MMMM!!! PEACH PIE

Yesterday afternoon I made a peach pie. 

Just as it was ready to come out of the oven our son, daughter-in-law and grandson walked through the door.

Perfect timing!

After it cooled for about 15 minutes we dished each of us up a piece and plopped some

 vanilla ice cream on top.

Grandson William was on my lap and slurped up all the ice cream from the top but wasn't too fond of the pie.  Some day he will appreciate homemade peach pie.

Not very long after consuming said pie I found these two very content individuals sleeping it off.

Too much of a good thing is WONDERFUL!

Guess what I had for breakfast this morning?

More sweet, ooey gooey peach pie!

What a way to start the week.

I'VE GOT EGG ON MY FACE...

...And on my lips,

 and over my tongue,

and in my teeth, 

and down my throat,

and 'splashing' into my stomach,

AND FOREVER ON MY HIPS AND THIGHS.

But Man O Man are these eggs GOOD!

I'm just sayin'!

CHANGIN' UP A BIT

AFTER SPENDING THE BETTER PART OF A DAY THIS WEEK GOING THROUGH ALL OF MY FAVORITE BLOGS I HAVE IN MY READER AND ON MY BLOG, TITLED 'BLOGS THAT INSPIRE CREATIVITY', I KNEW I NEEDED TO DO SOME ORGANIZING.

Along with organizing I knew I would need to eliminate some blogs that I follow because I need to spend not quite so much time cruising blogs.  I hate to quit following because I know that tends to hurt people's feelings.  Please do not take it personal.  I tried to only eliminate those that haven't blogged for a while, like more than three months, or those that aren't meeting my needs right now.

So now I want to let you know that I will be posting directly on my blog ideas and inspiration of things I want to make that I have come across in blog land. I will call it my WANT TO MAKE post. That way I only have to skim through my blog to locate the ideas rather than in my favorites file or on my desktop or try and remember where I saw a particular idea.   I hope that by posting these ideas it might inspire others to check out the blogs I have linked to.

For my first WANT TO MAKE post I will be linking to Amy's blog, Keep'n The Sunny Side.

She shared a recipe for homemade TWIX bars that look divine.

I WILL be making these today.

Yummeeeee!

Carmel Apples Anyone?

Who doesn't love carmel apples? Check out these yummy looking mini carmel apples over at Glitter to GumdropsI am so excited to make these, they are so adorable.

Not Yo Mama's Rice Krispie Bars

Stop by the linky part at Santa's Gift Shoppe.

One of our family's all time favorite treats is Rice Krispie Bars. I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Janyce over 35 years ago so you can tell it has stood the test of time. These are a MUST for camping trips and just about any other get together we have. It deserves to be served on a pedestal, no really they are that good.
Here they are in the pan. As you can see they have already been tasted a few times.
Here is the recipe:

1 cup sugar

1 cup light Karo syrup

1 cup creamy peanut butter

7 cups Rice Krispie cereal

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

Mix the sugar and Karo syrup in a medium sauce pan. Stir over med-high heat until it starts to boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute then remove from heat and add peanut butter, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour over pre-measured cereal in a large bowl. Stir until cereal is coated.

Press into 9x13 pan that has been buttered.

Melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute at a time stirring until smooth. Pour over cereal mixture and spread with a knife to cover. Let set until chocolate is firm.

(If you can't wait that long then put in refrigerator for about 30 minutes. If you still can't wait that long then put in freezer to hasten the hardening of the chocolate for about 10 minutes.)

Who Doesn't Love a Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie?

My version of one of the most loved treats

Things I have learned about making a really good chocolate chip cookie:

1. Using 1/2 shortening and 1/2 butter makes the cookie hold it's shape better. Using only butter makes a more flat and crispy cookie.

2. Real vanilla makes a better overall taste.

3. Using more brown sugar (or all brown sugar) gives the cookies a richer in flavor.

4. Using only 1 1/2 eggs (thus just the egg white of the second egg) makes it so the cookies aren't too doughy.

5. Using 50/50 on the flour gives the cookies a better texture.

6. Baking the cookies only 9 minutes instead of the usual 10 minutes helps keep the cookies chewy in the center and just the right crispness around the edge.

7. Last but not least, adding chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) makes the ultimate great chocolate chip cookie but because NOBODY else in my family likes nuts in things I usually omit them. For me, the more chunky the nuts the better.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup softened butter (not margarine)
1/2 cup butter flavor shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. real vanilla (not imitation)
1 large egg plus 1 egg white
2 1/4 cups flour ( I use 50% white and 50% whole wheat mixed)
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt

1-2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, buttersctotch, or white chocolate chips, it's your choice)

1 cup chopped nuts (if desired)

Mix first 5 ingredients until well blended. Sift flour, soda and salt together then add to wet mixture. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.

Lately I have been making a double batch, scooping the dough into cookies and freezing them on a cookie sheet. After they are solid I put the frozen cookie dobs in a zip lock bag and stick them in the freezer. Then I just make one cookie sheet at a time so that I don't go overboard and eat too many. There are just enough for everyone to enjoy a cookie or two. (And who doesn't like a warm chocolate chip cookie?)
One last thing. I use a small ice cream scoop (one I got from Pampered Chef) to keep the cookies in a uniform shape. The scoop makes just the right size.

What's Up With Sun Chips?

What are they thinking over at the Sun Chips plant? I will tell you what, they have a vendetta against people like me that likes to sneak....ummm....that is SNACK on Sun Chips. The packaging makes so much noise now that your neighbors can tell when you are snacking on them. This must be the food Nazi's idea in Washington to fight obesity in the United States. What's next, M&M's with whistles that blow when you reach in for a handful? Meters on cookie packages?

I say that us Junk Food Junkies should unite and write our Senators and Representatives immediately, this is discrimination plain and simple!!!!

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

Mini Pie Marathon

My daughter, Maria, over at Rainy Day Farm posted about our day of making twenty six of these delicious little pies. I posted a couple of weeks ago about these pies but was not able to make any because my stove was broken. Go check out her tutorial and crust recipes that we used to make these little yummies.

Pictured below are some of the pies before we baked them.

She is a much better photographer than I am so be sure and go take a look-see at her blog.

Pie In A Jar

How Stinkin' Cute Are These?

I found the best little idea at Our Best Bites that I would like to pass along. These are called Pie In A Jar. You can go here to check out a great tutorial on how to make these little delights. They can be frozen and then put directly into the oven to cook. My stove went out on Monday and they can't get the part in until next week. The 'brain' that makes the stove work went out, and $200 later I may just have a stove again. There goes some of the money I saved by eating out of the pantry for the month of January, {you can read about the pantry challenge here.} I have come across so many wonderful blogs that have some delictable treats and I can't do anything about it. I have been using the microwave, my crockpot and a toaster oven to do my cooking.
Arghhhh! I can't wait to try these pies. I guess I could get started making them and stocking the freezer so that when the stove gets fixed I will be ready to go.

Sandwich Anyone?

Now doesn't that look like a good way to add protein to your diet?WARNING: Always check the bottom of the package before purchasing bread.

Brigham's Buttermilk Doughnuts

What a way to start off the new year's diet. I found this recipe on the Stone Creek Market blog and had to try it for New Year's Breakfast. UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOOOOOOOOOD! These are very easy and tasty too. The family gave them a solid 7 0ut of 10. Not bad considering we are doughnut snobs.

While you are over at Stone Creek Market check out her Pantry Challenge for January. I have committed to do this challenge, especially after the holidays. I have no clue what I have in my freezer or pantry but I do know I need to start using up things I know I've forgotten about. How many bags of frozen stir fry vegetables does one household need? I'm sure I've got at least 8-10 bags. I guess stir fry is going on my menu for at least one meal a week.

BY THE WAY...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BLOGGIN' BUDDIES OUT THERE!

Love In A Jar

For Christmas this year I received "Some Love" in a jar.

The first one is lemon butter. It is an old family recipe that my daughter Maria has lovingly continued the tradition of making for the holiday's. She has shared the recipe and a tutorial for making it on her blog over at RAINY DAY FARM. Yummy stuff I tell ya. Slathered on french toast on Christmas morning...ummmmmmmmmmmmm, nothing better. Thanks Maria. Take a minute to browse her blog, she is amazing. Ahhh, smooth, sweet and lemony.



The next "Love in A Jar" came from my DIL Randy. She is really a creative and talented gal, (although she doesn't think so but she continues to amaze me with her talents) You can check out what she drew for her mom for Christmas at her blog "Hall's and Critters". Butterscotch Snaps cookie ingredients just waiting for some eggs, veg. oil and vanilla to turn into some magic. Check out the cute fabric and ribbon, she is a girl after my own heart, I love black and white. The whole thing looks almost too good to open and use, I just want to put it on a shelf for a display or something.

See what I mean, it's sooooooo cute.

WHAT DOES A MILLION CALORIES LOOK LIKE?

WARNING:

THIS IS NOT A POST TO LOOK AT IF YOU ARE HEATH CONSCIOUS AT ALL This is our #1 bestest family cookie. Everyone likes these {peanut butter kiss cookies}, they are the first to get eaten.

This recipe is a very guarded family recipe that is only shared by the most trusted people. Well, not really, it is the start of Crunchy Peanut Butter balls.


The island in my kitchen is transformed once a year into a confectionary delight. My two daughters and two daughters-in-law get together to do our holiday baking. Everyone brings their favorite holiday cookie and candy recipes to make and share. This year we made fifteen different items. There was fudge (with and without nuts, and there is a story behind that but I don't think this is the place to share it), four different kinds of cookies, almond roca, peanut brittle, cream wafers, peppermint bark, red velvet cake balls, crunch peanut butter balls, turtles and a few more I can't think of off the top of my head.



Grandpa, Matthew and Logan were ever so eager to taste test everything after their day of Christmas shopping.




Daughters Natasha and Maria enjoying a little break with some pomegranate 7-UP. We all tried it and gave it a thumbs up, it was tasty.

Our sweet sister-in-law/daughter-in-law Randy is the official sugar cookie maker. We appreciate her so much for enduring our whacked out sense of humor in our family. Yep we really got into the spirit of things with some 'get down' holiday dancing. (And she didn't even roll her eyes or anything, thanks Randy.) Courtney, the other daughter-in-law wasn't able to make it this year, she hurt her back at work and wasn't feeling up to joining us, we sure missed her.

What's Christmas without Sugar Cookies? They are a MUST!

HERE IS A RE-CAP OF ALL OF OUR DAYS WORK.

'Til Next Year Girls...

{It is going to take all year to get rid of the lbs. gained)

Huckleberry Pickin'

Picking huckleberries in the northwest is a treat. On Labor Day we headed up into the

Cascades in search of these little sweets. Unfortunately it was wet and rainy but they did managed to pick about 4 gallons. If you aren't familiar with huckleberries, they are like blueberries but they are wild and grow in higher elevations.

Here you can see some of them in this bucket.

This is Dustin (son) and Jim (hubby) showing off their bounty. It took them about 2 1/2 hours to pick them. Randy,(Dustin's wife) was a real trooper and attempted to help pick. Unfortunately she had to quit because she got really cold and wet although she did manage to pick about a 1/2 bucket. She was braver than me, I sat in the truck and read where it was warm and dry.

They look like blueberries but they are a little smaller and have a very sweet taste. You can use them like blueberries in pancakes, muffins or pies. Huckleberry syrup is also a real treat.



I chose to make a pie. Now mind you I don't make the prettiest pies in the world but they taste wonderful.






The berries are just waiting to get the top crust on and then into the oven.




The top is on and sprinkled with little sugar to give them a little crunch.

See, I told you I didn't make the prettiest pies, I can never keep them from leaking.

Yummy good stuff!

And there you have my idea of how to use huckleberries.

'Tis the Season...for canning that is.

August signals the season for harvesting and canning and so my daughter Maria and I got down to business. Now mind you, I haven't done too much canning over the last 10 years. When all four kids were still at home I did put up quite a bit of fruit, vegetables and jams. I even canned my own chili, clam chowder and garden veggie soup. It was a lot of work but oh so rewarding to look at my shelves filled with good food and know that there wasn't anything artificial added or ingredients I couldn't even pronounce. Now that my children are married and have families they are more willing to learn how to can for themselves {none of them were ever interested when they were still at home}. Below is Maria sharing the "peach guts". We started off canning dry white beans and red bean. These were done just for the convienance. She makes white chicken chili a lot during the winter and thought it would be handy to have some jars on hand for quick meals after church on Sunday's.
We also canned beets right out of her garden. They were sure "colorful" while we cooked them, such a pretty color of dark magenta. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the beets in jars.
The red beans precooking before being put into the jars for processing
More "peach guts" that were sent out for the chickens and goats to enjoy.
Getting the canner kettle filled so we could get these beauties processed.
Here I am with Maria enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. Notice the lettering on the wall behind us...Memories. That's what we were really making. Believe it or not we had a blast.
You will never find peaches in the store as good as home canned.
Don't those look yummy?