't be able to find our outlet again...

After that slightly traumatizing experience,  I am all freaked out about what is living in our walls (last year there was a squirrel)... For now, I am trying not to think too much about it.  I think life is better that way.

On a decidedly happier note, the last peaches of summer are on super big sale at my grocery store!  Some of them are lousy, but if you get a few good ones, there is nothing more lovely than a peach crisp on a fall evening.  This one is delightful, and very easy to whip together at a moment's notice.








Peach Crisp:
partly adapted from this peach cobbler

Peach Filling:
4-6 fresh yellow peaches, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp cornstarch

Prepare your peaches, and then put them in a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl, combine your sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch.  Pour this mixture over the peaches and stir the peaches until they are coated in the sugar stuff.  Pour them into an 8x8 pan (I halved this, so I used a smaller dish) and spread until even.

Topping:
1 Tbs ground oats
3 Tbs wheat flour
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp butter

Combine the oats, flour, sugar and cinnamon in another small bowl.  Chop the butter into small pieces and then with a fork or a pastry blender, smash it down in the oats/flour mixture until all the butter mixed in and each piece is not bigger than the size of a pea.  Pour topping over the filling.

Cover with tinfoil and cook in a preheated oven at 350°F.  After 10 minutes, remove the tinfoil and cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the peach sauce is bubbly.
So much ooey-gooey goodness!  I was scraping the pan to get the last remnants out... 


8 comments

  1. So scary about the wasp! Last night when we were getting into bed my husband found an enormous cockroach (when in the south right?) and I screamed super loud, luckily only one child woke up, and my husband flushed it down the drain, but I seriously feel your pain on this one! We also had a bird stuck inside our wall once in Provo! On a happier note, this peach crisp looks so delicious and easy! It's one of my favorite desserts so I'll have to see if I can find some delicious Georgia peaches over here so can recreate it!

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    1. We had cockroaches in Vegas when I was growing up, and I always felt violated when I accidentally touched one, dead or alive. They so nasty! I am grateful to live on the second floor here in Austin, because we have big ones here, too!

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  2. We were walking the dog a couple nights ago and saw a rat scurry away from the curb. My fiance made a comment about maybe he'd come visit us next, and I was like, "Nope. Stay on this side of the block, please." I had rats growing up (as pets, I mean) and as pets, they're fine and dandy, but a real, live, wild rat in my house? No thanks.

    Also, have you heard the This American Life episode about two cops trying to catch a squirrel inside someone's house? If not, go listen to it. I'm hoping your experience was not similar. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/115/first-day (it's act two).

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    1. Eeeek! I would NOT do well with rats... SO disgusting! I went on a study abroad in London, and we had mice in our apartment. A few times, I would be making toast in the kitchen late at night, and they would scurry across the floor and behind the radiator. I could hardly sleep sometimes, because I worried that one would run across my bed during the night. I hope the rats stay far away from your house!

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  3. Wow that looks dangerous! Totally need to stock up on peaches now!

    www.mylittlenest.org

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  4. This is like my favorite dessert ever :)

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  5. We were walking to our car this morning and in the air, smack dab between our car and our neighbor's was a huge (in my mind) spider. I walked around the back of the car to get in and the spider crawled under our neighbor's mirror as we drove away. The thought still makes me shudder!!

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    1. Gahhh! No bugs! Why did I move to Texas if I hate bugs?? We have the hugest bugs here, so I can relate! I have seen several tarantulas in our complex, and they make me want to throw up. I hope you don't end up with any in your car! That sounds horrible!

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