Sweet Cherry and Apricot Galette

I referenced this yummy dessert in my Instagram the other day. And now, I give you the official recipe post. Oh boy, is this the perfect Summer dessert! One thing I love the most about making a galette, is that it is so incredibly easy. For those who are scared of making a pie, or who don't have a pie plate, this free-form pie is an easy solution.

 I just love the colors that come from the combination of apricots and cherries. The bright orange, the deep red! People always say that you eat first with your eyes and this galette is a perfect example of that fact. Don't these pictures just make you salivate?

You must make this soon. Cherries are only in season for a short while longer and you can't miss out on the wonderful flavors to be had!

Sweet Cherry and Apricot Galette
(adapted from Natasha's Kitchen)

Ingredients:
1 lb. apricots, sliced
2 cups cherries, pitted
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbs. unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 pie crust (store bought or this favorite recipe)
1/4 cup milk
sugar, for sprinkling on crust

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the apricots and cherries in a bowl with the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and almond extract.
3. Roll pie crust out onto parchment paper and place on sheet pan.
4. Pour fruit mixture into middle of pie crust, leaving about a 2 inch border on all sides.
5. Fold pie crust over fruit and pinch to seal. Brush milk on pie crust edges and sprinkle sugar on top.
6. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes, or until crust turns golden brown and the fruit juices are syrupy. 
7. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving!

5 months {Jessica}

Well, another month has come and gone. Jessica is a such a ray of sunshine for our lives.
This month's photoshoot just happened to coincide with the 4th of July, so our little girl is very festively dressed for the occasion. We took her outside and got some pictures with the "Red Jeep" that's been in Michael's family for years and that he and his Dad fixed up a few years ago. It's a bit of a tradition. Can't wait until she is old enough to take a ride in it!

Enjoy the cute pictures of our "little muggins" as we like to call her!

Exciting updates:

Jessica has started to shake her head back and forth throughout the day. She's all smiles while she does it. I guess I tend to shake my head back and forth when I play with her and make funny sounds to get her to laugh, so I'm assuming she's picked up on this and is imitating me! Just a sign that children are always watching you!

She likes to hold my finger while nursing. Some babies, I've heard, like to grab onto their mother's shirts or necklaces, but Jessica always wants to hold my finger in her little hand. If I take my hand away where she can't grab it, she will reach up for it until I put it back where she can grasp onto a finger. She loves affection, that is for sure!

Jessica is still a wonderful sleeper, babbling to herself as she goes to sleep and when she wakes up. It's the cutest thing...ever.

She gets so enthusiastic during her bath time, kicking her legs and flailing her arms around. Things are starting to get very wet as she splashes about! Her favorite thing is the blue cup we use to rinse her off with. She reaches for it and wants to hold it (and chew on it) the entire time.

Jessica has started solids! We gave her her first rice cereal and she looked at us like, "What is this stuff? You have tainted my favorite thing to eat (breastmilk)!" She would almost shiver after taking spoonfuls in her mouth. Haha. But, I think she'll get the hang of it and enjoy veggies and fruits once we get to those.

We now go on walks almost every morning, around our neighborhood. We both enjoy taking in all the sights and sounds and Jessica usually falls asleep in the stroller by the end. I guess I'm a soothing stroller pusher!

We always get so many compliments on how cute and sweet she is. Just the other Sunday, a sister in our ward must've said how cute she was at least a dozen times in our conversation. She asked me, "(With a baby that cute) How do you get anything done during the day?" I jokingly told her I don't usually get too much done, and she said, "Good!" This same lady also made the gesture of squeezing Jessica when she talked about her. It's true. We love to hug, kiss, and squeeze her all day long.

Rule #6

Please be considerate of other's time when holding a meeting. It's important to keep in mind for one time meetings and doubly important for regularly occurring meetings.

You may enjoy flapping your mouth talking about everything under the sun but other people don't care what you have to say. If there's no business to be conducted, be considerate that other people would like to reclaim that time to go be productive.

Rule #5

Don't inch out.

When exiting a parking lot or anytime you're attempting to make a left turn onto any street. Stay far enough behind so anyone turning right can see around you. Sure it's tempting as you see traffic clear up and you think you may see an opportunity, don't fall into the trap of letting your foot off of the brake if you don't really intend on going. Because what happens is when you release your foot off of the brake, your automatic transmission in your car is going to inch you forward and you risk receiving the wrath of the driver turning right because you keep blocking his view with your car.

Rule #4

Don't lead out!

When making a left turn don't lead out into the intersection. Stay behind the solid white line until the intersection is clear for you to make your turn. By staying behind the line you gain greater visibility down the road to know when it's clear for you to make your turn. If you lead out then it blocks the vision of the person across from you who is turning left. Also you never know when emergency vehicles will come through an intersection and by not leading out, you're keeping the intersection clear and keeping you safe from any speeding vehicle.