i miss DC

{the cake jamie and i made for Scott's farewell! it took a rest on the sidewalk while we waited for the bus}

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west virginia's been pretty tough this week - the heat and humidity, super tiring works days, some crabby coworkers, frightening dinners at shoney's!, and really missing home after being gone for almost 2 weeks. it's felt like forever! i cant even remember what my new room looks like!

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after a 6 or so hour car trek tomorrow, i should make it to DC mid-afternoon. im thinking iced coffees, manicures, movie, maybe laundry (i need to wash wv off of me!) and day of hanging tomorrow - what d'ya think? then grilling, shopping, swimming, and general M street love for the rest of the weekend...

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1 more day!

a tasty combo

past due pictures of our celebratory summer cake - lemon and blueberry! SO delicious.

{vanilla cake + homemade blueberry filling}

{vanilla icing flecked with lemon zest}

{jamie, icing away}

{extra berries for the top}

{the final product.}

my new favorite dessert

i should probably admit first that i was not the baker of these here sweets. i had my first taste a few weeks ago after jamie and i discussed how absolutely terrified we were to bring mountain dew in our house, let alone pour it over a dessert. we pressed on, though, and i have a new favorite evening treat - apple dumplings.

after our first try, i have been spoiled and sugar-hungry and have had jamie make them 3 more times to satisfy my whims. good friend, good friend.

{dumplings, pre-oven}

{(not so) secret ingredient}

{dumplings, just out of the oven!}

{warm and ready to eat}

Apple Dumplings (makes about 10 servings. recipe from The Pioneer Woman)

2 whole Granny Smith Apples
2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls
2 sticks salted Butter
1-½ cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Cinnamon, to taste
1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda

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::start by peeling and coring the apples and cut each one into 8 slices

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::roll each apple slice in a crescent roll and place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan

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::melt butter in a saucepan, dump in the sugar and barely stir. add vanilla, barely stir again - you want the mixture to be lumpy and grainy

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::pour entire mixture over apples then pour mountain dew around the edges of the pan

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::sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top

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top will be crispy and flaky, bottom - gooey and buttery, and you'll want to make these every week. ENJOY.