Hiking for Aunt Amy's Apple Pie

Tallulah Falls

This past weekend, Nathan and I took full advantage of the great fall weather, the leaves changing colors, and the start of apple season.  We drove about an hour north to hike the Tallulah Falls Gorge and made a quick stop at an apple orchard on our way back (see below for the results of our pit stop..and get the recipe).

I have to admit, I stole this pic (but only this one)  from the website...http://www.tallulahfallsgeorgia.org/

I don't think this even begins to show how steep this gorge is...

Tallulah Gorge was awesome, but not what we expected at all.  It's a 1,000 foot gorge with a big waterfall and a two mile river running through it.  I've hiked a few different falls in North Carolina, so I thought I was prepared for this. Wrong again.  I'm used to hiking on actual trails.  I'd say Tallulah is more climbing than hiking.  You start by descending about 1,000 stairs into the gorge.  Once you're in the gorge, there isn't really a trail.  You climb up and over boulders for about a mile and a half until you reach the slippery rock (or sliding rock).  Once you've reached slippery rock, you can either turn back and go back the way you came or wade across the river and hike up the gorge instead of using stairs.  

Being the adventurers that we are, we decided to cross and climb.  Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about a workout!  It took us 4 hours to hike about 3 miles. I definitely couldn't have done this without Nathan.  There were plenty of times where he had to give a boost or hold my hand (or foot) so I wouldn't slip.  We were exhausted by the end, but it was totally worth it.  We got to experience a stunning piece of God's masterpiece/creation and got to enjoy some quality time outside with each other.  We will definitely be doing this again...after my legs recover!

he just couldn't resist climbing it...

the suspension bridge

didn't see this until after we climbed back up...

We were trying to think of what to do the rest of the day (besides watching the Gators whoop up on South Carolina).  Since we would be passing right by an orchard on the way home, we thought what better way to end the day than with a home made apple pie?  

My Aunt Amy makes the world's best apple pie....seriously.  She makes it every Thanksgiving, and no matter how much I've stuffed my tummy with that day, I can ALWAYS make room for her apple pie.  I just can't help it.  When I told my dad we were going to make it I think he seriously considered driving up here for a slice.  Ok, maybe not, but I know he wanted to.  I still think my aunt makes it better (it's got to be all the love she puts into it), but I think ours turned out pretty darn good too! 

After watching the glorious Gator game, we made this yummy creation.  Thanks Amy for sharing your amazing recipe.  We think of you every time we make it...and with every pound we gain because of it :)

AUNT AMY'S APPLE PIE

Ingredients:
2 Refrigerated Pie Crusts (NOT the kind that's already in a pie dish)
7 Golden Delicious Apples
3/4 cups Sugar (white)
2-3 Tbs Flour
1 Tbs  Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Salt
1-2 Tbsp. butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Peel, core and slice apples (about 1/4 inch thick).

Mix together everything in large bowl & let stand.
Roll out dough of one pie crust and put crust in bottom of deep dish pie pan (or a regular 9" pie pan).
Pile apples into the pie pan.
Sprinkle little fistful of sugar & cinnamon on top of apples & dot with butter.

Roll out 2nd pie crust and put crust on top of apples.

Pinch together crust edges to seal crust. Cut steam vents in top of crust.

Sprinkle sugar & cinnamon on top of crust.
Bake for 1 hour. Then let stand for 1-2 hours before serving.

****To Reheat:  put pie in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Seasons are a Changin'

We got our first real taste of fall last weekend, and although I miss Florida to pieces, I do NOT miss the humidity and the summer heat that tends to last well past the summer months.  I am welcoming the amazing fall weather with open arms and some yummy new recipes (they'll be in the next post which will hopefully be done tonight too).  The only bad thing...now that fall is officially here, I am now even more anxious for Christmas (84 days)!

I thought I'd update you on a few of the happenings in the VDS household.  I feel like so much has happened over the past few months that I'm not even sure where I should start.  Lets see...

I passed my boards, 

I started work a week later.  

I'm in a great outpatient orthopedic clinic. I love my patients and my coworkers. I'm still getting used to the working world, but it keeps getting better every week.

Nathan and I bought our first car...

We planned on driving both of our cars until the wheels fell off, and unfortunately, Nathan's wheel did.  So we traded in the good ol' blazer, and got a Hyundai Elantra!  My sweet, sweet husband is driving my old Jetta (that has no a/c...another good reason it's starting to get cooler), and I get to ride around in style in the new car.  It was our first big purchase together and it was a little intimidating!  I think it's the first time either one of truly felt like an adult...that feeling didn't last long though ;)

We discovered that Brinkley LOVES the water and launching into the water after tennis balls (even off of diving boards).  Atlanta has made the Brink into a wild man!

We found out WE'RE GOING TO BE AN AUNT AND UNCLE!!!  

My sweet sister and brother-in-law are going to have a little McNugget!  We are so excited to meet Emory McKnight in March...and we're placing bets on whether or not she/he will come out with spirit fingers.

Nathan got switched to day shift...praise Jesus!  

He was on the 3-11pm shift, meaning that we literally did not see each other or talk to each other during the weeks (except for Wednesday mornings when I got to go into work late).  It was definitely a challenge to find ways to communicate and not exactly how we pictured spending the first few months of married life.  Through those tough few months, we became aware of just how God was so good and faithful to us (like always)...He provided us with some truly wonderful weekends...which we desperately needed!  Now that Nathan is back on day shifts, we are so excited to finally get to share life together during the week too!

Nathan is starting to apply to Seminary for Biblical Studies!

He has felt God calling him back to teaching, despite his protesting for the past 2 years.  Nathan doesn't want this next generation to grow up without knowing God, and is being called to teach the Bible (most likely in a school, but we really don't know).  I am beyond thankful that God has given me such a great leader as a husband...Lord knows I need it!  He has the most beautiful and honest heart that I just adore like crazy!

and we just ran our first race together...

We ran the Tower of Terror 10 Miler at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It was a super humid night (hints why I didn't post any gross after race pics) which made it much tougher than thought, but we beat our target time (by a whopping 11 seconds) so we were happy! Now I'm just working on trying to convince Nathan to run the 2014 Disney Marathon with me : )

I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but I think that a pretty good summary of our latest adventures.  Stay tuned for a broccoli and cheese soup and a drinkable pumpkin pie recipe!