Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Friday, December 28, 2012

"Shut My Mouth" Pie

Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
"Song, song of the south
Sweet potato pie and I shut my mouth
Gone, gone with the wind
There ain't nobody looking back again"
You said it Alabama...this Sweet Potato Pie will shut your mouth!
Well, at least until you want another bite...and another bite...and another.
You get the idea.
It's simple, and so very tasty.

Sometimes I just need to try a new recipe.
Actually, I guess that is every week. 
This recipe was interesting to me because it has maple and bourbon.
I like maple, but I'm not much of a drinker and bourbon, well, I never really liked that.
Fortunately, I know someone who likes both of those things,
and that is exactly who will receive it.




Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Recipe slightly modified from  Karen Barker
Show: Sweet Dreams (Food Network):

Ingredients
Roast Sweet Potatoes:


1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Pierce the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork and place them on a foiled-lined or parchment paper lined baking sheet.
3. Roach the potatoes for at least an hour, or until the a soft.



4. After they have cooled for a bit, use a food processor or mash with a potato masher until smooth.
5. You will need 2 cups of mashed sweet potato for the recipe.




Blind Bake the Pie Crust:
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Roll out or press in one portion of pie crust into a 9-inch pan.  I used a recipe that was "press-in" since I've been having pie crust rolling uses lately. (sigh) :0(
3. Use foil or parchment paper to line the crust and fill with dry rice or beans.
4. Blind Bake in the over for 20 minutes.
5.  Remove the foil and beans before filling with the sweet potato mixture.






Pie Filling:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine the sweet potato puree with all of the other ingredients.  Mix until it is very smooth.
3. Pour the filling into the partially baked pie shell.
4. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes, until the filling is just barely set.
Remove pie from the oven and let it cool completely at room temperature.
Serve and enjoy with fresh whipped cream!
Heck, and play some Alabama while you're at it...
This is "Shut-My-Mouth" good.
Cheers~ Lori  :0)

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Lessons from Buffy


Ugh! I really can't stand wimpy female characters and they're everywhere!!

As an English teacher it's a struggle to find strong female characters in novels targeted toward young adults- teens, up until more recently. Thank goodness for the Hunger Games...because if I had to read one more love-sick, solely dependent on her boyfriend, girl, I might just lose it! Strength in you, to save you...not some rich vamp- though I do enjoy a good movie, but that's far from reality.

Now, I too have a dream of a independently rich man coming into my life and whisking me away to a tropical island...but seriously, if he started bossing me around, I'd have to take his money and go Buffy and Veronica(Mars) on him.


Strong women, aren't portrayed in society as much as I would like.
Strong, does not imply cruel or manipulative...

Strong is believing in yourself.

Strong, is trusting that you are enough to fill your world with joy. When we expect someone else to fill our lives, it will never be truly filled. It might feel that way for awhile, but it's YOU that can actually change it.

All of the things that YOU ARE, makes you...the person you need.
To me, I am love.
I am a believer in God.
I am a caretaker.
I am a daughter, aunt, friend, teacher, crafter, baker, reader, writer, thinker, and dreamer.
I am, me.

I really love me. :0)
Shouldn't you love all that you are?

As we dive head first into the holidays, between the beautiful religious services, time with family and friends, remember to thank all of them for making you the strong, healthy, person that you are today.

And if those events are really rough times for you...I recommend watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer before the evening. If she can take on a gang of vamps, you can probably make it through dinner.

Loves,
Lori

P.S.- Thanks Kim for the inspiration!