Oh, Dolly

It may have been a questionable idea to take the girls to Dollywood while we were in Knoxville for the cheer competition, but I live for questionable.

Not really. I actually hate questionable, but outdoors, I had control over where we stood, blah, blah, blah. It wasn't the safest place on Earth, but it wasn't the worst either. Anybody else super ready to stop second-guessing every single decision they make? Just me?

ANYWAY.

The reason I wanted to take the girls to Dollywood was that the girls are completely lacking respect for the magical, mystical creature that is Dolly Parton. Alexis in particular was lacking a proper level of understanding for just how complex of a woman Dolly is. It was time for some education about the different forms feminism can take.

You know, I knew feminism could take different forms, but I still wasn't ready for a Dolly hologram in the midst of a Dolly museum in the midst of an amusement park named after Dolly and ... y'all, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of having a museum for a person who is still alive. I'm even more uncomfortable with it when the person honored is the one who owns the museum and they essentially charge admission to it.

It's okay to judge me for those layers of discomfort. I get that Dolly is a goddess, but THE HOLOGRAM. You walk down a hall with photos of Dolly with famous people and suddenly there is a life-size Dolly hologram giving you a pep talk about living your best life.

It's a lot.

Alexis left the museum in the midst of an amusement park with a proper appreciation for Dolly's complex way of making the world a better place. Mila, though ... Mila left with a level of adoration and respect that is OFF THE CHARTS.

She's talking about being Dolly for Halloween. I won't be able to find the purple sparkly dress with fairy wings that Mila has her heart set on, so she'll move on to something else, BUT STILL. Mila thinks Dolly has the absolute best taste in clothing and this could end badly.

Very badly.

For me.

If Mila starts talking about plastic surgery, I'm going to need y'all to recommend an amusement park that puts women in sporty, sensible clothing on a pedestal.

Pecan Peach Cobbler

I'm sorry I called you a liar, internet. It's just that YOU LIED. Blanching peaches does not work for getting the peels to come off easily!

Except that it does. Apparently. Or at least it did the other day when I made Pecan Peach Cobbler.

WHO KNEW?

Seriously, I thought y'all were lying when you said dipping a peach in boiling water for 30 seconds will cause the peel to come off. It has never really worked for me until this week. I don't know what I did differently, but BAM. Six peaches. Peeled. JUST LIKE THAT.

I might have to make more stuff with peaches now that the gods of peach peeling have decided to show mercy on my easily annoyed little soul.

Anyway, BAM. Pecan Peach Cobbler.

You should probably make this because it's really very good.The recipe is based loosely on one I know for making homemade Bisquick. Don't buy Bisquick, by the way. You can make it super easily.

Pecan Peach Cobbler

Filling:
6 medium peaches, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup light brown sugar
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

2. Pull out a glass dish. I used a 9" x 13" Pyrex dish.

3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and vanilla extract for the filling. Mix everything up well.

4. Place your sliced peaches in the bottom of your pan. Throw the sugar mixture in there and use a spatula to gently turn things until the sugar/cinnamon is evenly distributed.

5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Use a whisk to mix them all up.

6. Toss your chopped up butter into the large mixing bowl with the flour and its friends. Mush everything up with your hands until the butter is more or less distributed. It's OK if it's a little chunky. In fact, it's desirable.

7. Pour your buttermilk into the large mixing bowl and use a spoon to mix it all up.

8. Spread the buttermilk/flour stuff over top of the peaches. It's OK that it doesn't want to spread evenly. Just sort of push it around until the top is mostly covered.

9. Sprinkle the pecans over top.

10. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of brown sugar over the top.

11. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the crust/cobbler stuff is a nice golden brown.

12. If you decide to serve it warm, know that it won't stay gorgeous. It's going to want to run a little, so just let it. If you want it to stay pretty, you need to refrigerate it until it's super cold, which takes about an hour.

I don't want to wait an hour. I'll take yummy and warm over pretty any day.

By the way, it's perfect served with vanilla ice cream.

Fairy Fun