Cherry Berry Apple Crisp

When autumn rolls around, I always look forward to once again be able to begin to incorporate cinnamon, cloves, apples and pumpkin into my baking.  Something about the savory spices and smells pair well with cooler weather and the shifting light of fall.  A few weeks ago I made this yummy dessert for my parents and a family friend.  It's simple, easy and delicious.  Preparing the apples is much easier with a corer/peeler contraction, like this inexpensive one I have from Bed Bath & Beyond.  (Adapted from the Joy of Baking.)  Enjoy!

The finished product - hot Cherry Berry Apple Crisp!  Perfect on a cool fall day.

Ingredients 

Topping:

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated white sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Filling:

4 large Granny Smith (or other firm, tart-tasting) apples - peeled, cored and sliced

1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries, raspberries and/or cherries

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon lemon zest

3 tablespoons white granulated sugar

Preparation

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in center oven.

2.  Butter or spray with cooking spray a 9 inch pie dish or 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish.  

3.  Place all topping ingredients in a food processor and grind until the mixture is crumbly and there are no large chunks of butter visible.  (Can also be done with two forks in a mixing bowl.)  Set aside.

4.  For filling, place apple chunks in a large bowl, along with berries and lemon zest.  Toss with lemon juice and sugar.  Feel free to add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Transfer to prepped baking dish.

5.  Cover apples with a layer of crumbly topping.  

6.  Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until bubbly and the topping is golden brown.  (If you insert a sharp knife into an apple, it should be tender but not mushy.)  

7.  Remove and cool for 30 minutes before serving.  Pair with ice cream or garnish with whipped cream.

The filling and topping about to be combined.

Assembled and ready to go in the oven.

Fall Fashion - Knit Shift Dress

Autumn is the time to dig out your boots, warm-hued clothes, cozy knits and over-sized scarves.  I've had lots of fun the past few weeks hunting for some new pieces and accessorizes to spice up my cold-weather wardrobe.

I found this darling olive green Michael Kors number and instantly fell in love with the brass toggle hardware.  And the complementing buckle and tortoise shell bracelets (found here!) complete the classic town and country look. 

 

  Unfortunately, the cut and shape of the dress did nothing for my frame.  Compared to the proportions of the bust and waist, the dress was made for fuller hips and more curves.  (The extra-small on the manikin in the photo was clamped and pinned in the back to gather up the excess fabric on the sides.)  As much as I loved the dress, I hate having things altered, especially side seems taken in...the finished product is never as flattering as finding a piece that fits well to begin with. 

Instead, I found this dark royal blue Cynthia Rowley shift that was a slimmer silhouette in the mid-section.   (Please ignore the suitcases and clutter in my spare dressing room!)

Paired with my calf-skin boots from Florence, Italy and beloved giraffe pendant necklace (a gift from a dear friend), I think it's a fun fall outfit to stay stylish and comfy on crisp days and cool nights.  

Sleeping Cats

And here we have the first of what will probably be way too many posts about my neurotic cats.  Hooray!

Tuna and Mahi are both approximately six years old.  They are equal parts mischievous and snuggly.  Their days usually consist of sunning themselves in a ray of sunlight, munching on kitty treats, batting around their stuffed mice toys, and sleeping.  And sleeping.  And sleeping some more.  Anywhere.  In any position.  For hours.

Tuna. Up close and personal.

Mahi sleeping sitting up.

 

Awake, doing their best siamese twins impression.

Pretty Lights - August 30, 2012

Last month I went to the Pretty Lights show at the Charlottesville Pavilion with two friends.   Pretty Lights is the musical genius of DJ Derek Vincent Smith.  His electronic sound fuses hip-hop, funk and soul through a variety of sampling and mixing techniques.  And the best part, is the amazing light show that is synched to the beat of the music.  

The crowds at these shows tend to dress up like day-glow hipsters.  Lots of neon, lots of tutus, bright colored leg warmers, rainbow sequins.  My attempt at fitting into the scene was a pair of neon green shorts, a bright orange t-shirt, and a vintage Chanel over-the-shoulder handbag.  Naturally. 

We had a great time, despite the tight crowd and the occasional belligerent teenage tweaker bumping into us and spilling a spiked drink.  Check out the Pretty Lights tour dates and grab tickets to see a show near you.  It's a ton of fun. 

Chunky Turkey Chili

I love chili.  A cup of it paired with a side salad can be a perfect lunch.  Or a large heaping bowl of it on its own can make for a hearty meal.   There are endless variations of chili.  Beef.  Lamb.  Vegetarian.  White bean.  Mixed bean.   Practically everyone has their own different tried-and-true chili recipe.  Mine is (in my totally biased opinion) quite delicious.   The added sugar and cinammon give it a unique taste that will have you craving more.  It's virtually fat-free, makes the house smell incredible while it simmers, and tastes even better when the leftovers are re-heated the next day.

My turkey chili.  The ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1  lb. 99% fat-free ground turkey
• 2  14.5 oz cans petite diced tomotoes
• 1  15 oz can tomato sauce
• 2  green bell peppers, diced
• 2  large onions, diced
• 3  tbsp chili powder
• 2  tbsp cumin
• 1 1/2  tbsp sugar
• 1  tsp cinnamon
• 1/2  tsp garlic powder
• 1/2  tsp oregano
• 1/2  tsp paprika
• 1/2  tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2  tsp salt
• 1 16 oz can kidney beans

      (optional)

• 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
• 1/4 tsp crushed red cayenne pepper

Preparation

1.  Brown ground turkey in a skillet.  Dump into a large stock pot.
2.  Add fresh diced green bell peppers and onions to stock pot.  Turn onto low/medium heat.
3. Add 2 cans of tomatoes (including juice) and can of tomato sauce.  Stir.
4. Add all dry ingredients (chili powder thru salt.)  Stir.
5. Bring to a simmer.  Cover and cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Drain and rinse the can of beans.  Add to pot, stir and simmer another 30 minutes.

The longer this chili cooks, the yummier it will be.  It will thicken once it is removed from the heat.  (To add a bit of extra spice, add a fresh jalapeno pepper or dried red pepper when stirring in dry ingredients.)  Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream and/or chopped spring onions.  Serve with cornbread or (as the English do) over a bed of steamed rice.

London 2012

Tower Bridge getting into the Olympic spirit. Taken from the South embankment of the Thames. July 2012.

Last month, I was lucky enough to be in London during the Olympics.  As I had been traveling back and forth to the UK quite frequently the past couple of months leading up to the Games, I witnessed little changes the city was undergoing to prepare to be the world's host for seventeen days.  Special immigration lines for Olympic credential-holders at Heathrow being set up.   Logo shops popping up all over town peddling London 2012 trinkets and apparel.  Pink directional signs installed in tube stations pointing the way to "Horseguards Parade", "Earl's Court", "Olympic Park" and a plethora of other event venues.  Road closures, detours and altered transport routes being announced to alleviate the traffic jams and chaos expected in the streets of Central London.
 

What I never saw were the massive changes taking place in East London at the Olympic Park construction site and behind the scenes as tens of thousands of volunteers and planners worked tirelessly to organize and implement what I think is truly "the greatest show on earth." (Sorry, Ringling Brothers Circus. The Olympics have got you beat.)  The amount of time and money that went into pulling off the Games is beyond my comprehension.   Reports state that £9 billion (that's about $15 billion) were spent.   The scale of the Games was gigantic, to say the least.  Here are some interesting facts I've dug up about London 2012: 

 10,500 athletes from 216 countries competed in 302 medal events in 26 sports.  A total of 8.8 million spectator tickets were sold for the 34 venues in use across Great Britain.

Construction of the Olympic Park began on an industrial landfill in 2006 in Stratford in East London.  Upon completion, the Park consisted of 600 acres and contained 10 venues laid out along over 5 miles of canals and waterways.

London 2012 boasted the largest and heaviest medals ever designed for a Summer Olympiad.  Each weighs 400 grams and measures 3.35 inches in diameter.  The gold medals consist of 1.34% gold, 92.5% silver, and 6.16% copper.  The actual value of the raw materials used to make each one is roughly £445 (or about $700.)

The Olympic flames was carried by 8,000 people on an 8,000 mile journey across the United Kingdom over 70 days.  The actual torch stood 31 inches tall and weighed 1.8 lbs.

During the Games on August 7, 2012, the London Underground clocked it's busiest day in history.  4.5 million journeys were made on its networks of trains.

The athlete's Village featured a dining hall that was open 24 hours a day.  2.7 million bananas were consumed there in less than three weeks.

BMW, the Official Automotive Partner of London 2012, provided over 3,500 low-emission diesel, hybrid and electric cars and motorcycles to be used as Games vehicles to transport VIPs, athletes, volunteers, officials.


I guess my fascination with the Olympics started when I was a child.  I remember being curious about the Olympic traditions and intrigued by the different cities which played host ever four years.  But more than anything else, I was (and still am) captivated by the athletes.   I grew up idolizing swimmer Dara Torres, figure-skater Nancy Kerrigan, the '92 Dream Team, sprinter Michael Johnson.  So many of them have remarkable stories. 

I went to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 with my dad.  (He is an avid sports fanatic and has also gone to the Games in Mexico City in 1968 and Los Angeles in 1984.)  We saw a wide-range of events including springboard diving, basketball, baseball, and a ton of track and field.  We were in the stadium when Michael Johnson on his golds and broke the world records in the 200m and 400m and when Carl Lewis won the final gold of his career in the long jump.  The energy in the stadium was incredible, and the memory will last a lifetime. 

This is me, 14 years old.  At a diving event in Atlanta in '96. Check out those cuffed denim shorts. Yikes.

And I was very fortunate to be able to experience the Olympics up close and personal again this past summer.  I had flown into the UK at the end of June to visit my boyfriend for a few weeks, when it became abundantly clear that I should extend my trip and stay in London for a bit of the Olympics.  There was a palpable excitement and increasing energy in the city in the days leading up to the Opening Ceremonies.  The eyes of the entire world were about to be focused on London.  How could I possibly fly out of Heathrow two days before the festivities began?!  One call to the airlines and I had extended my stay thru the first week of competition.  And I am so glad that I did.

 

Battersea Park embankment looking east down the Thames towards the Chelsea Bridge.  August 2012.

A few days before the Opening Ceremonies, I heard on the news that the Olympic Torch was due to pass thru the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which is located just down the road from my boyfriend's flat.  I thought it would be fun to see the flame in person (an estimated 14 million people saw it during the relay), and I was curious to visit the animal shelter - a no-kill facility that cares for 9,000 animals annually.  The event was open to the public with a suggested donation to the animal shelter.  When we arrived, all of the volunteers were lined up to greet the flame with dogs who were up for adoption.  English soccer star Michael Owen carried the torch thru the shelter and posed for some photos with a Staffordshire Terrier named Rory.

Olympic torch at the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.  July 2012.

In addition to his regular gig at Maddox Club in Mayfair, my boyfriend helped launch a pop-up beach club adjacent to the Olympic Park during the Games.  Located directly across the canal from the Olympic Stadium, it was the most amazing spot to witness all of the excitement of the Opening Ceremonies.

Maddox Beach Club Launch Party.  July 27, 2012.  Photo by Paul Khera.

Maddox Beach Club Launch Party.  July 27, 2012.  Photo by Paul Khera.

Open Ceremonies fireworks from Maddox Beach Club.  July 27, 2012.

A friend of mine had an extra ticket to a morning session of Handball, and she kindly invited me to go with her and her parents.  I got up and left the flat quite early, around 6:30am, to head to meet them at the Park.  Despite all of the fear mongering by officials about the gridlock that was expected on public transportation system, I found getting to and from the Park quite easy.  The most convenient route being the Victoria Line Underground to the Overground train to either the Hackney Wick or Stratford station.  We arrived early enough that there were no lines to get past security and in thru the gates.

The Park itself was huge.  It took more than half an hour to walk from one side to the other.  One of the aims of London 2012 was sustainability.  Organizers promised that 90% of all garbage waste created in the Park would be recycled.  Many of the venues were designed to reduce energy consumption and were constructed using recycled materials.   Some 74,000 plants, 60,000 bulbs, and 4,000 trees were brought in create several large green areas tucked amongst the buildings and waterways - it was the largest landscaping project to ever take place in the UK.

I had never seen Handball played before.  In fact, I wasn't even really sure what it was.  I thought the premise was throwing a small ball against the wall and hoping it ricocheted and hit someone.  (Think a mix of wallball and dodgeball.)  I was totally wrong.  It's a fast-paced team sport that mixes elements of basketball, soccer and rugby.  Played on a large hard-surface court, it was extremely physical and fun to watch.  Handball is one of only three Olympic sports in which the United States has never won a medal.  (The other two being badminton and table tennis.)  We saw two matches: Angola vs. Croatia and Denmark vs. Korea.

Handball Match at The Copper Box.  July 30, 2012.

After the session ended, we wandered around the Park taking photos and in search of some lunch.  By that time, it was terribly crowded and we decided to forego waiting in life for 20 minutes to get a sandwich.  But we did stumble upon the Today Show set, where US Synchronized Springboard Diving pair Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston were on-site after having just won the silver medal the night before.  We met both of them briefly (University of Minnesota and Duke alums, respectively) and even got to make a cameo appearance on the show.  Bonus!

US diving silver medalist Kelci Bryant on set of the Today Show.

The Velodrome indoor cycling venue.

Later in the week, I stumbled across two tickets for swimming on a resale website for US citizens.  I just happened to be online at the very minute they popped up, so I snatched them immediately.  Most spectators obtained tickets thru a lottery system two years ago, so this was a very welcome surprise. 

My boyfriend and I got to see several of the swimming stars of the Games, including Rebecca Adlington, Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, and the legend...Michael Phelps.  I thought the Aquatics Centre was the most atrocious-looking building...an architectural monstrosity.  The 22,500-seat partially-temporary venue cost over £215 millon ($350 million) to construct.  (Later this year the two side wings containing the majority of the bleachers will be taken down, leaving the permanent facility with a seating capacity of 2,500.)

At the Olympic Park gate en route to the Aquatics Centre.  August 2, 2012.

Men's 100m Butterfly.  Michael Phelps is fourth from the bottom, in last place.  He goes on to win this race.

Olympic Stadium and Orbit taken from the balcony of the Aquatics Centre.

When I returned back to Charlottesville and watched the coverage on television, it all felt a bit surreal that I was there a few days prior.  I hope that I'll have the chance to experience another Olympics at some point somewhere in the world sometime in the future. 

Welcome!

Welcome to The Ronda Report! I am so excited to launch this new blog. Check back very soon for my first post about the London Olympics!