This was grandmum's recipe and it has won us numerous awards in
local competitions. Enjoy! (Now, start baking.)
PREP TIME 30 Min
COOK TIME 1 Hr
READY IN 1 Hr 30 Min
Original recipe yield 1 - 9 inch pie
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.
FOOTNOTE
Baking pie is a rather straightforward technique, but a few tips can only help to make your pies come out looking and tasting perfect!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
We Just Couldn't Wait...to Introduce the Next "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" Contest Couple
Since some of you have already been asking (and voting) for them,
here they are...
Ariana and Matt of San Diego, California.
These high-school sweethearts have been working at their blossoming love for nine years now! (WOW!) They are focused on their careers, each other, and on making this planet a better place for everyone. Matt cares about the environment and is a familiar face among San Diego city parks, while Ariana loves kids and is working to become a family and child advocate. They are hoping to put the icing on the cake with a wedding at the Hidden Valley.
here they are...
Ariana and Matt of San Diego, California.
These high-school sweethearts have been working at their blossoming love for nine years now! (WOW!) They are focused on their careers, each other, and on making this planet a better place for everyone. Matt cares about the environment and is a familiar face among San Diego city parks, while Ariana loves kids and is working to become a family and child advocate. They are hoping to put the icing on the cake with a wedding at the Hidden Valley.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Finding the Silver Lining in a Black Cloud
With all the dismal news pouring out of every talking head these days, we are certainly hard pressed to find any clouds that aren’t bleak. However, if we flip this economic downturn on its head, we may be pleasantly surprised with what we do discover. Now that the exotic trip to Cancun and the family adventure to Disney World are no longer a viable option, we are remembering what “family + vacation” feels like.
Gone are the days of cramped coach seating on a domestic airline; of fighting over who is going to go where and for how long; and of pinching the pennies while envying what the person next door has. Gone are the days of greedy consumption and over-the-top opulence. Gone are the distraction, the arguing, and the needless wanting. What remains is each other and the intimate moments that we spend together, in the here and now, making those memories that last a lifetime. After all, it is the laughter and the tears that cost very little in the making but mean everything in the long run.
At the Hidden Valley, we plan family reunions all the time. The trend that we are noticing today, as a result of this new “great depression,” is that what really counts is the uninterrupted time spent together in a private setting. At the Hidden Valley, guests have exclusive use of the entire 11-acre property for the duration of their rental period. During this time, they can take long walks together; bathe in the numerous bubbling stone fountains dotting the property; or, they can gather fruit from the organic orchard and then bake grandma’s special homemade pie in the privacy of a full kitchen.
For, it is never too late to stop discounting simplicity, and to remember what life was like before all of the iPods, X-Boxes, cell phones, and social media. It is never too late to grab a guitar, gather around a blazing bonfire, and share S’mores, jingles, and more. It is never too late to rewrite the story of your family and how you connect, outside of Facebook, myspace, Twitters, and Tweets. Now is the time to reclaim your silver lining. What are you waiting for?
"Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" - This Couple Does
The countdown has begun.
On Saturday, May 30th, 2009, the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa will announce the lucky winners of its "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" Contest.
One lucky couple will receive a 70-person dream wedding to be held on our historic property on September 12th, 2009.
In anticipation of what is to come, we will randomly be posting a short blurb about couples who have entered our contest.
You are encouraged to vote for your favorite couple by clicking on the "Comments" link at the end of this posting. Simply tell us why YOU think the profiled couple should win. But, no worries, this isn't American Idol and, utlimately, it is us at Hidden Valley who are choosing the winners. So, stay tuned, start subscribing, and read on to this week's couple...
Introducing....
Julie and Rodney of San Diego, California.
It must be fate for these star crossed lovers whose paths first crossed as sweet, innocent children. This random meeting became a consistent happening as they continued to grow through adolescence. Although the attraction was mutual and immediate, nothing more became of their young, developing romance. That is until 2007, when destiny bumped them into each other once again. This time around, however, the timing has been nothing but right. On January 30th, 2009, Rodney got down on bended knee and this local couple has known that it was meant to be from the very beginning.
On Saturday, May 30th, 2009, the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa will announce the lucky winners of its "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" Contest.
One lucky couple will receive a 70-person dream wedding to be held on our historic property on September 12th, 2009.
In anticipation of what is to come, we will randomly be posting a short blurb about couples who have entered our contest.
You are encouraged to vote for your favorite couple by clicking on the "Comments" link at the end of this posting. Simply tell us why YOU think the profiled couple should win. But, no worries, this isn't American Idol and, utlimately, it is us at Hidden Valley who are choosing the winners. So, stay tuned, start subscribing, and read on to this week's couple...
Introducing....
Julie and Rodney of San Diego, California.
It must be fate for these star crossed lovers whose paths first crossed as sweet, innocent children. This random meeting became a consistent happening as they continued to grow through adolescence. Although the attraction was mutual and immediate, nothing more became of their young, developing romance. That is until 2007, when destiny bumped them into each other once again. This time around, however, the timing has been nothing but right. On January 30th, 2009, Rodney got down on bended knee and this local couple has known that it was meant to be from the very beginning.
Experience Panchakarma with the Healing Gardens and the Hidden Valley
The Hidden Valley is very excited to work with the Healing Gardens, of Costa Mesa, California, in the deliverance of Panchakarma retreats. Stephen and Fiona Markowitz believe that this partnership will continue to foster Dr. Bernard Jensen's initial dream, - which was to teach others about a healthy lifestyle and natural healing techniques at his beloved Hidden Valley. The Panchakarma 5-day workshop will be led by a team of trained and talented Ayurvedic healers. Relax and unwind amidst the nature spa's peace and tranquility with sunrise yoga, natural foods, personalized therapies, live music chanting, meditation, and more. For more info on Ayurveda and Panchakarma, please visit: thehealingardens.com.
We look forward to spending the weekend with you in rest and rejuvenation!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
“Going Green” – What Does It Mean, Especially in Regards to Your Wedding?
When one of my dearest friends from college, a self-proclaimed “environmentalist,” informed me that she was planning a green wedding, I had no clue what she was referring to.
I assumed that what she meant was that she was going to recycle the wedding gift paper, along with the beer and champagne bottles, the day after her festive event. However, over the course of her year long planning process, I was consistently inspired by the depth of committment for the planet that both her and her fiancé embodied. Their story, just like yours, began with the proposal.
After two, happy years together, Joe got down on bended knee and proposed to Becca with a recycled pendant made by a local jeweler. As I have since learned, due to the toxic nature of strip-mining, investing in new rings is simply not a viable option for the Earth. Fortunately, there are plenty of eco-friendly options out there for those of you who do not want to forgo the traditional wedding band. For example, greenKarat (greenKarat.com) uses post-consumer gold and silver to craft new designs by hand, while Touch Wood Rings (touchwoodrings.com) makes handcrafted wooden rings specifically for you that will “delight your fingers as well as your soul.”
High on the excitement of “Yes,” the excited couple got busy with the nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty of wedding planning. The couple knew that they wanted to celebrate their life marker with a late summer Hemlock ceremony and down-home, country reception on the 110-acre property that Joe’s family has resided on for a century and where they, along with Joe’s parents, currently live. (Joe’s sister and her family live across the street, and camping on the land was an accommodation option for the invited nature enthusiasts.)
In order to announce the big news, send out a “Save the Date,” and keep wedding guests informed of plans, activities, changes, and more, Becca and Joe created a blogspot (www.blogspot.com). Aside from being informational, it was fun to witness the couple’s march towards their destiny, - especially since I lived 3,000 miles away.
In lieu of gifts, the couple asked for contributions to be made towards the sustainable home they are building on the family homestead over the next two to three years. Although the lovely couple simply stated that “gifts were not essential,” they also politely posted the names and websites of two companies, one a local potter and the other a local (and sustainable) home furnishings store, for those who were so inclined to purchase something from a registry.
Their 100% potable invitations arrived via snail mail according to custom (three months in advance). Both the invitation and envelope were made of post-consumer waste and had North American Wildflower seeds encased in them. Again, the couple posted suggestions as to what to do with the invitations: “ If you don't want to plant them at home, feel free to bring your invitation to our wedding. We will have a nice area (near our future house) where you can plant them in our yard so Joe and I can watch our love bloom year after year!” You can follow this link for more tips on recycled, tree free invitations:
www.formal-invitations.com/recycled-treefree-paper.html.
Here is where the soon-to-be-married couple became ambitious: the dedicated gardeners vowed to grow all of the food for their own wedding! From the cold-hardy veggies of garlic, snap peas, spinach and onions, to the tomatoes, melons, squash, and leeks that require a large bed, the diligent couple literally spent the year leading up to their wedding “sowing the seeds of love.”
When summer arrived, Joe built both the natural altar where the lovebirds were to speak their eternal vows as well as the outdoor barbeque where the locally raised hens were to be skewered. The fruits and vegetables were harvested, and the week leading up to the big event was spent together in the kitchen, - preparing the food for a new, growing tribe. As the blog stated, everyone was not just welcomed but needed. For a bachelorette party, Becca gathered her girlfriends around her and together they all baked her wedding pies. (Since, according to Becca, “cake is overrated.”)
For the ceremony, Joe wore the Scottish kilt that he has kept in his closet for years while Becca invested in an organic cotton, white sundress. For the fashion forward, there are plenty of eco-friendly, designer wedding dresses abound. Look for natural fibers, such as silk, hemp, and even bamboo, to lighten your carbon footprint. Conscious Elegance (consciouselegance.com) and Thread Head Creations (threadheadcreations.com) both offer a wide selection of gowns (made in the UK). For more help searching for the dress that you have spent your life dreaming of, check out this “Crafting a Green World” blog: http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/30/eco-bridal-diy-upcycle-or-handcraft-your-wedding-dress/.
For an event that is known for offsetting 14.5 tons of CO2, Becca and Joe’s simple yet thoughtful nuptials produced only ONE bag of trash. Although this is an extreme example of one highly motivated couple, you too can set goals for treading lightly on this planet, -the only home that we all truly share together. The key is to agree upon a “going green” value with your partner and then to discuss and brainstorm the unique ways that the two of you can do this together, such as:
• using one site for both your ceremony and reception;
• choosing an outdoor venue that does not need decorations;
• relying on local transportation and demanding (yes, demanding, after all you are the bride and this is expected of you, to some degree) that your guests carpool together;
• use only locally grown flowers;
• in lieu of gifts, have your guests make donations in your names to environmental or humanitarian organizations;
• hire an a cappella group that does not require amps or a blaring sound system;
• or make your own, individualized outfits.
What the current economic crisis, and other world events, are teaching us is that it is time to rethink and reinvent some of our time honored traditions. Forgot the fairy tales that you were told growing up and think about what you want. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: “What really makes me happy?” I think you will be hard pressed to discover visions of a $5,000 gown, a 6-tiered cake, and a 250-person party.
Rather, I believe that you will arrive at an answer that speaks of being surrounded by those you love, and those who love you.
After all, it isn’t a fantasy that you really want. It is a moment to breathe, to reconnect to life outside of the must do’s and gotta have’s, and to rediscover the connections that brought all of you together in the first place.
Own your wedding. Make it yours. Not Becca’s and Joe’s, or Cinderella’s, or Katie Holme’s. And, remember, it never serves anyone to compare your end results, - for there will always be weddings that were both better and worse than yours.
I assumed that what she meant was that she was going to recycle the wedding gift paper, along with the beer and champagne bottles, the day after her festive event. However, over the course of her year long planning process, I was consistently inspired by the depth of committment for the planet that both her and her fiancé embodied. Their story, just like yours, began with the proposal.
After two, happy years together, Joe got down on bended knee and proposed to Becca with a recycled pendant made by a local jeweler. As I have since learned, due to the toxic nature of strip-mining, investing in new rings is simply not a viable option for the Earth. Fortunately, there are plenty of eco-friendly options out there for those of you who do not want to forgo the traditional wedding band. For example, greenKarat (greenKarat.com) uses post-consumer gold and silver to craft new designs by hand, while Touch Wood Rings (touchwoodrings.com) makes handcrafted wooden rings specifically for you that will “delight your fingers as well as your soul.”
High on the excitement of “Yes,” the excited couple got busy with the nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty of wedding planning. The couple knew that they wanted to celebrate their life marker with a late summer Hemlock ceremony and down-home, country reception on the 110-acre property that Joe’s family has resided on for a century and where they, along with Joe’s parents, currently live. (Joe’s sister and her family live across the street, and camping on the land was an accommodation option for the invited nature enthusiasts.)
In order to announce the big news, send out a “Save the Date,” and keep wedding guests informed of plans, activities, changes, and more, Becca and Joe created a blogspot (www.blogspot.com). Aside from being informational, it was fun to witness the couple’s march towards their destiny, - especially since I lived 3,000 miles away.
In lieu of gifts, the couple asked for contributions to be made towards the sustainable home they are building on the family homestead over the next two to three years. Although the lovely couple simply stated that “gifts were not essential,” they also politely posted the names and websites of two companies, one a local potter and the other a local (and sustainable) home furnishings store, for those who were so inclined to purchase something from a registry.
Their 100% potable invitations arrived via snail mail according to custom (three months in advance). Both the invitation and envelope were made of post-consumer waste and had North American Wildflower seeds encased in them. Again, the couple posted suggestions as to what to do with the invitations: “ If you don't want to plant them at home, feel free to bring your invitation to our wedding. We will have a nice area (near our future house) where you can plant them in our yard so Joe and I can watch our love bloom year after year!” You can follow this link for more tips on recycled, tree free invitations:
www.formal-invitations.com/recycled-treefree-paper.html.
Here is where the soon-to-be-married couple became ambitious: the dedicated gardeners vowed to grow all of the food for their own wedding! From the cold-hardy veggies of garlic, snap peas, spinach and onions, to the tomatoes, melons, squash, and leeks that require a large bed, the diligent couple literally spent the year leading up to their wedding “sowing the seeds of love.”
When summer arrived, Joe built both the natural altar where the lovebirds were to speak their eternal vows as well as the outdoor barbeque where the locally raised hens were to be skewered. The fruits and vegetables were harvested, and the week leading up to the big event was spent together in the kitchen, - preparing the food for a new, growing tribe. As the blog stated, everyone was not just welcomed but needed. For a bachelorette party, Becca gathered her girlfriends around her and together they all baked her wedding pies. (Since, according to Becca, “cake is overrated.”)
For the ceremony, Joe wore the Scottish kilt that he has kept in his closet for years while Becca invested in an organic cotton, white sundress. For the fashion forward, there are plenty of eco-friendly, designer wedding dresses abound. Look for natural fibers, such as silk, hemp, and even bamboo, to lighten your carbon footprint. Conscious Elegance (consciouselegance.com) and Thread Head Creations (threadheadcreations.com) both offer a wide selection of gowns (made in the UK). For more help searching for the dress that you have spent your life dreaming of, check out this “Crafting a Green World” blog: http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/30/eco-bridal-diy-upcycle-or-handcraft-your-wedding-dress/.
For an event that is known for offsetting 14.5 tons of CO2, Becca and Joe’s simple yet thoughtful nuptials produced only ONE bag of trash. Although this is an extreme example of one highly motivated couple, you too can set goals for treading lightly on this planet, -the only home that we all truly share together. The key is to agree upon a “going green” value with your partner and then to discuss and brainstorm the unique ways that the two of you can do this together, such as:
• using one site for both your ceremony and reception;
• choosing an outdoor venue that does not need decorations;
• relying on local transportation and demanding (yes, demanding, after all you are the bride and this is expected of you, to some degree) that your guests carpool together;
• use only locally grown flowers;
• in lieu of gifts, have your guests make donations in your names to environmental or humanitarian organizations;
• hire an a cappella group that does not require amps or a blaring sound system;
• or make your own, individualized outfits.
What the current economic crisis, and other world events, are teaching us is that it is time to rethink and reinvent some of our time honored traditions. Forgot the fairy tales that you were told growing up and think about what you want. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: “What really makes me happy?” I think you will be hard pressed to discover visions of a $5,000 gown, a 6-tiered cake, and a 250-person party.
Rather, I believe that you will arrive at an answer that speaks of being surrounded by those you love, and those who love you.
After all, it isn’t a fantasy that you really want. It is a moment to breathe, to reconnect to life outside of the must do’s and gotta have’s, and to rediscover the connections that brought all of you together in the first place.
Own your wedding. Make it yours. Not Becca’s and Joe’s, or Cinderella’s, or Katie Holme’s. And, remember, it never serves anyone to compare your end results, - for there will always be weddings that were both better and worse than yours.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Did you say you’re getting married in Escondido?
With a name that means “hidden” in Spanish, Escondido is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. The region, located due north of downtown San Diego, occupies a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills. Incorporated in 1888, Escondido is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. Although Juan Bautista de Anza, a Spanish explorer making his way north in 1776, is credited with its founding, a Native American tribe, known as the San Dieguenos, first arrived into this region over 10,000 years ago.
With yearly average temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F or reaching above 90°F, the temperate clime allows locals and visitors alike to take ample advantage of the region’s cultural, historical, and entertaining amusements. It is here, in Escondido, where there is truly something for every person, of every age.
For the culturally minded, the downtown’s bustling Grand Avenue has experienced a contemporary renaissance of late. The doors of numerous cafes, restaurants, and galleries, such as the Minghei, have recently been opened along this busy, main thoroughfare. In nearby Grape Park, the California Center for the Arts awaits. A 12-acre campus, it features state-of-the-art theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference center. (www.artcenter.org)
For the history buff, the Escondido History Museum displays the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop, while the San Pasqual Battlefield commemorates the Mexican American war. The 50-acre State Historical Park boasts a Visitor Center, an amphitheatre, and a half-mile walking trail, all of which pay homage to the bloodiest encounter the American Army fought in order to win California from Mexico.
Hop on board the “Heart of Africa” safari at the world famous Wild Animal Park and take an open air tour around the thirty acre park where animals roam and fly free just like they do in the African Sahara. (www.sandiegozoo.com) If it is a free escape that you are looking for then check out Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. A brilliant mosaic adorned sculpture garden, it is located within the sprawling Kit Carson Park, and is the last major international work by French artist, Niki de Saint Phalle.
Right down the road from our historic ranch sits Lake Wolford, an angler’s dream. Stocked with Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Crappies, the lake offers inexpensive daily rates and boat rentals. (www.ci.escondido.ca.us)
With half a dozen wineries, two casinos, shopping, golf courses, the Mt. Palomar Observatory, and San Diego’s renowned beaches all within a short drive, Escondido, California is the ideal destination wedding location. And it is just a heart beat away from the thriving city center of San Diego.
With yearly average temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F or reaching above 90°F, the temperate clime allows locals and visitors alike to take ample advantage of the region’s cultural, historical, and entertaining amusements. It is here, in Escondido, where there is truly something for every person, of every age.
For the culturally minded, the downtown’s bustling Grand Avenue has experienced a contemporary renaissance of late. The doors of numerous cafes, restaurants, and galleries, such as the Minghei, have recently been opened along this busy, main thoroughfare. In nearby Grape Park, the California Center for the Arts awaits. A 12-acre campus, it features state-of-the-art theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference center. (www.artcenter.org)
For the history buff, the Escondido History Museum displays the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop, while the San Pasqual Battlefield commemorates the Mexican American war. The 50-acre State Historical Park boasts a Visitor Center, an amphitheatre, and a half-mile walking trail, all of which pay homage to the bloodiest encounter the American Army fought in order to win California from Mexico.
Hop on board the “Heart of Africa” safari at the world famous Wild Animal Park and take an open air tour around the thirty acre park where animals roam and fly free just like they do in the African Sahara. (www.sandiegozoo.com) If it is a free escape that you are looking for then check out Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. A brilliant mosaic adorned sculpture garden, it is located within the sprawling Kit Carson Park, and is the last major international work by French artist, Niki de Saint Phalle.
Right down the road from our historic ranch sits Lake Wolford, an angler’s dream. Stocked with Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Crappies, the lake offers inexpensive daily rates and boat rentals. (www.ci.escondido.ca.us)
With half a dozen wineries, two casinos, shopping, golf courses, the Mt. Palomar Observatory, and San Diego’s renowned beaches all within a short drive, Escondido, California is the ideal destination wedding location. And it is just a heart beat away from the thriving city center of San Diego.
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