Category: San Luis Obispo

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california midstate fair and researching apple flaps

Mom & Dad at the midstate fair in Paso Robles, California
Mom & Dad at the midstate fair in Paso Robles, California

The California Midstate Fair in Paso Robles is always a delight. Although it is a far cry from the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show that left such a big impression on me as a young man, it still has it’s charm. Everything from the ‘pig races’ , the judges sampling local preserves and cookies to the concerts and animals makes it feel like an old fashioned country fair. I love that!

My continuing research into the history and tradition of ‘Dutch apple flaps’ is on-going. I finally consulted with a couple from the Netherlands who we have known for 32 years on a ‘definitive’ recipe. They were kind enough to send 3 variations. Added to this two cookbooks Karen brought back from Amsterdam, the internet and plain ol trial and error and I think I’ll have something worked up before Karen comes to visit in the middle of next month!

Back to picking apples!

Roger Freberg

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3 more for the freezer

3applepiesforthefreezer

Did I ever tell you we had only one apple tree? It feels like an entire orchard based on it’s personal production capacity. The scary part for me is that I have planted a second tree.

So, every other day I pick, peal, core and slice apples for either apple sauce (boOo!) or apple pies (yaaAy!). These three apple pies are fairly special with a unique and yummy topping of walnuts, pistachios, and almonds prepared with different textures. I ground some to add as a base to the cinnamon, sugar and butter topping… while others were ‘carmelized.’

So, all of my preparing has had an unwanted side effect in gaining a few pounds… so it’s back on Jenny Craig a few weeks more… then… woah! apple pie ala mode!

Roger Freberg

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when apple trees turn scary!

the2ndBloom

Apple season has a different time frame depending on where in California you are. For example:

Northern California Apple Season:  25 July – 30 November

Southern California Apple Season: 15 July – 25 September

San Luis Obispo is half way in between and sometimes worlds apart. I do think our Apple Tree which produces much of the year is a bit different. This season we have been swamped with apples… and I am seeing a ‘second season’ appearing with the beginning of new blossoms!

In any event, tomorrow is  making apple pie day… more pies! more pies!

Roger Freberg

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How some stumbleupon.com Cal Poly

the funniest things one STUMBLEupon.com
the funniest things one can STUMBLEupon.com

Stumbleupon.com is a great site for directing folks to interesting topics and sites that will inform, educate, enlighten or amuse. I think my posting of the apparent dissatisfaction John Madden has for Cal Poly’s President the vacuous Warren Baker is worth a laugh or two. I especially like the story of John Madden sending him a one way ticket to go back where he came from… funny.

Somehow, the ascended beings of the internet found my blog worthy of passing along and directed folks to read the on-going battle between John Madden & Cal Poly’s Warren Baker.

Here’s the original post. (Don’t forget to check out the link in the article by Karen Vale covering some of the reasons why John Madden is so justifiably unhappy.)

By the way, it seems that others have been noticing the growth of college administrations and the mysterious and varied university foundations of which Cal Poly is no stranger. Here are a couple of articles I found amusing…

CSU must pull back shroud of foundations

How to balance the budget without cuts

So what have we learned here? It doesn’t take an ax to reduce the budget… just the ability to look at any problem honestly, ask the hard questions, admit a mistake, change directions firmly…and move on.

Roger Freberg

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a better snack bar

aaaAbetterSnack

Almost everyone remembers making some sort of snack bars growing up. Either it was a ‘Rice Krispie treats’, Smoores or a more exotic fruit bar that made everyone smile. Remembering those days, we started thinking about making a better bar.

Many folks today enjoy a snack bar of some sort, but be careful to read the label as some contain ingredients which are not always the best for you in the long run. Personally, I like to avoid high fructose corn syrup which is appealing to many in that it is cheaper than regular cane sugar and 70% sweeter…. but it has drawn some serious questions. Now it is only a correlation, but obesity in America took off just about the same time as high fructose corn syrup became the mainstream sugar of choice for manufacturers. However, by making stuff yourself , you can avoid a lot of this ( although — admittedly — some items in this recipe contain questionable ingredients  … but I am working on substitutes for them as well).

Here is our high fiber, Bran and peanut butter snack bar recipe-in-progress!

I also want to keep the eventual snack portions about 130 calories each and add nuts and chocolate when I am done. I am even toying with a sweet Coffee snack… we’ll see where this adventure takes us!

Oh yes, it’s good!

Roger Freberg