Getting ready for summer festivities!
So I have been busy with this thing called life.
You know, the nail polish on the carpet, working full time, trying to clean the lint out of the dryer kind of life.
When I was a kid, I imagined being an adult would be AWESOME. Like mix Indiana Jones and Grey’s Anatomy and throw in a little of How I met your Mother. I have come to realize that it is far from it. But it is still awesome, just in a more low key sort of way.
Such as it is, I am getting ready for all kinds of spring and summer festivities, including, but not limited to: birthday parties, weddings, bridal showers, anniversary (5 years, what!?) to add to the normal amazing stuff we have going on everyday.
So what I have been working on the most has been my grandmother’s 70th birthday party. Here’s an invitation that I’ve made:
Pretty sure it’s going to be awesome. Just not in an Indiana Jones sort of way. More of a loving caring family reunion with tons of kids running around screaming and old people yelling and fried chicken. Oh and cake. Which I will make and post later.
-Kristen
Tis the Season!
Hello world,
I know I have not posted in a while. this post actually has nothing to do with baking! I am furiously trying to get everything done for the holiday season so I can enjoy a little time to bake. So one of my least favorite things is the Christmas card.
Should I, should I not? And what if I forget somebody? It’s hard trying to keep up with everyone.
However, I’ve been trying to make my own Christmas card this year with the help of Shutterfly.com, which is soo easy to use!
I made my daughter’s birth announcement on their site which turned out oh so pretty. You can get a quality card that is personalized to your family inexpensively.
So this year I have compiled a Christmas card that I am proud to send out to my family and friends.
I am so excited to get these in the mail, I can’t hardly wait!
Even better, they have address labels (in case your like me and OCD about things matching!),
and party invites, and even thank you cards… pretty much the sky’s the limit. If you want a blanket with your kid’s cheesy grin on the front, you can get it.
Hope every one is enjoying this wonderful fall weather! Happy Thanksgiving!
~Kristen
Pumpkin Bread
I LOVE pumpkin.
I will eat just about anything pumpkin I can get ahold of. The cuter the better.
But I have never made pumpkin bread. So this was a new recipe I tried. I figured I should stick to the Libby’s pumpkin pie recipe, because I was not feeling too adventurous. And I really wanted bread quick. So here is what it looked like… TADA!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 can (15 ounces) LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans, because I am partial. I made two loaves, one for home and one for work, and did not have enough pecans for both, so the other I did without. Just as good!)
Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
COMBINE flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt and baking soda in medium bowl. Blend pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk, egg, egg white and oil in large mixer bowl. Add flour mixture; mix just until moistened. Pour into prepared loaf pan; sprinkle with nuts.
BAKE for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Chip Pie
I am not a huge fan of pies. Don’t get me wrong, I will not turn any sweet down, especially if it has chocolate in it. This particular recipe has been in our family a couple of years. Not to brag or anything, but it did win a local pie contest at our church. But of course that is beside the point. This is a simple recipe that you can whip out if you want to impress someone. Or eat it for yourself. Either way, this is good stuff! Almost makes me want to make another one right now… hmm….
Chocolate Chip Pie
1 8″ pie crust (I actually prefere getting the Jiffy pie crust and roll it out, but you can use a frozen one or make your own if you are feeling industrious)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 oz chocolate chips
1 c chopped pecans
Add flour and brown sugar to eggs, then blend in sugar, butter, and vanilla. Mix in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour mixture into prepared pie shell, bake at 325 for 1 hour.
Note: I only had a 10″ pie pan, so I actually made a 1 1/2 batch and it turned out perfect!
Enjoy 
Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom sponsored by Cherokee USA, Le Creuset, Wilton,Bags by Bloom and Harvard Common Press
Work in progress!
Working on getting the site up and running, trying to figure out how to add pictures. Shew, it’s a lot of work! 
Chocolate chip cookies
I figured that I should probably start my blog with one of the first things I ever learned how to make: classic chocolate chip cookies. And I have to be honest, they are still some of my favorite cookies, and I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand.
That being said, it has taken me years and many failed and so-so choc chip cookie recipes till I finally found the perfect recipe. This is a recipe from Ghiradelli (my favorite chocolate chips!). I would strongly recommend using Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips, since it gives it a stronger chocolate flavor, but if you don’t have any on hand any other kind of chocolate chip would be ok.
Because honestly, you probably just want some good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies. So without further ado, here is the recipe:
Ghiradelli Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 c unsifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 c Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Stir flour, baking soda, and salt, set aside. Beat butter with sugars at med speed until creamy. Add vanilla and eggs, mix together on low speed. Gradually blend dry ingredients into mixture. After mixed, add chocolate chips and mix together by hand.
Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets, bake for 8-10 min until golden brown.
Enjoy!