Foodie Friday--Pies

My daughter prefers pies to cake so I made her two for her birthday. For the first pie I coated the bottom of the crust with chocolate, added a cheesecake pudding, then the cherry pie filling topped with cool whip or whipped cream. For the second pie-Lemon Meringue. I love a classic Lemon Meringue but feel they are always too sweet. I cut the sugar to half in the lemon part and cut the sugar for the meringue down just slightly. I also have learned to use the microwave to cook the pudding part. It is faster and you don't get the scorching that can happen when using a pan over the stove. The secret to the Meringue of course, is attaching the meringue completely to the sides of the crust in every spot. This way, the meringue does not pull away from the crust or "weep". Both pies were delicious. I'll share the Lemon one here.

Lemon Meringue Pie1 baked pie crust (I use Martha Stewart's recipe made in the food processor)

3/4 cup sugar
3 T. cornstarch
3 T. flour
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups hot water
3 beaten egg yolks
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 T. butter
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice


Combine sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually blend in water. Microwave until it is thick and translucent about 3 minutes. Stir after 1 minute. Stir small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks then return it to the hot mixture and gradually mix the two until blended. Add lemon peel and butter and mix completely. Gradually stir in 1/3 cup lemon juice. Cover entire surface with clear plastic wrap and let it cool for 10 minutes. Then pour into baked pie shell.Meringue
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon lemon juice
5 T. sugar

Beat egg whites with 1 teaspoon lemon juice till soft peaks form. Gradually add 5 T. sugar, beating till stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread meringue over filling, sealing to edges of pastry. Bake in moderate oven 12 minutes or till meringue is golden. Cool thoroughly before serving. Tip: A wet knife slices easily through the meringue.The birthday candles were 2 and ? placed on the pie by her husband!
Try this recipe and see if you don't agree that it is just the right amount of sweetness. For other wonderful recipes click here for Designs by Gollum site our generous host of Foodie Friday.

Happy Birthday to Someone Special!

It is someone special's birthday today.

W-is for wonderful friend, sister, wife, daughter and mother

E-energetic for all things new. In just the past two years she has home schooled her 4 children, run marathons, designed and built her house, hosted a foreign student, and taken up photography besides all the usual mom and wife things.

N-is for nice. It is a classic saying in our family because all her report cards in school would have the comment "A pleasure to have in class". Everyone loves Wendy!

D-is for dedicated to her family. She is a great mom!
Y-yellow is her favorite color and the color of her personality too.

I would like to add another letter to her name, and that would be P for patient. She is the most patient person I know!

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU WENDY!!!! You are Wenderful, wonderful!

Camera-Captured Summertime Activities

Camera-Captured Summertime Activities
Sometimes we wonder where our time has gone, especially this summer. It is a good thing that we can record events with our camera so that we can answer that for ourselves. Here are some events I captured with family and friends--fun times and times for memories.1. My sweet aunt, Gladys (89), and I had a beautiful drive north to my sister, Kaye's, home. We helped her celebrate her birthday by taking her to lunch at a lovely restaurant up one of the canyons near her home. (I won't tell how old she is, only that she looks 25!).
This is the birthday girl complete with a darling apron and birthday crown. She is in her livingroom that is filled with all things memorable and fun including the family portrait mantle with it's inscription "Be Warm Inside and Out", two loveseats that she recovered from our mom's home, tea cup collections, hand stitched pillows, decoupaged Girl's Time (on the easel) and other fun and quirky things. Everything has a story. It is always a treat to go there to see what she has done lately. She is a very talented and fun sister.
Barbara and I took a little trip to an old Inn where my husband and I spent our honeymoon many years ago and enjoyed the gardens there. We took the plunge and sat in the natural mineral springs that are on the property. Something that neither one of us had done before. Doesn't she look amazing! She is an inspiration to me of perseverance and patience having stuck with her diet since last November!
I pressed her into service to redecorate the guest room while she was staying in it. So it went from French Country to Cottage Beachy in the course of one week. Of course, we found time to make some crafts before she went home too. She is making a Danger cosmetic bag out of danger tape and duct tape.
The craft room found cute Maddy making a banner for her bedroom back home too.
It is so nice to have spent time with those you love. I hope your summer is filled with the people you enjoy being with too.

15 Reasons

Here's to a great Birthday !!

Here's 15 reasons why I love my grandson, Nick

1. He is so kind and good natured



2. He is tall, red-headed and handsome.



3. He helps his sisters-buckle up in the car, with videos at home, cooks eggs for them.



4. He is smart--a 4.0 student



5. He is brave--He goes camping with Scouts in the winter, in snowstorms!



6. He is generous--he gives up his room when I come to visit.



7. He is helpful--he takes out the garbage without complaining.



8. He is cheerful--he always greets me with love.



9. He is loving--he always has a hug for me.



10. He is nice--to his mom, especially



11. He has a cute sense of humor.



12. He is a good reader--always has a book in his hand.



13. He has a good disposition--never talks back to his parents.



14. He is considerate--he won a stuffed animal at a fair and brought it home to his sister.



15. He is wonderful--just the kind every girl would want for a husband (in a few years:)

Happy 15th Birthday Dear Nick!!

I love you:)