Taking the Mickey out of Becca

My sister recently returned home after six weeks at Governor's School which took place at Meredith, in Raleigh. While she was there, she found herself in the company of several students who she had made friends with the summer prior at Summer Ventures. Among those people was one very special person (to her) - the one she's liked since Summer Ventures: Jacob. Through the course of the past six weeks, she found out that they've both liked each other since last summer and were too shy to tell each other. Well, now they know and they are currently in that inbetween stage - between friend and friendlier. They aren't exactly boyfriend and girlfriend, but they're heading in that general direction. He's a good kid (kid, ha! He's 17!) and he's well-mannered, smart, good-looking (in a geeky-sort-of way), and mature. The reason I am telling you all about this is because for the past six weeks I and a little before, I have been milking all of the embarrassment out of Becca that I can. She is so funny! Mention his name, and then she gets all quiet and this silly grin spreads across her features. Mention his name like I do (intentionally confusing it with Joseph or Jason) and she goes all red and babbles incoherently. I'm am having so much fun! See, she's never really liked anyone that I could tease her about. Me, on the other hand, I've been teased to no end about Sean Bean and Johnny Depp. (But none of it has weakened my devotion to either of them). Now, I have excellent fodder for her embarrassment. I can't wait until Kim's Bridal Shower, because I hope that Kim teases Becca just as much (and maybe more) than I have. I'm not being mean, or going out of my way to torment my little sister. I only tease those that I love, and what I do is nothing compared to my Mom - you should see her take the mickey! Ah! She just came in the door, time to get back to work!

(PS - Taking the mickey means taking the piss or teasing someone)

Apple Crisp

I just made the best apple dessert that I have ever tasted. I don't mean to brag (well, only a little), but it was good. So, I thought that I'd share the recipe. Since I have combined several recipes and substituted several things and added others, I think it's fair to call it:

Jessica's Apple Crisp

4-6 cups peeled and sliced apples (I used homegrown crabapples, but anything with a bit of tartness, like a granny smith)
1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark, no biggie)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp lemon juice

Peel and slice the apples into chunks about thumb-size. Place the sliced apples in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice. In another bowl, combine the cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour this dry mixture into the apples and mix thoroughly. Pour the apples into a 8-9" square glass baking pan. Set aside.

For the crisp:

1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter

Combine all of the above ingredients, mashing the butter into the dry stuff with a fork, until the mixture resembles pea-sized clumps. Pour this on top of the apples in the baking dish and pat it down flat, so that it covers the apples. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 35-40 minutes. Let it cool about half an hour (the idea is to serve it warm) and then serve. Serves about 6.

If you try it and don't like it, that's your problem. I loved it, and my family loved it.