Chocolate Chess Pie

This is a recipe from my Mom. She found it in a cookbook when I was little, and my family has been having it ever since. The cookbook says that Chess pie is a Southern type pie. Somewhere else I saw Chess pies described as custard like pies. I will say this pie is not for everyone, BUT it is my family's favorite. Try it, you might like it.

1 1/2 Cups granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 can (5.3 oz) evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (9 inch) pie crust [see recipe below]

Mix sugar and cocoa. Add butter, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Here is a terrific pie crust recipe:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 egg
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1/4 Cup cold water

Using a pastry blender or fork(I often use my hands in the end) blend together the flour, shortening, and salt until the mixture resembles small peas. Slightly beat the egg and blend in vinegar and water. Combine the liquid with the flour mixture until thoroughly blended. Then, this is a trick my college roommate taught me, roll it out in between saran wrap. Way less mess, and no additional flour is added to your crust.

Bon Appetit! Enjoy your pie.

Please pass the rolls

Okay, I can admit this very publicly. I don't know how to make bread. I have tried. Failure! I have tried other rolls. Failure! But, this recipe is always successful. Thanks to my friend Carrie Hunt for sharing it with me. Hope you enjoy it too.

Mix:

2 Cups warm/hot water

2 Tablespoons yeast

a pinch of salt

Let sit until bubbly/ puffy

Add:

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup shortening

2 teaspoons salt

2 beaten eggs

Mix well and then add:

5 1/2 cups flour, a little at a time

Mix with dough hook for 5 minutes or hand kneed for several minutes until silky smooth texture. Lightly oil a bowl and place dough to rise. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft free area. When doubled in size punch down, and roll out. Cut with a pizza cutter into long triangles. Grease cookie sheets, roll up into crescent shape and place on sheet. Cover loosely with a towel and let rise until double. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Yummy Yams

Okay, Turkey Day is on the way. I am so excited! Here is a great yam recipe that is the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving Dinner. I keep getting asked if I have a good one so I though I would share. Thank you to Vonnie for the picture and Aunt Lisa for the recipe.

5 yams, baked, skinned and mashed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 Cup of butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 Cup sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

Mix together and place in casserole dish.

Topping:

1/4 Cup softened butter

3 Tablespoon flour

3/4 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup chopped pecans

Mix together. Sprinkle on top of yam mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

(PS I have no idea why this won't show the spaces in my entry. I keep hitting the "enter" button but still no spaces. UGH!)

SYTYCD, Baby!

Last Night I was able to go to...

I was so excited to see it in real life. I couldn't believe the difference of seeing it live versus on TV. Those dancers are moving in high speed most of the time. Wow! I was also thrilled that so many of my favorite dances were included.

Starting off was Brandon and Jeanine dancing to "Battlefield"


Jason and Kaitlin going their high energy Bollywood number, "Jai Ho"


Then I love the creeping thieves, Brandon and Janette, in "Ruby Blue"

I never knew how powerful dance could touch my emotions until I started watching this show. When Mark ripped out Chelsie's heart in their "Bleeding Love"dance I could feel the pain. That was nothing compared to this Season 5 dances.

There is Kupono and Kayla's dance about addiction . To watch her struggle to be released from a power that had complete control of her made me feel hopeless and trapped too. I experience deep sorrow for those whose decisions had ever lead them to experience this. I prayed that they had the strength to fight the addiction and regain their agency and ability to control their life. Kupono truly captured "addiction"

Then Melissa and Ade's tribute to breast cancer fighters was beyond words for me. Tyce Diorio choreographed something amazing that human tongue fails to describe.

In the end, it was a great evening. Thanks to my friends who shared it with me.

From Small and Simple Things

Here is JR with some young men he has worked with(is freinds with), Zak and Ben Browning.

Ben just left on his mission. He stopped by the night before he left to give JR a present. Awhile ago, probably a year or more, the guys worked on making knifes for several months. Every Wednesday night, they would work on the knives. Ben is a knife maker/blacksmith and was teaching everyone what to do. JR was so excited. He forged his blade and worked very hard on it. Then time ran out, and the project was never completed.
Ben surprised JR. He completed the knife for JR and gave it to him that night. It was the perfect present.

Ben used 10,000 year old Bog Ash for the handle. He makes a very handsome knife. I think it is a great indication of Ben's personality. When most 19 year olds are thinking of themselves, he took the time to think of others. He knew JR cared about his knife, and he completed it for him. This was an especially thoughtful and meaningful gift. Thank you Ben! I know that you will do well on your mission because you already care for your fellowman.

Jump and Jive, H is 5!

On her birthday morning H came downstairs all excited, she had gotten dressed and done her own hair. She is all grown up, fabulous 5.


We decided to celebrate by going out to lunch with some friends, and a sister who was "sick". All the girls were ready to head off to dance class.


H is really into Pandas right now. So, we looked on the Internet and through a cookbook or two and ended up with these cupcakes. I think us trying to figure out what to make was the best part.

H is the best present opener. She loves every gift, truly. She gets so excited.

It is so fun to see the joy on her face. She loved all her gifts. Snow White and Littlest Pet Shop panda, who could ask for more?!

Okay, my favorite expression. H was stunted, thrilled, over joyed...she couldn't believe she got the Snow White movie.

Ah, I love H. I am so glad that she is part of our family. I am having a really hard time accepting that my BABY is 5 years old. Where did the time go? Where are my little, little ones? Enough of the mommy whining, Happy Birthday H. We love you!

The 1st Hundred Pages

Today is day 10 of reading. By the end of today, to be on track, you should be on page 100. How are you doing? I hope you are enjoying this. Keep up the good work, and KEEP READING!

I Survived...

the Primary Program!

Oh, I should mention the girls did terrific, fabulous, wonderful, etc...and looked darling to boot!

The More the Merrier!

A couple of weeks ago, my friends went on vacation to Cancun, Mexico.


They left me in charge of these...

that makes 8 kiddos all together! 8 kids is a lot of work, but a lot of fun too.

JR had a friend to take to the basketball game. The lone boy!


In honor of the parents' vacation spot, one night we had a "Mexican Fiesta"
-fajitas
-nachos
-homemade salsa
- a yummy lime drink...

The kitchen after the fiesta.



The kids were bummed when they realized I only planned dinner for the fiesta, so they decided to add some games too.

The days we had the kids were fun, and kept us hopping. We loved our time together. On the last morning, all 10 of us were eating breakfast together. JR looked at me and asked if we were missing anyone. I told him "no". JR said it was too calm and easy with all the kids there. I had to agree. Who knows maybe we should add a few more members to Team Z :)

[I did keep thinking of a lady, I knew when I was a kid, who had 8 children. All the kids were involved in soccer, dance, gymnastic, or something. I don't know how she did it. She was always cheerful. Plus, she kept her house running, food on the table, etc...Wow, I have a new respect for her!]

This is Halloween

Team Z's Halloween 2009

H- an Angel



R- an Army Girl


E- a Devil (mischievous, not evil)

Our neighbors love Halloween! This is part of their yard.

Another part was a Mad Science lab

Pictures can't capture the house with the song "Mad Science" blasting and other Halloween tunes. There was lightening with the music beats. There was another part of their house with coffins and skeletons too. Plus, the entire house had eerie lighting.

I even made a cake in honor of Halloween. It's suppose to look like a witch's cauldron.

Start Reading

Today is the first day to start reading the Book of Mormon. Remember, if you read 10 pages every day you will finish on Christmas Eve. So, let's start reading!