In Praise of Pie

Returned last night from Chicago. The best buy of the trip was the Apple Pocket Pie Mold from Crate & Barrel.
I have the pie plans with Cammie. This morning I tested the recipe.


Pie Crust
Sift 1 1/2 c. flour, add 1/2 tsp salt, mix in 1/2 c. shortening and then mix in 1/4 c. cold water.
 

Roll out pie dough.

Use the built in cutters on the outside of the mold (not the crimped side),

cut a top crust (with leaf vent) and bottom crust.

Peel and chop apples. (1 small does two pies). For each apple add 1 tbsp flour to 1 tbsp Pearl Sugar in a bowl, sprinkle in cinnamon and nutmeg and toss to coat the apples.

 

 

The pearl sugar looks like snow on the apples.

For the little mold, the apple pieces need to be chopped up not just sliced.

 

 

Open the mold and place the bottom crust inside the non-crimped side of the mold and fill with apples and sugar mix.
Brush the edges of the crust with water. Lay the top crust (with the vent) over the apple matching the crust edges, close the mold to seal and crimp.

 

  I baked the pies at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. I poured honey in through the hole and baked 5 more minutes with a piece of foil over the top so that they wouldn't burn.

 

Better than McDonald's.!!!!

 

 

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Running with Scissors

A. M.

Mary Ann: Work up this morning and everything is frosty.
Don: Is it? Big plans for the morning?
Mary Ann: Let's see....going to try to finish the cookbook, and start editing.
Don: Good. We are getting ready to leave the hotel to head to the track.
Mary Ann: Have a fun day, I miss you.
Don:  I miss you too. Love you.

Don't tell Don, I slept on his pillow! I love it, he may not get it back!


Noon:
Sitting on the "Murb", drinking hot tea and discussing bathroom renovation with Susan.
Leave it up to a retired teacher to say, "You're home alone. Drive fast, take chances. Run with scissors".


3:00 p.m.

To the grocery store, making Artichoke Crostini.
When you are home alone, you can eat whatever you want for supper!

12 oz. Trader Joes Artichoke Hearts (frozen), I chopped them while they were frozen
1/4 c. chopped flat leaf parsley
2 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded.
1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. Celery salt
1/4 tsp finely ground pepper

12 slices baguette (I like to slice diagonally, then the slices are longer)

Turn on broiler.

Place baguette slices on cookie sheet . Broil 1 to 2 minutes until crisp & lightly browned, turning over once.

Toss all ingredients in a bowl (artichokes, cheese, olive oil, celery salt &pepper)

Top each crispy baquette slice with heaping tablespoon artichoke mixture.
You could broil lightly after the topping is on to heat the cheese, if you wish. (I did).




Beware, our rottweiler slept in the house.

 

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Simple Happiness

I got a call last night from one of my children in the midst of heading to Andrea's house with Susan to sit in the hot tub and gab. I turned around and headed home so I could call back and see what was up. The messsage was, " Mom, I don't have any debts, my rent is paid, my utility bill is 0.00  balance and my car payment is paid until 9/25." Of course today is 8/28 and on 9/1 the bill cycle starts all over again, but what simple happiness!!!

My home gives me simple happiness.
The view from our bedroom at night over the gardens, the organization, not too much not too little. 
And having a great relationship with my kids.

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Sunday, Father's Day 2012

Father's Day  was originally planned to be celebrated on the boat in Arizona and visiting in Colorado Springs on the flight home.
A gall bladder attack(s) interrupted all that. The Good News.......it wasn't gallstones.  That is really good news!

So Sunday, Father's Day, was spent quietly at home, walking through the Shawano swap meet, planting a new birch in honor of Don, and at the end of the day, relaxing in the hammock. It was so nice, could I order another Sunday, please?

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Ode to Dad

In honor of their Father, I asked my kids why they thought their dad is a great dad.....and here is their responses.

Cammie: Hmmmm, He's hard working, funny, treats me like a princess, fixes my car, quotes movies at the dinner table and always helps me out when I start the conversation with "daaadddddyyyyy...?" in a little girl voice.

Erik: He can do anything.  He's the first one I call.

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Sterling Rocky and me

Sterling was a faithful dog. Walked me and the girlfriends almost every night for 10 years. In the early years people would observe the 4 of us with the Siberian Husky and ask "Who is walking who?" He was a partner in our friendships and a gift would be under the tree for him every year.

He's gone now, pushing up daisies (literally). The one year old, Rocky, has taken his place. Every evening starting out with a burst of energy, picking up the girlfriends, walking the route, and in the end dragging his tail end home, eager to do it all over again tomorrow night.

Sorry, Erik, I don't think he is your dog any longer.

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