A is for Apple

Hey Ya'll!

I hope the weekend was good to everyone! After the busy {and car-less} work week I had last week, I needed a really relaxing weekend. It consisted of brunch, running "fun errands" {bookstore, The Fresh Market, Tarjet, outdoor mall} and lots of football! My Seminoles gave it their best last night, which sadly didn't equal a "W" for us. But I'm certainly glad it was a fight of a game! And the Bucs won today - so that was much needed! :)

On Saturday I ran to TFM and picked up some delicious produce and burgers to grill for the FSU game. I was really excited to see that my favorite apples "Pink Ladies" are already being harvested for the fall!! If you've never had a Pink Lady - you probably should run to your nearest grocer and get some! Apples are one of my favorite things of fall!! On the way home I stopped by our locally owned Ace Hardware - their entire store front boasting huge pots of mums - already in bloom!! I picked up two tiny pots of mums and one larger pot, to sit by my front door. I planted the baby mums in the pots I had made last fall - and they're nestled on my front porch. . . the larger mums are accompanied by a hand-painted FSU "Funkin" {pumpkin, faux}, some decorative berries, and an orange fall-scented candle! Little did I know, that today would be the most perfect fall day yet!! It was so enjoyable to sit out on the porch and read with a blanket over my legs!! In Florida, y'all!! :) It was heavenly.

In addition to craving fall's produce, I couldn't help but get excited when I passed the Methodist church where Handsome Man and I went pumpkin patch'ing last year. The men were out front putting up the stakes, fence and strings of lights... Pumpkins are due out Oct. 1!!!

I got to thinking during dinner {which consisted of my first soup of the season - Tuscan White Bean - yum! and a Pink Lady apple with peanut butter} - that there are so many ways that I love to eat apples. So I thought I'd share with you a couple of them ....








Slow Cooker Apples - Perfected by Mama B.

• 6 large apples
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon 
• dash of allspice

Place your cored and 1" thick apple slice {we leave the skin on} into a medium-hot skillet with melted butter. Add in sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved. Cover and simmer til your apples are soft. These are perfect as a side dish to dinner or as dessert!!

Apple Pocket Pies - Recipe from Williams-Sonoma, Cute Pie-Maker from Williams-Sonoma
I'll admit, I first only bought this apple-pocket pie mold {2 yrs ago} because it was so stinkin' cute. I'm a sucker for "fun kitchen gadgets" - like, badly!! I've only used it a few times, and my first pocket pies were sad looking - to say the least! But they were delish!
Here's the recipe according to Williams-Sonoma:
Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 t salt
• 2 T sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 16 T cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 6-8 T ice water
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon water

Apple Pie Filling

• 2 or 3 baking apples, cored, peeled, and sliced. (I used one macintosh and one granny smith)
• 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 T flour
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of salt

Mix all together, fold / cut crust into the mold - Once assembled and filled, I freeze these for 20 minutes so that they retain their shape {blame it on the humidity down here} ... Bake on 400* for 15 minutes. Cool for 10 and then enjoy~ perfectly portioned for 1 pocket pie per person {say that 5 times fast!}









That's about it y'all - I'm going to relax and watch the Emmy's ... I usually hate awards shows... Probably won't make it past the red carpet preview! Enjoy your upcoming week! I'm praying that mine isn't too crazy and that next weekend will be here before I know it! And, maybe that it stays overcast and breezy and fall-like all week and next weekend. That's not too much to ask for, right??

xoxo
B

Pie Pops - Why Not ??

Happy Tuesday Y'all ~ 

I'm bloggin' about sweets again today, so if you're on a diet, I wouldn't suggest reading any further!

Just kidding! 

You can always follow my rule of 

"Bake It & Take It"

This is where you can enjoy one or two samples {okay, sometimes that's 3-4 cookies or 1-2 babycakes} before you take your dessert to a get-together. Simply important because you don't want to 

1. Unknowingly bake something nasty or tasteless
2. Offend your host/ hostess by not eating your own goodies
3. Swear it's a favorite when you've never made it before

 Simplest rules of party-attendee manners. 

Now I'm all off track - sweets. That's the topic today. And not just any sweets, but a good ol' fashion Americana favorite ...

Pie

There are obviously endless types of pies, but that's neither here nor there. 

I'm taking an old fashioned favorite and giving it new life. A fresh look on pie, if you will. 

A few years ago, "Cake Pops" became all the dessert-table rage. I mean, Red Velvet cake pops, Cheesecake cake pops, Pudding cake pops, Birthday Cake cake pops. For. Real. Y'all. 

Yours truly hasn't ever ventured in to making cake pops, mostly because the opportunity hasn't come along where I thought "let me experiment and if these fall apart then it's okay because I have plenty of time to re-make something totally from scratch." It just doesn't work like that around here! 

Now, pie pops, are a lot easier. And absolutely more cute than a cake pop {in my opinion}. 

Let's look at some of the prettiest pies in town .... 

Created by Me at B H L D N

 Now believe me, these are pretty simple to make. Think *tiny*. 

For the general "pie crust" you will need ...

• 1 3oz Cream Cheese
• 1/4 C. softened butter
• 1+1/4 C. flour
• Water

The goal here is to whip the butter and cream cheese together until fluffy, slowly mixing in flour. Add water as needed to make the pastry cling together.  Chill pastry for 1 hour.Cut into circles, put through the mini cupcake paper, and place in freezer for 20 minutes. Remove and immediately bake at 325* for 10 minutes.
 As far as the fillings go, you can use apple, punpkin, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, raspberry, lemon ... really your possibilities are endless! Be sure to fill enough of the crust to where it's "puffy" when you add the 2nd shell. Don't forget to insert the lolly stick into them when they're cooled. 

I think I'll need to make these for our next get-together! 

Source: gimmesomeoven.com via Erika on Pinterest

xoxo

B

 

Craving.

Hey Y'all -
Everyone should know that when any girl is craving chocolate, you just don't get in her way!! If at all possible, you take her precious self to the store {or score big by offering to just go get it for her} and get whatever it is she wants. This is one time to never mutter the word "Calories".

And I'm a gal that loves chocolate, in nearly every shape and form... so I thought I would share with you just two of my favorite recipes that can cure any craving for sweets! Read on, but please, don't blame me for the sudden sugar high from that first bite...& yes, currently struggling with a chocolate craving, that is some kind'a bad!

Mrs. Wanda's Chocolate Chip Pie 

• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1 stick of margarine, melted
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 c. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
• 3/4 c. pecans
• 1/2 c. coconut {I don't usually add it}
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 ready made pie crust {or use your Grannie's recipe, but I don't give out mine!}

Pre-heat oven to 350. Blend the sugar, flour, margarine and eggs. Stir in the rest. Pour in pie crust and bake for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy & Share It With Friends :) 

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies - 
We're talkin' *serious* chocolate!!! 

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 & 1/2 c. flour
• 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. each baking soda, baking powder, & salt 
• 1/2 c. chocolate chips *we use Ghiradelli special dark around here*
• 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips

Pre-heat to 350. Cream butter+sugar, add egg+vanilla. Slowly add pre-mixed dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Fold in chips at the end. Roll dough into 1.5 inch balls & bake for about 12 minutes. Grab a big ol' glass of milk to wash these down with!!

When In Doubt ...

Hey Y'all! 
Happy Wednesday to you :)

This has been quite a busy week so far, I've been to&fro to my "big city" once already for a job interview, and now I get the pleasure of taking the trip, yet again today. I cannot complain though, because hopefully before too long my prayers will be answered and God will provide, as he always does.

I have a new love, and it's Pinterest!!! Have y'all discovered Pinterest?? If not, then you need to pop on over there & get yourself an account! It's slightly addicting, a way to build up all sorts of ideas and Do-It-Yourself projects, and all kinds of goodies!! I had to share this poster {across} because I feel like it's "me".

 If I have a bad day, a rough time, or just get stressed out, just let me alone in the kitchen with my cute Cath Kidston aprons and my KitchenAid mixer to do my thang!
The next chance I get to bake, I'll surely be teaching myself some new recipes ... currently I'm obsessing over these "cupcake jars" 
                     

Source: thekitchn.com via Laura on Pinterest

 
I mean really, forget neat & tidy icing presentations, cut the babycake in halfsies - bottom, frosting, top, frosting, sprinkles & put a lid on it! And the more colorful and messy they are, the more I love them!!
Also, should probably try to expand my horizons on quick breads and sweet loafs ... love the idea of a lemon loaf / sweet bread ... of course, wrapped in some Bakers Twine from The Twinery

Source: glorioustreats.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

And, one dessert I've been meaning to make {figure out, fail 3 or 4 times, and finally succeed} is a Tiramisu. Afterall, it's Handsome Man's favorite dessert {okay, he has about 20 "favorite desserts" but this one has been mentioned slightly more than the chocolate ganache torte at Whole Foods, so it must top his list} I wonder if my Tiramisu could be so pretty ...

Source: call-me-cupcake.blogspot.com via Carmen @ SillyLab on Pinterest

Surely, with practice {& lots of practice eating} I could weigh 500lbs master the skill??
I'll need to find the appropriate recipes first - always a trial+error process. If ya'll have a great recipe, pass it along!
I'm off for now ~ sweet dreams of confectionery treats!!

xo
 b

Red, White & Fabulous!

Hey Y'all!

It's late but I wanted to catch you up on our fabulous Memorial Day weekend that we had a while back ... I know I'm a bit behind on this - but what can I say, things have been a bit hectic!? And that's an understatement! Below is an inspiration board from our family's Memorial Day party ~

Created By Me at B H L D N

 ... menu included:

• Chicken Bleu Cheese Burgers
• Deviled Eggs
• Coleslaw
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Southern Style Potato Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• G'ma W's from-scratch Cherry Pie
• Sweet Tea
• Hummingbird Cupcakes + Cream Cheese Frost

It was all quite delish and I really enjoyed all the family that was in town!
Off to bed now ~

xo
B

Caution: Sharing Ahead!

Hey Y'all!

It's been a fun Tuesday here in my lil' town, I was able to have lunch with both my grandmothers, and spend some time running "fun places" with Momma and Mama B.

Since I'm back home, Momma has had to get readjusting to eating at home... I guess empty-nest means no need to cook. But, I'm here and I enjoy cooking so we decided to try out a few new recipes from only the best, Southern Living this week.
Now normally I do not share recipes, especially if it is something that I've created on my own ... I never was good at sharing and I guess that part stuck with me! Anyway - since these recipes are "public knowledge" and printed in the March 2011 and August 2010 issues, I'll share a dinner+dessert duo that is hands-down one of the best {+ easiest} I've had in a while!

Dinner for starters, was Grilled Chicken and Veggie Tortellini:

Take 4 small zuchinni and cut in half, lengthwise. 2 skinless / boneless chicken breasts, 1 T. of Italian herb seasoning {we used fresh and it's the best}, 19 oz. frozen cheese tortellini, 7 oz. refrigerated pesto {in with the pasta that's refrigerated}, 1 can of petite diced Italian herb tomatoes, and fresh parmesan cheese to top.

Fire up the grill and roast the zuchinni and chicken with olive oil + seasonings. Grill zuch 8 minutes and chicken 12 total. Prep tortellini {as directed} Coarsely chop chicken and zuch, tossing with tortellini, pesto and tomatoes. Serve while warm... now I do not scarf my food down, normally I'm a picker and I push it around my plate, but I scarfed this down! So good y'all!!


For dessert, a sweet pound cake inspired by my favorite seasonal fruit - Key limes!
My favorite pie to make is Key lime so I knew this would be a winner " Key Lime Pound Cake"
Now, I made this into 14 small bundt pans and dressed them up for individuals, but you can make a standard size bundt cake that feeds approx.12.

So, grab 1+1/2 C. butter, 3 C. sugar, 6 large eggs, 3 C all purpose flour, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1/8 t. salt, 1 C. milk, 1 t.vanilla extract, 1 t. lime zest and 1/4 C. fresh Key lime juice. After that all is said + done, you're going to make a glaze that will blow your lid!
 Grab the KitchenAid mixer and whip your butter up after you let it soften. Add in sugar, gradually beating at medium until light+fluffy. Add 6 eggs, one at a time while still mixing {gotta love those KitchenAid mixers!} In a different bowl, stir all your dry ingredients together and alternate adding to the mixing bowl with the milk. End with the flour. And careful how fast you add the milk, we got a little sloshy! Near the end, add in the vanilla, lime zest {and I always add a bit more because I like the *tart* factor}, and the fresh Key lime juice.
Pour batter into lightly greased pan {used Pam spray} and bake at 325. Now, set the timer for 1 hour + 20 minutes in you're baking in a bundt pan {large} and 30 minutes in you're doing in the baby bundt pans.
They pop out really easily, and let them cool on a wire rack.
To make your glaze {and be ready to drizzle a.s.a.p} add 1 C. of confectionars sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla extract + fresh Key lime juice (2T.) It should be a bit of a milky consistency, so whisk it together and drizzle over cake. I added a wedge of lime just for pretty's sake! Your mouth will ''mmmmm" with that first bite! A glass of milk never hurts either ;)

Alright, well it's time for dessert y'all! Be thankful I shared a recipe, make that two! I probably won't ever do it again ;)

Happy Eatings!

b

Grocery and Romance ?!

Hey Ya'll ~ 

Whew! What a week this has been... I'm anxiously awaiting Friday afternoon, when I meet a close girlfriend of mine from high school to catch up on life and enjoy some delish food. And a weekend. Of relaxing.

On my recently concluded "Trip Around The State" - which found me in staying in 3 different cities in the span of 24 hours, I ran over hundreds of highways. And I passed numerous billboards. But just one stuck with me. Publix. I've always been a "Publix gal" - since before I knew of such gourmet groceries as Fresh Market & Whole Foods. The billboard simply stated:

"Publix Aprons School: Where Dates Happen"

photo to come: found one of us at Honeymoon Island !! 

As a sucker for trendy, unique packaging and a fresh approach on marketing, this billboard just brought back a super sweet and favorite memory of mine. About a year ago, Handsome Man & I were coming back from a day out at Honeymoon Island, and decided a lovely fresh dinner would be the perfect way to wrap up our date. So we headed to Fresh Market ((I know, you were thinking it would be Publix, but sorry!)) for ingredients.

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, the classical music, the abundance of gorgeously wrapped foods, wines and cheeses ... but either way, I found myself as giddy as a young girl, laughing my way through the isles of the grocer with Him. Then it hit me, we had only been dating for about a month when I realized that everything we did together was MUCH more fun than it had ever been before, prime example of grocery shopping. 

And this was the beginning of it all ((romantic sigh)). My grocery shopping trips have never been the same, week after week, usually on Sundays, we hold hands through the store like the cute little 80 yr old couples you see that make you stop and realize "Love doesn't grow old". Then you smile and carry on with your day. 

For those of you hoping to find a craft, cool blog about a project, or anything OTHER than romantic grocery store jabber, I apologize. Blame it on Publix's fresh take on billboards, but I'm a sucker for a fabulous grocery trip with my very own Handsome Man. Hope you find a smile in a something simple this weekend.

xoxo

B