Monday, December 9, 2013

Blue Cheese Crescent Rolls

I was feeling a little guilty about not making homemade rolls for Thanksgiving dinner so I decided at the last minute to make the ones that we were going to eat more fancy.  I took the Pillsbury crescent rolls and opened a package.


I remembered these rolls that I had at a party many, may years ago so I decided to make it up :) I rolled out the crescent and spread it with spreadable margarine.


Then, I sprinkled with a little bit of blue cheese.  I was using the Trader Joe's Blue Cheese which I think is a little stronger then other blue cheeses so I didn't need to use too much to get the flavor.


I rolled them up just like I would normally with the crescent rolls.  There is no need to seal them but the butter will come out so make sure to use a pan with sides just in case.  Cook per the package instructions and add a few more minutes if necessary to cook through so the bottom isn't doughy.


When they came out, they were nice and golden brown with the little bit of blue cheese peaking out the end.


We put them on a plate and brought them to the table to enjoy.  My husband had one and he really enjoyed it.  He was expecting a plain roll and in his words, he got blue cheese goodness.


I hope that you try this simple trick to fancy up your rolls at your next dinner.  They are very tasty!!

Blue Cheese Crescent Rolls


Tube of Crescent rolls
Spreadable margarine or butter
Blue Cheese crumbles

Roll out crescent rolls and spread margarine on triangle.  Top with line of blue cheese.  Roll up like normal crescent roll.  Bake according to package directions and add a little more time if bottoms are still doughy.  Eat hot out of oven and enjoy!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Weekly Goals 12/8

UGH!  That was a long week and I feel like I didn't get anything done.  I was forever trying to put out a fire with something else that was more important to do.  I think that I got most of what I needed to do last week done but I might have to write a better list this week for what I need to do each day so that I can keep up.  I have to work on some more lesson plans for my son and work on some pictures for his whale of the week project.  He is super excited to be the person that the class talks about all week but don't have a clue what pictures he wants to bring into school, or what book he wants to share or what special thing he is going to show at the end of the week.  Honored but not really into the details :)  Isn't that mom's job??

Hope you have a good week planned and enjoy the down time because the holidays are coming quickly!

Last week:

Family Goals
  • Spend time with family (and extended family on just Sunday)- We had lots of family dinners and after family book reading which made for a fun week.
  • Get to preschool on time every day- Did great making it on time but my son did forget his bag on Friday so I am not sure if that is partial credit or what.
  • Music program at the library- We had a blast at the music program and enjoyed singing, dancing and my son's personal favorite- playing instruments.
  • School field trip- I got to chaperone the school field trip and enjoy the neat Holiday show at a local high school.  My son had a blast!
  • Puppet Show at the library- I signed my son up for a puppet show at the library and my husband took him while I stayed home to make the cookies for the cookie exchange.
  • Birthday party- I took my son to a birthday party that I didn't know about until the last minute but I am super glad that he got to go because he had a blast.
Personal Goals
  • Cut coupons- HaHa!!!!  I didn't even get to doing anything but putting them in a pile.  I hope that I can cut some on Sunday but if not, I will try for Wednesday.  I am crossing my fingers that I can do all three inserts from this week and last.
  • Get last weeks coupons- After a long hunt, I found plenty more coupons then I needed and got some for my new couponing friend :)
  • Get coupons on Friday - My husband got a bunch for me Friday night and got the rest on Saturday when he took my son to the library program.
  • Shut off computer 6 nights to save energy- I turned it off 6 nights and one night I left it on because I was having printing problems so I wanted to let it go while I was sleeping.
  • Wrap the rest of the Christmas gifts and get them under the tree- I got everything that I had wrapped and under the tree.  I pulled out the gifts that were supposed to go with me to the cookie exchange but that was postponed until later in the month.  I guess I didn't need to rush but it helped me get in a few returns with the stuff that we didn't need.
  • Last minute sub at school- I enjoy working with the kids but it put a little stop to some of my plans but I was asked back for next week so I guess that is a good thing.  It is hard to get time without my little guy so I am hoping that I get lots done this weekend to get ready for the coming week.
  • Get back to Jazzercise- It only took all week to find time but I went on Saturday and I am really glad that I dragged myself there instead of staying in bed :)
  • Call the doctor to follow up on appointment- Finally did it and talked to the doctor.  He called in a prescription and we are going to see how that goes but still nothing definite and I might need to go back soon.
  • Finish reading the new Nicholas Sparks book from the library- Read, reviewed and returned.
  • Start reading the next book in the pile from the library- I read another Beverly Lewis books which was a disappointment and picked up the next because it was bedtime but I need to read the new Kathy Reichs books that I just got off reserve next!!!
Home Management Goals
  • Clean dishes, counters and floors at least 5 days of the week- Did everything to keep the kitchen clean right up until Saturday and I didn't get it cleaned at all but it was a really busy day so I guess I will have all day Sunday while I am home to get it spic and span during our winter storm.
  • Clean dishes one night and not wait until the morning- To be honest, I don't have a clue.  I know that I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom when my parents left and the dishes were all done on Sunday night so that we could start Monday off on the right foot.  I think that the dishes all got cleaned another night that I loaded up the dish washer and ran it so that everything would be nice and clean in the morning but I really don't remember which night.
Blog Goals
  • Post one post everyday (schedule 7 posts so that can spend more time with family)- Lots and lots of posts were scheduled and I didn't have to worry about things because almost the whole week was well planned.
  • Review book reviews completed during the week (if done)- Done
  • Work on a few posts to work ahead for the coming week- I got a bunch of things that were in drafts completed this week but I need to go back and make sure that I have everything that I need for next week but it is going to have to wait until Sunday because I am heading to bed early.
  • Post Sunday Weekly Goals, Menu Plan Monday, Kid Wednesday and Thrifty Thursday Tip- Done
This week:

Family Goals
  • Spend time with family (and extended family on just Sunday)
  • Get to preschool on time every day
  • Go to Holiday library program
  • Go to Holidays around the World at the library
Personal Goals
  • Cut coupons
  • Get last weeks coupons
  • Get coupons on Friday 
  • Shut off computer 6 nights to save energy
  • Sub at preschool
  • Clean the fridge
  • Make pancake mix
  • Go to Jazzercise
  • Finish reading the last Beverly Lewis book in the series
  • Start reading the new Kathy Reichs book
Home Management Goals
  • Clean dishes, counters and floors at least 5 days of the week
  • Clean dishes one night and not wait until the morning
Blog Goals
  • Post one post everyday (schedule 7 posts so that can spend more time with family)
  • Review book reviews completed during the week (if done)
  • Work on a few posts to work ahead for the coming week
  • Post Sunday Weekly Goals, Menu Plan Monday, Kid Wednesday and Thrifty Thursday Tip 

My Mom's Pumpkin Pie (aka Libby's Pumpkin Pie)

My husband's favorite part of the holiday is the turkey but his second favorite is the pumpkin pie.  I wasn't going to make one but he really wanted one so I got the ingredients and my mom brought them with her as well!  I guess we were all making sure that my husband had his pie.  My mom isn't really good about sharing in the kitchen.  I know that it isn't always easy to have "help" in the kitchen but I tried to take pictures in my kitchen and she kicked me out of MY KITCHEN!!!  Oh well, I will share what I know and what I have pictures of but the final product was worth it because it was really good.

We made our own crust (see whole post here).


My mom mixed the ingredients and only let me get the cloves out of the cupboard.  I had to sneak back in while her hands were busy and got to take a picture of her pouring the filling into the crust so that you could see the filling.  It is very liquid and fills up the entire pie shell.



Then, we put it in the oven with the nifty crust shield which we did take off at the end.


When it came out, my mom decided to test if it was done by cutting a X in the middle of the pie...not sure but she says she does that when it doesn't crack while cooking just to make sure the inside is done. The directions say to test with a knife so she did.


Here is the whole pie with it's nice dark pumpkin color.



Here is a slice for you.... it is a little small because I has just eaten my huge Thanksgiving dinner (and I had to try the Mississippi Mud pie too).  The rest of the pie was yummy and served in bigger slices but we ate too fast to take pictures!


It was an amazing pie that we really enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!  If you haven't tried pumpkin pie for breakfast, you are missing the best part.  YUM!



Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs
  • 15 oz. pumpkin puree
  • 12 fl. oz. evaporated milk
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
  • Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

Beat eggs in large bowl. Add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Stir in pumpkin. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Pour into pie shell.

Bake in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

November Budget Review

I had a rough month on the budget but it still did keep the monthly average under the budget.  I posted my not so middle of the month budget update here with all of the items that I bought for the first 3/4 of the month.  I guess that is why it took me so long to get my act together to post this because I was ignoring the receipts hoping that they would go away.

Here is the last week of the month to add to the total:

CVS

Even though I was still over budget, I went to CVS and grabbed a bunch of their Thanksgiving deals on my card and my husbands.  They had a few deals before the holidays so I couldn't help but grab them up.  I went in without a plan and only a few coupons in my bag.  The store was out of shopping carts so I had to carry all of my thing around the store (including my whole coupon basket) with me which was a little heavy but I got a bunch of deals.  I had 7 check outs when it was all done (and had to wait in a long line each time to do the next check out which I have never had to do but they were super busy).


Total OOP $11.16
Total Savings $62.94

Harris Teeter

The even better news is that I have the ECBs to buy a lot of things at CVS going forward which I have to make sure I spend before they expire (at least $16).

I went to Harris Teeter with my mom and got some flour and sugar on her card and mine.  I added in some of the free Mentos gum and my mom got the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and Sweet N Low.  Then, she kindly paid for both transactions so it was no more money out of my budget!  I didn't get to take a picture because the counters were a mess and stuff went every where when we got home so this was putting it together after the fact and we already ate the cranberry sauce so it didn't make it in the picture.



Total OOP $4.16- $4.16 cash from mom= $0
Total Savings $25.26+ $4.16 cash= $29.42

CVS

I went to CVS with my dad and I got the battery deal on my card and my husband's card.  I also helped my dad get it on his card.  We also added in the Milky Way bars with the buy one, get one coupon.  I had one transaction where the wrong card was scanned so instead of returning things, I just got it on the correct card with the correct card.  So we ended up with a bunch of batteries and candy.  Perfect for Christmas!!  I paid $0.54 for the first transaction (which was my fathers) and then my Dad handed me his pocket of change.  I paid for all of the rest of the transactions and ended up shoving the change back in my pocket so I might have made a profit on all those transactions, not purposely.



Total OOP $0.87- $0.87 cash from dad= $0
Total Savings $16.37 + $0.87= $17.24


With the full month of over spending and the last week to throw it over the top, here is how we ended for November.

Total Monthly Retail Cost $895.89

Total Monthly Savings $701.60

Total OOP $194.29 ($34.29 over budget)

The great news is that this is the second most that I have saved monthly all year with the bad news being it is second highest spending month for the year.  My monthly average is still under $137 so I haven't upset the monthly average too much.  If I stay on track for budget next month, we will end the year with a great total so it all depends on how things go with having both sides of the family in town for a week.

Mississippi Mud Pie

I thought that I shared this recipe when I made it before but it turns out that I shared a picture of the pie and never the recipe!!!  I think that I just realized why while I was in the kitchen trying to make the pumpkin pie...my mom rules the kitchen and doesn't want to stop or let me in to take a picture.  Even when they are not her recipes, she is still the master of the kitchen (sadly, even at my house).  There was a little bit of a fight but we got pictures taken so that I could share it with you.

We made the pie crust after making a pumpkin pie since the oven was already heated.  Isn't that pretty?



 It baked quickly for 10 minutes until very lightly browned to make sure that the inside of the crust is cooked so that it won't be soggy.  Make sure you don't cook it too long because the pie is going back into the oven later so you don't want the crust to be too brown.  We let it cool on the cooling rack while we ate dinner.



I got out all of the ingredients and there was a problem.  I had put the Karo Syrup upside down last time because there was only a little bit in the bottle.  I had decided that I was going to make a homemade version for the next time but didn't realize that I was going to have such a mess when I opened the cupboard.  It was hardened around the bottle and under a bag of sugar.  I used a metal spatula to take off the top layer and my mom use the hot water and towel to clean off the rest.  We sent my dad to the store to get a new bottle (after I pulled out the coupon for him to buy it).



The first step was to chop up the chocolate bar.  It is actually pretty easy to do.  I use my favorite knife but as long as you have a sharp knife, you are fine.  Put your hand on the back and push down to make the cuts and you can get pretty small pieces.



I don't have a double boiler or a glass bowl so I make a make shift double boiler.  If you don't have those things, feel free to follow my creative double boiler.  I took a pot and my large glass measuring cup to see what would be the best fit.  I added water into the pot once I picked one that would fit nicely.  I picked out a metal cookie cutter and put it in the bottom of the pan.  I placed the glass measuring cup on top and it fit perfectly so that it was above the pot and not touching the bottom.  Perfect!



I took the glass measuring cup out and added the butter, cut up chocolate and the corn syrup.



My mom melted it while stirring constantly.  Everything melted and mixed together.



I mixed up three eggs in another measuring cup.



Then I added the vanilla to the egg so that it would be easy to add to the chocolate mixture when it was done.



My mom took the melted chocolate out of the pan and put it on a hot pad while we added the brown sugar.



We mixed until the the brown sugar was incorporated and there were no more chunks.  Then, we added the egg mixture.



It didn't look like that was going to mix in very well and then it did so be patient.  After it was all mixed together, we poured it in the prepared pie crust.



We both decided that the recipe needed to be doubled because it wasn't far enough up in the pie shell so we started the process all over again.  I highly suggest that if you are using a deep dish pie plate, that you start by doubling the recipe instead of doing all the work twice.



I put the pie into the oven with our neat pie crust protector which my mom bought for us through Pampered Chef.  I used to use aluminum foil but it takes almost a few different pieces of foil and then one always falls off in my hand and I burn myself trying to get the foil back on.  It helps keep the pie crust from being burned.



Of course when you double the recipe, it does take longer to cook the pie (good thing that we had the crust protector on).  It took our pie about 60 minutes to cook.  It rose a lot and actually came up above the pie crust. Who would think that a chocolate pie would rise?



It did set down a little as it was cooling off so that it looked like a really nice pie.



You are supposed to leave a lot of room at the top to make lots of whipped cream (per the original recipe) but we are going to put it on per piece instead of covering it and really wanted to have a lot of chocolate for our pie.  It turned out very solid and it lifted right out of the pie plate when my mom went to cut it.


If you want to make yours pretty, you might want to stick with the single recipe written below.  Here is a slice just in case you want something to hold you over until you can make your own.


It was amazing and rich so I hope that you try some for yourself because it didn't last long here!!

Mississippi Mud Pie




One pie crust--make your own favorite recipe or buy the box of refrigerated crusts which also work great.


Fit crust into 9-inch pie plate or tart pan, flute the edge, prick the base and sides with a fork, and bake at 425º for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool in the pan on a wire rack.



For the filling:

3 ounces plain chocolate (chocolate labeled dark or bittersweet), broken into small pieces

¼ cup butter or margarine

3 T corn syrup

3 eggs, beaten

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1 t vanilla extract


Make the filling in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (or use a double boiler).  Melt the chocolate with the butter and corn syrup.  Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the eggs, sugar and vanilla. 


Lower the oven temperature to 350º.  Pour the chocolate mixture into the pastry shell.  Bake for 35-40 minutes until the filling is set.  Let cool completely in the pan, on a rack.



For the topping:


4 ounces plain chocolate (dark or bittersweet)

1 cup heavy cream or cool whip or whipped topping of your choice


Over a sheet or wax paper or parchment paper, draw the blade of a vegetable peeler across the side of a chocolate bar at room temperature to shave off short curls (or use whatever method you have used for chocolate curls).  


Before serving the pie, whip the cream to soft peaks.  Spread over the top of the pie, hiding the chocolate filling completely.  Decorate with the chocolate curls. Refrigerate before serving.

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Search for the Perfect Pie Crust Recipe has ended!!!

Last holiday, my husband made my favorite, Lemon Chess Pie, and went as far as making the pie crust.  It was pretty good for the first time but it was a little dry so I decided to find another recipe and searched my saved recipes.  The one that I decided to pull up was the one from Pioneer Woman.  If you want to check out her site with details steps and pictures, click here.

It was really easy to make and we had all of the ingredients in the house.  There is a reason why I like to make the crusts because you know exactly what you are getting and it is super frugal using ingredients that you already have around.  My mom said that she would go to the store and buy the crusts because she didn't want to bother.  We compromised, my husband made the crust and we made the pies.

Here is the process that we did with way too many cooks in the kitchen watching the process.  My husband mixed the dry ingredients with my mom throwing most of the things in to the bowl.  I grabbed the pastry blender and shoved it in the bowl.


We were ready to add the fats which I grabbed out of the fridge and cupboard and my mom put them into the bowl while my husband mixed.






I was a little worried that it wasn't going to come together because it looked a lot like flour and nothing like the pictures on the Pioneer Woman website.





I measured the water, my mom added it in and my husband mixed the dough.  He had to get his hands in there in order to pull it together.





My husband cut the dough in half because it was going to make two pie crusts- one for the pumpkin pie and one for the chocolate pie.  Here is what half of the dough looked like.


My mom brought out the pastry mat to roll out the dough which we had put in the refrigerator to stay cold before we were ready to work with it.  She got it in the pie plate with an amazing flip (which I always manage to mess up).  Then crimped the edge with her fingers.


 We made two pies in the two crusts and here was the second crust.  My mom used the fork to make the edge instead (and that wasn't my doing to show you both but rather, I think that she was tired by the second crust.  Feel free to make the edge whichever way you prefer.


Both were amazing light and flaky and made the pies taste great so we are going to be using this recipe again next time.  I hope that you try it for your next pie crust.  If you can't imagine making a pie crust, I promise that it is much easier then you think and this is a great recipe to try your hand at.  Hope you enjoy!!

My biggest hint would be to use the pie crust protector while baking so that the crust doesn't burn and you can enjoy the flaky goodness.  It helps the crust keep the light colored crust while cooking and not burning.


I hope that you try this crust and stay tuned for the two pie recipes that we made with these great crusts.

Two 9 inch Pie Crust



For a nine inch, two crust pie:
2 ½ cups all purpose flour (separated)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar (for a dessert pie. Omit sugar for a savory pie.)
¾ cup cold butter or margarine, cut into chunks
¼ cup shortening, cut into chunks
¼ cup cold water

Mix the 2 cups of the flour, salt and sugar together lightly in a mixing bowl or in the bowl of a food processor.  Add the butter and shortening chunks and cut into the flour using a pastry cutter or by pulsing the food processor (if you don't have either then try two forks). The mixture should look like large crumbs and begin to cling together in clumps. Add the remaining ½ cup of flour and mix lightly or pulse the processor two or three times. Sprinkle the water over the dough and with hands or a wooden spoon mix in until dough holds together.Cut the dough into two pieces and refrigerate until you are ready to use.  Flour surface and roll out one pie crust and place in pie plate.  Cut to fit into pan and crimp the sides of the crust with fingers or fork.  Follow directions for the pie to use uncooked or cooked crust.


November Reading Completed

I started off this month with a huge pile of books to read between my library books and books to review for my two different review processes.  I finished up my last two library books and started on my review books which were both really great.  Then, I started to get worried because the library was going to be closed for a holiday and I didn't have any library books to read (don't mind the shelf of my own books that I still have to read because I never do).  I went to the library and grabbed five books.  I couldn't get just one!  Now I was at the middle of the month and had a pile of library books and my huge shelf.  I think that I can go a few days with out the library now without getting worried.  Do you think that I have a problem???

Well, it was a really low reading month because of the holidays and visitors but I am hoping to end the year strong in December so stay tuned to see how the year ends!!!

by Debbie Macomber 


by Debbie Macomber



by Katherine Reay
by Robin Jones Gunn

October Song
by Beverly Lewis

 

by Beverly Lewis


by Robyn Carr





Total Books Read
for 2013

January       12
February     11
March         19
April            18
May             11
June             13
July               6
August         12
September     15 
October         9 
November      7

Total          133