Leftover Biscuit Apple Cobbler

What do you do when you’ve got a bunch of leftover biscuits you don’t want to waste? Why not turn those dry, unwanted leftover biscuits into a delightful warm and comforting apple cobbler?

We made this several weeks ago, but I still remember how happy my kids were to gobble up their leftover biscuits transformed into a cozy warm apple cobbler laced with caramel. I added walnuts to my portion … with some whipped cream on top, it was scrumptious! What a perfect way to make use of your leftovers. Especially because I had some bourbon apples in my fridge that I’d made for my daughter’s French toast adventures, but she hasn’t been eating them lately.

This cobbler didn’t use up ALL the leftover biscuits, though … I made the rest into crunchy garlicky little croutons.

Being quarantined at home hasn’t been so bad for us, really. I’m incredibly lucky I can work from home. I have my two young adult children here with me. My son is doing online college … my daughter is, well, just getting by for now. I’m very grateful to have them here with me. We’ve done lots of delicious cooking projects … and we take lots of time to carefully plan out our occasional grocery trips, trying to think of everything we might need for the next several weeks. It feels like I’m spending SO much money when I go shopping now, but then again, I’m shopping so infrequently, so in reality I probably am not spending any more on groceries than I typically do. I used to run to the store whenever I needed something … hey, it was only a mile away. But obviously, that’s not the safest thing to do right now, so we plan. Our list is long and typically contains staples we know we already have, but we should look for them when we’re out to make sure we don’t run out of our favorites.

Before I leave the house, I set out a set of fresh clean clothes in the bathroom. My son opens the lid on the washing machine for me, so I can drop my dirty jacket directly in there, without touching anything.

I bring my mask and I wear gloves, both of which stay quarantined in the car for at least 3 days after the trip, to kill anything that might have been picked up on the trip. When I put the groceries in the car, I organize them carefully: anything that needs to go into the fridge or freezer are right in front, easily accessible. I text my kids when I’m done with the shopping. When I get home, I drive into the garage, my son closes it and opens the doors into the house for me so I don’t touch any door handles on my way in. He’s also got the bathroom door open, mat down and ready for me to head straight to the shower. I slip off my shoes in the garage and leave them there to be quarantined for 3 days too. I head to the bathroom, close the door with my elbow and hop in the shower and scrub myself down fully. I wash the handle on the shower after I wash myself, then pick up the clothes with my towel and toss them all into the washer.

Since I’m on reduced pay from work, I don’t mind taking time out of my workday to shop when there are fewer people at the store, and then shower and disinfect all the things that have to go straight in the fridge. Anything that doesn’t require immediate refrigeration or freezer time stays in the car for three days. Nothing is needed that quickly. Life moves more slowly now, and the pace seems more comfortable. Yes, we are anxious and worried, but I try to smooth out my own level of panic with yoga and walks around the neighborhood. And lots of calming tea. Beer and wine in the evening helps too. My friends and I have weekly virtual happy hours via zoom after yoga class. It’s good to connect with friends. My kids find their calm by playing video games with friends online. And comfort food, like this. There’s been lots of bread baking here too.

My sisters and I talk often and I call my mom and dad every couple days. My dad has been out turkey hunting. He got two big gobblers. He cooked one of them up and mom was worried about what to do with all the turkey meat. Dad packaged up a bunch of it and froze it. He says he has some for me. I will make a trip up to see them in a couple weeks, after I’ve been fully quarantined (not left the house aside from my neighborhood walks) for 14 days. They have plants for my garden (I’m going to plant a garden!) and wine that my dad made (he is REALLY good at making wine) and ground venison for me too. The asparagus will be growing by then and I will be able to grab some rhubarb from mom’s big plants. I’m not sure if I’ll head right back home immediately or stay for a bit. We’ll see.

How are all of you coping with everything during these crazy times? Are you still working? What steps are you taking to keep safe? I hope this finds you and your family healthy, safe, gainfully employed and eating well.

I keep reminding myself that each day is a gift … the virus is a reminder that any one of us might not be here tomorrow, so I’m taking time to remind all my loved ones just how much they are loved and reminding myself: just try to enjoy today.

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