Buttermilk Pie

Last Thanksgiving, my mom and I went to my Aunt's house in Fort Worth, TX. They had this pie ready and waiting. We don't have buttermilk pie here in Colorado, and I'm pissed. It is so good! Healthy? Not in the least. But, frankly, who puts the words healthy and pie together?

Thanks a lot Food Network

“You don’t need to tell her. I bet she wouldn’t even notice.” This is what was said 10 minutes before I walked through the door with a scrunched nose, instant headache and a scowl on my face already annoyed with Kenny. Thanks to Food Network, Kenny decided that it would be a grand idea to clean our smoker and grill racks in the oven on self clean. Three problems with that. Well, actually a million problems with that, but three that stick out.

1. Food Network said that is was ok to do if they were slightly dirty. SLIGHTLY. I don’t know that we have really ever scrubbed any of our racks. They were pretty nasty.
2. Our oven is (was) brand stinkin’ new. Immaculate inside. Those days are gone. There is currently a layer of nastiness on the bottom of the oven now and he somehow managed to make burn marks on the top of the door. Oh, and the oven racks are bent from the weight of the other racks.
3. The smell alone was enough to ruin my day.

I also heard that during the self clean process, there was a time when using the fire extinguisher was a definite possibility.

I wonder if I can sue the Food Network for a new oven? Oooh, or maybe I can get my own show? It would be some sort of show with a lot of traveling and involving desserts somehow. I would have to have a personal trainer traveling with me so I didn’t gain 1000 lbs from all the amazing treats I would consume...Sorry-I digress.

I am also not comforted by the fact that the words, “Don’t use the Dyson to vacuum out the oven.” had to leave my lips.

P.S. Will miss you already company! See? I told you there would be no Part II. You guys are so great and Henry is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen…he has our vote ;)

Butter Tarts

So, apparently, I am a very busy girl when it comes to Friday's. This is the second week in a row I have to post my "Friday Recipe" early!

This is one of my favorite desserts ever in the entire world. A lot of my family is Canadian, so I was brought up with sugar pies, maple candy, and butter tarts. As you can see, they are not the most beautiful dessert in the world, but they are so delicious! Many recipes online call for raisins, but I never use them. I also just buy the Jiffy pie crust. You can make it from scratch, but this is just what we have always done! Another thing is to make sure the butter is room temperature. If it is cold, it will not bake right. I have made this mistake more than once!

Pie crust (recipe of choice or boxed)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

2 TBS butter-ROOM TEMPERATURE

2-3 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Make pie crust as directed. Roll out and cut into 4 inch circles. Put into cupcake span. I can usually make 10-12 out of this recipe.

For filling:

Mix everything together except the eggs until smooth. Add egg and mix. Fill tarts 3/4 full. Bake for about 25 minutes. Super easy!

Coconut Cake with 7 Minute Frosting

(I will be gone tomorrow through Sunday, so this is getting posted a bit early. Deal with it.)

I made this cake for Kenny's birthday dinner this Wednesday past. I can't believe he is turning 30 on Sunday! I will have known him for 9 years come April 27th. I met him on his 21st birthday right before his drunken debauchery (which I did not attend because I was 17). Cradle robber.

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have decided that I am going to make Friday recipe day. Here are some amazing muffins that I found on another site (Thanks Danielle!). I made them last night and they are awesome! You are welcome.

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

(Cooking Light)

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar (or Splenda)

1/2 cup packed, golden brown sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2-3 large, ripe bananas, mashed-enough for 1-1/4 cups banana

1 cup milk (I used 1%)

3/4 cup smooth peanut butter (I used reduced fat)

3 Tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chunks)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, put together, flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and the cinnamon; combine. In another bowl, combine mashed bananas, milk, peanut butter, egg, oil, and vanilla; mix well. Add this to the dry mixture previously prepared; mix just enough to combine. Stir in chocolate chips. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray and fill tins until almost full. This will make 12 perfectly sized muffins. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.