Valentine's

I like giving handmade valentines rather than bought. So this year, Audrey wrote "Be Mine" and "U.S.A." (I think she had Olympic fever) on a heart cut-out and then I took her picture holding it while she wore her heart sweatshirt. I added a "Happy Valentine's Day" in Photoshop, uploaded the file to Shutterfly, and picked up our Valentine's a few hours later. She decorated the back with stickers, including some chocolate scratch and sniff. I think they turned out swell.

I'm the room mother for the Valentine's Party and it has been fun coming up with ideas. I made super hero masks out of felt and have ziploc baggies full of stick-on felt shapes and sparkles for the kids to decorated them. I'm going to play up the idea of love and kindness being the best super powers of all. We'll see how that flies. I also sewed two bean bags for each kid and we'll do bean bag tosses and relays.

On a sad note, Freddy II, the betta fish died Sunday night.  This time we elected to break the news to Audrey rather than fake another trip to the vet with a dead fish. She was confused mostly. She didn't understand why she couldn't keep the dead Freddy in a box in her room. Then she was upset because she was overwhelmed on the decision of what pet to get next. Yeesh. Finally, she decided that burying him in the back yard was the best option. So in the sub-zero night, she and Lindsey buried a glassine envelope with our little lifeless fish a love note from Audrey.

Cherry pie. Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day better.  

Love to you and yours.

xoa

Pie

My salted caramel chocolate pecan pie doesn't look nearly as pretty as the magazine. And my instincts tell me the bake time needed to be longer than the recipe called for so I'm a little nervous about the results. Hopefully it sets overnight. The verdict is still out.

Attitude of Gratitude: 07

Today, I am grateful for the pumpkin pie making experience I shared with Audrey this evening. She was a whisking queen. While we wait for the pie to cool, I'm making tea and she's taking a bath. This is a glorious end to my work week. Small, sweet moments.

National Pie Day 2013

Today is National Pie Day, which I try to somehow commemorate on this site each year. Pie is a big part of most celebrations in my family. The most recent pie I made was a blackberry pie for a Christmas event with family. It was so delicious, I had it for breakfast. Audrey thought that was hilarious. What a great example I am am. (See sugar-induced, shaky-handed photo below.)

Today, our house sold! But instead of pie, I had a piece of flourless chocolate torte to celebrate. I'll make up for it at some point, I'm sure. Wishing you a big slice.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Fantastic time in Chicago with my mom. Signature Room at the Hancock Building on Friday night with a stellar table. The first time my mom was ever in a cab and our driver had a big rasta hat covered in pot leaves. Weeee! Saturday we headed to the Ukaranian Village neighborhood to check out Hoosier Mama Pie Company and a few other shops. Sadly, it was rainy and many places didn't open until later in the day. But we had fun exploring.  So much chitting and chatting the entire weekend. I even missed my St. Louis exit on the way home. Lindsey and Audrey did great on their own (5 hours at the Magic House on Saturday!). Glad to be home with my sweet girl and rockin' husband.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

National Pie Day 2012

In honor of National Pie Day, I'm sharing some photos of favorite pies I've made and taking a look back at last year's pie post (with recipes!).

National Pie Day 2011

{My tallest meringue ever! Aunt Hester's recipe for coconut cream pie. My dad's favorite.}

Today is National Pie Day. This post is all about pie. I don't know if you've heard, but apparently, pie is kicking cupcake's ass off the trend pedestal. I have been a lover, baker, promoter of pie for a loooong time. When I was in college, our little hometown newspaper featured an article about the tradition of pie in my family. Both of my grandmothers were outstanding cooks and made wonderful pies. They interviewed me and I provided some recipes.

I sort of see pie as a lifestyle choice. I've daydreamed about opening a pie shop my entire life. But I am afraid that if I had to bake pies under pressure, it would take the joy out of it. I don't want to upset the delicate relationship we have.

My favorite pie to make is always some variation of peach. I like to add raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries if I have them. I've won "Best Dessert" awards with a  Coconut Lemon Tart and a Ginger Creme Brulee Tart. Other favorites are Raspberry, Rhubarb, Pear Pie and Rhubarb Sour Cream Pie. This year I want to try making fried pies.

Here are some fun and useful pie links:

• Tiny Pies In Jars and Regular Tiny Pies from Not Martha
• Pie Pops (gorgeous photos) from Luxirare
• Great pie crust recipes from Simply Recipes.
• Barack Obama likes pie
• American Pie Council

Enjoy!

Pie Town

I just discovered depression era photographer Russell Lee's photos of Pie Town, New Mexico. I'm sure I've seen some of his photos before, but my art history class didn't spend much time on photography and when we did, it was Dorthea Lange. There is an interesting 2005 Smithsonian Magazine article on the photographer and the town. Pie Festival, anyone? I think these images are fantastic. I love looking through the Library of Congress and other public collection photo pools on flickr.

Golden Cupcake

My lemon coconut tart won the Golden Cupcake Award at the 8th Annual Dewes Chili/Dessert Cookoff. This is my second Golden Cupcake. I was pretty happy. Picking coconut and lemon was risky as either flavor can be turn-off. I'm not even that fond of lemon, but the tart was delicious. Here is the link to the recipe, only I just used 1 cup of regular coconut. No, I didn't go all Martha Stewarty and grate the coconut myself. Get real.

Rhubarb Pie

It is rhubarb season! I tried a new rhubarb pie recipe last week and it was fantastic. I've decided that I am going to document every pie I make from this point forward on my flickr site. I'd also like to point out my new green sugar bowl, purchased on Etsy. I bought some doll head planters from this seller as gifts for Christmas and couldn't resist this item described as, "I am a Sleeping Annie sugar bowl, I am 6.5 inches tall and have a circumference of 13.5 inches. I would make a great addition to your table setting. I am food safe and very cute." I need a sugar bowl like I need another piece of pie. Once she arrived, she looked a little like Sprout, the Jolly Green Giant's side-kick. But I love her nonetheless.

Baby is 5-1/2 months old and so cute I can barely stand it. She smiles and laughs at us constantly. I get some sort of weird parental ego trip out of it--like she is really laughing at my stupid songs or understanding my baby jokes. We went to a wedding over the weekend and she was a complete angel--slept through the ceremony and part of reception. When she woke up she was as pleasant as could be and was kicking her feet to the music from the country swing band. She brings me joy like I've never known. I can't stand being away from her for a second these days because she is at the totally adorable stage and I know it won't last forever. I'm a sucker. A real goner for this kid. Mush.