Cool .... Tuesday

It  was a beautiful day today- Hurricane Edouard brought us some more beautiful clouds and almost 10 degree cooler than it had been forecasted - so for those of you not in Texas - 95 degrees and clouds is so nice compared to 105 and no clouds.  It was beautiful. 

Yesterday Rachel had a play date with a best friend - they were in preschool together when they were 3 years old - so they've known each other for four years now and have a super time together. Yesterday they were playing in H & G's pool.  They loved it and had a super time! Thanks H&G!

The children had a play date  today with friends that were siblings - it's very handy when Patrick has a friend  that has a little sister - so Rachel has  a ready made friend.  This one was a bit tough - b/c the friend's sister is only five - and it seems that there is more than 2 years separating 5 & 7 years old.    It worked out in the end.  

The garden is looking good - the purple cone flower is trying to survive in spite of the bunnies - check  out this picture. 

I should have taken a picture of the chicken Parmesan before dinner - but this is all that was left!  It will make a nice lunch for me tomorrow.  :) 

The children and I made an Mennonite Dessert recipe I found on another blog.  I had some strawberries and the timing was perfect.  I forgot the 1/3 cup of sugar you were supposed to put over the fruit and it still came out pretty good.  

Fruit Platz  (pronounced ploats)   

You can use any fruit you want - I want to do it with blueberries next!

Base Layer:

1/2 cup softened butter ( no oil)

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup cream or milk

pinch of salt

Fruit Layer:

enough fresh or frozen fruit to cover base layer

1/3 cup sugar (1/2 cup if using rhubarb)

Top Layer:

1/2 cup softened butter (no oil)

1 cup flour

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 *F.  Mix the base layer and spread out with your hands in the bottom of a 10x15 pan.  Spread your fruit on top (I used 1 1/2 pounds fresh sliced strawberries)  and evenly sprinkle the sugar on top.  Mix the top layer with a fork till it is very crumbly, and spread over the top of the fruit.  Bake for 35-40 minutes.  It's great with ice cream - but a whipped topping would be good too.  :)