IS IT FALL YET?
It looks like Summer is still holding on a little but not for long. I kept this part of our summer vacation for my September blog because this is the perfect weekend getaway if you're heading north to see the foliage. In August, after we left Quebec we stopped in VT for a night. There are so many neat places to visit in VT it was impossible to do everything on our list of sites to see but we managed to cram a lot into a very short time. We were surprised that Quebec had so many maple syrup products and that carried right down into Vermont. When we got across the border we came to a little town called Derby. This is one of those quaint picturesque towns you can only find in New England. Imagine a town green with a bandstand and American Flag banners. Everyone was so friendly. We stopped and asked someone where to find the best maple products and he didn't disappoint. If you are ever up that way you have to stop at Jed's. It has just about everything maple including their own homemade everyday soft-serve maple ice cream. We had some and if they put walnuts in it I don't think they ever could have gotten me out of there!
This little place is on a side street set in the wilderness surrounded by flowers and trees. It was so serene and beautiful. Everyone should know nature like that everyday.
I have wanted to visit the King Arthur store for as long as I've been married. My mom introduced me to King Arthur flour and I've never used anything else. This is a must see and return kind of place.
We arrived early and had breakfast. It was the most delicious homemade food we've ever had. And I had a cappuchino that puts Starbucks to shame. I wish we could have stayed for lunch but we just didn't have time.
I had to wait for all of the little kids to leave these cut-outs to take a photo. I only did it for blog purposes but it was kind of a good feeling to get out of my comfort zone for a minute and do something silly!
There are no words to describe this store. I can only say I was in awe.
And I bought A LOT!
I bought some yeast and pizza flour which I put in my freezer. In the winter if everyone's home and there's going to be a snow storm I like to make pizza. We make sure we have enough beer on ice and mugs in the freezer. We put on music and get the wooden paddle and pizza accessories out and make all kinds of pizzas all night long.
Ain't it the truth!
Next on the list was the Vermont Country Store. I used to get their catalog in the mail but I never thought the store was as big and beautiful as it is. I wouldn't hesitate to order anything for there now. They sell really fine quality goods.
The weather was fabulous and it was really crowded in the store but the cashier said that was nothing compared to the Fall. Starting in September the lines are out the door.
Yes, if you can't tell by now this was yet another eating vacation. You could eat for a month in this store. They have samples of everything out so you can taste them. And of course we did and the more we tasted the more we bought!
They have rooms and rooms full of the most wonderful things. Years ago I wanted a red checked woven tablecloth from there but it was too expensive. I saw the very one upstairs with all the kitchenware, linens, quilts etc. It was still too expensive to justify in front of Chris so all I could say was REMEMBER THIS FOR CHRISTMAS! I don't think he heard me because he's never heard that phrase in the 26 years I've been saying it.
I hate coming home after vacation. Wherever I am I always say "I could stay here and never go home." And while I'm away I really mean it!
Back to reality. I wanted to share how proud I am of actually making something that turned out to look the way it's supposed to! It's so rare! I'm really proud of this little quilt. I will share more of my little book of little quilts because it has adorable projects.
Never ever would I leave a post without some type of recipe to share! This cake was the highlight of the summer. It was so easy, fabulous and again looked and tasted picture perfect! I promised everyone I would make it over and over with every fruit that came my way. Sadly, time and my waistline are my enemy so I haven't been able to make it again BUT I will! Those prune plums up top are calling my name and they're telling me to make this cake with them. Stay tuned!
Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake
Ingredients
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- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 stick butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 peaches, sliced into wedges
- 6 oz blueberries
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Grease the side and the bottom of the pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom of a 9x3-inch springform pan (or 9 inch round cake pan) with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper too.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, together into a medium bowl.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugar, and 2 eggs until very light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes on high speed. Add vanilla and Greek yogurt and continue beating until very creamy and light in color, for about 1 more minute.
- Keeping the mixer speed low, mix in the flour mix until combined. Do not overmix.
- Transfer the cake batter to the springform pan. Top with sliced peaches, and scatter blueberries evenly on top in the spaces between the peach slices. Sprinkle the fruit with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
- Bake until cake turns golden, and the tester comes out clean in the center, about 1 hour, depending on your oven. Midway through baking, I like to put some extra peach slices and extra blueberries on top of the cake for prettiness, and return cake to baking.
- When the cake is done baking, let it cool (still in the baking pan) on a wire rack. After cake has cooled for about 40 minutes, release the cake from the springform pan. At this point, if the cake is cool enough, you can slide your hand under the cake, between the parchment paper and the bottom portion of the springform pan and move the cake with the parchment paper attached to its bottom onto a cake plate easily.
Finally, in Derby VT we drove past a prim shop. And we turned around and went back and actually went inside. It's called Primitive Place. It's in an old white house and when you walk in you're transported back to the long lost place we all dream of. I love everything primitive so I did buy some wonderful things. I couldn't resist this house. All I could picture when I was looking at it is how I'm going to love to see it lit up when the snow is falling outside my window.
And I fell in love with this pillow. So I brought it home and it sits on my bed and when I go to sleep at night...
I will dream this...
Thanks for visiting and see you in October!!!
