tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77815925712479481882024-03-14T03:06:39.393-07:00I'm a Mom not a ProfessionalTackling motherhood one adventure at a timeJaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-90927182733049563542012-10-29T11:26:00.001-07:002016-05-25T16:59:36.888-07:00A Childs Death, What it’s like…the UGLY and how to help<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Well I think this will be the last post for this blog, I’m ready
to wrap it up. But I wanted to share this before I do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I have been wanting to write this post for
sometime now, I just wasn’t ready to try and tackle it, but now I’m going to
try. First I have to say that everyone’s experience with losing a child
is different, but a lot of the feelings are the same and I want to try and tell
you about it and then give you some ideas on how you might be able to help
someone, if you ever need to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I was reading over my blog posts after
Xander died I realized that I basically only wrote the easy stuff. I
wrote things I wanted to remind myself that I believe,feel and know. I
didn’t write about the really, real stuff so now I’m going to try, but it’s
hard. I want you to know that this is the UGLY side of it all. I
have written the other the hope and faith side (sorry all of those are on my
family blog) but this is also part of it and I want people to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I keep going back and forth on whether I’m
ready to share this first part, but I think it’s important to realize that when
someone’s child dies, that they then have to physically deal with that not just
emotionally. Never mind, I tried to write about it and I just can’t
do it. Just know that it’s hard to see (and I mean literally) your child
not living anymore. Then to have to deal with it, those memories are
hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">First I want to clear up some
misconceptions, I have 6 children (now 7!!), just because Xander died it
doesn’t mean he is not worth counting among our other children. If your
mom died you wouldn’t say you didn’t have a mom anymore. It’s so weird that
people do this but they do and it’s highly irritating. Also just because
Xander was a baby when he died doesn’t make his loss any easier, I’m not sure
why people think this either. I just have fewer memories of him and that
sometimes really ticks me off, but it’s never easy to lose a child, I don’t
care how old they are. It is also NOT easier to know your child is
going to die, there is no preparing for it. There is NO preparation that
you could make, to make yourself “ready” for the pain of it. It’s just
makes the pain start sooner, it’s not better or worse to know or not to know,
it’s just different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When your baby dies after delivery, you
still have to deal with all the post pardum stuff, but without the best
part. It’s seriously is one of the worst things imaginable, recovering
from having a baby without being able to have your baby. I had a c –
section so at first I couldn’t even cry, or sob like I wanted too, because of
my incision. Then your milk comes in and there is no relief and after nursing
a lot of kids it took my milk forever to go away. It’s like your body is
betraying you. Then going to your post partum checkups is
torturous. When I went to my one in Seattle at first a nurse came in with
my chart, and on it on a little purple sticky note, it said fetal demise.
I seriously lost it when I saw that, you would think they would have figured
out to remove that kind of thing before entering a room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The first month-- was pure and utter
torture, there is no escaping the crushing, suffocating pain. Even sleep was my
enemy, I couldn’t sleep very well and then I didn’t want to because when I did
I would have these horrid nightmares, only when I woke up my nightmares
were real. I would dream about doctors handing me dead babies and saying
“I’m sorry there is nothing we can do.” over and over again. There
were others too, but that one was the worst. I hate those words so
much…”there’s nothing we can do” they still haunt me. It hurt so
bad, sometimes I wanted to bang my face against a brick wall, I wanted my body
to hurt as much as my heart did. I liked pain, I wanted to hurt
physically because I hurt so bad emotionally. Sometimes I wanted to die,
because there was no relief and because I knew that was the only way I could
see him. I felt out of balance, lost, overwhelmed and angry, so, so
angry. It’s hard to understand why your child had to die. No,
answer seems good enough. It’s like you’re lost, you do stuff, take care
of people, but you’re not really there. You feel like you’re walking around
on a different planet than everyone else. I HATED it when people would
ask me how I was. Every time I would think “HOW THE @#%$ DO YOU THINK I’M
DOING, PRETTY @#&%^ BAD!!!!” I wanted to rage and storm at the world.
I wanted to scream and scream and sometimes I did. You very quickly come
to the realization that you will NEVER be the same again. You will never
totally be okay again…forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was exactly 4 weeks and 6 days when my
heart finally died. It crumbled under the strain, I couldn’t take it
anymore, so one day I told God that I couldn’t stand it and I didn’t care what
he did but I needed it to be different. I woke up the next morning feeling
totally apathetic to the world, I was 100 % numb. It didn’t last long and
I don’t know that it was necessarily better it was just different and I was
grateful. The next 6 months were very much a roller coaster ride of
emotional lows and downs. Struggling and struggling with it. You
lean on your faith and what you believe but it still hurts, I know I’ll be with
Xander again, but it’s horrible that I can’t be with him now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s hard to get use to the feeling that
someone is missing. You know sometimes when you’re gathering your family
together and you look around and it feels like someone is missing. Well
for me it always feels that way, there is no escaping it because someone is
missing, and I hate it. I want people to know someone is missing,
whenever we are together and meet new people, I want to scream at them “but
this isn’t everyone..this isn’t everyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Then there is the guilt, I’m not sure if
all parents feel guilty but I’m guessing a large part of them do, because you
are their parent and it’s your job to protect them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I prayed for a miracle that never
happened, that’s hard, especially when you believe in the power of
prayer. I know God could have healed Xander but he didn’t…he
didn’t. And I knew that he wasn’t going to. (but that’s a whole different
blog post) You feel like you must be some horrible person, to have to endure
this kind of pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Then the real miracle happens.
Overtime the pain isn’t so suffocating and you start to cry a little less, and
then you feel guilty about it. How could you ever feel better, you feel
like a jerk. Sometimes I don’t want to feel better. But it happens,
thanks to the grace and love of God and His Son you start to heal, a little at
first and then just enough that you can start to pretend. Pretend that
you’re really there, and pretend that you care. I haven’t progressed much
past the pretending yet. There is a lot of stuff I just don’t care about
anymore and I doubt I ever will again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Don’t expect me to ever be happy about him
dying. It’s not going to happen. I find happiness in the fact that
I know I’ll be with him again, but that’s were it ends. I can and will be sad
about him dying forever and that’s okay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I didn’t like being around other people
for a long time. I wanted zero expectations on me and on my time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Grief is so unpredictable, you never know
when it’s going to smack you in the face and leave you broken once again.
I’m still new to this path, and there will always be part of me that is sad,
until I hold him again. And as his mom I wouldn’t have it any other way,
it’s my grief to carry and I do it willingly for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I also wanted to give you some ideas of
things to do that are very helpful.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Remember for them it's going to get worse
before it gets better. At first people are reaching out and showering love on
you but soon everyone goes back to their normal lives and your life is still in
utter pain; you can't return back to your normal life because it's gone. So
slowly things become worse, as it starts to really become real, that this death
really did happen and there is nothing (for now) that's going to change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Be nice</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">to people. You just never know what
someone might be dealing with. I had this experience 3 weeks after
Xander passed away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was at a store with two of my little
ones, trying to get some grocery shopping done. When once again I was
crumbling, so I pulled my cart out of the way and was trying to pull
myself together. My 3 year old was in the basket of the cart and she
started to whimper very quietly, not anything serious. There was an older
lady next to me looking at movies, I was pretty oblivious to everything right
then just trying not to go into fetal position screaming my face off right
there in the middle of the grocery store. The older lady says to me “your
daughter is crying” (which she was NOT doing) I sort of looked over at
her but mostly I ignored her comment. Then when I finally decide that I
could move on without falling apart I hear the lady say “probably because she
has you for a mother.” So obviously that wasn’t very nice or helpful to
hear right then. SO BE KIND, BE FORGIVING, BE PATIENT to everyone some
people are dealing with a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Next<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">be there</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> If you’re the best friend, mom, sister whatever your job is
going to be a long one, at least the first year if not longer. I’m going
to use real names of people that helped me because I want them to know what a
HUGE difference they made to me and are part of the reason I’m not in a padded
cell right now. First my friend Susan literally called me every day from
the time I found out that Xander was sick until well, a long time after he was
gone. This wasn’t always easy you see, because Susan was pregnant too,
and due only 3 weeks before I was. Sometimes her instinct was to stay
away because she knew it would be hard for me to see her. And it was, BUT
she asked me what I wanted her to do, we had a real conversation about it, she
didn’t just disappear because it was too hard to deal with. In the end I
needed her more than I needed not to see her. I always thought of those
calls as my –make sure Jaime doesn’t want to jump off a cliff today,
calls. My friend Keely did the same thing calling almost everyday and
just supporting me. The conversations weren’t always long, and sometimes they were just about ordinary life, but
I needed them. Both of these awesome ladies helped me, so, so much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<strong>Find someone for them to talk to that has also lost a child</strong></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">. </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This is where my friend Ashlee comes
in. Ashlee lost her son almost exactly a year before we lost our
son. Having her tell me that it would get better, that eventually the
good days would out number the bad was so important. I clung to those
words like a lifeline. It was hard to believe, but I trusted her. I
really only wanted to get comfort from someone who knew. It’s hard not to
think that-- no one else could possibly understand what it feels like to lose a
child. Other people’s comfort didn’t mean as much to me. But that
doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer it, you NEED to, but just know that it’s
really, really helpful to have someone there that understands exactly what you
are going through, it just helps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Listen</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">if they trust you enough that they start
talking to you about their child, it’s because in that moment they NEED to talk
about it, so listen! If I trust you and you talk to me long enough I
promise I will probably talk about him. It’s hard not too, it consumes my
life. Example. One time I was talking to someone I considered my friend
about Xander, I just needed a release in that moment and I happened to be
talking to her and she interrupts me and says “well I don’t want to remind you”
or “make you think of unpleasant memories” something like that. Let me
tell you that, that is so ridiculous in so many ways. First to think that
I wasn’t thinking about him already is just dumb. You do nothing but
think about it, for a long, long, long time. It’s like you are being
smashed by this mountain, and someone comes along and says “well, I didn’t want
to remind you that you are being smashed by a mountain.” Like you could
forget. Plus talking about him is not unpleasant, I love him and all my
memories of him are very precious to me, not hurtful. Just listen, it’s
easy and just so you know it’s okay to ask questions. Don’t worry, if I
ever didn’t want to answer a question or talk about it, I would just tell
people that. Trust me you’re not going to force them to do something that
they don’t want</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Reach out</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">this is more for friends and extended
family. Call, they probably won’t answer but that’s okay leave a
message. E-mail, send a card or flowers, text, FB them, do
something. Not doing anything is never the right answer. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> <b>Don’t pretend like it didn’t happen because
it did</b>. All you have to say is that you’re sorry. That’s it and it’s easy.
You can also give relief. Do laundry, bring dinner, take the other
kids for a while. I had a friend that would send me funny stories that
she wrote. Think and pray about it you’ll know what to do, just do
something. I can’t even begin to name all these people, but you know who you
are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Remember</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> write on your calendar
the 1 month date (and other dates) and send an I’m thinking of you message. I
always love it when people remember him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<strong>Don’t forget about DAD. </strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Men and women grieve differently, but that doesn’t mean
that the dad isn’t hurting just as much as the mom. He will need just as
much love and support as the mom does. So please don’t forget him, it’s
hard to see your husband hurting and know that because of my own grief that
people often overlook his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<strong>Allow them to Serve</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously they won’t be able to do this at
first, but let them do things that serve others. I started with my own
children, instead of lying in bed all day and crying my face off like I wanted
too, I made myself get up and serve my family. If they are ever going to
find themselves again they need to lose themselves in service to others.
I know to some people this will sound counter intuitive and you would want to
tell them to take care of themselves first. But really they need to do
both. So if they volunteer to do something, let them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<strong>Pray</strong></span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">for them, they are going to need it for a
long, long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Be patient</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">, remember you are going to be able to
move on a lot sooner than they will. They won’t ever totally be over it
so don’t expect that of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<strong>Don’t talk about them, talk to them</strong></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">! They’ll never know you care, if
you don’t tell them. Don’t just ask their best friend or mom how they’re
doing ask them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I know there is probably other stuff, so
when I think of it I will add it. This will probably grow and change as I
move down the path. I hope this gives someone some ideas and let’s
someone else know that they are not alone in their grief and pain. Feel
free to share it however you feel like you should. And if anyone else
thinks of something that really helped them through this process, please leave
a comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">--Jaime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A9Ogj55gJUg/UI7NdQ05ikI/AAAAAAAAM4s/skG1sQQAHFI/s1600-h/061%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="061" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tMV8LumwWpw/UI7NeGuL3TI/AAAAAAAAM40/rwHQykXKtKY/061_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="061" width="244" /></a>Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-70333396520661337652012-06-21T13:28:00.001-07:002012-06-21T13:28:52.782-07:00Monster Cake 2012<p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2IokwfIsam0/T-OD984Zy7I/AAAAAAAAL1A/QrOGbVv1XEM/s1600-h/011%25255B28%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_6xFN02RXuk/T-OD-QVo4NI/AAAAAAAAL1I/KWftKWVCHbw/011_thumb%25255B28%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="407"></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">This cake was so easy to make and it was just perfect for the 6 year old cutie pie I made it for that I thought that I would share it with you. </p> <p align="center">I actually found this @ Bakerella. But it had cake pops for the eyes and I wasn’t in the mood to make cake pops. So I just covered large marshmallows with icing and added black licorice drops for the middle of the eyes and the mouth. </p> <p align="center">This is 3 round cakes that I cut in half to make 6 layers. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WGrN2mb7AD0/T-OD-zSW8jI/AAAAAAAAL1Q/_8ZCDHBwTlw/s1600-h/041%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="041" alt="041" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I2PV-8d5Ewc/T-OD_V193CI/AAAAAAAAL1Y/eZzKHIGfCos/041_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"> I tinted some icing an amazing shade of blue. First I just iced the outside of the cake with a knife to cover up all the cake. Then I used a decorating tip to add the hair all over the cake. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hqpVbsMihzQ/T-OD_oJTIHI/AAAAAAAAL1g/s0DAqmu9B3o/s1600-h/008%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nkEsddZz0lk/T-OEACKEsvI/AAAAAAAAL1o/r5zysDnxj64/008_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="299"></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">It actually came together really quickly I was so surprised. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lepbJRwIbYs/T-OEAgmdqkI/AAAAAAAAL1w/qaV7X2ryhBk/s1600-h/011%25255B40%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YOdghw-Xgw4/T-OEA1n-80I/AAAAAAAAL14/ejtFyy7Nc1M/011_thumb%25255B41%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" height="374"></a></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-60175434644031949222012-06-13T07:49:00.001-07:002012-06-13T08:11:41.106-07:00I’m not crazy, I’m just a little UnwellI took a picture of something I made the other day. My husband very casually asked me, “So are you blogging again?” …maybe but don’t hold your breath. : )<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WziA88-n02k?fs=1" width="459"></iframe></div>Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-70057861914590274242012-04-16T13:08:00.001-07:002012-05-04T07:49:18.099-07:00A Child’s Death is Never Expected, Even When it is<p>A had to endure the stupidest conversation ever the other day. This lady told me I was lucky, that I had it easier in some ways because we knew that Xander was sick, and that it should make it (his death) easier for me because it was “expected”. Let me tell you some of the things I expected as Xander’s mother. First I expected to be pregnant for 40 weeks, to once again gain a lot more weight then I ever wanted to, to be tired and achy. I expected to get to May and have only one pair of pants to wear until the middle of June. I expected June to come very slowly, for it sometimes to feel like it would never get here. I expected to daydream about him, wonder what he would look like, or be like, & when he would arrive. I expected one day in June to go to the hospital and have our third son, and our sixth child. I expected to experience the pain of labor literally overcome by the joy of birth. I expected to have him placed on my chest as I relished in the miracle of him, to wipe clean his face as I gazed into his eyes for the first time. I expected to hold him to my breast, to nurse him to create that bond that only is between a mother and her baby. I expected to bring him home. I expected to introduce him to his brothers and sisters. I expected late nights, with little sleep. I expected to hold him very late at night when everyone else in the house was asleep, hold him in my arms in that quiet moment and just be, me and him. I expected two more years of diapers. I expected to watch mesmerized by all of his firsts, first roll over, first crawl, first sit-up, first food, first walk, first word. It never gets old by the way, just because I have done it five times before him. I expected to hold him when he fell and hurt his knee, to wipe away his tears. I expected birthday cakes and parties. I expected to cry as I dropped him off for his fist day of kindergarten. I expected to be proud when he scored his first goal, or read his first book. I expected to teach him to be a good person, to love others, to treat people with respect. I expected to watch him grow from a baby, to a little boy, to a boy, to a teen, to a man. I expected to watch him get baptized, do Boy Scouts, have his first crush, first love, heartbreak, go on a mission. I expected one day to watch him get married and have his own family. I expected to be his mom. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--rjnxSo5M4A/T4x8KevscUI/AAAAAAAALa0/ZtYh1Bi5znE/s1600-h/Xander%252520feet%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Xander feet" border="0" alt="Xander feet" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DSnXgyAVM7c/T4x8KwQeYXI/AAAAAAAALa8/JMqSrpaEEZM/Xander%252520feet_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="216"></a></p> <p>I really truly know, I’m still his mom. But my arms ache from the want of holding him, and it makes no difference that it was “expected”. The only thing that makes it easier is the knowledge that Christ truly did overcome the grave and that one day my arms will ache no more. </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-55245108543847085522012-04-05T12:35:00.000-07:002012-04-06T11:19:29.037-07:00Happy Easter<div style="text-align: center">Easter has always meant a lot to me. This year I must say, it means a little bit more. Love & miss you Xander boy.</div> <div style="text-align: center"> </div> <div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="270" id="flashObj" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=810362900001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lds.org%2Fmedia-library%2Fvideo%2Fmormon-messages%3Flang%3Deng%26id%3D2009-06-26-sunday-will-come%232009-06-26-sunday-will-come&playerID=710849472001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAApYNoccE~,xDmRWfqDlPhbhwoOkZ1F_TSoe20nAtRQ&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=810362900001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lds.org%2Fmedia-library%2Fvideo%2Fmormon-messages%3Flang%3Deng%26id%3D2009-06-26-sunday-will-come%232009-06-26-sunday-will-come&playerID=710849472001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAApYNoccE~,xDmRWfqDlPhbhwoOkZ1F_TSoe20nAtRQ&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="270" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-46786710723758712742012-03-24T11:15:00.001-07:002012-03-24T11:15:03.150-07:00Xander Cole<p align="center"><font face="Beach"><font size="4"><font face="Arial Black">Xander was born on Tuesday March 20th @ 7:11 p.m. via emergency c-section. He was with us for about 20 minutes, before he passed. What a special little guy we are so privileged to have.</font> </font></font></p> <p><font size="4"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7mip0u6jSO8/T24PIjepd-I/AAAAAAAALLI/SFfFqsV0600/s1600-h/Xander-feet6.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Xander feet" border="0" alt="Xander feet" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iutcwicFEtE/T24PJFffuYI/AAAAAAAALLQ/WxVzZzLk-3Y/Xander-feet_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="521" height="240"></a></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-88375592713463218502012-03-13T09:40:00.001-07:002012-03-13T09:40:46.439-07:00Almost Italian Easter Bread<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rsr1ToEzIfE/T194dihdW-I/AAAAAAAALIs/UijPsS3WtNo/s1600-h/036%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qv_aHBvrIEY/T194eKPG7dI/AAAAAAAALI0/sIWLV2vfsbo/036_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="272"></a></p> <p>Another recipe I found and tried from Pinterest. I know it’s a little early for Easter, but hopefully I’ll be in a hospital on Easter, and I really wanted to make these for the kids. You can find the recipe right <a href="http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2008/3/19/italian-easter-bread.html" target="_blank"><strong><font size="5">here</font></strong></a><strong><font size="5">.</font></strong> I followed the recipe exactly, but the reason I wanted to show them to you is because I did do something a little different. You are suppose to put real dyed eggs in the middle of the bread and bake them, but I didn’t want to do that, so the kids and I made fake eggs out of the dough and dyed them with egg wash that was mixed with some food coloring. It worked so well! </p> <p>What I did first was to make a double batch of the dough. Which I would actually recommend NOT DOING unless you are bringing these things somewhere. I ended up with 18 HUGE Easter Breads. They were seriously the size of my kids heads. If you have a small family just make one batch, I think we could get by with 1 1/2 batches. <font color="#333333"><strong>Just remember to leave a little dough behind to make the dough eggs that go in the middle</strong></font>. Then I followed the directions for the Easter Breads. This was a perfect project for the kids, they all LOVED making the bread into snakes and winding them together to make the finished bread. Then instead of letting the breads rise and adding a dyed Easter egg we took an egg and made the egg wash, and added food coloring to it, then we made little balls of dough that we rolled in the egg wash and then in sugar (sugar in the raw). Then we put them in the middle of the bread and let them rise together. After they were done rising we added the plain egg wash to the rest of the Easter Bread. </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">Eggwash for the fake (dough) Easter Eggs.</font></strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KsggsGUiGU0/T194eTTWqII/AAAAAAAALI8/n89U9TJ8OAc/s1600-h/015%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uIUxjhRd_vE/T194e-pmU9I/AAAAAAAALJE/XnbEVam455c/015_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="394"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-whtbqNBWcUE/T194fNSaX6I/AAAAAAAALJM/erT6cWlxC8I/s1600-h/016%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PAWRMW7PjSY/T194fnZaCXI/AAAAAAAALJU/Uo4yVW97_a4/016_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="313"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QKJe4aYwbT4/T194gFBjGaI/AAAAAAAALJc/onFPzqiCxbY/s1600-h/017%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K-CDIBFj3B8/T194ga3zGVI/AAAAAAAALJk/5y8HPfo3aQM/017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="446" height="336"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EZyG0dOaY0s/T194gppu5FI/AAAAAAAALJs/r9HZnxcFwgQ/s1600-h/018%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OCjj4TmG5k4/T194hBurNDI/AAAAAAAALJ0/xY-fUKszzGk/018_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="332"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gRFCHHG2VdY/T194hZQ7HqI/AAAAAAAALJ8/Gb6MsODiblU/s1600-h/026%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="026" border="0" alt="026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X2wkmb6Fv8Y/T194hlZcNiI/AAAAAAAALKE/_gtEWc4FPAk/026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="325"></a></p> <p align="center">I also used a little icing on top, mostly to get the icing out of my refrigerator. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xUfI4xtfmqg/T194h6hZzpI/AAAAAAAALKM/9fLy3Qt-1I0/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wSbiPs3vXTA/T194icnWHeI/AAAAAAAALKU/oqrhc5nr5L0/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="317"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dk9SozeIPlE/T194jB1G0-I/AAAAAAAALKc/ATV2j7kfV_U/s1600-h/041%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="041" border="0" alt="041" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-25rd6IQxK54/T194jTyKvlI/AAAAAAAALKk/p0Kxdtl5IXc/041_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="302"></a></p> <p align="center">The kids loved eating them, as much as they loved making them. It was a lot of fun. </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></strong></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-56378581364769571492012-03-01T15:25:00.001-08:002012-03-05T19:36:17.225-08:00The Plan!<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xZ64z6yJUWg/T1WGL2OtmFI/AAAAAAAALEo/dL1JNYXzcWg/s1600-h/scan0001%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scan0001" border="0" alt="scan0001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2DtcNsatJPM/T1AFffeVj6I/AAAAAAAALEw/TVr72tCdU1Y/scan0001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="376" height="306"></a></p> <p>So yesterday we spent another LONG day @ the U of W, MICC. There are some seriously long waits to talk to a doctor at that place. I started off the day by dropping 3 different kids off @ 3 different people’s homes around 11:20 a.m. (the older girls were at school and rode the bus to friends homes afterwards) then I headed to Bellingham to pick Cameron up from work and head down to Seattle. Our first appointment was in radiology @ 2:00 p.m. We were a little early but check in anyway, and they got to us right away, before 2:00 even. The ultrasound was pretty fast it only took about 10-15 min. It showed that the hydrops hasn’t gotten any better <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mpzhia78uik/T1AFf6P0gNI/AAAAAAAALEY/Qvb8hT5EXpI/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800"> , but it also hasn’t gotten any worse <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dhn9kx2WLI8/T1AFgZBcIZI/AAAAAAAALEg/bvsXs-TdFUI/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800">. He is still growing at an appropriate rate without the edema he is the normal size for a 24 week old baby, and his heart beat is still a normal 135 bpm. So we get out of radiology really quickly and our next appointment isn’t until 3:30 pm. We take a little walk around the hospital until 3:00 and then go check in at MICC. Then we wait, for 2 hours and at 5:00 are are finally taking into an exam room. The nurse checks my blood pressure and all that stuff, and some hospital apology person comes in and apologizes profusely and gives us free parking for our long wait. After she leaves a social worker comes and talks to us for about 15 min. That was really, really hard, but good. We have a better understanding of what to expect, what we can ask for, and what kind of things we need to be thinking about if he is stillborn, or if it looks like is life will be brief. Man, that was a hard conversation to have, but I know it’s something we might be dealing with, and I feel better knowing, than not knowing. So finally the doctor comes in and around 5:40 p.m. and we come up with a plan that makes me feel like we are giving this baby his best chance at life. First she explains to us about what a <strong><font size="3">healthy</font></strong> babies prognosis would be starting with birth at 24 weeks (about 21% survival). Then she works her way up to about 28 weeks, where the prognosis is much, much better, and she says they pretty much don’t expect to lose a baby who is born at 28 weeks in 2012. But now add on top of that, that our baby is not a healthy baby and that he is hydropic, and hydropic babies can be hard to intubate because of all the swelling. So she then asks us what we want to do, and I have no idea what she means, so I ask “what are we deciding?” Then she explains that she doesn’t know what kind of a sick baby he is and she can make better choices about his care if she can monitor him for an extended period of time, and she needs to know from us when we want that monitoring to begin. After discussing it a bit more we decide between 27 and 28 weeks. So on March 24th, I’ll go down to Seattle and he’ll be monitored for 12 –18 hours and I will get the first dose of a medication that will help his lungs. After that is over and she can see how he is acting over an extended period of time, we will make some more choices. From spending that moment on in the hospital in Seattle with him being constantly monitored, to me physically moving to Seattle and coming in 3 times a week for extended monitoring, until it gets to a point where delivery is his best option. There is also a procedure she can try that removes some of the fluid around his lungs, but that is really risky and not something we are going to try yet, but maybe if he gets older. Now we really, really need him to make it to 27 weeks 4 days, roughly 3 weeks and 2 days away. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but with a baby who is as sick as our baby is, it is a long time and it will feel like a year I’m sure. We realize that our little guy has some HUGE obstacles still to overcome, and even if he does make it to birth, he will still have a hard, hard fight ahead of him, but birth is a good thing and it does increase his survival rate (depending on how many weeks he is at delivery). Right now he has about a 10 –20 % percent chance of survival, but if he can make it to birth and past the first 24 hours his survival rate goes up to 50 –60 %. And I feel like if he is being monitored very closely then he will have the best chance at a live birth. So we are praying he can make it to birth, and that, that birth can happen sometime <strong>after</strong> 30 weeks. This is kind of the simplified version of everything, there are so many other things that I could go into but don’t really want too. So what are we going to do if I have to spend the last weeks of my pregnancy in the hospital or living in Seattle? I have no idea, we are trying to come up with a plan for the other kiddos. Cam’s parents just left on their second mission (Ukraine) and my mom can’t come until May. I’m sure we’ll work it out somehow but it gives me a head/heart ache just thinking about it. </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-31294698979921528442012-02-13T08:19:00.001-08:002012-02-13T08:26:17.402-08:00Our Beautiful Baby Boy<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3t_qMzn8two/Tzk5qEEbSMI/AAAAAAAALDM/hqprc5YrqjM/s1600-h/scan0001%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scan0001" border="0" alt="scan0001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QxwzxkyL3Zo/Tzk4GazMcXI/AAAAAAAALDU/KzbgnaeOQyE/scan0001_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="476" height="385"></a></p> <p>I wasn’t sure if I was going to share this, on this blog, especially since I haven’t once mentioned I was pregnant. But whenever I have been reading a blog and then all of a sudden they just disappear I always wonder what happened. If life threw them a little curve ball, or maybe they just got too busy. Well life did throw us a little curve ball on February 3rd. </p> <p>I was looking forward to last Friday for weeks. It was my birthday after all and my husband had the day off, but mostly I was looking forward to seeing our baby for the first time. I had scheduled my 20 week ultrasound on my birthday and was excited to put the worry I had, had all pregnancy about the baby not being okay behind me. I was worried about the health of the baby due to having surgery around week 9-10. Unfortunately that day wasn’t what I dreamed it would be. There wasn’t any happy news. We have had enough kids and enough ultrasounds to realize that things were not like they normally are. The ultrasound lady was really quiet, she kept leaving the room and would be gone for a long time. She kept measuring the chest, and head over and over, putting arrows pointing at different spots especially on the head. We had asked not to find out the sex of the baby but with her concern over getting all the pictures she needed for the doctor she showed us his boy parts at least 3 times. Now I’m not a radiologist or anything but I can recognize a penis when I see one, and I thought that, that was really weird that we asked her to keep it secret and she didn’t seem to be paying attention to what she was showing us. I really got worried when I saw his abdomen, even to my untrained eye I could tell things didn’t look right. I of course didn’t know what it was, and I was still in a state of denial, or maybe hoping I was just wrong and being paranoid. After the scan was over we met the doctor in an office, and was told that things didn’t look good for our baby. That he had pleural effusions. (He never told us the name of our baby’s condition) That he had fluid in his abdomen and in his skin, and that we needed to go to Seattle to get some more information and tests done. He then told us some of the things that could cause his problems but not much else. Of course we were distraught and we didn’t even know what that would mean for our baby or really what we were even dealing with. I mostly just cried, and cried and cried and that is pretty much how I spent the weekend. Monday morning the U of W called and had gotten us appointments for Wednesday. We had appointments with a genetic counselor, ultrasound and a consult with a perinatologist. On Tuesday I finally got up the courage to Google our baby’s symptoms, I just needed to know what we were dealing with. I found what I was looking for, what our baby has is called Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis. All that means is that the baby has fluid in his body in more than one place. (I wouldn’t recommend googling it, it’s pretty depressing ) It was good and bad thing to find out. I learned that the prognosis for a baby that has hydrops is poor. That more often than not it leads to stillbirth. That of course was horrid, and quite frankly still is, it’s hard to know that, that is the likely outcome. Especially as we look at him on ultrasound. He looks so normal, and is so active, his heart beat is strong and healthy. I also found out that there are a lot of things that cause this problem and what is causing it has a big impact on whether or not they can treat the baby. I won’t go into all of that because there is a lot and really it will only matter to us what our baby has. The two main ones that they are currently looking at are Chromosomal problems and Viruses. We are hoping for a virus, and know it sounds strange but they can do more for our son if a virus is causing the problem. So on Wednesday, we went to all our appointments and really didn’t find anything out that we didn’t already know. We did get confirmation that our baby is suffering from Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis, and he has a lot of fluid in his abdomen, lungs and skin. But finding out what is causing it will take time, and there is still a chance that they will never figure it out. They didn’t have an amino scheduled for us that day, but luckily we talked them into doing one before we left that night. Without the amnio it’s harder to figure out what’s going on. We were lucky to get it done too, because by then it was around 6:00 pm and there weren’t a lot of people still at work. Part of the fluid they took will go for what they call a fish test, it’s a quick test that screens for the more common chromosomal problems, down syndrome, trisomy 18, trisomy 13, & Turners syndrome (which we already know our baby doesn’t have because he is a boy) So that’s were we stand today. Knowing our baby is fighting for his life, and there isn’t much we can do but pray and put his and our lives in the hands of our Heavenly Father. It’s going to be a long road, but we’re on it and hopefully are headed toward some kind of answers as soon as possible. People tell you to take it one day at a time, but right now it’s so raw, that I try and live moment to moment. Some moments are better than others, and doing things like talking about it, or blogging about it will usually make for lots and lots of crying later. We have great friends here that have done so much for us, watching kids, bringing dinner and so many other things I can’t even begin to list them all. Plus of course our wonderful friends & families who aren’t here near us but offer very kind and comforting words. I just keep telling myself to remember the scripture from</p> <h4>Psalm 46 “Be still and know that I am God”. Also the song “Be Still My Soul” is a great comfort to me, though I usually end up in a blubbering heap. </h4> <p>1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;<br>Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;<br>Leave to thy God to order and provide;<br>In every change He faithful will remain.<br>Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend<br>Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. <h4><font style="font-weight: bold"> </font></h4> <h4><font size="4"><font style="font-weight: bold">Update * we got our quick test back and they were all normal! <font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">That of course doesn’t rule out a lot of other chromosomal problems, but a least it’s something positive. </font></font></font></h4> <p><strong>As for the blog as you can imagine, I don’t exactly feel up to it right now. I have been sewing a lot, I call it sewing therapy. It actually helps me get through some hard parts of the day. Because I’m a good enough sewer that the kids can actually wear the stuff I produce, but I’m not that good that I don’t actually have to think about it a little and having something else to think about really helps.</strong> </p> <p>- Jaime</p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-11719797350078658462012-02-02T05:29:00.000-08:002012-02-02T05:29:00.694-08:00Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1usKw8TZT3E/Tymu4aZdT4I/AAAAAAAAKcc/uwZcOmbXaEE/s1600-h/073%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="073" alt="073" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y_LOB6XduLw/Tymu4351tuI/AAAAAAAAKck/3iuuMZc8XmM/073_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" height="272"></a></p> <p>These are some of my favorite cookies. The chocolate cookie combined with the peanut butter chips, is a great combo. I have also just used chocolate chips and they are great like that too, or chocolate and white chips mixed. So yummy, I hope you like them too. </p> <p><strong><font size="5">Chocolate Peanut Butter cookies</font></strong></p> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Ingredients</font></u></strong></p> <ul> <li>1 cup butter, softened <li>3/4 cup white sugar <li>3/4 cup brown sugar <li>2 eggs <li>2 teaspoons vanilla extract <li>2 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour* <li>2/3 cup cocoa powder <li>1 teaspoon baking soda <li>1/2 teaspoon salt <li>1/2 a bag of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips</li> <li>1 bag of peanut butter chips </li></ul> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions</font></u></strong> </p> <p>Cream together the butter, white & brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Then add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt mix well. Then mix in your chips. Drop onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 min. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WeNt8C4ITbE/Tymu5NQ0PCI/AAAAAAAAKcs/gDTYTbSv-Hs/s1600-h/069%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="069" border="0" alt="069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b4W0I1-etTQ/Tymu5Wi7pFI/AAAAAAAAKc0/zUxFcZZNqtk/069_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="308"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7GSJW89wA9E/Tymu50l21CI/AAAAAAAAKc8/vrBX1m2qmOc/s1600-h/076%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="076" border="0" alt="076" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y8xTvHdNlWs/Tymu6EYx9qI/AAAAAAAAKdE/csy_RtqWJ2I/076_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="458" height="344"></a></p> <p><strong>p.s you’ll want to have large class of ice cold milk standing by.</strong> </p> <p align="center"><font size="5"><strong>ENJOY!!!</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">*a little side note on flour. Because of where I live I ALWAYS have to add more flour to any cookies recipe I use. If you don’t have that problem go with 2 cups of flour. </font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-35513898925477425662012-02-01T09:18:00.001-08:002012-02-01T13:35:24.921-08:00“Stop making bread, you’re making me fat!”<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d-EyUfqsyT8/TylztAET7JI/AAAAAAAAKY4/l1I09vCrtDI/s1600-h/061%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="061" border="0" alt="061" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xu15ZkxLAhY/Tylzt8bREGI/AAAAAAAAKZA/kbri8AXFRGE/061_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291"></a></p> <p>Yesterday, I wanted to try another new bread recipe to go with our Italian dinner, I was planning. So I popped on over to Pinterest to see what I could find. And I came across this lovely bread<font size="5"> </font><a href="http://www.justlovecookin.com/2011/11/estonian-kringel.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">here</font></a>. But as you can see that recipe is not in English, and I really, really didn’t want to go to all the trouble to translate it. But it does have lovely pictures, and I realized that what I liked about the bread was more about the technique and how it looked than it was about the taste. Any dough that is stiff enough to work with will work just fine. I actually used the <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2012/01/french-bread.html" target="_blank"><strong><font size="5">French Bread</font></strong></a> dough recipe that I tried the other day, because I wanted mine to be savory and not sweet. If I was going to make it into a sweet/cinnamon bread I would use my <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2010/11/original-please-restrain-me-dinner.html" target="_blank"><strong><font size="4">sweet roll recipe</font></strong></a>, (cut the recipe in half and use a bit more flour until the dough, cleans the sides of the bowl). </p> <p align="center"> <font size="3">After your dough has risen and is ready to shape, roll it out flat, like cinnamon rolls. Then add whatever filling you want. I used butter, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and grated parmesan cheese. </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iDpHzsziSfQ/Tylzua9uMHI/AAAAAAAAKZI/Wwsv2dGjzWs/s1600-h/035%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="035" border="0" alt="035" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vqRJwqffTHg/TylzvAyE6PI/AAAAAAAAKZQ/5SgfDkI1qdg/035_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="459" height="345"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Then roll it up just like a cinnamon roll.</font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Kt-wERgM-f4/TylzvU9JR3I/AAAAAAAAKZY/Gmb-waq4AOE/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--hrzUgbG4t4/TylzvrLpIvI/AAAAAAAAKZg/0q0-DYc4olc/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="459" height="345"></a></p> <p align="center">Then you cut it completely in half lengthwise. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cOt68Pn-9rc/Tylzvwn_-MI/AAAAAAAAKZo/wLgeeGhojPI/s1600-h/037%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5r_C1ihqWAI/TylzwBrmK7I/AAAAAAAAKZw/-cc2100nur8/037_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="475"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2MVvjvMRpWM/TylzwWlNhWI/AAAAAAAAKZ4/6NXanjGrBHo/s1600-h/039%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="039" border="0" alt="039" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uloyz_KaCpE/Tylzwi32w3I/AAAAAAAAKaA/bO6RtX6rXeI/039_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="449"></a></p> <p>Then you take the two halves and twist them together</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1DHSP4uP_YI/Tylzw2VSuMI/AAAAAAAAKaI/nu7eraI-8ac/s1600-h/040%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VGxkEX0mr0Y/TylzxMaohEI/AAAAAAAAKaQ/acu-xrKoRos/040_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="442"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Then join the two ends to make a circle. Then I brushed it with an egg wash. Let it rise again for about 15-20 min. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Uqgli2U59U/TylzxXt8F_I/AAAAAAAAKaY/ARjl1tMPiuc/s1600-h/042%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4LKLs9bFmuY/Tylzxq2ALnI/AAAAAAAAKag/meEh0op89tU/042_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="476" height="358"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Then I baked it according to the French Bread directions. If you’re using your own recipe then it took about 30 min half of the time at 400 degrees and the other half of the time at 350. <strong>But</strong> if I was making my sweet bread recipe I would probably start with 30 min @ 350 and then go from there.</font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u6fwprei2k0/Tylzx925QAI/AAAAAAAAKao/0w_OFDCuUsk/s1600-h/046%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="046" border="0" alt="046" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z4tcNfGOIcc/TylzyJqCHcI/AAAAAAAAKaw/L7mhzmDTb6M/046_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="356"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-63yVNLKwBlU/TylzyU_ks_I/AAAAAAAAKa4/RybWe8MU818/s1600-h/044%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="044" border="0" alt="044" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sL-eFWSQfwQ/TylzyhjDmcI/AAAAAAAAKbA/vcPsxssLI_w/044_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="311"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xatqhHq9SY8/Tylzy3afYlI/AAAAAAAAKbI/4OW4VpzbPk0/s1600-h/057%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="057" border="0" alt="057" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jW7qYjYK6PQ/Tylzy5RWgQI/AAAAAAAAKbQ/4a_OrgV803s/057_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="485" height="365"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3e9uMRjUdYQ/TylzzP0PgLI/AAAAAAAAKbY/Akpv4RqdOgA/s1600-h/060%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="060" border="0" alt="060" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vLSdXm5pxPk/TylzzUjjHMI/AAAAAAAAKbg/OFLnxbq4df0/060_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="489" height="368"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a3AHnqfwty8/Tylzzgt-P-I/AAAAAAAAKbo/7-KIKAk4NTo/s1600-h/061%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="061" border="0" alt="061" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y0ezdt68vZ4/Tylzz5CinSI/AAAAAAAAKbw/wa9s2PqRaHA/061_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" height="352"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bXzlUIJgQz0/Tylz0M8DTDI/AAAAAAAAKb4/viktZ38si6Y/s1600-h/062%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="062" border="0" alt="062" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w6skSD66hwQ/Tylz0bhdiAI/AAAAAAAAKcA/jJx_dlKrViQ/062_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="354"></a></p> <p align="center">It was super fun, to make and super tasty too. </p> <p align="center"><font size="5"><strong>ENJOY!!</strong></font></p> <p align="center">Oh, and the title of the post is a direct quote from my husband. He also said that this was the best bread he has eaten… this week. </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-87603834993034144462012-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:002012-02-01T13:36:19.974-08:00Button, button, Who in the heck sews with buttons??<p>So I know you don’t know this, because I haven’t posted any of them, but I have been in a sewing mood lately and yesterday I finished my 4th dress. Currently I’m working on non-matching/matching dresses for all my girls to wear to my 2nd daughters baptism coming up in March! The first one is finished a turned out great. BUT that is not what I wanted to share with you today (I’ll share those when all 3 of them are finished). SEW I decided to try and make a dress that required buttons for my 3 year old. I found some really cute corduroy that I wanted to use and as I was looking through the patterns I found a pattern that’s style, I thought matched corduroy really well. So I got it. LATER when I actually got around to reading the directions I realized it had BUTTONS as fasteners, like real live buttons, not fake decoration type buttons. Needless to say I was a little nervous, but I like a challenge so I decided to try the button instead of doing what my brain was screaming at me to do, (you know like cheat and use snaps or Velcro or something). The top of the dress came together flawlessly, then it came time to actually sew on the buttons. Well I’ll forgo the sad story of me spending 3 hours looking for, while tearing apart my entire house something I thought I needed, to then borrowing it from a friend, to finding out I had what I needed along. Sorry this is all getting really long. In short <font size="4"><strong>I read the directions</strong></font> and made beautiful practice button holes! I was ecstatic, then when I went to do it on the actual dress, well let just say that, <strong><font size="3">they work great and it could have been worse</font></strong>. All in all I’m glad I tried it and I would definitely try it again. <strong>Lessons learned:</strong> Reading directions, really helps. Trying something new is always an adventure!! So here is the finished product, I can never get that great of pictures of dresses sorry. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QCihnWStTC8/TygoKy2ufeI/AAAAAAAAKX4/eOXg9gBHhN4/s1600-h/004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y7o8XnFdaUk/TygoLJUX2gI/AAAAAAAAKYA/BmOqGTXH0Mg/004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="458" height="344"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s_jEEkRCSfM/TygoLixpL5I/AAAAAAAAKYI/BfKTG6fFBAc/s1600-h/005%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s2zpZggESEE/TygoLntBv4I/AAAAAAAAKYQ/Vcrh8o1DnQs/005_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="421"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WJKESpZuxrE/TygoMEo5K8I/AAAAAAAAKYY/6jfMFCP1Djc/s1600-h/006%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gbneK4MteSM/TygoMYU1l_I/AAAAAAAAKYg/EzJo8n-E1ks/006_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="333" height="443"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lZbFXr4XLXY/TygoMgm19JI/AAAAAAAAKYo/N_7ot08uNfo/s1600-h/009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5FNYFl-Acyw/TygoMxgDOdI/AAAAAAAAKYw/B5GerW_o7XQ/009_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="439" height="330"></a></p> <p>Oh there is suppose to be a band at the bottom of the dress in a contrasting color, I left that off for now because, the buttons I had didn’t match any of the colors of fabric, I had and it looked really funny, so I thought I would add a ruffle of the same fabric on the bottom instead, or look for some green material to match the current buttons or look for some buttons that match the fabric I do have. But for now she loves it and wears it all the time! </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-12887402424252265442012-01-31T09:13:00.001-08:002012-01-31T10:16:46.741-08:00French Bread<p>You know me, I LOVE a good yeast bread recipe. Well I found this on Pinterest the other day and knew I kneaded (hee hee) to try it. It turned out wonderful and it was super fast especially for a yeast bread, it takes roughly 90 min. You can print the recipe right <a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2009/10/fabulous-french-bread.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">here</font></a> it’s called <strong><font size="4"><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2009/10/fabulous-french-bread.html" target="_blank">Fabulous French Bread</a></font></strong> and boy howdy it is fabulous! And of course I can’t wait to play around with it and add some herbs and other fun flavors. I served it with creamy broccoli soup and it was perfect dunked right in the soup or with butter and a bit of strawberry freezer jam, YUMMY! Hope you make it and enjoy it soon!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CXy5ZxLgPa0/TyghSS7QmiI/AAAAAAAAKXY/VcfYTbqaZME/s1600-h/016%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JmTX63em1Sg/TyghS3yDEAI/AAAAAAAAKXg/CsQkAoSCUeE/016_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="433"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ib0n3lCghRk/TyghTEotFXI/AAAAAAAAKXo/vddN_f0qR0M/s1600-h/034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="034" border="0" alt="034" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-btrAzZ98MWY/TyghTSrYl3I/AAAAAAAAKXw/rEXIOMAsZus/034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="355"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-61048258019402491302012-01-27T16:29:00.001-08:002012-01-27T16:29:22.781-08:00Carrot Cake<p>It was my husbands 35th birthday last weekend, and he is a carrot cake lover. So most years I make him a carrot cake for his birthday. Here is the recipe that I use, inspired by my mother-in-laws recipe. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9iB-YnBrvkw/TyNBWiM8xXI/AAAAAAAAKWY/IdxtmkVwr7o/s1600-h/065%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="065" border="0" alt="065" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eOnj6Afxy9I/TyNBW8qrElI/AAAAAAAAKWg/4h3_2B2DjwA/065_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="276"></a></p> <p><font size="4"><u><strong>Ingredients</strong></u></font></p> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 cups of flour</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 tsp. of soda</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 tsp. cinnamon</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 tsp. salt</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 cup white sugar</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 cup brown sugar</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">4 eggs</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 cup of oil </font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">3 cups of grated carrots</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 tsp. vanilla</font></h3> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions</font></u></strong></p> <p><font size="3">In a large mixing bowl, ( I use me Kitchen Aid) cream together the sugars, eggs and oil. Then sift and add the four, soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well, once it is combined add your carrots and vanilla. Mix again and bake at 350 for 35- 45 min. For a bunt pan bake 350 for 45-55 min. Let cool and frost with cream cheese frosting. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>We like this recipe for the frosting. </strong></font></p> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">2 cups of powdered sugar</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">8 oz. cream cheese softened</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">1/4 cup of butter </font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">2 tsp. of vanilla.</font></font></h3> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G_3nxWAmQmM/TyNBXfw0HHI/AAAAAAAAKWo/U0wWZela2dY/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rw5hecvIV-Y/TyNBXrXbHQI/AAAAAAAAKWw/aayYKa-NDyY/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="334"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jZyT0VsxK4s/TyNBX1xLFJI/AAAAAAAAKW4/CDU7c-Ze2p8/s1600-h/065%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="065" border="0" alt="065" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PPWUP9rWtIM/TyNBYK0Mp7I/AAAAAAAAKXA/vWhe4T1f0Ok/065_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--BSU4hhboZM/TyNBYTO_asI/AAAAAAAAKXI/KwR8tqC0ZBE/s1600-h/063%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="063" border="0" alt="063" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VSPNNheBmS4/TyNBYnCMrGI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/S8GLrbnrOo0/063_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="340"></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5"> Enjoy!! </font></strong></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-48348145031576419532012-01-25T14:06:00.001-08:002012-01-25T14:07:00.018-08:00Rosemary Olive Oil Artisan Bread<p>Remember at Christmas when I made the <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-un-treats.html" target="_blank">Bacon, Onion, Artichoke Bread</a>? Well way back then I had wanted to try a Rosemary Olive Oil version. This weekend while my in-laws were visiting I decided to give it a go, and all that I can say is WOW!! I have been day dreaming about it every since. It was so great, I liked it even better than the Bacon Onion Artichoke one. Seriously it’s so easy and yummy you should try it, like now. </p> <p><strong><font size="5">Rosemary Olive Oil Artisan Bread</font></strong></p> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Ingredients</font></u></strong></p> <ul> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 1/2 cups of warm water</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 TBS of yeast</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 1/2 Tsp. of salt </font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">3 1/4 cups of flour</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 – 1 1/2 tsp. of Rosemary</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 – 2 TBS of Olive Oil </font></h3></ul> <p align="left"><strong><u><font size="4">Directions </font></u></strong> <ul> <p>Add water, yeast and salt to a large mixing bowl. Then add the remaining ingredients. Mix, the dough will be really wet. Let rise for about 2 hours. Place a baking stone in your oven with a shallow pan underneath of it. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Punch down your dough and add just enough flour to your hands and dough to form a nice tight ball. Shape your dough into 2 round loaves. Place your loaves on parchment paper on a side less cookie sheet. Allow your loaves to rise for 30 minutes. When they have risen 30 minutes cut slits in the top of your loaves. (An X works great.) Slide the loaves including the parchment paper onto the heated baking stone. Then add a cup of water to the pan underneath the baking stone. Bake your loaves for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.</p></ul> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7pepSsowjHc/TyB9ALuHdMI/AAAAAAAAKV4/8BW8CGFHYBM/s1600-h/055%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="055" border="0" alt="055" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ie4spG--Ri4/TyB9AdczGMI/AAAAAAAAKWA/Ot2u6qbi074/055_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="385"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3JaqkgyfA_4/TyB9Ak8DjxI/AAAAAAAAKWI/eA44bPr8qA4/s1600-h/057%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="057" border="0" alt="057" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jgwnf34n2xw/TyB9A2YthcI/AAAAAAAAKWQ/JTm4MGKM8ps/057_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="386"></a> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5">Enjoy!!</font></strong></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-76600254544458654982012-01-17T15:14:00.001-08:002012-01-17T15:14:33.611-08:00Pinterest Flops<p>So like everyone else on the planet, I like to play around on Pinterest now and again. I also like to try some of the things I see. Most of the time they turn out great however here are a couple of things we didn’t care for. </p> <p>Premade biscuits in the waffle iron. The flavor was really off, and we didn’t care for the texture either, they’re really dense. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wNpzMkt2fBU/TxYAzE0NHrI/AAAAAAAAKFE/YbHM7yD-JZ0/s1600-h/022%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="022" border="0" alt="022" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kVPxnCpZJcA/TxYAzSW8pII/AAAAAAAAKFM/9tgG7PLQ_C0/022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="294"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gFF4qrzAEbM/TxYAztBdVFI/AAAAAAAAKFU/l5ZnLAfvZY0/s1600-h/027%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r6peiivmz8Y/TxYAzwCgvtI/AAAAAAAAKFc/hCD4vqTprrc/027_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="350"></a></p> <p>Crock Pot Orange Chicken. It wasn’t horrible just not good enough for me to EVER want to make it again. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EQqtoWN-ano/TxYA0NATpgI/AAAAAAAAKFk/TFLtE2WvJKo/s1600-h/026%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="026" border="0" alt="026" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-88F-P-2Ru04/TxYA0dCvA2I/AAAAAAAAKFs/kvP0HUlK694/026_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="324"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7OUSa3nX1vM/TxYA0rH82YI/AAAAAAAAKF0/TO2rLRJHmTs/s1600-h/027%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E0JQAF4RRBc/TxYA0zb3yMI/AAAAAAAAKF8/IvyfUXYND2A/027_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="338"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z4Y5z6unQvo/TxYA1fbhtOI/AAAAAAAAKGE/Hhl4fUfxA2Y/s1600-h/030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pTKeHWzvUJQ/TxYA1qGjaxI/AAAAAAAAKGM/wBWODGyjiTo/030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="350"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WCu6E5_ARKc/TxYA1192jXI/AAAAAAAAKGU/kurRjaHtUDQ/s1600-h/033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7HNodfs8_IQ/TxYA2IiuF0I/AAAAAAAAKGc/xNiQMGMukUY/033_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="448" height="337"></a></p> <p>I know that not everything I try will turn out great but I never would have tried this two things without Pinterest (hence why it’s so awesome). Plus it saves my poor favorites bar from getting so stuffed full of links. My next Pinterest recipe that I plan on trying is Mexican Stuff Shells I can’t wait!! Hope you all have a great week. </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-69865549656005559572012-01-11T11:33:00.001-08:002012-01-11T11:33:08.863-08:00Dear, Jenette<p>No, I haven’t died, and there is nothing wrong with me. I haven’t been blogging lately it’s true. BUT I have been doing things. Just this week I sewed 2 dresses, which I will provide pictures of….someday. I have been reading A LOT not a lot to blog about there. I have been cooking and feeding my family, most of it yummy things. I have been cleaning, grocery shopping, and enjoying my family all of it wonderful, just nothing I felt like blogging about. It’s true since my surgery I haven’t felt much like blogging, maybe my gall bladder was the organ that ran my blog and now that it’s gone, it wont’ be the same, but I doubt it. So don’t worry dear sister, I’ll blog again…someday. Probably someday soon. </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-17505483918774927632012-01-08T10:28:00.001-08:002012-01-08T11:35:11.635-08:00Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!!<p>So I finally can let you all know which pie was the winner of the Great Pie Bake off! Sorry it took so long but, with surgery and the holidays it was bound to happen. So here are the top five pies. </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5">In 5th place- <font size="4">Amy of </font><a href="http://socialstudiesmomma.blogspot.com/"><font size="4">Social Studies Momma</font></a> <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-next-recipe-comes-from-amy-of.html" target="_blank">Apple Pie with Buttermilk Crust</a></font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">I seriously loved this pie, it was really, really great and not runny at all which can be a problem with apple pies. I would make this again any day, and I’m normally not an apple pie person, but this pie changed my mind. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3gWVfVldL0A/TwngKAjrR3I/AAAAAAAAJlw/dW1arXfEn8w/s1600-h/018%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Zr9p4bJu2U/TwngKdV8UhI/AAAAAAAAJl0/QxuBy1613eA/018_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="276"></a></p> <h1 align="center"><strong><font size="5">In 4th place- <font size="4">Emily & Jaime @ </font><a href="http://our-everyday-art.blogspot.com/"><strong><font size="4">Everyday Art</font></strong></a></font></strong><strong><font size="5"></font></strong></h1> <h1 align="center"><strong><font size="5"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-4-pear-plum-pie.html" target="_blank">Pear Plum </a></font></strong><strong><font size="5"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-4-pear-plum-pie.html" target="_blank">Pie</a></font></strong></h1> <p align="center">This was personally my favorite pie of the competition, I LOVED IT! I would recommend making it and soon, it has definitely made it into my personal cookbook, of things to make over and over again. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vUhO9dNBNKg/TwngKjm10II/AAAAAAAAJmA/IyxdvVU2FUE/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eu7miIc0wuM/TwngK8pkHyI/AAAAAAAAJmI/DDhPHRSnFgM/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="407" height="306"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="5"><strong>In 3rd place- <font size="4">Sharon @ </font><a href="http://www.thisthriftyhouse.blogspot.com/"><font size="4">This Thrifty House</font></a>. <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-20-chocolate-magic-mousse-pie.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Magic Mousse Pie</a></strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">There is nothing not to love about this pie, it’s easy and yummy and I will definitely be making it again! Plus if you don’t want to make a crust you can just serve the mousse in a cup all by itself. So awesome!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RvqSvlDfudg/TwngLDYd-PI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/rw1UuaBij6I/s1600-h/011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-l6UqHQPpXmY/TwngLivcbGI/AAAAAAAAJmY/dpV6m99Q2_s/011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="310"></a></p> <h3 align="center"><font size="4"><strong>In 2nd place- Stephanie’s</strong> </font></h3> <h3 align="center"> <strong><font size="5"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/12/pie-23-chocolate-peanut-butter-pie.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Peanut Butter pie</a></font></strong></h3> <p align="center">Chocolate and peanut butter a match made in heaven! And that is definitely what you get when you eat this pie, a little slice of heaven. I loved that this was a frozen pie, it adds a little ice-cream quality to the pie that puts it over the top. Well done Stephanie! </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zwukMrsas54/TwngLyfCZzI/AAAAAAAAJmg/K2ibGteVSak/s1600-h/040%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NRB7hCxajUw/TwngMM3WuII/AAAAAAAAJmo/BcJt3CEgKv8/040_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="346"></a></p> <h3 align="center"><strong><font size="5"><font size="4">In1st place-.</font> </font></strong></h3> <h3 align="center"><strong><font size="5"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-6-pumpkin-pudding-pie.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pudding Pie</a></font></strong></h3> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center">Well this is the pie that took the grand prize and the $25.00 gift certificate! It’s super fast and easy to make and it was half of the judges favorite pie, (probably why it won <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X7UH80GmME0/TwngMR-jLvI/AAAAAAAAJmw/I1CI8-9MsaA/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> ). So if your craving a little pumpkin pie around the holidays and don’t want to go to all the trouble of making one, or if you don’t have the patience to wait for it to come out of the oven this is a great alternative and a great recipe! So Congratulations! <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O-IIIsAZW5k/TwngMuGPr2I/AAAAAAAAJm4/ov8mStrxMCs/s1600-h/018%25255B14%25255D.jpg"></p><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cHUk3P8NPm8/TwngM5K0KKI/AAAAAAAAJnA/NgVMIgayhxM/018_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="357"></a> <p>Now as you know personal preference goes a long why in deciding what a person likes. For instance, I am a fruit pie person, I would choose a warm fruit pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream over any other pie, any day. And I wouldn’t touch a pumpkin pie with a ten foot pole. So I thought I would give a shout out to those pies that ranked first for some of the judges that didn’t make it into the top five pies and they are</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/luscious-lemon-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="4">Luscious Lemon Pie</font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8conwv9pu8U/TwngNIeabnI/AAAAAAAAJq4/IWSnd9zDilw/s1600-h/133%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="133" border="0" alt="133" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b8a66jYnlkE/TwngNsN9LZI/AAAAAAAAJq8/JUbrTltYXDg/133_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="307"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-8-millionaire-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="4">Millionaire Pie</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-82XCgpo5bd0/TwngN9gcakI/AAAAAAAAJrA/Len-069nXSw/s1600-h/001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zLXH_8ePXTc/TwngOBPUXrI/AAAAAAAAJrE/Ph1bCauiGCg/001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="302"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-13-nestle-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="4">Nestle Pie</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T4sRtFPbPsI/TwngOQ-VMrI/AAAAAAAAJrI/FSoxzy2sWWI/s1600-h/029%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dBSBGRyCTMQ/TwngO07rMhI/AAAAAAAAJrM/aXIZUaOBUgM/029_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296"></a></p> <p>Also because I’m the owner of this blog, and the maker of all of those pies I’m going to give you my top five pies, and you will see what I mean about being a fruit pie person. <strong>Though I have to admit that both of the chocolate pies that made it into the top five, I would eat those again anytime both were suburb, delicious, sublime!! Please can I have some more-tastic! </strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">#1 </font><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-4-pear-plum-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">Pear Plum Pie</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8ZsJYqGHoWE/TwngPJ2ZkKI/AAAAAAAAJn4/E-CxbNGjG0c/s1600-h/031%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A5OIgwcwPfw/TwngPewypMI/AAAAAAAAJoA/AwaJPf7E8_8/031_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="294"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X8LgqPnjNEo/TwngP29TPhI/AAAAAAAAJoI/BhPJ6gISmgg/s1600-h/036%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N4WWO5NKRiQ/TwngQNCtRyI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/7BIkcjAV-Mw/036_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="301"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4">#2 is really a draw, I just couldn’t choose so alphabetically they are</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">a. </font><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-10-no-bake-lemon-raspberry.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">No-bake Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3LNXeRGh1rA/TwngQeGjctI/AAAAAAAAJoc/Quz1jAUXV-8/s1600-h/013%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-10QA1tLS6y8/TwngQ4-KPBI/AAAAAAAAJok/byMHSNqU374/013_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="285"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9pGE_ZKsDE0/TwngRN47XdI/AAAAAAAAJos/q7my92X9Ixk/s1600-h/002%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KNW69JFtWjc/TwngRYv7oGI/AAAAAAAAJo0/ty2AzkNudnk/002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="290"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">b. </font><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/pie-19-strawberry-glazed-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">Strawberry Glazed pie</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IClYp3zRUDc/TwngRpqv-AI/AAAAAAAAJo8/gC6Sq1L3qI4/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZNwsHREmjW8/TwngRwaXoLI/AAAAAAAAJpE/qepl2vlERHs/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Txe81LtPhtg/TwngSTGmuQI/AAAAAAAAJpM/LYWGltaJWsA/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A3mZK1gK-t0/TwngStCnQlI/AAAAAAAAJpU/iidSlxxCE_Q/007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">#4 </font><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/12/sour-cream-lemon-pie.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">Sour Cream Lemon Pie</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w_I4l3gF50A/TwngSwf-HTI/AAAAAAAAJpc/9qRhjX4kb40/s1600-h/033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-emzB_VZ39po/TwngTEOuYrI/AAAAAAAAJpk/fAR6Zluh3QE/033_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="301"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xD6-Bt2AwGk/TwngTfL31gI/AAAAAAAAJps/zr_V28izh5U/s1600-h/043%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="043" border="0" alt="043" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tc7AoUCIol0/TwngT8XZf9I/AAAAAAAAJp0/6yVH7oSdy3g/043_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="398" height="300"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">#5 </font><a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-next-recipe-comes-from-amy-of.html" target="_blank"><font size="5">Apple pie with buttermilk crust</font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cdsqqpvn9GQ/TwngU0arJ3I/AAAAAAAAJqA/a3HttnLGyBc/s1600-h/020%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mz2hoeIHM7U/TwngVawlGgI/AAAAAAAAJqI/3pZ6te5FMr0/020_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="308"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sE96H_07DPc/TwngVrBLYMI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/0ktWQvGwMQA/s1600-h/040%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ulnqBlw5F54/TwngVwdY9mI/AAAAAAAAJqY/rXuhXZ516ls/040_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="305"></a></p> <p>So there you have it, the results of the pie competition. It was a really close battle pie #2 & 3 were only separated by 3 hundredths of a point!! and the top pie only won by 1 point. So very exciting. I had a great time making the pies, and I hope you had a fun time watching. Well that’s it until next November when the pies start rolling out again!! </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-33521467896468381072011-12-21T16:25:00.001-08:002011-12-21T16:25:59.440-08:00Pie Judgment<p> <font size="4">So some of you might be wondering whatever happened with the pies and the most important thing… finding out which pie was the winner!! <font size="5"><font size="4">WELL I am still waiting for one judge to turn in their verdicts.</font> AND there are 3 pies with extremely close scores so I actually need to get the last judges opinion in order to declare a winner.</font> It is some <u>seriously close</u> numbers people. I can’t wait to see who wins!! Stay tuned! </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7pHkOohVbkg/TvJ5FT3tjZI/AAAAAAAAJlg/6R6p8hO7LIU/s1600-h/054%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="054" border="0" alt="054" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YdVKPdN9Iko/TvJ5FuN3c6I/AAAAAAAAJlo/QACLI_QvdQM/054_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="343"></a></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-68784661197048494692011-12-13T12:05:00.001-08:002011-12-19T12:35:07.300-08:00Christmas Un-treats!! Bacon, Onion, Artichoke Artisan Bread<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kiIWC9yX1Xs/Tuev8dQzupI/AAAAAAAAJj8/cX4OoaCfKuI/s1600-h/010%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JsiprhytJlM/Tuev8rHWxxI/AAAAAAAAJkE/Vgsmc31btuM/010_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="312"></a></p> <p>So I was trying to come up with something, yummy but not sugary it give out to our friends and neighbors this year. Then I remembered how easy it was to make the <a href="http://imamomnotaprofessional.blogspot.com/2011/08/artisan-bread.html" target="_blank"><font size="4">Artisan bread</font></a>, that I tried way back in August. So I set out yesterday making a few batches. The first two batches I just made regular plain ol’ bread. But then I had an idea to add some other flavors, and this is what I cam up with,</p> <p><strong><font size="5">Bacon, Onion, Artichoke Artisan Bread</font></strong></p> <p><font size="4"><strong><u>Ingredients</u></strong></font></p> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">3 cups of warm water</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 TBS. of yeast</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 Tbs. of salt (just under)</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">6 1/2 cups of flour</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/3 cup of chopped bacon</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/3 cup of chopped onion</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/3 cup of chopped artichoke hearts ( I used canned ones)</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/3 – 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese. </font></h3> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions </font></u></strong></p> <p><font size="3">Add water, yeast and salt to a large mixing bowl. Then add the remaining ingredients. Mix, the dough will be really wet. Let rise for about 2 hours. Place baking stone in your oven with a shallow pan underneath of it. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Punch down your dough and add just enough flour to your hands and dough to form a nice tight ball. You should get 4 loaves from each batch, place your loaves on parchment paper on a side less cookie sheet. Allow your loaves to rise for 30 minutes. Then they have risen 30 minutes cut slits in the top of your loaves. Slide the loaves including the parchment paper onto the heated baking stone. Then add a cup of water to the pan underneath the baking stone. Bake your loaves for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b2dRKFxD87A/Tuev9BuWG9I/AAAAAAAAJkM/swHVe1iSxj4/s1600-h/004%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GYT9SZXwqFs/Tuev9dAmvII/AAAAAAAAJkU/8Lfl1WAtuhE/004_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="355"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kWs8xFKVOus/Tuev9xjIUvI/AAAAAAAAJkc/-CvxclUBRuA/s1600-h/006%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hBXjSQw2Yxg/Tuev-BLz1yI/AAAAAAAAJkk/lD0JjMe6UCI/006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="361"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wzCobbzVpiM/Tuev-k2cKDI/AAAAAAAAJks/WcbvOcDctMI/s1600-h/009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b6ZZd3jFDkU/Tuev-2CJlgI/AAAAAAAAJk0/tGjEdwb7XF4/009_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="527" height="396"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KvurMcxSI1s/Tuev_ca8gLI/AAAAAAAAJk4/H4RHb7A5_t4/s1600-h/010%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-70kYCsBMrcM/Tuev_ujooRI/AAAAAAAAJk8/po3S1YC4vf0/010_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="360"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9ZxO_138goU/TuewALo2HFI/AAAAAAAAJlA/FStPd3gT42w/s1600-h/011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qcgqk27cLU8/TuewAdWghrI/AAAAAAAAJlE/AulGOurISus/011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="343"></a></p> <p>We handed these out with a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette for dipping. They turned out so yummy I feel bad that most people got the plain ones, but I didn’t get to everyone yet, because I had to run errands yesterday, I could only make 12 loaves. I planned on finishing today but my poor little 3 year old spent the night and morning sick, so I’ll have to finish another day. </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5">Enjoy!!</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4">P.S. Since I made these last week I have tried a new combo </font></strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><font size="5">Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar</font></strong></li></ul> <p><strong><font size="4">Next I want to try </font></strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><font size="5">Rosemary Olive Oil </font></strong></li> <li><strong><font size="5">Sundried Tomato Basil</font></strong> </li></ul> <p>any other suggestions? </p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-6078658465859533222011-11-24T07:57:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:07:03.899-08:00Pie # 24 Sour Cream Lemon Pie<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BAnlJpjFU0w/TuYkVVm5o8I/AAAAAAAAJhg/lVq1wTV_ma0/s1600-h/043%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="043" border="0" alt="043" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qhmAE-DsEVM/TuYkVpFz0GI/AAAAAAAAJho/RT95WlOeT9I/043_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="288"></a> <p> The LAST PIE is from Kelli who says this about her pie. "This pie is kind of a legend in my family. When we were kids, my mom entered it in a "Country Women" magazine pie competition, and it won grand prize! True story. I'm not even trying to bias the judges." You can check out all of Kelli’s awesome creations over at <strong><a href="http://easypeasycraft.blogspot.com/"><font size="4">easy peasy lemon squeezy</font></a><font size="4">.</font> </strong> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Ingredients </font></u></strong> <p>1 c sugar<br>1/4 c butter<br>1/2 c lemon juice<br>1 c milk<br>1 c whipping cream<br>3 1/2 tbs cornstarch<br>1 tbs lemon rind<br>3 egg yolks<br>1 c sour cream <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions</font></u></strong> <p>Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan on the stove. Whisk in the lemon juice, rind, and egg yolk. Add the butter and while it melts, mix in the milk. Cook over medium heat. Let it bubble for at least 2 minutes until it gets thick. Add the sour cream when the lemon pudding has cooled completely. Pour into baked pie shell and top with whipped cream. Best served completely chilled. <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zxhQMioJJ68/TuYkWGjgUpI/AAAAAAAAJhw/5yOBRnQXDZw/s1600-h/026%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="026" border="0" alt="026" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YJ8_DY0yzsE/TuYkWTdshrI/AAAAAAAAJh4/pM98KI0WUhU/026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hss4ku-V0Ic/TuYkWpr9Q_I/AAAAAAAAJiA/QpDUfkG7Ijs/s1600-h/027%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3cbhKSrMprA/TuYkXFcPY9I/AAAAAAAAJiI/U8luo9KLmxk/027_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="462" height="348"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lf_SekmO25I/TuYkXeBrDHI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/wK_D1a5UW3o/s1600-h/028%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vE43LKFkLgw/TuYkXgURCwI/AAAAAAAAJiY/J3Ak2rBdpHw/028_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="353"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wTk33_8bzTg/TuYkX9nW72I/AAAAAAAAJig/K3GyuQYL9uk/s1600-h/029%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LFOfXQVhlCY/TuYkYWAtd-I/AAAAAAAAJio/iDl6WMvgyMc/029_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="462" height="348"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dLZpmFICbUo/TuYkYis3AJI/AAAAAAAAJiw/XNaTqU51DdQ/s1600-h/030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UhMssh8i3lw/TuYkY4E-SgI/AAAAAAAAJi4/dS4pLATgPeU/030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="354"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JOtkgbdnyMw/TuYkZC5DbrI/AAAAAAAAJjA/ejobFlfySpE/s1600-h/031%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y8HAR2UyhDM/TuYkZv7szJI/AAAAAAAAJjI/jhJhMpqAvWg/031_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="353"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-arm1D4h4KA4/TuYkZ1ezGvI/AAAAAAAAJjQ/kBKh3jK7OyI/s1600-h/033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tpbXHCYuv0E/TuYkaAAwpaI/AAAAAAAAJjY/19mU4qUMjkk/033_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="448" height="337"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cRiw85syjXI/TuYkaXTEK5I/AAAAAAAAJjg/IPvcb1_wZDA/s1600-h/042%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pNqESPsRjBw/TuYkavxbXlI/AAAAAAAAJjo/bHZ88xnY5sM/042_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="486" height="366"></a> <p align="center">This pie is very easy to make, and super yummy to eat. Kelli recommends eating it for breakfast and I couldn’t agree more! </p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-77262289197168566232011-11-23T11:39:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:07:03.900-08:00Pie #23 Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie<p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eyKW11jpVoE/TuO1ISg1qNI/AAAAAAAAJe8/85KL7ZVcR2M/s1600-h/040%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4t3axuWNoBs/TuO1IhlZb1I/AAAAAAAAJfE/laiLlc4OFRI/040_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="340"></a></font> <p><font size="3">This next recipe comes from Stephanie. She is a SAHM of 3 awesome kids, the youngest she just had last week! Stephanie recently was awarded the North Dakota Mother of the Year! And if you know Stephanie at all, you’ll know that she more than deserved it. One thing I know about Stephanie is that she is a lover of chocolate, and this pie does not disappoint. </font> <p><strong><font size="5">Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie</font></strong> <h3><u>Ingredients </u></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 can sweetened condensed milk</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/2 cup creamy peanut butter</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 cup whipping cream</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 tsp. vanilla</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/4 c. powdered sugar</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1 prepared pie crust</font></h3> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions </font></u></strong> <p>Melt chocolate. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir them well. Mix in the peanut butter and create a nice, smooth mixture. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until light and fluffy (don't overbeat or you'll get butter); when whipped, add vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix in. Using a rubber scraper, fold the chocolate mixture into the whipping cream; scoop from the bottom of the bowl and lift to the top, turning the bowl and repeating until the two mixtures are fully combined and there are no more white spots. Pour the filling into the pie crust and put into the freezer for several hours (ideally, 6-8) until fully set. Top with whipped cream, grated chocolate, drizzled melted chocolate or any other garnishes you'd like.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IBwr3z3L0Ls/TuO1JMwoB5I/AAAAAAAAJfM/0Xnaj_0scLU/s1600-h/011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X37-B7ScB60/TuO1Jq5CG6I/AAAAAAAAJfU/AvS4zr_xOGM/011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" height="352"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y_id1MvMeUs/TuO1J6KIs-I/AAAAAAAAJfc/2q7SGVdejWY/s1600-h/012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KnlAVJMw7Ms/TuO1KA_v-YI/AAAAAAAAJfk/bk6g2cPsPcA/012_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="457" height="344"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_rOibQE_OEQ/TuO1KTwkSGI/AAAAAAAAJfs/Er3nvEvgKn0/s1600-h/014%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a1m628xuz94/TuO1K8wz_4I/AAAAAAAAJf0/K-0-gLWVzrA/014_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="461" height="347"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sdrRisMLtlI/TuO1LApRz9I/AAAAAAAAJf8/6dRp3jMhWAg/s1600-h/015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gkae0LJrlUU/TuO1LRGq1pI/AAAAAAAAJgE/l5JRH7bo2FI/015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3Oc3vrJ1hVE/TuO1LnfMTXI/AAAAAAAAJgM/SArpEhbPXFI/s1600-h/016%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VyJCsXH4EdQ/TuO1L7tyQOI/AAAAAAAAJgU/7-Lh8Mjc7Bw/016_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="487" height="366"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hko_n1f9rFM/TuO1MCR9QWI/AAAAAAAAJgc/nZwVUYRXnnk/s1600-h/017%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0qxZoXE6oNo/TuO1MapYmWI/AAAAAAAAJgk/WtfvwemjsZI/017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="353"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g4V3SSlFCwc/TuO1M1Vlg1I/AAAAAAAAJgs/-Pz9utlL7CA/s1600-h/019%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qQxQ6YAJ1k4/TuO1NAg3DGI/AAAAAAAAJg0/pgI6nFKsscA/019_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="354"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SGVMGIRabFo/TuO1Nocfp6I/AAAAAAAAJg8/KhjYjT7cwJM/s1600-h/038%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="038" border="0" alt="038" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N5YPAraobLc/TuO1N-M7gwI/AAAAAAAAJhE/x785rNUSCak/038_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="472"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iFUloTG4EsQ/TuO1OPwZ8OI/AAAAAAAAJhM/N9uS64MBWP0/s1600-h/040%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BTDtLPrE2y4/TuO1Of6lh8I/AAAAAAAAJhU/ZqRYGXGg_NM/040_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="354"></a></p> <p>This pie was super easy to make and I love that it’s a frozen pie. I topped this pie with Cool Whip chopped peanut butter cups and chocolate syrup all I can say is that It is deliciously sinful!! </p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-56884367514985497052011-11-22T11:29:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:07:03.901-08:00Pie # 22 Oats' N Honey Granola Bar Pie<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7NppW3In2CE/TuOzMviMDGI/AAAAAAAAJcs/JcmEOqsbn6g/s1600-h/034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="034" border="0" alt="034" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8V2VFUBo7ms/TuOzNIy1F1I/AAAAAAAAJc0/pKiCp4AKg9c/034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="321"></a></p> <p>Okay so this is my pick. I saw this pie won the Pillsbury Bake-off back in 2004 and I have wanted to try it ever since. So I’ll just be making and reviewing this pie, it won’t go to the judges. But I’m so excited to finally try it after 7 years of wanting to!!</p> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Ingredients</font></u></strong> <ul> <li>1 pie crust </li></ul> <ul> <li>1/2 cup butter or margarine <li>1/2 cup packed brown sugar <li>3/4 cup corn syrup <li>1/8 teaspoon salt <li>1 teaspoon vanilla <li>3 eggs , lightly beaten <li>4 Nature Valley® Oats 'n Honey crunchy granola bars (2 pouches) crushed. To easily crush granola bars, do not unwrap. Use rolling pin to crush bars. <li>1/2 cup chopped walnuts <li>1/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats <li>1/4 cup chocolate chips <li>Whipped cream or ice cream , if desired</li></ul> <p><strong><u><font size="4">Directions</font></u></strong> <p>Heat oven to 350°F.<br>Place piecrust in 9-inch glass pie pan as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.<br>In large microwavable bowl, microwave butter on high 50 to 60 seconds or until melted.<br>Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup until blended. Beat in salt, vanilla and eggs.<br>Stir crushed granola bars, walnuts, oats and chocolate chips into brown sugar mixture. Pour into crust-lined pan.<br>Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. During last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover crust edge with strips of foil or pie shield to prevent excessive browning.<br>Cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled with whipped cream or ice cream.<br>Store in refrigerator. <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A0NrxG6RWTQ/TuOzNSwmIPI/AAAAAAAAJc8/xCIeT9lrUv4/s1600-h/001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tV_GUom-Bpc/TuOzNt9RCII/AAAAAAAAJdE/CZwA4P8SURQ/001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="407" height="306"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yjG1tYWQl-4/TuOzOFaRjiI/AAAAAAAAJdM/SpYAodhySvw/s1600-h/003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WSVztgyONJA/TuOzOT2sDeI/AAAAAAAAJdU/BlCWm6jfeXo/003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" height="326"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NzysD61A15M/TuOzOvZ3OII/AAAAAAAAJdY/QHTgO-CjyuQ/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WRaI8T-ztFQ/TuOzO9kiTuI/AAAAAAAAJdk/XcfmRTTpfag/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="482" height="362"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--LyohzMooh8/TuOzPcko2aI/AAAAAAAAJdo/qpY5q4jBsqg/s1600-h/006%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FzSn3pLVzNs/TuOzPhWxn7I/AAAAAAAAJdw/-a7-GAeEz7E/006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="478" height="360"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GlTg9VSm98U/TuOzP8GvY5I/AAAAAAAAJd4/BxrcGyHHGks/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H9Ppj8nvqHk/TuOzQSg8rcI/AAAAAAAAJeA/JUTbUO9KJ8s/007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="494" height="372"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fNeMop9tqvk/TuOzQhJu4cI/AAAAAAAAJeM/yD5u87W-jTg/s1600-h/010%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8OoPf-MNzKA/TuOzQ3ciK-I/AAAAAAAAJeU/UIVz1azejtY/010_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="482" height="362"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-04kMFPQE_2U/TuOzRVJ1pcI/AAAAAAAAJec/o0upRuBiiVs/s1600-h/024%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3wTQZcnY5f8/TuOzRvHg6oI/AAAAAAAAJek/WQU1Mhgi-Kg/024_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="492" height="370"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zzCDRzHWpso/TuOzR-rG1eI/AAAAAAAAJes/Po4UDCMTypw/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rPzLm01TMPE/TuOzSKJhiNI/AAAAAAAAJe0/GY5hN_Uhd5c/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="376"></a></p> <p>This pie was good, but I probably wouldn’t make it again. It’s just not my kind of pie. I you are a lover of pecan pie then you would probably love it. I am glad I finally tried it and can cross it off my To Do list. </p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-38034426907252836082011-11-21T07:54:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:07:03.902-08:00Pie #21 Strawberry Tart w/ Hazelnut Pastry<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YhAvL3lvd1M/TuFb98f-_sI/AAAAAAAAJZg/GeyTeC0g5p8/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-M2Cb4S_fZi4/TuFb-CDbKdI/AAAAAAAAJZo/k7rvz1DJjZY/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="282"></a></p> <p>This next pie comes from Emma @ <a href="http://emmacooksandcrafts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emma Cooks and Crafts</a>. Emma just combined a couple of her blogs to form Emma Cooks and Crafts. You should hop over there and support her new blog, because she is on talented lady! Take it away Emma! </p> <p> Hi, I'm Emma. I have always liked food, but wasn't a good cook or baker until I learned the fundamentals at culinary school. I studied both cooking and baking, but prefer baking the sweet stuff. I started blogging to share my family with our friends and family that live far away. Then I started blogging about crafts and cooking to share what I love to do in (my very little) spare time. I like this tart because of the different crust. I like recipes that have just a slight change from the regular. I am actually not a pie person, but this is on the border of almost a pie, so I thought I would submit it for Jaime's great bake-off and hope it made the cut. <p><strong><font size="5">Strawberry Tart with Spiced Hazelnut Pastry</font></strong> <p>Recipe adapted from the December 2010 edition of Gourmet Traveller. <p><b><u><font size="4">Filling</font></u></b> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 cups strawberries, trimmed and chopped</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">1/3 cup superfine sugar</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">2 ½ TBS. corn flour</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">grated rind of 1 orange</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">seeds of 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste</font></h3> <p><font size="4"><b><u>Pastry</u><u></u></b></font> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">¾ cup + ½ tbs. of unsalted butter, at room temperature</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">4/5 cup of powdered sugar, sifted</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">grated rind of 1 lemon and 1 orange</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">3 egg yolks</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">2 cups plain flour</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">1 ¼ cups ground hazelnuts</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">2 teaspoons ground cinnamon</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">1 teaspoon ground nutmeg</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">a really good pinch of ground cloves</font></font></h3> <h3><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">1 teaspoon of baking powder</font></font></h3> <p><strong><font size="4"><u>Directions </u></font></strong> <p>1. Pastry: Beat butter, icing sugar and orange rind in an electric mixer until pale and fluffy (4-5 minutes), add yolks and beat to combine. Add remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (2 hours). <p>2. Roll two-thirds of hazelnut pastry to 1/8 inch-thick on a lightly floured piece of baking paper and line a 9 inch tart tin. Trim edges and refrigerate until firm (30 minutes). Roll out remaining dough on a lightly floured piece of baking paper to a rough 9 inch-long rectangle, place on an oven tray and refrigerate until firm (30 minutes). <p>3. Preheat oven to 350. Combine strawberries, sugar, corn flour, rinds and vanilla seeds in a bowl and fill pastry case. <p>4. Cut remaining pastry lengthways into ½ inch -thick strips and form a lattice pattern over strawberry mixture, trimming overhanging ends. Brush pastry with egg wash, bake until crisp and golden (30-35 minutes), cool in tin for 30 minutes then remove and cool to room temperature. Dust liberally with icing sugar before serving. <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u8rR3AP3DZs/TuFb-c0KQTI/AAAAAAAAJZw/n1n8ZtpYftk/s1600-h/027%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Elne1MnCCKw/TuFb-1cwnSI/AAAAAAAAJZ4/a1spuHBKjws/027_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s_4jTa3TEQQ/TuFb_JaXirI/AAAAAAAAJaA/3_E252LsUro/s1600-h/028%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q-pKdKraxmU/TuFb_f1w00I/AAAAAAAAJaI/qC5iacoZlE0/028_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306"></a></p> <p align="center">It makes a beautiful crust! Which I had a lot of leftover, so I just rolled out the leftover crust and cut it into squares, sprinkled with sugar, and baked in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, they were really great. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Euq2R9HycUg/TuFb_nHhhNI/AAAAAAAAJaQ/98ubQF4WSo4/s1600-h/029%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ebdH2Qso1SI/TuFb_zp0wUI/AAAAAAAAJaY/MVjdnJLALuY/029_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="487" height="366"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c2hjSIecnwA/TuFcAXKP9KI/AAAAAAAAJag/sDosv67Va-4/s1600-h/030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cm3d5UxgUlM/TuFcAqb1yUI/AAAAAAAAJao/-uBqdK2rewA/030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="498" height="374"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XI-4n1yWz0k/TuFcA6ggfuI/AAAAAAAAJaw/jQ_hmthI1n4/s1600-h/033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0YkwHkBdj6k/TuFcBIA-p8I/AAAAAAAAJa4/3Wv4ZEtjKxk/033_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="361"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QhhRX96jaF8/TuFcBiisd9I/AAAAAAAAJbA/lMkCBdm6zKA/s1600-h/034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="034" border="0" alt="034" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RDxxcbOnsyU/TuFcB2FA1kI/AAAAAAAAJbI/ipYXTqNGVfc/034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="483" height="363"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SCVpcI2Wl-4/TuFcCDLsrhI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/L4myI9rtX7g/s1600-h/035%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="035" border="0" alt="035" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8aFhtXH0VUY/TuFcCkxwoII/AAAAAAAAJbY/YnYhVw3luqo/035_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="485" height="365"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qdXQQV9exDk/TuFcC4m6s-I/AAAAAAAAJbg/jDKEv2CC36E/s1600-h/037%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5gjoH46F9yA/TuFcDB6i-GI/AAAAAAAAJbo/A6PSqEvWNQs/037_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="493" height="371"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WcOLjmeZHL0/TuFcDWcTw-I/AAAAAAAAJbw/KUyUAXM2NIs/s1600-h/001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jOEJ5viCbQI/TuFcDpqk1qI/AAAAAAAAJb4/ivhjGDbih9U/001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="489" height="368"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X3JSuNbVsG4/TuFcD8D3AYI/AAAAAAAAJcA/mgt-exBlUG8/s1600-h/002%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JIYVHboMlGM/TuFcEQVxnFI/AAAAAAAAJcI/WREngdgYGBY/002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336"></a></p> <p align="center">I don’t want to scare you away form this, but with the spices, orange, and nuts this pie smells and tastes a lot like fruit cake…only good! I know my hubby will love this, because he LOVES fruit cake, it’s like his favorite holiday treat. So if you have a spare moment or two you should give this little tart a try.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781592571247948188.post-3886035763850149472011-11-20T09:33:00.000-08:002011-12-12T08:07:03.903-08:00Pie #20 Chocolate Magic Mousse Pie<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AMNvEPMXS0w/Tt-6ynPFt7I/AAAAAAAAJXA/NIqNMan1n_Y/s512/011%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MWWqBj1W6xI/Tt-6y9yafKI/AAAAAAAAJXE/VVGvVfEK1CU/s512/011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336"></a></p> <p><font size="3">This next pie comes from Sharon over at This Thrifty House. Sharon is a SAHM of 4 great kids, and is a seriously talented person. You can check out all of her great projects on her blog <a href="http://www.thisthriftyhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4">This Thrifty House</font></a><font size="4">.</font> This is what Sharon had to say about her pie. **This is one of my favorite desserts to make--one reason is that it takes almost no time to make and the other is that everyone LOVES is. It also can be made to be eaten without the crust! Pour the mousse into an elegant glass dish--garnish it with a little whipped cream and some chocolate and serve it by itself! I have tried a lot of mousse recipes in the past and most of them are very complicated and require raw eggs--which always kind of grosses me out. This one has no egg and is SO easy--but tastes like the real deal--no one will ever know that you haven't spent all day in the kitchen preparing it! Hope you like it too!</font></p> <p><font size="5"><strong>Chocolate Mousse Pie<br></strong></font><strong><u><font size="4">Ingredients </font></u></strong></p> <p>1 envelope unflavored gelatin<br>2 Tbs cold water<br>1/4 c boiling water<br>1 c sugar<br>1/2 c cocoa<br>2 cups whipping cream<br>2 tsp. vanilla<br>1 graham cracker pie crust<br>extra whipped cream for topping<br><strong><u><font size="4">Directions </font></u></strong></p> <p>Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl. Let stand 2 minutes to soften. Add boiling water; stir until gelatin is completely dissolved and mixtures is clear. Cool slightly<br>Mix sugar and cocoa in a large bowl; add whipping cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until stiff. Pour in gelatin mixture; beat until well blended. Spoon into prepared crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Garnish (or top completely) with whipped cream.<br></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WEPbYIN8K7A/Tt-6zGyswMI/AAAAAAAAJXI/05zAbuix2no/s512/0074.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dAYi1_xTeZ4/Tt-6zhbXZ7I/AAAAAAAAJXU/3bI5ssMuNrc/s512/007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="310"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ipEXgC_CdtE/Tt-6z9-h3mI/AAAAAAAAJXg/8WspUt5YFH4/s512/0114.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fRrfs5RiCn4/Tt-60MjbxEI/AAAAAAAAJXo/Wtotu9DDiH8/s512/011_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="332"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hbfZ52zjeyk/Tt-60vrdoII/AAAAAAAAJXw/soui9o2HvJM/s512/0104.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u9l5tl_ODnA/Tt-60yA2KwI/AAAAAAAAJX4/1JMOUGAInY0/s512/010_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="360"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A12jm6VV9io/Tt-61Hpm5tI/AAAAAAAAJYA/KwCIluZD5q8/s512/0124.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ox8TfzLWpu8/Tt-61iG4pWI/AAAAAAAAJYI/qar90oXlVng/s512/012_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="331"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W034C1pXh_k/Tt-61_v18zI/AAAAAAAAJYQ/HMwnZg2GxkI/s512/0134.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2-vkSLWS-IU/Tt-62FgDxVI/AAAAAAAAJYY/zc-BGGJ9hOo/s512/013_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="467" height="351"></a></p> <p align="center">When I was making this pie and got the sugar, cocoa, whipping cream, vanilla, nice and stiff, I was wondering what the purpose of the gelatin was. I tasted the filling and it tasted fine, it looked good, so I couldn’t imagine that the gelatin would change it all that much. BUT IT DOES! It’s good before the gelatin, but GREAT after. It’s a subtle change but an important one, and one you shouldn’t leave out. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eFxCx4npd1U/Tt-62j7-MfI/AAAAAAAAJYg/XSzE-RoA4yg/s512/0144.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2CXva4xA5Ag/Tt-620DiQZI/AAAAAAAAJYo/a9C649Gh14g/s512/014_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="343"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Te1c3bRCAWs/Tt-63EmTUyI/AAAAAAAAJYw/Mofgkq2I9ZA/s512/0174.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GCqXI-v83H4/Tt-63c3-EQI/AAAAAAAAJY4/MkvTEo7MDDI/s512/017_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="356"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9_aePnCdSpM/Tt-63ycmKKI/AAAAAAAAJZA/YLFY2OR0JyU/s512/012%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8jhYw09tZW4/Tt-64D3QYCI/AAAAAAAAJZI/cBIGAaEKG18/s512/012_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="365"></a></p> <p align="center">This pie was fast easy and yummy! </p> <p align="center"><font size="5">ENJOY!!</font></p> Jaime S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03517975985896905796noreply@blogger.com3