Chocolate Cream Pie

Sometimes a smell, a taste, a song can take you right back in time. I took one bite of this chocolate cream pie and I was back in time. At Bill and Janice VZ's on New Year's Day having cream pies for dessert, right there. After a day of crab cocktails and ham dinner, Dads watching football, Moms playing pinochle and kids playing we had ham sandwiches and cream pies in the evening. This pie is the chocolate cream pie.

I didn't get the recipe from my Mom but it has to be close.

It tastes real close. And really good.

Chocolate Cream Pie

1 (9") baked pie shell*

1/3 c. Hershey's cocoa

1 1/4 c. sugar

1/3 c. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. salt

3 c. milk

3 T. butter

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Sweetened whipped cream

*Pie Crust

1 1/2. c. flour

3/4 tsp. salt

2 T. milk

3 T. sugar

1/2 c. oil

Mix with a fork and press in a pie pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Watch closely.

Cool.

*I use this pie crust recipe for my fresh raspberry pie, coconut and banana cream pies. It's easy and has a sweet, salty crunch. And it doesn't need to be rolled, just pressed.

For the pie filling, combine cocoa, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Blend in the milk; cook and stir with a whisk over medium heat until it boils. Boil and stir for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and blend in the butter and vanilla. Pour into pie shell and press plastic wrap onto surface. Chill 3-4 hours. Serve with the sweetened whipped cream.

*Tips:

1. Stir like crazy, stir until your arm hurts or the pie filling will scorch.

2. Do not walk away from the stove or set down the whisk. Really.

3. Use the best cocoa and the best vanilla you can afford. Always. Forever and always. Amen.

My Little Sis is 50

My little sis, Kathi had her 5oth birthday this weekend and we were invited to a surprise party for her on Saturday evening. Her dinner group friends threw the party and did a fabulous job. Everything was so pretty and delicious and best of all, Kathi was honored and loved by friends and family. It was semi formal, so everyone was pretty snazzy.

Everyone had their picture taken with the birthday girl. Hubby was looking good in his tux.

Kathi and Karen have been friends since 6th grade, Karen drove up from Vancouver, Wa. Kathi and Karen left Sunday morning with a group of classmates for a girls' trip to Whistler. Celebrating 50!

Kathi and my brother Ken, the middle children.

Kathi with her friends, Randy and Janis. They hosted with Dan and Marla and Jim and Stacy.

I have patio envy. You would too if you saw their patio. It's gorgeous.

Kathi with her husband, Jeff. Yep, he's a lucky guy and he knows it.

Sometimes Jeff looks like one of the Baldwins brothers to me. What do you think?

The chicken was amazing. I don't have pictures of Dan and Marla because they were busy in the kitchen. Marla had on a beautiful green dress, and that girl can cook. She would fly through the room, then throw her apron back on and whip around the kitchen, pull off the apron, mingle and repeat...

We had such a nice evening, lots of laughs, delicious food, and a special birthday girl.

While You Were Out

So, blogger was down, still struggling apparently.

Comments disappeared and no one could blog. Boo!

Meanwhile, Max got his braces off! Over four years later he does have a nice smile.

I made beef enchiladas for dinner last night. It's Max's favorite dinner and he wanted to have them without braces. He'll use any excuse for enchiladas.

This morning I went with my Mom and sisters for a pedicure, some shopping and lunch. It was for Mother's Day and Kathi's birthday. A BiG birthday, the Big 5-0 for Kathi! A fun morning with the girls and now it's back to work. Cookin' and cleanin' for the weekend.

Do you have plans? I don't. But my toes are ready, just in case.

I'm Cold

It's raining. It's pouring.

It's makin' me crazy...

First of all let me say I feel more sorry for the local farmers than I do for myself.

And that is saying something.

Cuz it's a 'the weather is really crummy pity party' at my house.

I have a new plan. I'm going very minimal with flowers and plants in my yard and on my patio this year.

I have not bought one petunia, not planted one lobelia, not even plunked in a hosta.

It's just too cold.

I'm saving my money so I can get back to Hawaii as soon as possible.

Flowers on the Hawaiian Island are gorgeous and pretty much a sure thing. As opposed to here where it may not reach 65 degrees, ever again.

Bleh!

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day Brunch was at our house this year. We had it at five in the afternoon, it just worked out better. It was fun to set the Moms' table in the sitting room. When my Mom and sisters arrived they thought I forgot to set a table. We have always eaten off by ourselves on Mother's Day. When the kids were babies it was a big deal to get our food, shut the door and let the guys deal with everything. It's still fun to have mom and sister time.

I'm going to save everyone a lot of work and not share the tart recipe. They were delicious but a lot of messing around. I'll just save you from that headache and not share the recipe.

Honestly, I don't remember what was so funny. It obviously wasn't as funny for my Mom and isn't a very attractive picture of me but it really cracks me up.

I had a nice day, I heard from all my guys and some kids that aren't my own.

Pretty special kids in my life blessing my day.

An Evening in Paris

Last night was JSB for Max and Kassie. They met at Brooke's house for some pictures with friends. The four couples looked so great. Their parents took some pics in the house and in between rain showers we went outside for some shots.

Kassie looked beautiful in her gown and Max was handsome in his suit.

Emily, Brooke, Demi and Kassie

Max, Collin, Jesse and Drew

Thankfully Yvonne had thought to have an umbrella ready. It was raining, again.

After some pics at Brooke's house we went to the school. I had helped set up earlier in the day some background and a punch and coffee table for the students and their parents. This was the first year that parents were invited to mingle and snap at the reception. Mrs. K. came up with this idea and I loved it! As a parent it was so much fun to see all the kids dressed up.

Max and Mrs. K. paused for a quick pic, she is one of his favorite teachers.

Kassie and Lindsey with some props. They helped me with decorations for the reception. Next year they will be on the cheer squad together.

JT and his date, Katie. I loved JT's shoes and her dress. Katie and Max may not realize it but they have the same great, great grandparents. Both of their grandmas are named Esther, after their mutual GGGrandma.

Just a little family trivia for you.

The other sophomore waiters were gone refilling the punch bowl. They did some nice work and even stayed to help me take down and clean up. {Servant hearts}

Some of the junior girls glammin' it up.

It was at this point that Max picked up Kassie, told his mom and her mom..."we are leaving,

NO more pictures."

The evening continued for them at Tail Skid Meadows with an Evening in Paris theme. They came home and reported that they had a delicious dinner(Max & Kassie), everything was so pretty(Kassie), and that the seniors were honored and the skits were hilarious (Max & Kassie). Then off to the river bar for a bonfire.