Crust

It's no secret I have been baking pies every week for a mission trip that some of the young moms are taking this next spring. Pie making and I go w-a-a-a-y back. My grandmother taught me when I was about 6 or 7 years old and since my mom hated cooking and baking, pie making was delegated to me. I felt like such a big girl helper, I would proudly pull a chair over to the counter and mix up the crust and roll it out and put it in the pan while mom cut up apples. Being little, I didn't know that pie crust was supposed to be hard to master, I just did what grandma taught me and mom always made sure to praise my talents. Kids belong in the kitchen at an early age, it's a great way to build practical skills and confidence in the kitchen!

The old saying easy as pie is so true, just find a recipe that works for you (mine is straight out of Betty Crocker), and know that your shortening or butter or whatever fat you use (lard is best according to grandma and I can't argue with that!) has to be cold and it has to be incorporated into little pea size lumps in the flour. If you can remember that, you can make pie crust.

 The problem is, there is always pie crust left over. I hate wasting all those good ingredients, so I squish the trimmings all together, roll them out and would usually cut them up, brush them with egg wash and then sugar and cinnamon. Last fall we found this set of adorable pie crust leaf cutters at Williams-Sonoma. They were ridiculous price and we wistfully passed them up. I went back after Thanksgiving and they were marked way down. I snatched them up and used them as a stocking stuffer for Earl last Christmas. As I was making pie crust last week I remembered them and pulled them out. They are so perfect for Autumn!

They were adorable and since I had made an all butter crust that week they were flakey and flavorful too. I also made a batch of lemon curd and I spooned a little on top for a treat :>)  If you make pie, remember it's easy, making some cute cinnamon sugar treats is a great way to not waste the leftover pie crust. These would even be fun in a cellophane bag with a small jar of jam for a gift!
What is your favorite thing to bake in the fall?

Happy Monday

It almost sounds too simple doesn't it?

The weather here in Michigan has taken a turn toward the cooler. Lows in the 40's at night and high's not much more than mid to lower 60's.  And rain. I'm still hoping for some bright sunny days and maybe a warm day here and there, but the leaves are brilliant and the house is cozy so it's all good.

Yesterday I harvested the Dahlia's in the garden. We aren't spending much time out there lately and with the rain they were mostly on the ground anyway. I will cut as many of the zinnia's as I can get today. Let me show you a photo Earl took of me Friday night out by the cutting garden, I am

5' 10" tall and some of these zinnia's are taller than I am! I don't know what kind we planted or what kind of magic is in the soil. We tilled up a spot out where we used to have a garden before we put in

the raised beds, but I'm pretty sure the seed packet said these would grow to the usual 18"-24" height!

I have some fun planned for later this week. We have a field trip planned Wednesday to some orchards and an orchard/winery on the west side of the state. I can't wait to share it with you, I think it's going to be a really fun day! 

Happy Monday, I hope your week is full of Autumn fun :>)



The New Office

You may remember the "before" photo taken after our youngest got married in August and flew the coop. (sniff) We still miss her a lot. But Earl needed a new office and since the space opened up.....

 Here is an update on the office so far. It's not finished, we need shelves in the closet, and I need to decide on a window treatment, although the sunlight coming through is wonderful! The room he used before is on the north side of the house and was a lot less sunny.  He can look out over the back yard and watch the deer, and other wildlife playing.

I was afraid the gray he chose would be too dark, but I really like it! It helps that the room is so bright. I also looked for a rug that would bring in a little color. I am not usually loving the orange and rust tones that are found in this rug. In fact I would usually tell you I don't care for those colors at all, but the rug is more on the terra cotta side, less orange, and has some touches of gray in it that goes so well with the colors in the wall. I think it looks nice with the new desk too. A friend was going to donate the desk to get it out of her garage and I told her we would haul it away for her. Anything for a friend right? ;>)  We both love how it has turned out so far.  Actually, with the last of the kids gone it is going to cause a ripple effect as we spread out to the two extra rooms that used to be their bedrooms. A computer will come out of the living room, some of my craft stuff is coming out of our bedroom, everything will be spread out and rearranged. It's going to be a long process, but I am looking forward to freshening things up!  I'll continue to share as things evolve, if I waited until they were done you would never see them! What household projects are you working on?

Happy Monday

Well the month of September has been as blissful and beautiful as any I have ever experienced. Sunny skies, cooler temps, and the trees are brilliantly ablaze. I wish I had another week of September, maybe two. as Autumn months go it is my favorite. The garden is still holding on, although I am ready to pluck the last of the tomatoes and pull up the dead vines. A little clean up here and there, but the flower borders are still lush and the hanging baskets can hold a bit longer. Knowing they will all soon be gone makes me hold on to every sight and scent of them more closely. I'm just never ready to let go. I have the usual list of Monday things to do so I better get to them. I'll be showing you the new office this week, and hopefully some fall décor around the house and garden.
Happy Monday:>)

A little Autumn Decorating

Well it's been one of those weeks! I've had a lot of cooking and baking to do starting with the weekend with a friend in need and a run to the hospital to feed 20+ friends and family who had spent the day there, then Monday a mission of mercy to take home made chicken soup and all the fixin's to a daughter and son in love who were down with bronchitis. I have missed posting but it's more important to take care of people than to talk about my decorating right?

And speaking of decorating, here is a sneak peek of the new office. I'll do a full reveal some time next week when I have time to move the crap stuff off the desk and style it up pretty. ;>)

I had a chance to run to the farmers market this perfect fall morning. Temps in the low 60's and sunshine so bright it was too warm for the sweatshirt I was wearing. I loaded up on some items for the front porch but since I don't have time to arrange the porch today I set everything out by the shed.

 I can't decide if the shed door is "delightfully chippy" or in need of a good coat of paint. I'm leaning toward the paint quite frankly. I like my outbuildings well kept.  I'm thinking Spring before I actually get it painted though. In the meantime I will enjoy how "delightfully chippy" it is and let it be.

 Well, that's all I have time for, today is baking day. I have crusts to bake and fillings to chill, and tomorrow will be pie day again. Lemon meringue to be exact. I love lemon meringue. I'm thinking another "test pie" is in order :>P

Have a great day!