Summery Strawberry Pie...

 

Hello.

How's everyone's summer going?

I jump started my summer off by visiting my in-laws in Oregon and guess what?......

...... I'm back!

Yay, but I'm still trying to get into the groove of having both my girls home while working on recipes for the blog. So, for this post, I decided to share a recipe that is super easy. It's another tried and true recipe from my childhood. This strawberry pie screams summer time... um... hence the catchy recipe title.

Anyway, while I get use to my girlie's being home for summer break and begin planning fun summer time outings...... because we all know that kids need activity or else us moms are driven crazy, right?...... I want you to pick up the ingredients for this recipe and make this pie.

So, besides making this tasty dessert, what are some of your Summer plans? I'd love to know!


Summery Strawberry Pie

• 2 pounds Strawberries, Washed And Hulled
• 1 box Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding (3.4 Oz)
• 2 cups Cold Milk, More Or Less As Directed On Pudding Package
• 1 carton T. Marzetti Glaze For Strawberries (13.5 Oz)
• 1 Prepared Graham Cracker or Nilla Pie Crust (6 Oz)
• Whipped Cream, For Topping Each Serving

Prepare your vanilla pudding by following the directions on the box, using the milk listed in the ingredients. Pour the pudding into the pie crust. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Before serving, place the washed and hulled strawberries in a large bowl and fold in the glaze, making sure to coat them well. Place strawberries on top of the pie. Top pie pieces with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

I'm linking this post up to Tidy Mom's I'm Lovin' It, Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Sweet Tooth Friday, and This Chick Cooks Linky Party.

Harry and David...

I'm still in Oregon, but with only a few more days to go. My girls and I have had a wonderful time with family. It will be hard to leave, but I'm looking forward to getting home and cookin' up some more recipes to share with all of you.

I want to share some photos I took while shopping at Harry and David. Let me tell you...... I heart this store! I won't even get into how much money I dropped here.

They are known for their delicious fruit gift packages. Look at these baskets of cherries! The produce in this store was beautiful!

They also have some pretty tasty treats.

I can't forget the Moose Munch.

Or the nostalgic licorice and gummy treats.

We had a ball tasting all the different flavors of fudge.

 

One more shot of the Moose Munch wall.

I just wish we had a Harry and David on island...

... well, on second thought, maybe not. I don't want to think about how many times a week I would be there shopping!

Oregon...

 

I know it's been a week since my last post... but I've been very busy visiting family in Oregon.

Isn't it beautiful!?!

I just wanted to share a few photos with you. They're not food photos. Sorry. I haven't been cooking...... I'll get back to that in a few weeks.

We stopped in a great store called River Rock, that is next to the Rogue River, which runs right through the town where I am visiting family.

Look at all the yummy goodies made in Oregon! I was very tempted to buy some of these treats to bring back home with me. They probably wouldn't have made it that far anyway, had I bought them... if you catch my drift.

Loved, loved, loved the kitchen display in this shop! This is a cooks dream...

... My mother-in-law and I had a lot of fun browsing this area.

There is a wonderfully nostalgic pharmacy where my husbands family lives, that still has the serving bar and stools. You can order lunch, ice cream, shakes, and phosphates right there at the bar... so much fun!

Phosphates are like a fountain drink. We had so much fun sitting at the counter and drinking our phosphates! I had The Purple Heart. It had cherry, lime, and grape syrup mixed with carbonated water.

And guess how much it cost?

........ 25 cents!!!

My girls and I are having a great time with family... even though we went from about 82 degrees to about 55 degrees. I'm kinda liking the cooler weather. I know, I'm crazy.

You'll probably be reading one more post that doesn't have a recipe in it, but after the 10th I'll be back home and will try to have something for you soon after.

Until next time...

Farmhouse Banana Muffins...

Just thought I would drop a little note your way to let you know I'll be away for a few weeks visiting family. I'm going to try to post... although it may not be my usual posts about food...... I hope that's ok.

You may see pictures of deer, or lush trees, or quaint towns.

Who knows... stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have a family recipe that has been handed down by my great-grandmother. Yeah, we love this banana bread. I like to make mini-muffins with this recipe...... because everyone knows that mini-muffins are fun. Hello. They're fun to look at, they're fun to eat, and they're fun to make. Fun.

I'm going to classify this as a "healthy" muffin... you know... since there are bananas in it. Obvi.
If it's got veggies or fruit in the recipe, it's healthy in my book.

So, while I get packed and ready to travel, you need to bake these muffins... like... right now...

... seriously, you do.
 

Farmhouse Banana Muffins

•  ½ cups Milk
• 3 Tablespoons Vinegar
• 2 cups Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 1 cup Sugar
• ½ cups Shortening
• 2 whole Eggs
• 3 whole Mashed Bananas, Very Ripe
 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Begin by measuring out the milk and adding the vinegar to it so it sours; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, using your mixer, combine the sugar and shortening. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined. With a wooden spoon, stir in the mashed bananas. Stir in the soured milk and lastly, the floured mixture.

For mini muffins: Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray and fill each mold nearly to the top. Bake 12-14 minutes.

For loaves: Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Divide the batter evenly into each pan. Bake 45 minutes to an hour.

Transfer muffins or loaves to cooling racks and cool completely. Store covered.  Makes 5 dozen mini muffins or 2 loaves of banana bread.

Enjoy!

A Birthday Cake...

 

I must be crazy or something, because I agreed to a sleepover birthday party for my now 12 year old daughter. Plus, I had all that other stuff going on that I mentioned before.

Yes, certifiably crazy.

P.S. Please excuse the un-ironed tablecloth in the picture... I was being lazy and didn't want to iron... I'll admit it.

Anyway... I love baking, but I always order a cake for my girls birthday parties. Pastries and cupcakes...... those I can handle...... but fancy birthday cakes? Not so much.

This year my daughter wanted me to make a small cake for her and some cupcakes for her party guests to decorate. Since I was a little strapped for time, I decided to go with an easy boxed mix and container of frosting. I did contemplate making the frosting from scratch, but in the end went the easy route.

I piped a few simple roses on the top, bought some pirouette cookies, cut them down, and placed them around the cake. My daughter loves these cookies, so I thought it would be nice to incorporate them.

It needed a little something, so I made a cute topper from scrapbooking paper, a lollipop stick, and some embellishments.

I thought it would be a nice whimsical touch.

Overall, I was pretty happy with how the cake turned out...

... and I think my daughter was too.