Dutch Oven Cobbler

Dutch Oven Cobbler

Here is a recipe that has been floating around the internet, that I've used to make Dutch oven cobbler.  I've used it out on camping trips, and it's always been a big hit.

• 1 - (18.25 oz.) box yellow cake mix
• 2 - (21 oz.) cans cherry, peach, blueberry or apple pie filling
• The premium brands are better (less pits, stems, etc)
• 1 - stick butter
• 2 - tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)
• 2 - tsp. ground nutmeg (optional)

Steps to awesome cobbler:

1. Line oven with aluminum foil. 
2. Pour the pie filling in the Dutch oven, spreading evenly. 
3. Mix the Yellow cake mix with water, till it's a nice mixed consistency (not watery, though). 
4. Pour the yellow cake mix over the pie filling, spreading evenly. 
5. Cut 1/4 inch slices of butter and arrange evenly along the top. 
6. Optionally sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on top. 
7. Put about 20 charcoals on top of the Dutch oven and about 7-8 charcoals on the bottom. 
8. Let the the oven cook 30 to 40 minutes or until cake mix is golden brown. 
9. Checking it about every 5 minutes after 20 minutes.
10. Remove from coals and fire, and let cool.

Crepes

I've been hoarding a few recipes, which I need to share. This is an old recipe for crepes my friend Alex gave me long ago...

Mix/Blenderize:

• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• 2 table sppons oil
• dash of salt

Add for flavor

• vanilla
• sugar

Blenderize

Cook:

• on low-medium
• add more eggs for rubbery
• more flour or thickness
• I recommend using a crepe spreader/tool

Broken Adonis - Infested Venus

The political climate of the US is polarized into two sides.  The culture of America typified the election last year with two main candidates. One a self aggrandizing egotistical power hungry capitalist.  Who's attitude seems to have been distilled from the 1980's corporate hostile takeover culture.  The other candidate, who expressed progressive leanings, was more much more ensconced in obvious corporate catering (which is surprising to me, given the opposition's candidate) and had brokered deals with corporations and various back-room dealings.

In Portland, there were and are protests about the problems, and perceived problems that rack our governmental systems.  They system is doing ok, though bloated.  I'd be happy with some less federal government, less legislative power for the executive branch, and more states rights.

Duplo Drawbridge

We've been having much fun with the Duplo Castle we pieced together from a few years ago.  After seeing a cartoon drawbridge on the television, we were attempting to create a drawbridge. There weren't many options for a castle-esque Duplo draw-bridge.  I sourced a few Duplo Technic pieces (after finding out there were Duplo Technic bricks), and we have constructed a draw-bridge for the castle.  Complete with a moat for the plastic mermaid.  Andre especially enjoyed driving the tractor and steamroller on and through this castle.

Vintage Americana: Pirate Treasure Chest and Eagle with Shield

  

Last fall I bought a very used E.J. Kahn-esque pot-metal bank off of eBay.  We were looking for a bank for Andre, and growing up, my brothers and I had one of these banks which we used to store porcupine quills in.

The one I bought off eBay was very used, and needed to be repainted.  I stripped off the paint, and made due with a limited acrylic palette.  The bank came with an impressive and ancient copper padlock (with no key).  I fabricated a key for it.  The bank was dropped after a few months and needed to have the to of the lock hasp replaced with some wire.

Another project that I wanted to accomplish for Andre was some Americana decor.  I found this vintage Sexton eagle on eBay, but it needed to be repainted.  I busted out my limited palette, and some gold and silver spray paint, and I think it turned out alright.

Sunny and Frozen at the Ocean

We went to the ocean a few days back. It was quite cold, but we packed a thermos with hot water and had a rolling Hot Chocolate wagon. There is a snopocalypse happening in Idaho at the moment, with record snow falls. We visited during Christmas, and are now missing out on being buried in the snow. It was a wonderful sunny day at the beach.

We have a Toyota Highlander now.  2016 saw the end of the FJ season, but we enjoyed it while we had it.

Fall Reading

     Melissa gave me a new book for Christmas, Truckers (Bromeliad Trilogy Book 1) by Terry Pratchett.  John/Lisa also gave me Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen, nom de plume Isak Dinesen . I'm excited to read through some non-academic writing.
     I've been buried in various books and articles for the semester.  My reading for school included many tomes.  One of my favorite was the masterful volume, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul by James Smith.  There were many others, such as St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen, by William M. Ramsay. Backgrounds of Early Christianity by Everett Ferguson. Paul: A Guide for the Perplexed by Timothy G. Gombis.  Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World by Lionel Casson. Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind by Tremper Longman
     Included in my reading for school was a slew of reading for a theoretical thesis proposal, Image, Identity, and the Forming of the Augustinian Soul by Matthew Drever, Perception, Sensibility, and Moral Motivation in Augustine, by . Sarah Catherine Byers, a host of material from James K. A. Smith, including Desiring the Kingdom, and Imagining the Kingdom.  A few books on how to write, such as, The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods by A.G. Sertillanges. and Stylish Academic Writing by Helen Sword.  There were others, though they escape me now.