Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Boy Becomes A Man and Apple Eggrolls

I have a garden shed. TBHITW built it for me years ago. I wrote about it here.

I love that shed. I keep all my gardening supplies it it. Pots, soil, a small rototiller, spades and shovels and tomato cages.

Last winter some very clever squirrels ate through the roof in the back corner (where we couldn't see the damage) and made a lovely winter nest. Oh how warm they must have been all winter long. They had hauled in all manner of comfy leaves and twigs and had even cached a nice supply of acorns and bird seed. Imagine my surprise (and theirs) when I opened the shed in the spring and found them all nestled in warm and dry in the back corner. A whole little family. Hmmm...

They moved out as soon as the babies went off to college (or wherever squirrel babies go in the spring). All summer long TBHITW would say, "I've got to fix that roof".. well, he never got around to it.

This past weekend the 16 year old kidadult decided to tear off the old roof and put on a new one. He measured and thought and measured some more. On Saturday morning he asked me to drive him to The Home Depot. He had a list of roofing supplies he needed.

We bought plywood and tar paper and shingles and nails. He even bought some chicken wire to lay down so those clever squirrels couldn't eat through the roof again. I don't know how he knew how to do all this. Maybe he is more clever than a squirrel?


He worked all day Saturday and into Sunday. He tore off the old roof and nailed down new wood.


He got out the saw horses and the circular saw and measured and cut (I couldn't watch that part)


Then he shingled the entire thing.

Who is this child?

Yesterday he never made his bed or picked up his dirty clothes or wet towels from the floor. Today, he is rebuilding a shed roof. Hmmm... I think my little is growing into a man.

Apple Eggrolls: (makes 4)

It is high apple season around here. I have canned 12 quarts of spiced apples and 6 quarts of apple sauce. We eat an apple a day and I still have apples in bowls, in the refrigerator and on the counter. Since it is just the two of us a pie is too much. I think these rolls are the perfect substitute when a pie is too big.

1 large apple (your choice) peeled and chopped into small pieces
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Generous pinch cinnamon
1 teaspoon flour
4 egg roll wrappers
Oil for frying
powdered sugar for sprinkling

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Add the apples and saute until just a bit soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the apples and cook for about 30 more seconds to thicken sauce. Cover and chill.
When apples have cooled, spoon a generous amount onto each egg roll wrapper, wrap up like an envelope.
Fry each egg roll until golden. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar and serve warm. Preferably to a boy about to become a man.

13 comments:

  1. I think about my son who did not have a father as he grew up. Oh he had a father but the father had a new life and it did not include our children. My son could not have done this when he was 16 or 18. The poor guy was born sandwiched between two females and he had me for a mom. Ha. It makes my heart glad to see the things a young man will do.

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  2. Shed roofs are so much more important than picking up clothes or making the bed. Your kidadult clearly has his priorities in order.

    BTW: Having done roofing? He deserves a medal.

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  3. How awesome is this! Your son has been raised very well to do something like this.

    I am so going to try making these apple eggrolls...my little's will love them. XX

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  4. He is taking care of his mom, doing something that he knows needs to be done. I am sure it will be a source of pride for him for years to come. What a thoughtful kidadult.
    I have three of my own that make me burst with pride....even though they STILL don't put a dish in the dishwasher, or know that clothes go in closets, not on floors. :)

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  5. Clothes don't matter when his heart is making sure that he can fill his roles today.

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  6. I think he wanted to take care of his Mom, to do something that his father would have done for her. He is a keeper, as they say. :-)

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  7. I'm so proud of your son, you'd think he were mine.

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  8. Ah.. to watch it happen..suddenly you realize as you watch that they have grown up...in that second..you know..you did your job well..they are ready...to fly on thier own.

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  9. As I was reading this, I was just so amazed by your son. What a fine young man you have there.

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  10. Great job he's done there! :)

    Never heard of these eggrolls - they sound nice, but I'm not sure I know what an "eggroll wrapper" is? Is it a kind of pastry?

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  11. Wow, that's incredible that your son could do that job alone, at 16! He must have watched his Dad do projects and really paid attention. You have every reason to be proud! And those Apple Eggrolls sound fab! What a great idea!

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  12. I hope this comment works, blogger ate my last one!
    Your son is a darling! And I know what it's like to watch them go from child to adult. Congrats!

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Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I love feedback... what with being a cook and all. I will respond to your comments via email (if you do not have a "noreply" address or here, below your comment) As always, Bon Appetite!

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