Pie Time!

It’s almost PIE TIME!! I can’t wait! I have so many ideas; I hope I get a chance to do them all!


During the holidays in my family, I am the one that makes the pies. Since my grandmother and aunt taught me, it has been my thing. I always make the standards; apple and pumpkin. My apple pie is never the same, I do the same things but I never measure and therefore it is always slightly different each time. My pumpkin is usually the same; I follow my grandmother’s recipe and haven’t ever really strayed from it (except I use canned pumpkin most of the time.) Along with the apple and pumpkin I always do one other that is usually something I have never made before, two years ago…a chocolate mixed nut pie, winner! I will make that again, no doubt. (Last year I didn’t make any pies because I was too busy being a brand new mom.)

This year I have decided that I am going to go out of the box and do a few things different. I will still do apple and pumpkin, but I will be doing a twist on them. I am thinking that I want to add something else to the apple, I usually add some pear and probably still will, but I am thinking a berry of some sort, maybe some cranberries or blueberries (even though they aren’t in season.) And maybe even a crumble topping instead of the crust? I don’t know.

For the pumpkin I am thinking of instead of a plain crust doing a cookie crust with possibly ginger snaps, or chocolate. I was even thinking of on the bottom crust lay pecans and caramel down before pouring in the custard mixture. But if I was to do that I think I would just keep a plain crust. Someone at work today gave me the idea of adding candied yams or sweet potato, do like a half pumpkin and half sweet potato pie? I am getting so hungry just thinking about it!


Once I start making pies, which I plan on doing at least one this weekend, I will post the recipes. Yummy!!!

My Baby's First Birthday

It is almost here...my son turning one! I can't believe how fast this year has gone.  It is funny how parents always say their children just grow so fast, I didn't realize how true it really is! If this year is flying by and he isn't moving that fast yet, I can only imagine how fast time will go when he is. But anyway, back to the first birthday. 

I originally wanted something small that included maybe just his grandparents and our neighbors, I mean really will he really remember any of this?  I feel like as long as I have the pictures for his scrapbook I should be ok, right? Well, we have decided that we are having him baptised the morning of his party which means it is going to fall on a Sunday.  This was decided so the grandparents can make one trip, it's just easier that way.  So my husband and I like Sesame Street so we have decided that, that will be the theme for the party.  If he wants to do it again later for his 2nd or 3rd than that is fine.

For his invitation, I created it in Microsoft Publisher using an image of the Sesame Street gang (above) and bold primary colors.  I then, using my scrapbooking stuff, pasted the cut out invitation on to a piece of primary colored card stock.  The finished product ended up being 4x6.  I just need to get envelopes, I am hoping that the dollar store might have them.  We will see. 

While I was looking for a picture of the whole gang, I came across cupcakes. So the plan now is that I am going to make cupcakes, with each character represented on the cupcake.  Then for my son, I am going to create a small Cookie Monster cake just for him.  I am really looking forward to doing this.  (I will post pictures after I make them.)

His birthday is in November and I understand it is just over a month away but because time seems to be going so fast, October will be over before I know it.  It is just crazy!

Make Ahead Burritos

I am big on finding things I can make ahead, either for dinner or lunch.  I have found so far that Mexican seems to be great for make ahead meals.  A lot of it you can make, and freeze and they become really good quick weeknight meals. Our house loves Mexican so it never seems to be an issue if we eat it twice a week or more. 

Now dinner is one thing and lunches well they are another.  I tend to focus on my sons lunches and not my own. So I tend to grab the closest left over and throw it in my bag.  I desided that I was going to make a batch of sandwiches or something that I could freeze so I could just grab it and go.  What I came up with were burritos!

Ingredients

• 2 cups uncooked brown rice
• 4 cups water
• 4 (15 ounce) cans black beans
• 2 (15.5 ounce) cans pinto beans
• 1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 16 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 pound shredded pepperjack cheese

Directions

1. Combine rice and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, and cool.

2. Place black beans and pinto beans into a colander or strainer, and rinse. Add corn and diced tomatoes with green chilies, and toss to mix. Transfer to a large bowl, and mix in rice and cheese.

3. Divide the mixture evenly among the tortillas, and roll up. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, place into a large freezer bag, and freeze. Reheat as needed in the microwave for lunch or snacks.

Slow cooker pulled pork

I must say this was my first time making real pulled pork and it was so good and easy!  We own a grill that is also a smoker and have talked about smoking the pig and even though it would have been a beautiful day to use it, I just wasn't ready to try it. So I opted for the slow cooker.

I put the pork butt in the cooker and filled it half way with root beer. Yes, root beer. Then cooked it on low for about 8-10 hours (I started it before I went to bed and just let it cook all night.) After cooking on low, drain (saving some juices) and using a fork shred/pull the pork. Place the pork back in the cooker and mix in your favorite BBQ sauce, I only used about 3/4 cup. Cook on low for another hour or so then turn to warm. Serve with extra BBQ sauce.
So easy! So good!