Momma's Peach Cobbler

Momma’s Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

·      1 cup white sugar

·      1 cup SELF-RISING flour 

·      1 cup milk

·      ½ stick of butter (1 full stick, if desired)

·      1 very large can of sliced peaches in heavy syrup

Directions:

·      Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

·      In a large rectangular baking dish (15x10, for example), slice ¼ of the stick of butter and spread the butter slices in the dish.  Place back into the oven so the butter melts in the dish while you are preparing the cobbler mixture.

·      Mix together the sugar, flour, and milk.  Mixture will be clumpy, but try to mix until nearly smooth.

·      Remove heated dish from oven.  Butter should be melted. 

·      Open can of peaches and pour the entire can (including peach syrup) into the dish.  If it doesn’t appear you have enough peaches to spread across the bottom, slice up some of the larger peach pieces or open another can of peaches for extra.

·      Spread the sugar/flour/milk mixture on top, evenly coating the peaches and syrup.

·      Slice the remaining butter and spread on top, then place into the oven.

·      Bake 45-50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

·      Pull the cobbler out of the oven and set oven to broil.

·      Lightly dust the top of the cobbler with white sugar and place back into the oven, now set on broil.  The heat from the broil will brown the sugar.  Be sure to only broil for a 2-3 minutes, as the cobbler can burn very quickly under the broil.  Your oven might also get smoky during this process, so be prepared for your smoke detectors to go off!  :)

·      Remove the bubbling cobbler from the oven and let cool.

·      If you really want to send your taste buds into the ionosphere, top it off with vanilla bean ice cream when the cobbler is still warm.

·      Enjoy! 

Momma's Day

It's Mother's Day... my second one without her. I'm in Wasilla right now, relaxing on the couch with a cup of coffee and bacon sizzling in the oven.

Last night at the grocery store, I fought back the tears when I saw people walking up and down the aisles with their Mother's Day bouquets. For a split second, I had made the mental note that I needed to be sure to call Momma for Mother's Day.

This morning, I awoke to this thoughtful comment from a sweet stranger in Florida who found my "Memories of Momma" photo tribute on Instagram. My Mom loved angels, so it was especially touching that this woman referred to Momma in that way. Her words are a gift!

I can't speak for others' experiences dealing with grief, but for me, getting past the "firsts" has been the toughest. This year, my head is a little clearer now that I'm further from the fog of grief. And these little surprise comments — from strangers and from friends — sure help too.

Today, we baked a big peach cobbler, in honor of my Momma. Piping hot from the oven and smothered with ice cream, my heart was warmed with memories of her. 

Love and miss you everyday, Momma.  

HGTV's Living Alaska

HGTV's Living Alaska -- Now Casting!

Calling all Alaska realtors and homebuyers! HGTV's “Living Alaska” is looking for outgoing, outspoken, and enthusiastic people who want to show off their passion for all things Alaska — on "Living Alaska!" 

Have you recently moved to Alaska from the Lower 48, or are you planning a move to Alaska in the next 4 months? If so, HGTV's "Living Alaska" wants to hear from you!

“Living Alaska” is part travel show, part home show, showcasing all the wild wonders that Alaska has to offer. Each episode follows a real estate agent as they introduce home buyers to Alaska abodes and all the adventures that can come from home-buying in Alaska. 

Potential buyers should be from the lower 48 and in the market for homes that scream Alaska... from a remote cabin on a salmon stream to a contemporary Alaska home on a mountaintop... from a state-of-the-art island escape to an off-the-grid home on the outskirts of town that offers an outhouse as the “half bath.” You get the idea.  

If you’ve always dreamed of "living Alaska," HGTV is looking for you. To be considered for the series, simply fill out the casting application here. 

Realtors, connect with casting producer, Ronica Harris, at rharris@dorseytv.com.

I wish I had heard about this opportunity when I was planning my big move to Alaska years ago. What a fun opportunity this would have been. 

Good luck and happy trails!

"Memories of Momma" — A 71 Day Photo Tribute (Day 71)

MEMORIES of MOMMA*:

The date was January 1, 2016, and Mom and I were saying our "see you laters" before I headed back to Alaska after a 2+ week trip to Alabama. It was one of the best visits ever. Little did I know that just 10 days later, she'd text me about stomach pain, which eventually landed her in the hospital for the remainder of her life. On January 15, 2016, her two word text — "Come home" — prompted me to return back to Huntsville at break-neck speed.

Little did I know this would be the last selfie we would take together during happy times.

I still remember how her eyes welled up with tears at the airport when I left and how her hair smelled so clean, like fresh rain, as I hugged her tight. 

*It's Day 71, the last day of my 71 day photo series in honor of my dear sweet Momma who passed away on 03.21.2016 after a harrowing 71 day health battle. Those 71 days do not define her. Oh no. What defines her — and me — are the incredible 66 years that she lived her life. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of the beautiful moments and memories of her life.