Perseverence does pay off

I have cause for celebration.  My little Beanie has finally graduated his Level 1 swim class!!!  Can I get a woot woot? 

Okay yeah, I know.  It's only Level 1.  But you have no idea.  It has been a long, uphill climb (or should I say "swim") for us.  If you have forgotten, let me remind you here.  So you see?  There is cause for celebration. 

I am so proud of Lil T.  I can see how he is slowly building his confidence.  Don't get me wrong, he still doesn't like going to swim class.  But hey, at least he doesn't HATE it as much now.  A couple of times, he actually was looking forward to going.  The dilemna for me now is do I let him continue?  I was going to stop taking him to classes until Spring, when it gets warmer.  But now that he's graduated to the next level, maybe I need to keep continuing.  Problem is....it's freezing cold.  Sure it's an indoor pool but the water is freezing cold.  And then he'll be soaking wet when we leave.  Yeah, I know.  You can't catch a cold from being in the cold.  And you can't get sick from being outside with wet hair.  But I'm a mom.  And mom's have to believe that sort of thing. 

I'm just afraid that if I stop classes now, it's all going to backfire on me.  Come Spring, I don't want to have a screaming child refusing to get into the pool again.  And then we'll be back to square one.  Yeah, I guess I have to do what I have to do.  Continue to torture the kid.

Lil T showing off his award for passing Level 1 swim.

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

I love Fall!  And I think it's finally feeling like Fall.  I mean, it IS October. 

Fall has to be one of my favorite seasons.  Minus the allergies and leaf raking, that is.  I love the vibrant colors of fall foliage, the cooler weather, hot apple cider, and taking my little Beanie apple picking and pumpkin picking.  That, which of course leads to bushels and bushels of apples for us.  Okay, maybe not bushels.  But definitely enough to last us through the season. 

Speaking of apple picking, we went this past weekend.  So what better way to kick off the Fall season than with a delicous Butterscotch Apple Crisp.  This recipe was adapted from Pat and Gina Neely's Butterscotch Apple Crisp.    I've lightened up the recipe...somewhat.  Every calorie counts, right?

Hope you enjoy it!

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

Filling

-  5 applies, peeled, cored and diced  (I used Golden Delicious apples since they're Lil T's favorite)

-  1/2 cup butterscotch chips

-  1/4 cup light brown sugar

-  1/4 cup all-purpose flour

-  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-  1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

- 1 lemon, juiced

-  3 tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed

Topping

-  3/4 cup all-purpose flour

-  1/4 cup light brown sugar

-  1/2 cup rolled oats

-  pinch of salt

-  1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced

-  3/4 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly butter a 2 qt. baking dish.  (I used individual ramekins)  For the filling, toss together apples, butterscotch chips, sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice, lemon juice, and butter in a medium bowl.  Fill the baking dish (or ramekins) with the apple filling.  For the topping, in a seperate bowl combine the flour, sugar, oats, salt.  Cut in butter, either using food processor or two forks.  Stir in pecans.  Sprinkle the topping over the apple filling.  Bake for about 40 - 45 mins (20 - 25 mins if using ramekins) until the apples are tender and the butterscotch is bubbling.  Let cool 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with a scoop (or 2) of vanilla ice cream or butter pecan ice cream.