Monday, November 24, 2014

Pie so cool, you don't even know how cool it is

Thanksgiving is nigh.  In fact, I told my kids what we were going to be doing on Thanksgiving Eve, and they informed me that there's no such thing as Thanksgiving Eve.  I guess they know better than I do.  FYI, on the eve before we give thanks, my young and I will be making pecan pie, and so should you.

This is my slice of pie du jour.  The gourd pie may get all the glory, but this is the unsung hero, if you ask me.  Made correctly, pecan pie is a pleasantly sweet, caramelized fusion of velvety custard and lightly toasted pecans.  Made incorrectly, pecan pie can be a gelatinous, overly sweet mess.  Let's do it right, shall we?

There are a couple things you need to know before you make pecan pie.

-Watch for over-browning.   If you are moving past golden brown and delicious, but your pie is still too jiggly in the center, throw on a piece of foil to keep it from browning further. Once the pie filling is no longer liquid, and the crust is nicely brown, throw on the foil.  I usually do this with about 25 to 30 minutes left of cooking time.

-Take the pie out of the oven before it is completely firm.  You want the tiniest bit of give in the middle, but no wiggle on the sides.  Got it.  Because it's all about the bass, 'bout the bass no treble...Darn, catchy song.

-Do not pre-toast your pecans.  I have made many pecan pies in my time and have tried a lot of different methods.  If you toast them and then bake them in the pie, in my opinion, you end up with dry nuts.  Ew.


Pecan Pie
1- 9" pie crust, unbaked (I use store bought.  Shhhhh don't tell)
6 Tbl. Butter
1 Cup corn syrup (I use light because it's what I have on hand and it tastes great, so why mess with anything else?)
3/4 C. Sugar
3 eggs, whisked
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 Cups, chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 F. Place a cookie sheet in to get hot.  You are going to put the pie on the cookie sheet as it cooks just in case any filling bubbles over.  You don't want that in the bottom of your oven.

Put your pecans in the uncooked pie crust.

In saucepan heat butter, corn syrup and sugar over medium-low until the butter is melted

In another bowl, combine your whisked eggs, vanilla and Kosher Salt.  Here's the slightly tricky part.  You are going to add your melted butter mixture to your egg mixture, but you do not want to cook your eggs, so make sure the melted butter isn't at all hot when you're pouring it into the eggs, whisk constantly.

Pour your filling over the pecans in the pie crust.

Bake for between 60 to 80 minutes (I know that's a big time difference, you just have to watch your pie carefully.  I cooked mine for about 67 and it was pretty perfect), in the center of the oven until (like I said above), the pie is nicely golden and just a bit soft in the middle.  Let it cool completely (I am cooking it the night before which is perfect if you don't have a lot of time on the day of the feast).  Probably better would be to cook it same day, just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to bake it and let it cool for at least 2 hours before eating.


Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream and you will be the hero of the day.  The pie is quite sweet, so take it easy when you're adding the sugar to your homemade whipped cream. 

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Heather

Monday, November 17, 2014

Because it's cold outside...Pantry Hot Chocolate


I frequently run out of prepared hot chocolate mix.  This is primarily because my children and their friends love hot chocolate.  After an afternoon of running and playing in the snow, there's nothing better than coming in to a warm mug of cocoa.  And of course, my kids usually have the whole neighborhood with them, everyone needing a mug of cocoa, so I have to be on the lookout for how to make it from scratch just in case the worst should occur.  No hot chocolate?  NOOOOOO!  Luckily I always have the following ingredients in my pantry for just such an emergency.


 Everybody line up for the good stuff


 Homemade Hot Chocolate
4 Cups Water
3 1/2 Cups Milk
1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa
1-14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt
Flavored syrup of your choice, to taste (I used 2 Tbl. coconut syrup and it was sooo good)

Combine all ingredients in heavy bottom pan.
Cook over medium heat until everything has dissolved, stirring constantly.
Bring up to heat; but be careful as it gets very hot very fast and you don't want to burn little mouths.
***Make sure to scrape the bottom very carefully as cocoa can get stuck in the edges of the pan and may burn.
Serve with marshmallows.

Now time to wash all the mugs.

Thanks for reading!

Heather

Monday, November 10, 2014

Awwoooo, werewolves of...Salt Lake?

I think I officially have a tween now.  Oh, heaven help me.  My Oldest is turning nine which is a hop skip and a jump away from the days when I am despised and scorned by my own flesh and blood.  Luckily we're still in the days where I am loved and for the most part listened to.  If I think back to when I was a teenager....nope, don't even want to fathom it.  My girls are going to be soooo much better than I was....echo....echo....echo....

I am also still in the days when my children ask me to make them things for their birthdays.  Love it.  Can I always make my babies crocheted dollies and have them like them?  I suppose this day may come to an end and I will have to make amigurumies for complete strangers and hand them out on the street, and like it.

My Oldest asked me for a wolf, this year.  A wolf, right, I can totally come up with a great wolf pattern all on my own.  I mean, I did whip up a African Guinea Fowl for her presentation on animals who live camouflaged. But, turns out, nope.  I couldn't.  Luckily I found The Craftery Cattery, and she has a free wolf pattern that is righteous!  When was the last time you used the word righteous in this context?  I'm bringing it back.

Her pattern is well written, easy to read and results in the cutest little ankle biter.

And its adorably long snout.  My, Grandmother, what a big nose you have.
 
This was a very quick to make and I know my daughter will love it.  If you have any experience with crochet, making amis is fun and easy, all you need is some yarn, fluff and eyeballs and you are on your way. 

Thanks for reading!

Heather


Other amis I've made
Girl TMNT ami Girl Ninja Turtle Amigurumi

Lizacorn, yeah, you heard me
Mister's Mini Me




The day my daughter crocheted herself a rattail

April, inspired by TMNT

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Yummiest, No-Fail Corn Bread for a crowd

My Youngest asked me if I will make her corn bread instead of cake for her birthday, next year.  That's how good, and how much she likes this corn bread recipe.  It's super low-fuss and I have modified it from the recipe on the Quaker cornmeal package, just a touch.

I like to make a heaping amount of corn bread and use a 13 X 9 inch pan.  For the obvious reason of my ravenous corn bread eating young and husband.  I have been known, on days when we are having left-over soup and have run out of corn bread, to whip up a second batch because it is loved that much in my household. 

So light and moist (dry corn bread=ew) and it works out EVERY TIME.  No fuss, no fancy stuff, just good, simple corn bread.

Corn Bread
3 1/2 C. Flour
1 1/2 C. Corn Meal
1/2 C. Sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. Kosher Salt
2 C. 2% Milk
1/2 C. Canola Oil
2 eggs, whisked

Heat oven to 375 F.
Using butter, grease a 13 x 9 inch glass casserole dish.
Combine flour, corn meal, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl.
Combine milk, oil and beaten eggs together and add to dry ingredients.  Mix until the wet and dry ingredients just come together.
Pour batter into greased dish.
Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes until the top is lightly gbd (that's golden brown and delicious) and a wooden skewer, when inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Serve while warm with a generous slathering of creamy butter and sweet honey.

 

Serving suggestions that go perfectly with corn bread:


 
easy chili
Easy Chilli

2014 Halloween Showcase

owl face paint
We don't do masks, we do face painting here.  My Oldest was Hermione/an animal witch, so she got a cute little owl on her forehead.  She actually gave me free-reign to paint whatever I wanted, as long as it was an animal. 

snow witch face paint
My baby was a snow witch.  I think this is partly because she wanted to be Elsa and a witch and so we met in the middle.

My little witchlings trying to keep their hats on in the wind. 

Thanks for reading!!

Heather
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