Pepper Design Blog

Good Eats: Killer Crisp Crust

This is a delicious crust that is perfect for fall fruit crisps! It caramelizes in that melt-in-your-mouth sort of way and creates a crispy-sweet shell for roasted apples, pears, figs… or whatever happens to be in season.

It’s such an easy recipe that it’s one of my go-tos when I need a fancy dessert but am short on time – and I literally make it with any fruit that’s sitting in our glass fruit bowl at that moment.

On this particular summer’s day, I had a few extra pears and a whole lotta figs from our neighbor’s tree. So pear & fig crisp it was.

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Killer Crisp Recipe

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Ingredients

*3/4 cup flour
*2/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
*1 teaspoon cinnamon
*1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
*6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

{2.} Blend in butter with fingertips until mixture forms small clumps.

{3.} Prepare the inside of your baking container by greasing it with butter.

{4.} Press crust into edges of baking pan until a layer 1/4″ or so forms.

{5.} Layer in fruit slices and add pats/spreads of apple butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

{6.} Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes (since every oven and climate is different, look for an initial browning of the crust).

{7.} Remove foil and bake 10-20 minutes until sugars and fruit caramelize. Don’t remove until poking with a fork results in a firm crust – the more carmelized, the better!

{8.} Let stand for at least 30 minutes, serve with a sprig of mint and vanilla ice cream!

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Try this dish with apples, peaches, nectarines, plums, strawberries, blueberries… you name it. I love crisps because they’re quick and easy, you could even freeze the dough in portion-sized balls for future thawing. Note: not an ideal recipe for pies, this is really and truly a crispy-sweet crust.

The perfect summer-meets-fall dessert!

Project Nursery… on Project Nursery!

I shared Liv’s nursery project a while back on a great inspirational site for all things babies… Project Nursery! I thought I’d share it with you today because it’s an excellent resource for decorating and entertaining. You can search room and party galleries by color, style, type or category.

While you’re there, feel free to check out Liv’s nursery:

There are so many wonderful inspirational sites out there these days! Have you ever submitted photos of your projects to your favorites?

A Little Labor Day Inspiration: Party Poppers!

With a three-day weekend quickly approaching at the end of the month, I thought it would be fun to share this creative idea from guest contributor Karina over at Hostess with the Mostess.

She designed an adorable Red, White & Blue party that includes a fun treat for kids or adults: party poppers!

They make great favors, name cards (across a dinner plate) or prizes. A quick Google search revealed a super easy party popper tutorial, materials include: goodies for inside the popper (candy, little toys, a handmade fortune), toilet paper/paper towel roll, cracker snaps (from a local packaging store or online at packaging/party supply site), tissue paper, ribbon, cardstock, tape or glue. Read all about assembly here.

Looking for more Labor Day inspiration? Check out this link which sorts through all July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day parties & ideas shared on the blog!