It's been a while

So I took a little break, as I was trying to get into a routine of being alone with my three year old son, and my now almost two month old daughter. I hope you all will forgive me! So let's catch up my friends! The past few weeks I have been cleaning constantly, as any mother knows, it's a constant. Christmas shopping. And a lot of it. Okay, I will dish more on my post after Christmas about my fantastic buys. (trust me, you will LOVE the POST CHRISTMAS one, so please stay tuned) What is everyone doing for gifts? Any good homemade ones?

My gifts for my friends are all homemade. A smore's kit, Mexican hot chocolate, and cookies! I hope they all enjoy it! I still need to finish my Christmas Cards! that just reminded me! However I did make Rudolph's with the kids :)

Also, what kind of Christmas would it be with out the cookies? I've been making all sorts of cookies. So far I've got sugar cookies, oatmeal cranberry chocolate cookies, Hawaiian wedding cakes, eggnog tea cookies, double chocolate coconut cookies, and crispy chocolate chip cookies!


 I've been digging through my family recipes and figuring out what I am going to contribute to the Christmas dinner my friend and I are making. So far, I am bringing turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chevre, carrot souffle, cranberry sauce, cream puff tree! What a grand dinner we will have! 
As I was digging for my recipes, I found a couple pie recipes, I thought I would share for any of you making pies for Christmas!              

                                        
    
A sweeter Pie crust for Two double crust pies, or four single crust pies

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups shortening
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup water
• 
  
• Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, shortening, sugar, and salt. Blend together with a pastry cutter until crumbly.
2. In a small bowl, mix egg with water. Blend into flour mixture. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use.

For a basic Pie crust for one double crust pie or two single crusts

2 Cups of flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cups shortening

1/3 cup ice water

mix flour and salt together, cut in shortening, sprinkle water and blend with hands till dough forms. use as needed

For Cherry Pie

2 cups cherries *take out the seeds!

1 Cup of juice

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

1 Cup of sugar

2 Tablesppons cornstarch

butter

put cherries in crust, mix all other ingredients, except butter, together. Pour over the cherries. dot with butter. Put top crust on, make slits in top. Bake  at 450 for 10 minutes, then at 350 for 30 minutes. When it comes out, brush top with melted butter! 

Enjoy!

Chocolate Pie

pre baked pie shell

3 Tablespoons butter

1/4 Cup conrstarch

3/4 Cup sugar

2Tablespoons cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Cups

2 egg yolks

Mix egg yolks and sugar. melt butter in saucepan. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter in saucpan. Slowly add milk, and cook till boiling. Add the eggs, cook slightly, add vanilla. pour into baked pie shell and chill.

Apple Pie

2/3  Cup of sugar

Dash Salt

1/2 teaspoon

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

2 teaspoons lemon juice

6 cups peeled thinly sliced cooking apples

2 tablespoons butter

Mix sugar with salt, cinnamon, flour, lemon rind and juice and combine with apples. Line 9 inch piepan with pie crust and fill with apple mixture. Dot with butter. Top with crust and crimp edges. Brush top with milk. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, then at 375 45 minutes, or until apples are tender. sprinkle with sugar after baking if desired.

There you go, hope you all enjoy!