Blueberry Blackberry Crisp with Hard Sauce

I have to apologize for my bad behavior. I have treated you poorly, lil ol’ blog of mine.

After months of no substantial posting whatsoever, I am posting a delicious, decadent dessert on a day that you are undoubtedly trying to shape up for your bathing suit. I understand, I’m right there with you. But I felt no shame in putting this rich, warm, bubbly, melty dessert in my belly. And you won’t either.

The crisp itself is yummy, but nothing spectacular. It’s the hard sauce that makes it. Get with me on this one, your thighs can handle it.

Blueberry Blackerry Crisp with Hard Sauce

For the crisp:
-1 1/4 cup blueberries
-1 1/4 cup blackberries
-1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch
-1/4 cup sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 cup flour
-1/4 cup sugar
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-1/4 cup chopped pecans
-dash of salt
-6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces
-1/2 cup old fashioned oats

For the hard sauce:
-1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, slightly softened
-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
-2 Tablespoons whiskey, rum, brandy, or your preferred poison (I used Jamaican rum cream)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine blueberries, blackberries, cornstarch, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Stir gently until berries are well coated.

In a food processor, combine the flour, the additional 1/4 cup sugar, brown sugar, chopped pecans, salt, and butter. Pulse until the crumb mixture is well combined, then add oats and pulse just until the oats are integrated into the mix- you don’t want them to get chopped up.

Pour the berry mixture into a shallow baking dish, and top evenly with the crumb mixture. Bake until the berries are hot and bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

While the crisp is baking, make the hard sauce. Beat the butter with the paddle attachment on your stand mixer (or with electric beaters) until fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between each addition. Once the mixture is smooth and fluffy, beat in the liquor until smooth.

When the crisp is done baking, allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes. Scoop some onto a plate, and top with the hard sauce. The hard sauce will start to melt, and it’s heaven. Enjoy!

Kelsey May

One Year Bebe

Sunday was our one year anniversary. Talk about a milestone, baby! I kind of walked around in a state of euphoria all day. Without much planning or effort from us, our one year anniversary date turned out to be the best date we’ve ever been on. Want the rundown? Of course you do. And even if you don’t, I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading and re-reading it when my mind is too old to remember it on its own.

We slept in, then drove down to The Woodlands for our date. We had lunch at P.F. Chang’s, and our waiter was totally the nicest guy. He was so excited that it was our anniversary. He had just gotten engaged, so we spent a lot of time talking about his future wedding, and about what’s gotten us through our first year. After we were done with lunch, our waiter gave us mixed berries and champagne (which, incidentally, was Luke’s first sip of alcohol, on our wedding day). So sweet.

Traditonally, a first anniversary gift is supposed to be of paper, so we gave each other cash. I saved the cash that I had gotten for Christmas, and we split it between us and went shopping. Luke got fitted for his perfect golf clubs, and we both got some awesome clothes.

For dinner, we went to Papadeaux, which is where we went for my birthday and for his. We’re creatures of habit. Our waiter, again,  was SO nice, and was also happy for us on our anniversary. Honestly, I had not expected people to really care that it was our anniversary, but they totally do. We were having a lovely time, Luke eating his lobster bisque and I eating my beefsteak tomato salad (which Luke was SHOCKED did not have beef in it, ho ho ho), when the table next to us kind of erupted in drunken anger. Apparently, the girl next to us, who was definitely intoxicated, wasn’t happy with her crawfish. The guy with her asked her to be a little more quiet, and she burst into angry tears. Then she went to the bathroom, came back and SCREAMED, “F*** OFF! F*** OFF! IS THAT QUIET ENOUGH FOR YOU?!!?” And then spent the rest of dinner bawling. I’m sure it was horrible for that guy, but for us, it was just kind of mildly amusing and weird. Once they had gotten their ticket and left the restaurant, the manager came out to apologize to us. We weren’t upset at all, and we told him that, and he said that even so, he wanted to take care of our meal for us. Um, what?! I may have started crying and shaking his hand. ha. When your marriage is one year old, and you’re poor and using your Christmas money for gifts and food, and you have just completed what is for most people the most challenging year of your life together, stuff like that is truly awesome.

And as Luke loves to say, “Here’s to at least… I dunno, 3 more years.” 🙂

Love, Kelsey May

Explanation for my bad behavior, and GPOYW

Wow, that was an unplanned hiatus.

I had so many big plans, including dressing Waffles up for Easter and putting him in a basket with colored eggs.

I still might do that, because honestly it doesn’t really need to be Easter for that to happen, am I right?

I can’t even remember the last time I cooked. (Luke, I’m Sorry!)

I started a new job, one that I am LOVING! I’m so busy though, and exhausted at the end of the day. So as soon as I get into the routine of things, I will start posting more.

For now, I’ll give you this, even though it’s pretty stingy:

I had my hair colored blonde today by a serious  hair genius. I’m way happier about it than I look in this picture… I’m really unsure why I look like that. Apparently, I can’t be bothered to smile when I’m taking a picture of myself to see what my hair looks like.

Anyway, don’t forget about me! I haven’t forgotten about you. Maybe some of you can give me some money, and then I’ll stay home and dedicate myself to yummy food and social networking.

I love you.

Kelsey May

days of yore

i’ve been a blogging addict for a really long time. in 2002, I had a “diaryland” online diary. this was before they were even called “blogs.” A couple years later, I got a “livejournal” online journal, because that’s where the cool people were. Then, in college, I got a “Xanga.” After that, it was wordpress which has been really good to me.

Anyway, all that boring jibber jabber was just to say that today, I looked at my old Xanga, and found this quiz that I had made up for myself to answer. I’m going to practice some vulnerability here and show it to you, but PLEASE. remember that I wrote this a long time ago. For real. Here Goes:

“everyone does these lame surveys on myspace, like “wutz ur fave color?” and “do u like sum1?!?!?!” so i decided to make one of up of my own.  it’s equally lame, but if you would like to fill out the answers and post it in your own xanga or blogging device, feel free to do so.

1. What shampoo do you use? -Redken “fresh curls”

2. What food, thinking back on it, would you puke your guts out rather than eating again? -Chili Cheese Fries from Dirty Martin’s

3. Even though you’re a really nice, self respecting girl, in what way are you a little slutty? -I really like to wear low cut tops.

4. Honestly, do you really like the crappy band U2? (if you say yes, your computer will be immediately detonated, so please answer properly) -HECK NO

5. Nicole Richie or Paris Hilton? -nicole richie

6. Chubby Nicole Richie or Skinny Nicole Richie? -umm, i choose chubby. i choose skinny. i choose both.

7. If you could vote for one person in all the world (dead or alive) to be President of The United States, who would it be? -Christopher Walken of course.  Oh or Kurt Vonnegut. I chose two, so sue me it’s my quiz.

8. We all have a nick name that we secretly wish people would call us, but nobody does and we’re too ashamed to bring it up with our friends.  What’s yours? -Lady Marmalade. just kidding. pocahantas. or tomcat.

9. Are you going to spank your kids? -probably, i am pretty abusive.

10. Have you ever met anyone famous? If so, then who? -Andy Roddick, Michael Phelps (sorta, long story), and myself

11. How’s your handshake? -Pretty firm for a girl. I’ve been complimented on it before.

12.  Do you ever make music videos? Do you have any ideas for a new one? -What a coincidence that you would ask that, random quiz! Yes I DO make music videos, and I DO have a new idea! it came to me this morning in the car, it’s to a gorillaz song.  Now all i have to do is find someone to cooperate and make this video with me.

13.  What commercials are the funniest? -The Sonic ones. “we just know that we like it, and that it goes well with the choc-o-late”

14.  If you were a Disney character, who would you be? -Well, i’d like to say pocahantas because she’s my favorite, but more likely snow white because i am just so obsessed with animals.

15. What makes you laugh the hardest? -there are 2 things: (1) when people fall.  sometimes i’ll imagine potential situations where someone in my vicinity could slip and fall, and it’s hard not to laugh even then. and (2) when my niece throws fits.  i dont know what’s so funny about it. ”

not sure why those were the things I wanted people to know about me, but here’s to keepin’ it real.

Kelsey May

GPOYW 4.20.2011

haha, wow.

don’t let this ruin your nap.

happy wednesday.

p.s. as i am posting this, i am simultaneously regretting it.

GPOWT 4.19.2011

true story: bunnies make a clicking sound by grinding their teeth, which is the equivalent to a cat purring or a dog wagging its tail.

they usually only make the clicking sound if you are scratching behind their ears in just the perfect spot.

Waffles clicks pretty much any time that we pet him, no matter where we pet him. but the other day, i noticed something i hadn’t noticed before:

i was sitting on the ground, a few feet away from Waffles, and he was looking at me, and i was singing whatever song was in my head. and he was clicking. making the happiest noise a rabbit can make.

so i stopped singing. and he stopped clicking.

and i started singing again, and he recommenced his clicking. looking right at me, clicking away as i sang under my breath.

i’m sorry, but how can you not be in love with a big floppy bunny that finds joy in the sound of your voice?

my heart’s full.

p.s. when i see this picture, all i can think about is when our friend Adam said, “oh look, he’s got a black side to his tail that he likes to show.”

nothing happening

Rockin’ the Suburbs

I haven’t been cooking anything fun at all.

I know you want to know why.

It’s because Luke and I are having a competition. We each have an allotted number of calories to eat each each day until the end of summer, and we have to keep track of each day that we cheat. At the end of summer, the one who had less cheat days gets $200 to spend on whatever they want, no questions asked.

When you’re married, you have to make sure it’s cool with your spouse before you spend money. Did you know that?

And counting calories really zaps the fun right out of cooking.

But as soon as I can get Luke to cheat, and get a few free days myself, I’ll make something yummy.

Until then, that picture of Waffles on the keys should tide you over.

Kelsey May

P.S. If anyone knows any really awesome, really low cal recipes… want to send them my way?

Love Birds Bridal Shower

Last weekend, I helped host a bridal shower for one of my old roommates, Allye. It was so fun! I have got the party throwing fever, now. All of the hostesses worked hard to get the party just right, and everyone did a wonderful job! I’m just going to focus on the dessert table:

Dani and I made these bird’s nest cupcakes. We used chocolate and french vanilla cake, topped with fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting, dipped them in toasted coconut, and finished them with Whoppers Malted Robyn’s Eggs.

And I also made white chocolate dipped Oreos. I kind of couldn’t stop eating them.

And these are the hostesses with the pretty bride! From left to right: Mindy, Julie, Allie, Allye, Amy, Allison, Dani, and me.

Now I get to start planning a bridal shower for my sister, Ashleigh. Wooo Hoo!

-Kelsey May

*All photos were stolen from Allye’s Facebook, but I’m pretty sure they were taken by Robyn Allison, the genius photographer. Correct me, either of you, if I’m wrong!

makes it all better

When I am done typing on my phone, I have a habit of trying to return to the home screen and put the phone to sleep at the same time, and I end up accidentally taking screen shots.

You have no idea how many screen shots I have in my phone photo album.

Today, this was my screen shot of a conversation with my co worker while she was on her way to work. Her response was, “oh yay!”

The moral is, it really doesn’t take much to make office workers happy. We like pastries. You’re upset, you think your morning is ruined, but wait… there are still pastries there? All Better!

GPOYW 4.13.2011

i’m so serious right now
(really, that’s as serious as I can possibly get for a picture that i’m taking of myself for no reason other than just to take a picture of myself)

p.s. all i can see is that tuft of misplaced hair on the left, and the eyebrow that needs a combing on the right. oh, and of course the ever present big nose pixie cut.