Shannon here: Cindy Bonds, soon to be debut author, and a member of my local writing group shares her first date with her husband plus a recipe for peach cobbler. Yum! All comments and answers to the question will go in Friday’s drawing. Deadline: Dec 28th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Cindy:
Our First Date
My husband and I met while at college. We both attended the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville in the early 2000’s. Although a few years apart, we started socializing when our circle of friends merged with one another.
He was a few years younger than me, a lowly freshman as I was starting my senior year. (technically we are only two years apart, but it does sound odd when I put it in school years…)
As the fall semester went on, we found ourselves surrounded by a lot of the same friends. In fact, during the winter formal at the end of the semester, my friend that had asked me to meet him at the banquet took off with some other friends and Garrett and I ended up spending the rest of the evening talking.
After that, we became good friends and I quickly noticed his need to pester. I need to explain this, because it lends to the events during our first date.
Garrett likes to pick and annoy. And since I’m not ticklish, he found other ways to strong arm me into annoyment. Pinning my arms because he was much stronger than me and I wouldn’t say “please”, not moving out of my way, picking me up so I couldn’t find my way down, it was a commonplace occurrence during our friendship.
Our first date came around after the spring semester started. It was several weeks in and after assuming all our “flirting” last semester was nothing more than attraction, I was surprised he asked me out.
Our good friend Liz worked at a restaurant called Kelts in Altus. When looking for nice restaurants in that area at the time, we were very limited unless you wanted fast food. We drove the twenty minutes out and ate and talked, enjoying the meal. At the time, I had no idea that the young man I sat across from would one day be my husband, he was just a lot of fun and nice to look at!
As we went to pay, I (being of strong will), decided to pay for mine and Liz worked her magic, allowing Garrett to pay for all of it just like a regular gentleman.
On the way home, he started in on the pestering: annoying comments, poking at me, things like that. Taking advantage of his need to keep focused on the road, I retaliated, taking firm grip of the finger he kept poking me with. That’s when we saw blue lights.
Poor Garrett. Deer in the headlights look, he rolled down his window and produced his driver’s license.
“Out on a date with your girlfriend?” the officer looked between us as Garrett started to bumble his words.
“Uh, no, not a girlfriend, just friend.”
The officer smirked, handing back the license. “Watch your speed and keep it on the road please.”
“Yes sir.”
I could barely control my laughter as he rolled up the window and pulled back onto the road.
That eventful night led to many others and by the time the school year ended, we were talking marriage and forever. He proposed the following September after we visited his hometown for a football game.
His pestering is still present, 15 years tomorrow, but he is still the same gentleman I met all those years ago. As I watch him across the table, I see the fun and good-looking man that I fell in love with and feel much more as our lives morphed into parents and partners.
In fact, if it weren’t for him, my writing career would be a far-off fantasy that never moved forward. He pushed and prodded me into fulfilling something I assumed wasn’t meant for me. He’s been my best friend and God has used him to mold me into a better woman, wife and mother.
Garrett’s Favorite Dessert: Gran’s Black Skillet Peach Cobbler
I’ve never been a baker, my mom does most if not all, the baking in our family. So, once I joined the large Bonds family, I knew I had to develop some baking skills.
Granny Guyla was Garrett’s grandmother and took me in like her own. She was a master cook and a wonderful woman. I would sit in her tiny kitchen and watch her whip up a meal for 5-15 people with a few skillets and whatever she had on hand. This was one of my favorites and one of the few desserts Garrett enjoys.
Ingredients:
- 1 large can sliced peaches (the large 29 ounce can)
- 1 cup flour
- 2 cups sugar; divided
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 stick butter
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 2/3-3/4 cup milk
Preheat oven to 350 and place stick of butter in your black skillet, put skillet in oven while it heats.
In a saucepan, add one cup sugar and slice up the peaches into small chunks, stirring them in with the sugar as it melts. (I use the peaches canned in syrup, because I’m certain it must taste better!)
Once the sugar is dissolved add the vanilla and stir it in, then take it off the heat. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the sugar, flour and baking soda, adding a little of the milk at a time until a dough forms.
Once oven is ready and your butter is melted, swirl the butter around, coating the pan to keep it from sticking. Then, pour the batter in first, then add your peaches and sugar mixture on top. No need to spread it out, it’ll do the work!
Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on your oven settings and how crispy you want the crust.
I usually use my largest skillet, a 12 inch and the crust comes out thinner, but doesn’t ever overflow. When I want a thicker crust, I use the 10 inch, but always put a cookie sheet down under it, because it will drip a little!
This is a no fail recipe and will work every time! Even if it comes out a little doughy or a little crispy on top, it still tastes amazing. Top it with vanilla ice cream and it’s perfect no matter what!
About Cindy: Cindy lives with her husband Garrett in the small town of Clinton Arkansas. They have two children, Conner and Kenzie, and are surrounded by farmland and cattle. Cindy has recently pursued a career in writing Christian Romantic Suspense novels, with her first releasing in September of 2020 by Mantle Rock Publishing. Visit Cindy’s Website to learn more and read about the military veterans on her blog.
Question for Readers: Who is the baker in your life? What’s your favorite dessert to make or eat?
Come back Dec 20th for Donna Schlachter!
mom, brownies
i am the baker in my house and love any kind of cake or cookies.
Your post was fun to read! My mom and I are the bakers. My favorite thing is my mom’s pumpkin pie. Like no other!