Linden Tree

Caramel Apple Cookies

Caramel, dried apples, coloured chocolate chips. I made a basic Tollhouse cookie dough, and then added 1 package of dried apples, chopped, one package of Kraft caramels, cut in half, and one bag of chocolate chips. Bake 350* for about 9 minutes. The caramel begins to run away when they are done. The caramel burns before the cookies do.

Comic Book Enthusiasm

Book page markers, decorative pins for your book bag, and refrigerator magnets.

Towpath Clinton

Happy 10 Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to Dave and I on ten wonderful years of marriage. In celebration, in addition to taking a week off of work and sharing a new walk location each day, we have been cooking dinner together. Tonight I made petit filet mignon. I started with two fillets, wrapped the outside in two strips of bacon, and secured the meat with a piece of butcher's twine. I made an compound butter with roasted garlic, fox point seasoning, finest herbs seasoning, and fresh ground black pepper and kosher salt flakes. The butter was allowed to chill in the freezer for about 30 minutes until it was firm. To cook the steaks, I preheated the oven to 400*. I used my small cast iron skillet. Generously season both top and bottom of fillets with salt and pepper. In the skillet over medium high heat, melt 4 Tb of butter and 2 Tb olive oil. When melted, add steaks and sear for two to three minutes per side until a crust is formed. I also cooked the bacon exterior in the same way. At this point I added the roasted garlic and mushrooms. Transfer pan to the oven and bake for 6-10 minutes. Steak will be ready when it is approximately 135 degrees in the center, or when you push lightly on the top center of the steak and it gently and slowly bounces back. Watch carefully especially if your steaks are thinner. Top with compound butter

Furnace Run Rock Creek

Wood Hollow Downy Loop

In 2009, a generous yet unexpected gift of 150 acres was made to Summit Metro Parks. Purchases of several adjacent properties brought the park's current size to a little more than 300 acres. It includes the 1.2-mile Downy Loop, with several bridges and boardwalks. The trail's name is a nod to the small woodpeckers that are among the species inhabiting "wood hollows" in the area's beech-maple woods and wetlands.