Mixed berry streusel on shortbread.

For a wile I worked on finding the best recipe for a streusel type bar.   I tried a lot of different ones.  This streusel has been developed out of several different recipes.   the bottom is a shortbread recipe that I changed ratio's just slightly but is pretty much the same as the original recipe.   The topping is a small amount of the bottom with extra sugar.  And for variations I have added to that: nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and other mulling type spices.   The filling is totally my own creation, I don't like a all jelly texture center, but I also don't want something that is just chunky fruit\berries mixed with sugar.

The way I do this is in a sauce pan cook my ingredients for a wile; whatever fruit\berry I use, sugar (and depending on fruit or berry, lemon juice or vanilla extract) and water.  Or sometimes I replace the water with a juice - with a citrus juice I leave the sugar amount the same.  With a apple or pear juice etc I decrease sugar levels about 1/4-1/2 cups.   After boiling the chopped/whole fruit\berries in the  liquid and sugar I pour it into a food processor where I blend it until its not quite puree'd but close runny but still some chunks here and there.   And then I return it back to the sauce pan and continue cooking until the mixture reaches a boiling point.  Then I add 1 tsp thickener (corn starch or potato flour, etc) and cook until reaches the right thickness.  Also remember when it cools it will be thicker then when hot.  

What Beth has been up to. . . .

This summer I worked part time as a server at Hot Licks Home Made Ice Cream Co, For about a month and then I worked full time as a supervisor (But was more like the manager) for about two and a half months.   This summer I went to McCarthy, with my boyfriend: Lee Person, and his family.  Dave, Renee', Ben and Wyatt.  And some of our friends for the Fourth of July Weekend.  (Go to Facebook for pictures)  My summer for the most part has been spent working and spending time with Lee.  

 Lee and I often go on drives, walks, hikes and places to take pictures, some of the places we've gone have been creamers field, two different gold dredges, rose hip camp ground to go fishing, took several trips up the Steese, drove to 112 mile Eagle summit a few weeks ago, etc   But more commonly just come over to one or the others house and have dinner together, read together, work on homework together or sometimes we will watch a movie. <3 

As far as my activities with childrens ministry,  I'm still a Jr. kids church assistant teacher but I quite working in the nursery at the beginning of this summer when I got  a preschool Sunday school class that I teach weekly; I enjoy that very much.  Since I quite working in nursery I am able to spend more time working in Jr kids church, which allows me to build stronger relationships with the children in my Sunday school class.  :-) 

  Since Hot Licks has closed for the summer, I got a job at Subway.  I applied there as a "last resort" type of thing, but didn't up having a interview and agreed to start working there after finding no better jobs for a wile, and getting worried about passing it up in case nothing else came along.   This job was very unprofessional and a liberal work environment, that lacked work ethic.  And I found one of my male co-workers that I was going to have to be around a lot incredibly offensive and objectifying.    Not to mention the job was frustrating for a food snob like myself. ;) :-P  Thankfully I only worked there for three days; and was offered another job at Petunia's Garden Bistro.  Which is a small cafe' inside of Holm Town Nursery:   A large, gardening store,  and plant nursery.  There, I work as a chef and Barista: (espresso goddess. . . . just kidding :) .. someone who makes espresso beverages ;) )  preparing daily specials (Sandwhiches, soups and rolls) and making yummy snacks to accompany them; cookies, breads, pastas and salads, cakes, desert bars etc.  And drinks, espresso ^  chais and  fancy soda drinks like Italian creme' sodas.   This job suits me much better, I enjoy my co-workers and am developing friendships with them quickly.  And I thoroughly enjoy my work, and am able to put myself into it and am learning from it and getting more experience in culinary arts. and its a more customer-interactive job which is nice.   I'm really thankful for this opportunity.  :) 

On the days that Lee and I wont be spending together, I plan to finish up a few academic things;  I'd like to increase my understanding of science.   I'm in the process of getting a driving learners permit so that I'll be able to have my license by spring and will be able to drive myself to work and whatever other outings I do.   

Lee has transferred to University of Fairbanks this year.  He's currently working on his associates  degree in business.  So he wont be leaving this year for Texas,  which means we will get to spend the whole winter together which I'm very thankful for.   -  Last Thursday we celebrated our anniversary of four years (of being in a relationship)   He picked me up from work and took me out to a lovely Italian restaurant, afterwords he started his clever and really fun treasure hunt by giving me my first clue written on a piece of paper that clue took me to several other clues all written on paper and hidden in various places throughout town, the hunts secret ending destination led me to a hidden present for me. :) After that we went for a drive to another "secret location" :) and enjoyed some hot drinks cuddled in lots of blankets together to watch the night sky.  Where we saw the first little snow flakes of the year.    Don't worry they didn't stay. :(   

That's about it....

~   Beth.