Thursday, July 31, 2008

HE'S BAAACK!


Keith is home! He arrived yesterday by private jet. A wealthy friend of theirs in town 
heard about the potential hardship for him to fly on Alaska Airlines without being 
able to lower his legs. They offered to have a jet stop by in Seattle and pick him up 
on the way from California. Another answered prayer!

The Care-A-Van in town picked him up right on the tarmac and carefully 
lowered him right onto his driveway. The tricky part was how to get him up 
all the stairs into the 2 story house though. My sister is on the Mt. Search 
and Rescue team here and they came over with the stretcher they use to carry 
injured people down off the mountains. They put Keith in it and 6 guys carried 
him right over the top of the railing up into the house. It was perfect!

THANK YOU LORD



We have wild blueberries growing all over this island that are ripening this month. 
This is one of my favorite recipes that I wait to make until I have fresh blueberries. 
This is so good though, that sometimes I will even pay the $$$$ to buy them from 
the store so I can make a batch!

Lots of good stuff in here--apples, blueberries, oatmeal--they almost qualify as a 
breakfast bar. They are pretty easy to make and other than the blueberries I usually 
have everything I need already in the cupboard (a big bonus in my book!)

Give yourself some time before serving these after they are made if you want them 
to be cookie bars, as they do need a few hours to set up and let the flavors blend. If 
you want to serve them more like a cobbler, they are delicious warm from the oven 
with a scoop of vanilla ice cream--yum!




APPLE BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

BOTTOM LAYER
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar-packed
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1  1/2 sticks butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a large bowl 
combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the 
melted butter and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Press this mixture 
into the bottom of the pan making sure it is flat and even.

MIDDLE LAYER
2 cups blueberries
3 generous cups chopped apples (approx 5 small)
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Place blueberries and apples in bowl. Add sugar, flour and spices--
mixing gently until well combined. Pour evenly over the first layer.

TOP LAYER
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter

Place all ingredients in a bowl and combine thoroughly with a pastry 
blender, fork or your fingers until the mixture resembles large crumbs. 
Sprinkle evenly over the middle layer.

Bake on middle rack of the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then 
lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 25-35 
minutes until the top is golden and looks kind of "dry"  You don't want 
the edges to get too dark. Cool in pan on a wire rack. You can serve warm 
by scooping into bowls or let it cool completely and serve cut into bars.

Store remaining bars in a cool place or refrigerate. Bars may be individually
wrapped and frozen.


10 comments:

Niki said...

How wonderful he is home! I'm sure you're all so excited to have him home!

Oh Kris that recipe looks too good.
I'm trying to slim down, but I may have to make it for the family and just have a wee little piece :)

Caution/Lisa said...

Isn't God good??
*****
I keep saying I'm going to make your recipes, but I never do!! Maybe I'll make that a goal for August. What that means for you is that you need to publish the most simple, cheapest recipe you own :)

Laura ~Peach~ said...

lol I DO make her recipies and lemmie tell you DROOL.... I am absolutely gonna have to do this one when blueberries make it shipped way down here... have mercy I am drooling thinking about it LOL

I am so happy to see that your brother made it HOME wow what an amazing trip and wonderful answer to prayers!

Debbie in CA : ) said...

What GREAT news!!! I got teary eyed at the way our Father provided every accommodation (private jet ... pretty nice). What a blessing to be in prayer with you. I know there is LOTS more prayer needed ahead as he recovers. You can count on me in the on-my-knees department.

As for that yummy recipe, I'm on my way to the market today so I will be shelling out the dough for the berries, as usual, (I eat them by the handfuls -- great tasting and GOOD FOR US!) and treat my family to this scruptious treat. I have two bushes of my own but the birds always beat me to them. Thanks for sharing!

Can't blab on as I have lots of Friday fun to get to.

XO~~ Debbie

Grandma Tillie's Bakery said...

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Remember--blueberries have more antioxidants than just about everything (except dark chocolate) so you NEED to make these just to keep your family healthy LOL

Kris

Anonymous said...

That's sooooooo cool about Keith! Love the "rescue!"

I have blueberries. Need apples. Who am I kidding? I will just eat the blueberries before I ever get the apples. I'm sorry Kris, I do cook. It's the baking thing that gets me! I want to be more like you! I do! On second thought... raw blueberries are calling me......

(the recipe looks really good though! I usually share your recipes with my mom and she makes them! haha)

Grandma Tillie's Bakery said...

What a great idea Pam! Just print out a recipe and hand it to Mom--voila! Insta-treats LOL

Kris

The Stricklands said...

What a blessing for Keith to finally be home - such an ordeal! God is so good to provide for all of our needs, big or small. I went to my cheap grocery store today to buy apples to make your newest yummy creation, and they were OUT of apples! How does that happen? I will make another trip tomorrow so that I can treat all of us to a special dessert after church.

We continue to marvel at all of the beautiful pictures and posts from Alaska. Molly is still telling people that she has a "best friend" who sent her pictures of bears :0)

Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary

Anonymous said...

Dear Kris ~

This is wonderful news! It must be so exciting for all you to have him home and I'm sure he is so glad to be home!! God is so good to provide in such wonderful ways!

Your recipe looks so delicious! We love blueberries and they are so good for you!! I can't wait to try this ~ I know my husband would love it!

Have a great weekend,

Sharon

Janette said...

Welcome home to Keith. I will relate his happy and helpful homecoming to the group of ladies I asked to pray for him. We will continue our prayers though- recovery is a long road. I well know.
Otherwise----my mouth is watering!