Sweet Potato Pie

I made some tasty sweet potato pies this weekend. I called my aunt to get her recipe and I made sure to write it down this time. I bought my pie crust but you can made them if you like.

For two pies

4 large sweet potatoes
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon to your taste-I add a lot
nutmeg to taste-I add a lot
allspice optional to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Get a big pot and boil your potatoes. This is the EASIEST way to get the skin off. After 20 minutes check the potato to see if it is soft. Use a skewer or a knife and poke it in different place. If it is all soft drain the water. Get a fork and peel the skin. It will come right off! So easy I'm telling you!

Put the sweet potatoes in the mixer on medium add the stick of butter. The heat from the hot sweet potatoes will melt it. Add the other ingredients and mix til smooth and creamy. Pour the batter into 2 pie shells and cook for 20-30 minutes.

Spice up your box cake!

Double Chocolate Chip Pound Cake! Yummy!

This cake is very moist and tasty! I found the recipe in a magazine at work.

1 box yellow cake

1 5.9oz instant chocolate pudding mix

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 large eggs

1 (8 oz) sour cream I use Walmart off brand

1 (12 oz) semi sweet chocolate chips

Garnish with powdered sugar and your choice of berries

Preheat over to 350. Spray a bundt cake pan with Bakers Joy nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, and sugar. Add water, orl, and eggs, Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in sour cream and chocolate morsels. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 1 hour, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. (The bakers joy is so great I flip it right out cause I can't wait lol). Remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack. Garnish with confectioners' sugar and berries, if desired!

Fifty Shades of Grey, Darker, & Freed

Everyone has been talking about these books. So I HAD to get involved. Minus all the sex the books are full of action, and drama. It's easy to picture and it will make you cry*sniff, sniff*. If your like me some of the toys/gadgets I had to look up. I thought the Dom/Sub was crazy and that no one did things like that... I was wrong lol. People do all types of kinky stuff. Google hipped me to that lol.  Here is my list of book club questions. DON'T READ THE QUESTIONS if you haven't read all three book! They give the story away. 

Questions:

1. How did you feel about Christian taking out that tampon?
2. Would you be with a guy like Christian Grey? Why? or Why not?
3. Did you feel the same way Ana felt about Elena (Mrs. Robinson)?
4. Who was your favorite character? Why?
5. Do you think Christian robbed Ana of her innocents? 
6. The media is talking about a movie! Who do you think should play Ana and Christian? Attach a picture or link.
7. With this being Ana's first relationship ever do you think she let Christian move her too fast? If so do  you think it was because he is so "HOT"?
8. Do you think Ana's personality has changed over the course of the three books?
9. How many weeks were they together before they got married?
10. What did you think about Ana's frequent referrals to her subconscious and "inner goddess"?
11. When Anastasia realized that Christian was getting revenge on her in the Red Room what did you think? Did you cry like me? sn: Christian is crazy
12. What were your first thoughts when Dr. Greene told Ana she was PREGNANT!?!
13. Did you think Ana's decision to meet Jake Hyde herself to save Mia was stupid? 
14. What was the part you cried the most and which sex scene would you like to try?

I'm glad that E.L. James made Anastasia to be strong when she needed to be. 

Too the people that do not like the books...stop Over Think Fiction. 

Overall, I really liked the trilogy. Kuddos to you Mrs. James! I don't think these are just targeted for suburban moms. These books or for anyone who wants/wanted to read them too see what the fuss was about. Women don't let your male friends fool you. When your sleep they are reading it too! They like to act like it is the worst book ever but they secretly wishing to be Christian Grey. Not sure if a movie would fit these books...Get your money sweet girl! In the next book could you not over use these words: murmur, my sex, salacious, and heady. Thanks!


Feel free to add your comments to some or all the questions. This will get me through my work day lol. 

*I'm so sad I'm finished with the books* If you there is a movie to come Bradley Cooper should play Christian and Emma Stone should play Anastasia.

Notice the little hairs on his chest. and the pale skin and big eyes of Emma.

Advanced Food Prep Class!

Class started on the June 6th and I'm beyond excited and tired. We have already made so much in two days. My favorite recipe right now is the Huevo Ranchero, & Buttermilk Pancakes. We also made Quiche, Egg Benedict and Mushroom Souffle. Recipes to come!!

Recipe for Huevos Rancheros
Vegetable oil as needed
1 corn tortilla
2 eggs
2 fl oz of Salsa Roja
1/2oz Monterey cheese

Recipe for Quiche

Recipe for Buttermilk pancakes

Lemon Cookies

Thanks to http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/glazed-lemon-cookies/ for getting me addicted to the darn lemon cookies! I made these last night at the restaurant I intern called Fedora's.Here's the recipe.

Glazed Lemon Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
4-5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 35o degrees F. Line two baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk and set aside.

3. In a small bowl, add granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingers, until fragrant.

4. Beat butter and sugar/lemon mixture together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

5. Slowly beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended. Drop dough by tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Gently flatten dough with the palm of your hand.

6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are just set and slightly golden brown. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 2 minutes and transfer to cooking racks. Cool completely.

7. In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice. Dip each cookie top into the lemon glaze. Let cookies sit until icing has set.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

It says it makes 3 dozen cookies...Not true for me. I had 24 cookies. I guess I made too big. 



This is the sugar with the lemon zest. The smell of it is WONDERFUL!

















I used a wooden spoon like BACK in the day when people didn't have hand mixers. They restaurant doesn't have the small tools I needed. All the big equipment. My arm was hurting after that mixing.



As you see here I didn't flatten them so they look like lemon snowball cookies lol. I was going to roll them in powdered sugar but I wanted that extra lemony taste from the glaze!







I will triple this recipe and add some poppy seed (maybe).

Pineapple Rum Peach Cobbler

Peach Filling

• 2 (26 oz cans) sliced peaches
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 6 tablespoons of butter
• 1  teaspoon of cinnamon (as much as you need)
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg (As much as you need)
• A splash pineapple rum  
• Sugar Topping
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon 

Preheat oven 375F

• Pour 1 can of undrained peaches into a saucepan. Drain the other can and pour the peaches in. We only need one can of juice.
• Add in butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar.
• Stir and heat over medium low heat just until sugar it dissolved and the liquid is syrupy. Set aside.
• Sprinkle on some sugar mixture if desired and press it into the crust.
• Spoon the peaches on top of the bottom crust. Pour 1/2 c of the peach juice over the peaches. (I added some pineapple rum)
• Place the 2nd pie crust on top of the bottom and press the ends into the pie crust rim.
• Drop a few pieces of butter on the pie and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture I added some nutmeg.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden.

Almond Sandies

This weekend I made almond sandies, peach cobbler or pie, and rum cupcakes. Each turned out delicious! 

Almond Sandies Recipe

2/3 cup almonds or any nuts
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Powdered sugar for dusting

Grind the nuts finely in a food processor til it is finely ground. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon or mixer. Add the almond and vanilla extract. Add the flour, almonds, and pinch of salt. Mix until combined. Roll your dough into 1/2 inch balls and flatten. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar! I will add pictures later. This is fun to make with kids cause you can make any shape you like.

  http://pinterest.com/turnerkl3/.