Pinecones

So on pinterest i've seen some great craft ideas to do with pinecones.  Today I took the boys out to hunt for some and they filled an icecream bucket full!  They were so excited to search for pinecones, it was like and easter egg hunt to them lol!






After we got home I rinsed the pinecones off, then baked them in the over for about 30 min...a tip from a lady across the way to kill any little bugs that may be lingering deep inside.  For now I just put them in a vase but i plan to paint them fall colors.



Cucumber Cottage Cheese Bites

I don't know if that's the name for these as I found them on pinterest but then couldn't find them again.  I thought I saved it but the recipe was simple that it didn't matter:)

These are really good and a nice healthy snack.  We are trying to eat better around here so i'm trying to find different simple things to make.

All you need is cucumber, cottage cheese, pepper, and spices.  The other recipe I saw called for cilantro and another spice but I can't remember.  I had neither so I used greek seasoning and it tasted good.  Next time I would add a touch of salt.  I used about half a teaspoon of pepper and greek seasoning and about 4-5 teaspoons cottage cheese...just mix and add stuff to fit your taste buds :)  Cut your cucumber in about 3 inch pieces, scoop out the middle and and a spoonful of your mixture and top with black pepper :)



New Chairs!

We had been talking about getting the boys new comfy chairs for a while since they are now getting to big for the baby chairs.  Kevin picked up these chairs from Ikea and the boys were just thrilled with them.  Man, I wanna be a kid again!



Don't worry Alex was super excited and loved his new chair...he was just really into the show and movie and his snack lol!

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Ok, so I keep thinking I need to do an update on the boys...but I keep finding new yummy recipies to share...so again I share one I made tonight.  I'll eventually do an update on the boys soon...i know it's been a while.

Anyways I wanted to find a  Chicken Pot Pie recipe so i found a recipe that was super easy and in the end super yummy.  I can't wait to make more of these they were actually that good!

Chicken Mixture 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 
1 medium onio
n, chopped (1/2 cup) 
1/2 cup chicken broth 
1 cup frozen peas and carrots 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon pepper 
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme 
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz) 

Baking Mixture 

1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix 
1/2 cup milk 
2 eggs 

1 Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.
2 In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Add onion and chicken broth; heat to simmering. Add frozen vegetables and seasonings. Heat until hot, stirring occasionally until almost all liquid is absorbed. Cool 5 minutes; stir in cheese.
3 In medium bowl, stir baking mixture ingredients with whisk or fork until blended. Spoon 1 scant tablespoon baking mixture into each muffin cup. Top with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture. Spoon 1 tablespoon baking mixture onto chicken mixture in each muffin cup.
4 Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. With thin knife, loosen sides of pies from pan; remove from pan and place top sides up on cooling rack. Cool 10 minutes longer, and serve.

* I left mine in for another 5 min or so, it didn't look quite done yet, so please keep an eye on as oven temps vary*








Banana Bread!

We love love love this banana bread!  I love making it in the mini loaf pans, it's just enough to snack on and great for me to slice one up for the boys to share when we are at home or go out.  I've tried other banana bread recipes but non are as good as this one.  If you try this, let me know how you liked it!


Ingredients


Prep

In a mixer


mix all the bananas till well blended, add butter, eggs and vanilla and mix for about a minute.  Add all try ingredients and mix for about 2 minutes or until everything is well blended.  If you want to add chocolate chips or peacans add those last and mix for about a minute.

Place mixture into non stick pan and or use pam spray first.  Distribute mixture evenly if using a mini loaf pan or other pans.  Bake at 350' for about 40-45 minutes.










Blueberry Pie!

Today I made my very first blueberry pie!  kevin bought blueberries and he forgot to get tarts so I said don't worry about it, I want to try to make my own pie crust.  I must say I was nervous that it woudn't turn out but man it turned out awesome!

I prepared the crust 2 days ago, I wasn't sure exactly when i would make the pie, I just knew it would be closer to the weekend.  Making the dough for the pie crust made me nervous.  I followed the directions but it just didn't seem like it was coming together very well.  I just kept at it and smushed in a ball as best as I could, rapped it up and let it set in the fridge like the directions said.

I decided to go ahead and make the pie today and I took the dough out of the fridge and started to roll it out.  It was might hard to roll but once it warmed up a bit it went easier.  I was amazed that it wasn't cracking and falling apart like it was 2 days ago.  I rolled out bigger than my pie plate and put it in...super easy!  I made the filling next and then went on to roll my second ball of dough out for the top of the crust...again super easy...feeling really good about this pie now.  I felt so good that when i had the top on I took it off and used a star cookie cutter and cut shapes out...super crafty lol!

Once that was all done I egg washed the top, sprinkled with sugar and put it in the oven.  It smelt so good, looked awesome and came out amazing...and dam it tasted good!  I gave my hubby a peice and he literally ate it in 5 seconds...ok...maybe 5.5 cause he had to stop and tell me it was good lol!

Here's the recipe for Blueberry Pie

Ingredients for Pie Crust:

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 cup unsalted butter
5 tablespoons ice cold water
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons lemon juice
optional - 3 tablespoons sugar for sweeter dough

Prep:

Use a stand mixer or a food processor to mix the dough.

Pour water into a measuring cup and add egg yolks and lemon juice. Beat with a fork. Add salt and sugar, if using. Drop in an ice cube to chill the mixture while you prep your flour.

Sift flour into the bowl of a stand mixer and add butter cubes. Use the paddle attachment and beat for about a minute until butter and flour are partially smeared together. It’s okay to have some lumps.


With the mixer on ‘Stir’, slowly drizzle the egg and water liquid into the flour and butter. Mix for another 60 seconds until the dough starts to come together. Stop the mixer, remove paddle, and using your hands, gather the dough together into a ball.

Remove pie dough from mixing bowl and place on a lightly floured counter. Divide dough into two and flatten each piece slightly. Wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap. Don’t worry if dough is slightly crumbly, it will come together in the chilling process.

Chill dough for at least four hours and overnight if possible. Your pie dough is now ready to be used!

Dough discs may be frozen for up to five weeks.








Filling:

6 cups fresh blueberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 all purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Top of Pie:

1 egg
2 teaspoons sugar


Prep:
 
 In large bowl, combine blueberries, sugar, flour, lemon zest and lemon juice; set aside.

On lightly floured surface, roll out half of the pastry to generous 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness; fit into 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Trim to leave 3/4-inch (2 cm) overhang. Poor in filling

Roll out remaining pastry. Whisk egg yolk with 2 tsp water; brush some over pastry rim. Fit pastry over filling; trim to leave 3/4-inch (2 cm) overhang. Fold overhang under bottom pastry rim; seal and flute edge. Brush top with remaining egg wash; sprinkle with sugar. Cut steam vents in top.

Bake on baking sheet in bottom third of 425°F oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F bake until bottom is golden and filling is bubbly, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool on rack.

Serve and enjoy with icecream!!!

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  •  * Just a note, make sure your pie crust is thinner than what you see here.  This was my first one and it was a bit too thick, it should be nice and thin....it was still yummy though :) *