Blueberry Custard Pie

I am forever trying to make good, healthy food apprear out of empty cupboards and fridges. Sometimes amazing this occur. Sometimes the seed of something amazing occurs. That was tonight. The pie didn't turn out quite right but it gave me the idea for how to make it amazing.
I made a basic shortbread crust and pre-baked it.
Then I made a butter/flour roux and added 3 cups of water to it. Next time I think I need to use less water. And maybe even milk would be better. After it thickened into custard consistency, I added 1/2 cup of sugar. I think I should have added some vanilla here too. Then I added to the custard some mostly thawed blueberries, about 2 cups. I let this warm together off the heat and then added it into the crust. I baked this at 350 for 30 minutes and then let it cool for another 30 off the stovetop. I think it would have thickened better with the cup less of water. It was still good! But next time it will be even better.

Easy Peach Cobbler

I found a fruit cobbler recipe on Allrecipes.com that I tried today using the peaches my mom and I canned last summer.
You melt 1/2 cup butter and mix it in with the peaches and the syrup. Put that into a greased baking dish.
Then you mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, dash of salt and 1 cup sugar. Then stir in 1 cup milk. Pour that on top of the peaches.
Put it in a 400 over on the upper rack for 15 minutes until it starts to brown, then put it on the lower rack for 20 minutes to finish baking. Serve warm.

Banana Bread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

I was going to make these the other day but was thwarted by the stomach flu. I'm glad I waited though- the idea I had for the frosting was worth the wait!

I just used the basic Betty Crocker recipe for Banana Bread. To make these more like cupcakes, I use a little more banana and I add cinnamon. So they are softer and a bit more satisfying.

I wish I would have measured the ingredients for the frosting- but it was basically: 1 glob of shortening, an equal glob of butter and a bigger glob of cream cheese. I mixed this with a pinch of cinnamon, maybe a 1/4 of brown sugar and of white sugar. I beat it in the mixer for quite awhile, maybe 3-5 minutes, until it got very airy.
Oh My Goodness, it is so good. I licked out the bowl, licked the spoons, and ate the extra. I never ever do that!!

check out this chick

I was looking through some old pictures and found some of when we first got the chicks. Look at how much Soup has grown!

Valentines

I had no idea you could make cookies out of just peanut butter, eggs and sugar! And they are so yummy!
I made these with 2 cups of crunchy natural peanut butter, 2 eggs from today, and 1 cup of sugar. Mix well and roll them out into balls on the cookie sheets. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.
After they got out of the oven, I used a little spoon to make a heart shape in the cookies.
After they cooled 5 minutes, I filled the hearts with homemade raspberry jam.

Candy Apple Bread Pudding

I had a loaf of Irish Brown Bread, a jar of Candy Apples, and an overflowing Egg Basket. I also had an insanely bad headache.


And thus Candy Apple Bread Pudding with Ice Cream was for dinner in our house tonight.


I cut the loaf of bread into inch pieces. And also cut the candied apples in similar sized pieces. I put these in a bowl with 1 cup of raisins and set aside.
In another bowl I wisked 10 eggs, 1 cup milk, the syrup from the apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. I poured this over the bread and apples and let it sink in. Then poured all that in a greased baking dish. I put a few pats of good Irish Butter on top.
I baked this at 400 for about 30-40 minutes.
Serve warm with Ice cream and have happy kids at dinner time! xoxo

oatmeal banana cinnamon raisin cookies

So, Solstice was supposed to have a talent show tonight... and I was supposed to donate a batch of cookies for the Middle School to sell to raise money for their Washington DC trip... so even with no sleep and a sick sick baby boy... I made some awesome crunchy granola cookies (her school is pretty crunchy)... and then the blizzard hit and the talent show was cancelled so we get all these yummy cookies for ourselves!!
Oatmeal Banana Cinnamon Raisin Cookies
Cream 1 stick of butter with 1 small banana and 1/2 cup both white and brown sugar. Add 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking poder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon. Then add 1 egg. Slowly add 1 3/4 cup flour and then 2 cups oats. mix in 1 cup raisins and drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.