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.  

The Day of All Saints

Since losing my Mom in March, I have appreciated the gentle guidance of a page-a-day journal called "Healing After Loss." Today's meditation was on the topic of the "communion of saints" — the fellowship between the living and the departed. It was a fitting subject because today, the 1st of November, also happens to be All Saints' Day.

Admittedly, I never really paid much attention to this day of remembrance when I was growing up in the Deep South. It seems I was always recovering from the sugar high of Halloween or more focused on trading candy with my parents and my friends.

I'm thankful that today, my lovely friends, Jenny and Chelsea, introduced me to the tradition of All Saints' Day when they hosted a potluck in honor of the occasion.

Their invitation simply stated, "You are invited to bring anything to share which reminds you of those {saints} you love." I knew instantly what to contribute. That's right, you guessed it: Momma's peach cobbler. Other than that, I wasn't sure what else to expect for the evening.

As folks gathered together in the cozy space of my friends' home, we had a smorgasbord of memorial dishes laid before us — lasagna from a WWII recipe, mashed potatoes with a secret ingredient, broccoli and mayo, white chicken enchiladas, kielbasa in pumpkin porter, grandpa's pecan pie, grandma's peanut brittle, decadent chocolate sauce, and saucy finger lickin' good barbecue ribs.

We sat around eating and sharing our cherished memories and celebrating our Loved Ones. It was a deeply touching evening, one I hope to take part in again next year.

Here's to the blessing of shared memories, warm hugs, and the comforting presence of dear friends. May the memory of your Loved Ones be eternal.

Marvelous Momma

A mother is someone you laugh with, cherish, and love with all your heart. And here's wishing my Momma a sensational 66th birthday!

All the way from Alabama, she's visiting me in Alaska for six weeks, and today was the first birthday we have celebrated together in eight years. I'm so blessed that we got to spend this time together.

This evening, we went all out and dined at downtown Juneau's Gold Room, a fancy, old-school spot nestled inside the Westmark Baranof Hotel. It was a real treat - a delicious, relaxing, and memorable evening celebrating the woman I love most in this world.

Happy Birthday, Momma!