Apple Crumb Crisp

One of my Fall Goals was to make an Apple Pie! Blake's favorite dessert this time of year is Apple Pie, but I decided to change it up and change up my families Apple Pie recipe a bit to make an Apple Crumb Crisp! We both love how it turned out and we hope you will give it a try this Holiday season :)

Here's what you'll need for the crumb topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup plain oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

sprinkle of salt

1/3 cup unsalted butter, cut into small chunks(super important!)

For the filling:

4 large Granny Smith apples (peeled and sliced pretty thin)

3 Tbsp butter, melted

2 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp lemon juice

3 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

sprinkle of salt

a little extra cinnamon to sprinkle on top

Lets get to cooking! 

First, preheat oven to 375.

In a medium size bowl combine the crumb topping ingredients with a fork until it starts forming small crumbs. It should look something like this :)

Pop it in the fridge while you start mixing the filling.

For the Filling: In a small bowl, combine melted butter and flour until blended then add lemon juice, milk and vanilla, stir well. Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 

Pour the mixture over the apples and toss until the apples are well coated. It should look about like this. 

Pour the apple mixture into a baking dish(make sure it's all even) and sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples. (Try to resist stealing a bite right then!)

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Allow it to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. 

Tastes great with a side of Vanilla Bluebell :) 

This recipe is so yummy and will leave your house smelling like fall. Y'all give it a try and let me know how it turns out! 

Good Eats in Austin, TX

As some of you may know, Blake and I are moving to Austin, Texas. He was offered an awesome ministry job and after much prayer we have decided to follow God's lead and be obedient to His call!

During this transition, we have been making the drive from Dallas to Austin at least once a week. We have already found a cute little place to call home and now we are traveling every Tuesday back to ATX so Blake can lead worship for the new college ministry, Continuum! It has been tiring but so much fun.

We have very quickly learned that pretty much anywhere you eat in Austin is insanely good. I thought it would be fun to comply a list of some of our personal favorites to share with y'all just in case you will be visiting Austin soon! Enjoy :)

1. Gourdoughs

They have multiple locations in the Austin area, including food trucks! They serve burgers, salads, sandwiches, and more, all served with a donut! Oh, and you can't leave out the dessert donuts, they are ridiculous in the best way. Here's a few of our recommendations :)

Burgers - I like the Plain Jane, I'm a pretty picky eater, especially when it comes to burgers. I added cheddar cheese and it hit the spot! Blake got the Ron Burgundy, and he loved it! If you like fried eggs and guacamole on burgers, this one is for you. They are also served with their homemade kettle chips!

Dessert Donuts - The Nutty Valentine is simple and good, y'all. Nutella, cinnamon sugar and fresh strawberries all on top of a fresh made donut.

2. Jack Allen's Kitchen

This is a more southern-style restaurant with a little of a southwestern twist. They greet you at your table with a plate of Jack’s signature pimiento cheese and flat bread crackers, which is actually really yummy! I don't care for pimiento cheese but I actually liked it! 

Blake and I shared the Chorizo Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Medallions. I also don't like pork, but this meal is hands down the best thing I have ever ate! The roasted garlic cream sauce was so good. It added so much flavor. I'm convinced by this dish alone that anything you order at Jack Allen's will be delicious. 

3. Hyde Park

If you're wanting from scratch, comfort food then this is the place for you! They are known for their Hyde Park Fries & Fry Sauce! They are so crispy and good! I recommend the Chicken Fried Chicken. It's not better than my mommas but its a close second! I'm super picky about my gravy because growing up I always had homemade gravy from scratch and this gravy tasted almost identical to what I had growing up! So yummy and also just a beautiful restaurant with lots of natural light.

4. Lick Honest Ice Creams

Of course I had to include an ice cream shop! (head on over to my family blog to read about how much our sweet baby has made me crave ice cream!) All of their ice cream is homemade from local ingredients! They have flavors ranging from milk chocolate all the way to roasted beets and fresh mint! (my personal fav) Check out our post back in March to read about our trip to Lick! 

5. Shake Shack

Okay, so this isn't a local place, but Blake and I just tried it for the first time when we were in town last Tuesday and loved it! I heard that they had cheese fries and I was sold. 

It's a bit like In-N-Out Burger I think, but better! And this particular location is the cutest! I love when restaurants have big windows all around that make it seem like you're eating outside when you're not! (I have a strange fear of birds so eating outside is not fun for me! Don't judge.) I loved this little place and I'm sure you'll see me here with my laptop, munching on some cheese fries!

These are just a few of the yummy places we love in Austin, Texas! We are excited to adventure around this big city! To keep up with our family during the move and after go subscribe to our Family Blog! Just enter your email underneath "Follow Becoming The Kelchs" on the right side of your screen! 

Have a happy Saturday!

Classic Monkey Bread

I'm sure many of you already know how to make Monkey Bread, but if you don't (or even if you do), here's a little Kelch twist on Classic Monkey Bread.

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoon cinnamon 

4 cans (7.5 oz each) Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
Extra 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Extras for fun

1/2 cup chopped walnuts/almonds/pecans

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chocolate chips or peanut butter chips

Directions

First, heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease your bundt pan with oil or cooking spray. Then, in a large plastic bag mix your granulated sugar and cinnamon.

Next, cut each biscuit into quarters. (I then roll mine a little bit to make them rounded) 

Shake in bag to coat. Then place in your pan and add whatever goodies you might like along the way. Today I added peanut butter chips and cinnamon pecans, yum :)

Then, in a small bowl, mix brown sugar, melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Then pour over biscuit pieces.
This will make you want to eat it right away!

Lastly, bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in center. Cool in your pan for 10 minutes. Then turn upside down onto serving plate and pull apart to serve. 

Serve warm with a cold glass of milk and enjoy :)

Burgers + Fries + Fried pickle slices

Blake and I went on a fun little date night last night! We ended up going to the downtown McKinney square and it was SO cute! Neither of us had ever been there and we were blown away by how cute all the little shops & restaurants were. 

Of course the foodie in me had to look up all the places to eat and scope out the menus. We ended up eating at Square Burger and y'all, it was good. 

The atmosphere was so fun and there's windows everywhere so it feels like you're eating outside on the square without having to endure the Texas heat. 

I just got the traditional square burger and Blake got the cheddar bbq western burger. And the fries y'all, so good. They also bring out a fried pickle slice (yes, slice) with your burger and it was almost better than the burger itself. 

How good does that look?? 

We were so impressed by Square Burger and I just had to share it with y'all! 

Also, remember to date your spouse. We were told so many times during our engagement that one of the most important things you can do as husband & wife is to make a special time to have time for just you two! We now completely back that statement. 

Here's a few more pictures from our date night, y'all enjoy this beautiful Sunday !

Cake Mix M&M Cookie Pies

I made these ridiculously cute cake mix cookie pies last night for Blake to take to work today and they turned out much better than I expected so I had to share the recipe with y'all! 

First this is what you'll need:

1 box of strawberry cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 package of milk chocolate M&MS 

1 package of cheesecake pudding mix

1 tub of whipped cream

This recipe yeild about 13-15 cookies

I also made some with yellow cake mix that turned out just as cute! If you decide to do both, use the same recipie just substitute strawberry cake mix for yellow :)

First you'll need to make the cake mix cookies. Here's what you do:

Combine cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of oil in a large bowl and mix until smooth.

Then add in as many m&ms as you'd like. This is where it gets fun! I have to say, I did not measure this at all. I just had Blake pour some in until I said stop :) 

Put some vegatable oil on your hands (just a few drops) then roll the mix into a ball and place on the cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. 

The cookies will need to be completely cool before you add the filling. 

Next, for the filling, you will need to follow the directions on the pudding mix box and let that sit for 5 minutes. Then fold in the whipped cream until combined. 

This combo of whipped cream and cheesecake pudding is seriously so good. I could've just ate it straight out of the bowl. And maybe I did :) 

Once your cookies are completely cooled, then you'll sparingly add the whipped cream/pudding mixture to the bottom of one cookie and spread around until it covers the bottom of the cookie. 

You won't want to add too much because once you place the other cookie on top, it will spill out of the sides.

It should look about like this! 

Next you'll just place another cookie on top of the whipped cream/pudding mixture and you're finished. Here's what the finished product looks like! 

Please ignore my chipped nail polish and half eaten cookie :)

How cute are they?? I couldn't get over it. These work best if you make them the night before and let them chill in the fridge overnight! 

I hope y'all will give it a try and let me know how your Cake Mix Cookie Pies turn out! 

Mixed Berry Muffins

These muffins are incredibly easy to make, from scratch, and super delicious.

Here's what you'll need:

3 cups of all purpose flour

4 teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

2 large eggs (room temp)

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

1 cup of milk (room temp)

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 cup of fresh raspberries

1 cup of fresh blueberries

*we add extra berries because we like them filled with the fruit! Extra yummy that way.

Coarse sugar to sprinkle on top.

*this just adds a little extra golden color on top and crunch of sweetness.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 425F then begin to mix your ingredients. 

First you'll mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix for around 30 seconds or until they are all even combined then set aside.

In another bowl mix together eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined. Then wisk in the milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until completely combined. Your batter should be very thick.

Then very gently fold in your berries.

Spoon the batter into your muffin liners, fill them all the way to the top. Using some of the berries you have left over, press a couple into the tops of the muffins and sprinkle the coarse sugar on top of each muffin.

First you'll bake the muffins at 425F for 5 minutes. Then turn your oven down to 375F, keeping your muffins in the oven, and bake for 22-25 minutes or until tops are a light golden brown.

Then unwrap your muffin liner and enjoy! These are even more delicious heated up with a little bit of butter on top.

You can store the muffins for up to 5 days or you can freeze whatever you don't eat for up to 3 months.

*this recipie yeilds about 16-18 muffins.

I hope y'all try it out and let me know how you like them! 

Thank y'all for reading and happy baking, y'all! 

Banana-Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Chocolate, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, bananas, all in one to make ice cream?? Count me in!

This recipie is seriously so easy and so yummy!

Here's what you need:

4 bananas, chopped and frozen

2 tbsp of peanut butter

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Around 5-10 chopped up Reese's cups (I had the smaller ones at home so that's what I used)

Instructions:

1. Blend frozen bananas in blender on high for around 4-5 minutes. You may have to scrape the sides and blend again.

2. Once smooth add the peanut butter and cocoa powder and blend again until it's completely mixed.

3. Then I add the chopped up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and just mix those in with a spoon.

4. Lastly, put in serving dish and add a little whipped cream and some of the chopped Reese's on top and enjoy :)

There you have it! Banana-Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream!

I hope you try it and let me know how it turns out!

Have a wonderful week and God bless!