Saturday, November 13, 2010

I (pe)can't wait to try this pie!

My dad has always loved pecan pie.  The rest of the family, however, has not shared this love.  In honor of his birthday this year, I decided to make him a pecan pie.

We were heading to Ponca State Park to celebrate his special day, and I decided it would be a worthy gift.  I found an amazing looking recipe at one of my favorite websites, The Pioneer Woman.  The stuff she whips up always looks scrumptious.

She recommends that you chop your pecans instead of laying out the halves, that way the pecan doesn't get pressed in when you cut it, thus destroying the edge of the slice.

Here are some action shots of the pie-making process.

You need a heaping cup of chopped pecans


3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt
to that you add 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 tsp of vanilla, 3 eggs, beaten, and 1 cup corn syrup.

One unbaked pie crust (homemade would be good, but I was in a rush!!)

Here's the Pioneer Woman's sweet website

You pour the liquid mixture over the chopped pecans in the crust.  Bake it at 350 for 50 minutes (add tinfoil for the first 30 minutes) and voila!  Perfect pie.  Side note: my oven took 230 years to bake this pie.  Blech.

Here is my dad having his second piece of pie.

Pie approved!  (by Grandma, too.  Notice her hand below)

A Very Haunted Halloween!

I know Halloween was a few weeks back.  But around that time I was very busy with events.  One of them happened to be a small little Halloween party with two of my friends.

We had the party at our apartment, which, by chance, happens to be a castle.  Yes, that's right, we live in an extravagant, historical "castle."  It used to be a home, but now it's apartments.  Anyway, the high ceilings and old light fixtures set the mood perfectly for a bewitching Halloween.  

Here are some photos of the shindig.

The alcohol--I tried making some Halloween punch type of thing.  A little on the strong side!



A little hummus, veggies, and chips.




This ham and cheese puff pastry is one of the many reasons that Ina Garten is my idol.  All you need are two sheets of  puff pastry, some dijon mustard, sliced ham, and sliced cheese.  So delicious!  A major crowd pleaser.  Who doesn't like ham and cheese sandwiches?
Another shot of my "punch".  We are viewing all the alcohols, plus orange juice.


A cute Halloween "tablescape" (thanks for the terminology, Mom)

Here is the most haunting photo of all!  Me with the table.  I don't know if you can see them, but there are plenty of cobwebs about.  Are they fake or natural?  You can be the judge.

All in all I think the party was a success.  We snacked on some food, watched a French horror movie, and chatted.  Easy breezy for my first time entertaining in our apartment.  I really liked it!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

I (pe)can't wait to try this pie!

My dad has always loved pecan pie.  The rest of the family, however, has not shared this love.  In honor of his birthday this year, I decided to make him a pecan pie.

We were heading to Ponca State Park to celebrate his special day, and I decided it would be a worthy gift.  I found an amazing looking recipe at one of my favorite websites, The Pioneer Woman.  The stuff she whips up always looks scrumptious.

She recommends that you chop your pecans instead of laying out the halves, that way the pecan doesn't get pressed in when you cut it, thus destroying the edge of the slice.

Here are some action shots of the pie-making process.

You need a heaping cup of chopped pecans


3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt
to that you add 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 tsp of vanilla, 3 eggs, beaten, and 1 cup corn syrup.

One unbaked pie crust (homemade would be good, but I was in a rush!!)

Here's the Pioneer Woman's sweet website

You pour the liquid mixture over the chopped pecans in the crust.  Bake it at 350 for 50 minutes (add tinfoil for the first 30 minutes) and voila!  Perfect pie.  Side note: my oven took 230 years to bake this pie.  Blech.

Here is my dad having his second piece of pie.

Pie approved!  (by Grandma, too.  Notice her hand below)

A Very Haunted Halloween!

I know Halloween was a few weeks back.  But around that time I was very busy with events.  One of them happened to be a small little Halloween party with two of my friends.

We had the party at our apartment, which, by chance, happens to be a castle.  Yes, that's right, we live in an extravagant, historical "castle."  It used to be a home, but now it's apartments.  Anyway, the high ceilings and old light fixtures set the mood perfectly for a bewitching Halloween.  

Here are some photos of the shindig.

The alcohol--I tried making some Halloween punch type of thing.  A little on the strong side!



A little hummus, veggies, and chips.




This ham and cheese puff pastry is one of the many reasons that Ina Garten is my idol.  All you need are two sheets of  puff pastry, some dijon mustard, sliced ham, and sliced cheese.  So delicious!  A major crowd pleaser.  Who doesn't like ham and cheese sandwiches?
Another shot of my "punch".  We are viewing all the alcohols, plus orange juice.


A cute Halloween "tablescape" (thanks for the terminology, Mom)

Here is the most haunting photo of all!  Me with the table.  I don't know if you can see them, but there are plenty of cobwebs about.  Are they fake or natural?  You can be the judge.

All in all I think the party was a success.  We snacked on some food, watched a French horror movie, and chatted.  Easy breezy for my first time entertaining in our apartment.  I really liked it!