Holiday

Thanksgiving 2020

How are you? I hope you’re hanging in there and figuring out ways to uncover some sort of joy in life. Honestly, I’ve had a rough time and I know I’m not alone. It doesn’t really help me much to hear words of encouragement so I’m not going to list a bunch of “it’ll get better” lines here. Instead, I’ll take a moment to share what’s helping me cope with the stress and loneliness of this time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for all I have and that my family and I have been physically healthy. However, there’s no denying that there’s stress and sadness associated with job stuff, worrying about my daughter being in school, worrying about everyone, not seeing family and friends and being in quarantine mode for the 9th month. I’m fortunate but I’m also human.

Looking forward to the holiday season is helping me cope. Thanksgiving is a week from today! It’s probably my favorite holiday. I have amazing memories of it growing up and I’ve tried hard over the years to give Thanksgiving all the attention I think it deserves. Of course, there’s all the wonderful food and something magical about sharing a meal that’s centered around family and friends and traditions. It’s the kick-off to the holidays and I get plain giddy this time of year. This year certainly feels different. There won’t be as many big family gatherings. I won’t see my mom, dad, oldest daughter or in-laws in person. I know many people who are empty nesters or don’t have family nearby and they won’t see a single family member in person. That’s hard.

Staying busy also helps me cope. There’s work but there’s also giving myself a chance to do things that make me feel good like baking. I don’t do it nearly as much as I like and last weekend I busted out all the stuff to make Pumpkin Rolls. I made a list of new recipes I want to try and share with you. I need to make time for baking because it makes me happy.

As I was planning out my Thanksgiving menu, I thought it would be a good chance to link some of my previous fall/Thanksgiving recipes to get all of us in the spirit! The pictures have links but there’s more info below.

If you like to hit the ground running (and I don’t mean a Turkey Trot), these Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls can be made a day ahead and baked up on Thanksgiving morning. Get after it! There’s also Apple Cider Donuts and Apple Fritters that can be made the morning of and will keep you plenty full until the big meal.

Sweet Potato Casserole is my daughter, Hannah’s favorite! She lives in another state and is making it this year. We made a deal to Facetime while eating it so we can enjoy it together. This is the first time in 25 years I’m not making it for her but it’s a nice feeling that she’s carrying on the tradition at her house!

Desserts are everything to me at Thanksgiving and I always make Pumpkin Rolls! These can be made ahead of time, frozen and sliced when you’re ready to set up your dessert display. If you make one, make a few because they’re great gifts!

If you’re looking for something a little different but super delicious, try Pumpkin Crème Brûlée. It’s silky and decadent and can be made in advance.

Another different and yummy dessert to add to your list is Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. Everyone loves these little pillows of goodness.

Pie! I love all the traditional ones like Pumpkin and Pecan but sometimes it’s just gotta be classic Apple Pie. Try tossing in a handful of fresh cranberries to bring it right into the holiday spirit! The link to that post includes my pie crust recipe.

Cake! Don’t forget how easy it is to make a lovely, stunning bundt cake. My Apple Bundt Cake is scrumptious!

If you’re finding there’s a short supply of spices, you can make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice. It’s easy and might save you multiple trips to the store.

How are you coping? What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions that you’ll stick with this year? I hope you’re able to enjoy Thanksgiving in a way that feels okay. I’ll bake, cook, eat and, hopefully, get outside for a hike. I’ll probably see family over Zoom and Facetime. I’ll likely shed a few tears but I’ll also smile, dance and hug Carrie tighter than usual. However I’m feeling, my heart (and stomach) will be full and for that I’m so thankful.

From the heart,

Shannon

apple · bread · Recipes

Falling for Apple Fritters

My favorite baking season is here! I’ve been doing less baking but still trying to squeeze some in, here and there. This time last year, I was baking and sharing all kinds of recipes. I haven’t gone as crazy this fall because, well, COVID and everyone in my house is trying to eat super healthy to keep our immune systems in a place to help fight off that horrible virus. Also, depending on the day, we’re not eating gluten or dairy. Sometimes, we’re strict vegans and other days we’re not. Kind of all over the place!

Carrie was off school Friday and we decided to make our annual trip to an orchard where they also sell apple fritters. First of all, everyone in NE Ohio was off school and flocked to that place! I didn’t feel comfortable being there so we grabbed our fritters and went right back to the car to eat them. I was so excited! I took my first bite and it was disappointing. Second bite, bland. Third bite, stale. I PUT THE APPLE FRITTER BACK IN THE BAG and decided it was definitely not worth eating. It was disappointing but not the end of the world. I knew right then and there that I’d just make my own apple fritter experience.

This morning, Carrie and I made our own. I had this recipe saved from Half Baked Harvest (my true love!). I bought local apples at Countryside Farmers’ Market on Saturday and I was ready to have my fritter moment.

I NEVER fry anything. I made an exception today and embraced all the elements of the recipe. It was 100% worth it!

These Apple Fritters are light, full of warm spices and the apples cook just enough and are bursting with flavor! Carrie didn’t want the coffee glaze the recipe calls for so we just left that out and I added a tiny bit of lemon juice to the glaze to cut the sweetness a little. They are beyond delicious! They’re little bites of glorious fall flavors.

Little pillows of apple goodness!

After eating (inhaling) the first one, I took them over the top by adding a little homemade apple butter. I’ll just be here all day eating these!

Get the recipe (Half Baked Harvest), avoid all the crowds and stale, dry fritters and make them while all the juicy apples are in season. You won’t regret it!

From the heart,

Shannon

Uncategorized

Lemon Strawberry Dutch Baby

Hello! I’m still here, occasionally baking but haven’t posted anything new. There are so many recipes on my list that I want to try but keep finding myself outside soaking up the sun and warmth instead of hanging out in the kitchen. These gorgeous summer days won’t last long and I have to enjoy every second in the great outdoors!

It’s no secret that Half Baked Harvest recipes are some of my favorites! I follow her blog, own her cookbooks and have made lots of her dishes–BIG FAN! Dutch Baby has been on that recipe list of mine I mentioned earlier and I finally got to it.

I don’t know about you but every single day feels the same around here. We’re still staying close to home, wearing masks if we venture out and trying to shake up meal time with new recipes. One day flows into the next, boredom and moods creep in on a regular basis and it gets kind of old.

Carrie and I have oatmeal or a smoothie almost every morning for breakfast. When I saw this Lemon Strawberry Dutch Baby in my Instagram feed, I decided today would be a great day for a summer breakfast that didn’t involve oatmeal or frozen fruit and a blender. It does involve a cast iron skillet, fresh strawberries and lemon sugar and that’s just fine with me! Have you ever made one? I’ve got some fresh peaches and I’ll use those next round.

This recipe is really easy to whip up, uses ingredients you probably have on hand and is versatile enough that you can substitute any fruit and make it your own! The credit for this recipe goes to Half Baked Harvest but I swapped out the whole milk for almond milk and used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour. It turned out just fine!

My new skillet from Lodge is amazing in every way! I love Rosie the Riveter and having her stamped into the bottom of this pan makes me feel stronger. It may be all in my head but at this point in the COVID Pandemic, I need all the strength I can find. Baking is my outlet for stress and it’s also the way I enjoy showing those I love that I care about them! Rosie and I rolled up our sleeves and got this Dutch Baby going!

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Strawberries, lemon sugar and simple ingredients come together magically to create a delicious, light dish.

The original recipe calls for a whipped ricotta to serve on top, which sounds amazing! I made vanilla whipped cream because Carrie LOVES whipped cream and it’s what I had in the fridge. I woke her up, told her to hustle downstairs so we could get into this thing!

DELICIOUS! I’m so happy to start my weekend with this beauty! Find the recipe here and make it!

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Off to squeeze in a hike and enjoy this beautiful day! Happy weekend friends!

From the heart,
Shannon

Cookies · Recipes

Cookies for Dad

It’s been a few minutes since I’ve posted anything. I haven’t done much baking. It’s one of the things I love most but my heart just hasn’t been in it. I don’t have to remind you of all the things 2020 has been full of. Too many moments of sadness and heartbreak and not knowing what I should do or how to explain any of this to my 13 year old. Deep, heavy, terrifying stuff.

My family is still in quarantine mode. We don’t go to public places except the grocery store or to pick up something here and there. We do fit in some biking and hiking whenever we can when the trails aren’t too crowded. We’re not taking trips or visiting family and friends. It has been challenging but I’m still convinced we’re doing our part to help save lives.

The past few months have been full of ups and downs. Now, it’s mid-June, school’s out for the summer, and we have no travel/vacation plans. It just doesn’t feel like a typical summer. Except that Father’s Day is this weekend and that feels timely and normal.

I usually mail gifts to all of the dads in my life because they live in other states. My dad lives in Tennessee and he loves it when I send homemade baked goods. I decided Father’s Day is a good time for me to get out of my no baking rut, dust off my mixer and put my heart into baking something for my dad.

He really loves peanut butter cookies. So simple but they’re one of his favorites, along with a big glass of cold milk. Once, I sent him a box of gifts for his birthday and stuck one of those blue tins inside that are filled with Danish butter cookies. I remembered him loving those when I was a kid. His wife told me he was super excited when he opened the box of gifts and saw the tin. She said his whole body sank when he took off the lid and they weren’t my cookies! Here I thought I was getting him one of his favorites and he prefers mine! Ha! She said he said, “Store bought!? I don’t want those!”

Don’t worry, Dad because homemade Peanut butter cookies are on their way! I’m sharing my recipe below. It’s the same recipe for Peanut Butter Blossoms, you just skip pressing them with a fork and top them with chocolate kisses when they come out of the oven. They’re quick and easy to make and all the special dads, grandpas, bonus dads, husbands, sons, friends and neighbors will devour them!

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Making these cookies for my dad lifted my spirits. Baking centers me. It fills my soul with joy and that’s just what I needed. Make these and bring a little feel good into your day. Wishing all the dads a happy Father’s Day! If you are lucky enough to be with yours, hug him extra tight and enjoy every moment!

From the heart,
Shannon

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Sugar for coating; Hershey’s kisses for Peanut Blossoms

Instructions:
1) Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper, or lightly grease with non-stick vegetable oil spray.

2) Beat together the butter and sugars until smooth.

3) Blend in peanut butter, milk, vanilla and egg.

4) Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

5) Shape dough into balls and either flatten criss cross with sugar dipped fork or roll ball in sugar and bake and top with Kisses after baking

8) Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes.  Peanut Butter Blossoms: When you remove from oven, place a kiss in the center and let them cool. I love to eat them warm when the kisses are all gooey!! 🙂

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bread · Pie · Recipes · Savory Dishes

Sourdough Pizza Crust + GF Pizza Crust

Sourdough is really having a moment. A sweet friend gave me some of her sourdough starter. I made bread and it was delicious. I made rosemary crackers and I keep making them because they’re so scrumptious! It was just a matter of time until I tried my hand at sourdough pizza crust.

We’ve been making pizzas on a regular basis during quarantine. It’s fun and everyone gets to let their creativity flow into their pies. By the time we’re finished, flour is everywhere and toppings are scattered from one end of our kitchen to the other! We’ve made them on a pizza stone in the oven and on our Big Green Egg (for some reason, they always burn). I’ve checked out some of my fellow bakers’ Instagram accounts and admired their homemade pizzas made in wood-fired ovens or special pizza ovens. We’ve tried several dough recipes and techniques and last night we found our favorite so far!

The sourdough craze is making me crazy (among other things). It’s truly a love/hate relationship I have with my starter. I don’t want to love it but I do. Every single time I do the whole feeding process, I swear it’s my last. Then, I fall in love with it and I feed it and nurture it the way any good starter mama would. I came across a recipe for sourdough pizza crust on this cute site: Little Spoon Farm. I was intrigued because they use a cast iron skillet. I have nothing but love for my iron skillets so I knew I had to try it!

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IT IS SO GOOD AND REALLY EASY TO MAKE! You get all the char and the dough has that slightly sour flavor while being light and airy with a crispy crust. We made a smaller, starter pizza to share and it cooked up really well too! You just can’t go wrong with pizza.

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Carrie has been trying to eat less gluten so I made her a gluten free crust. I didn’t get a picture but it was also really delicious! Here are links to both recipes:

Cast Iron Pizza Crust and Gluten Free Pizza Crust

Homemade pizza is worth the mess and I know exactly what’s going into our pizzas. We also get to use a lot of local ingredients, so it’s just a win all the way around! These recipes are both fantastic! I hope you try them and feel free to let me know how you make pizza and your preferred toppings!

From the heart,
Shannon

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bread · Recipes

May celebrations and a strawberry rhubarb muffin recipe

May has been quite strange. Some days have been filled with sunshine, hikes, baking, sourdough starter, sourdough bread, sourdough crackers, games, sidewalk chalk, home work outs, House Parties, FaceTime sessions, and walks. Other days have included rain, snow, news from family members that they’re jobs are going away (along with their pay), ill parents, parents who’ve passed, pets who’ve passed, hours spent inside, and days that make me feel like I just want to run away to a remote island and not think about all the terrible things going on.

I don’t want to get too deep here because this is meant to be a place mostly filled with cheerful topics and recipes. However, there’s no denying we’re all dealing with situations and emotions that are pushing us to places we may be unfamiliar with. There are times I struggle but I’m thankful my family is healthy and safe. In the midst of all the pandemic news, I’ve recently been blessed with tidbits of joyous occasions and moments and I’m choosing to focus on those!

  • I was able to support local businesses for Mother’s Day and graduation shopping!
  • We’ve been fortunate to have local, fresh food to make meals at home!
  • Rhubarb is in season!
  • Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and Carrie and I made a cheesecake to celebrate!
  • BIG NEWS: both of my daughters are graduating this year!

Hannah graduated yesterday with her Master’s Degree and Carrie will graduate from 8th grade in June. Before COVID, the next several weeks were set to be jam packed with all sorts of celebration. It’s looking differently than I planned but my heart is just as full, thanks to technology (Zoom!) and people who care and truly go above and beyond! It’s amazing how the worst times can bring out the absolute best in people and situations!

Congratulations, Hannah! We were able to watch the virtual ceremony, and it was great to share her big day with her! She and her fiancé went to campus a couple weeks ago and took photos. Just look at that smile; she’s beaming! For the past couple years, she’s worked full-time, attended classes, written papers, spent countless weekends and nights studying or working on group projects, got engaged, moved and adopted a puppy. She’s basically Superwoman!

Carrie’s school is unique because it’s preschool through 8th grade. Many of the students have been there since they were very young so 8th grade graduation is a pretty big deal. The school has put a lot of effort into honoring and recognizing the 8th grade class of 2020. She was surprised by teachers the other night and she felt super special! They showed up in separate cars, honking horns, masks on and clapping their hands as they walked up our driveway. Carrie couldn’t believe it! They brought a sign and sang a song. They also delivered a gift but the real gift was seeing their faces and hearing them tell Carrie how much they miss her and how proud they are of her! These are some extraordinary humans! I’m so proud of you, Carrie and am excited to celebrate your graduation!

Shortly before Carrie’s teachers arrived, my neighbor texted me that their rhubarb plant was full and I could take all I want. I ran over, grabbed rhubarb and whipped up a quick batch of my Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins. Unfortunately, they weren’t ready when the teachers were here but I took some to neighbors and a couple other friends nearby. These are so easy to make and you can use any kind of berry or fruit you have on hand. Perfect to make for mom, if you’re lucky enough to be with her for Mother’s Day or for your special grad who may be feeling sad about missing out on all the end of year festivities. Strange times indeed.

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Let’s hurry up and get through this so we can all get back to celebrating special occasions IN PERSON! In the meantime, wishing all the mamas a sweet Mother’s Day and a big congrats to all the 2020 grads who’ve stepped up and demonstrated their resilience in a time none of us were prepared for.

I hope all of us are able to find and cherish the happy moments in all the stress and uncertainty. Sending you lots of hugs!

From the heart,
Shannon

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Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour (I used Mud Run Farm whole wheat pastry flour)
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup oil (I used coconut)
1 egg
1/3 cup milk of your choice
1 cup fresh berries/fruit
Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cubed butter
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400; Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl. Combine oil, egg and milk and add to dry ingredients. Fold in fruit. Scoop into muffin pan. Combine all topping ingredients using hands or pastry cutter and sprinkle on top of muffins. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Makes about 9-10 muffins. Recipe can easily be doubled! Enjoy!

Uncategorized

Quaran-TEEN creative dinners

I’ve been quite impressed with Carrie’s attitude and creativity during our stay at home time; she’s actually thriving. She’s in online classes most of the day. During her lunch hour, we’re doing home workouts. She set goals and is sticking with her plans to achieve them. I’m watching her get stronger both physically and emotionally. She’s trying and learning new things. At a time when she could be complaining of boredom and isolating herself in her room, she’s enjoying life! She’s making the most of our time together and taking pride in the fact that she’s doing her part to help save lives by staying home.

She came up with a creative way to bring  more fun to dinner time by planning themed dinners. Love it! We put our heads together and figured out meals based on things we had in stock and off she went.

Here’s the thing, I HAD THE BEST TIME! Somehow, Carrie’s ideas transported us to a  new restaurant every night! She made cute invitations (until our printer ran out of ink) and gave us details for each evening. We prepared the meals together and Carrie was our server but she also dined with us!

Sleeper Sunday: Eat breakfast food for dinner, wear pjs and dine on the couch.
Menu: Eggs, Rosie’s Rivets with dipping sauces and apple butter and oranges.

I don’t have any pics of us in our PJs but we wore them and ate while sitting on the couch, which we never do. Can I just tell you how much apple butter (homemade by my daughter, Hannah) elevates Rosie’s Rivets?! Game changer!

Meditation Monday: Channel our inner zen and have a calming, nutritious meal.
Menu: Buddha-ish bowls full of greens, cucumber, nuts and falafel

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This was very tasty and I felt good getting lots of veggies and healthy foods in! The weather was decent so we took it outside and soaked up the peaceful sounds of spring peepers. Namaste!

Talian Tuesday: Not much explanation needed!
Menu: Homemade naan bread pizzas and bread to dip in olive oil. CARBS galore!

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We lucked out with another pleasant evening, so we made our pizzas and dined outside. The meal was delicious and I could’ve eaten another pizza and loaf of bread! We love to make pizzas, so this was a meal we were all looking forward to! I’m still full! Mangia!

Waikiki Wednesday: This was scheduled to be Tropical Thursday but the weather was amazing so Carrie switched the days and we really embraced the tropical theme outside!
Menu: Bowls filled with rice, grilled veggies, roasted sweet potatoes, beans and grilled pineapple and fresh fruit salad with shredded coconut.  Grown ups had Masthead Brewing Company beer and Carrie had sparkling water.

ALOHA! My favorite night! We dressed in tropical clothes, brought Fifi the flamingo to the deck and plugged in the string lights. Carrie created a tropical music playlist and really set the mood. Everything combined, made me feel like I was in paradise! Look at that sunset. We laughed, danced, ate and had a blast! I can’t wait to do a dinner like this again!

Hibachi Thursday: Carrie planned to be our chef and was certain about what she wanted to grill for us. Super happy we switched nights because it was cold and rainy and an indoor Hibachi grill experience was perfect!
Menu: Carrots, onions, peas, eggs, rice and sesame seeds prepared before our eyes!

Carrie made her hat and we stuck the griddle on the table and away she went! How cute is she? She diced and grilled away! She even did a few tricks. We all agreed we want to do this again soon! Best Hibachi experience I’ve ever had!

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Fancy Friday: Get dressed up for a nice dinner!
Menu: Pumpkin Sage Lasagna, homemade spelt bread and a freezer find of pumpkin roll and brownies for dessert. Random, but it was all DELICIOUS! 

I’ve been sporting leggings and sweatshirts for over a month. It felt good to put on a dress and throw on a little lip gloss! We truly worked with what we had on hand for this meal idea. It came together and worked out perfectly (pumpkin-ish theme). Carrie played classical music, we cut flowers from our yard and lit candles. It was very nice and felt like a fine dining experience, right inside our house.

Carrie, you’re the best! Thank you for filling me with tremendous joy and keeping me excited for dinner time! I love you!

If you’re looking for something fun to do, here you go! It doesn’t have to be every night, you could just pick a couple nights. Play music, use what food you have, do some dancing and you’ve got yourself a fun-filled time! Carrie is already thinking about future themes! I can hardly wait!

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From the heart,
Shannon

Uncategorized

Embracing the new

Hello! I hope you’re well! This is day 34 of social distancing for me. My family is healthy and has somewhat acclimated to our current reality.  There’s definitely a lot going on and so much is out of our control.

I’m trying to embrace the new. New routines, recipes, local businesses, ways of connecting with friends and family, workout programs, wines, hairstyles and t-shirt/legging combinations :). Today, I’m sharing a couple of my amazing new finds.

Last week was our first Perfectly Imperfect Produce delivery. I’ve wanted to order for a while and, with COVID-19 stay at home orders in full swing, it seemed like the ideal time to support a local, woman-owned business and keep me out of stores. We ordered the Large Organic size box which was full of fruits and veggies AND it was delivered! We were also able to make a contribution toward additional boxes Perfectly Imperfect Produce is supplying to health care workers. Perfect!

The box included Swiss Chard. I’ve only had Swiss Chard a couple times from Carrie’s school garden and I think I just chopped some up and put it in a salad. I knew I had to use all of the contents in the box! I’m determined to bring every single food item in our kitchen to new life by transforming it into a yummy breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. I went straight to one of my favorite books, The Vegetable Butcher. I highly recommend this book!

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What can I make with Swiss Chard? My answer? Well, Cara Mangini’s answer–Swiss Chard Crostata with Fennel Seed Crust. After a quick scan of necessary ingredients, I was certain I had everything to make it or could easily improvise. I whipped up the dough for the crostata crust the day before Easter and it was easy. The next day I made the filling and baked the whole thing for our Easter meal. I’ve never made a crust without butter! This recipe had me intrigued and I couldn’t wait to get it all together!

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I didn’t get any photos of the preparation process but here’s one of the finished crostata. It’s so pretty! The crust is unique and full of flavor from the olive oil and fennel seeds. The filling is lovely and balanced. We devoured it!

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This recipe is a keeper (I’m linking it to a site that has permission to publish the recipe)! One of the things I’ve enjoyed during quarantine is trying new recipes and experimenting with different ingredients based on what we have on hand. Are you trying new recipes or creating dishes from your pantry and refrigerator finds? I’d love to hear! Stay home and stay well!

From the heart,
Shannon

SWISS CHARD CROSTATA WITH FENNEL SEED CRUST

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Custard, Brûlée and Pudding · Pie · Recipes

Dark Chocolate Pie

I had a great day yesterday! Carrie and I went through old family recipes and decided we’d make my Aunt Norma’s Dark Chocolate Pie. Aunt Norma is married to my Dad’s brother, Dane. She’s a great Southern cook and I always love eating anything she makes! She shared her Dark Chocolate Pie recipe with my mom years ago and we made this many times when I was growing up. Carrie loves chocolate and asked if we could make it. Heck, yeah!

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I had some homemade pie crust in the freezer. I always made this pie with the traditional meringue topping and I’d stick it in the oven to brown a little. I never liked that type of meringue (sorry to all my family members who’ve always topped their cream pies with it). It’s just not my thing. I switched it to a light whipped cream and that’s what I told Carrie we could use since I had whipping cream on hand. She asked if we could make “our meringue”. She was referring to the one I use on her beloved Carrie’s Campfire S’mores Cupcakes. It’s a cooked meringue and tastes like gooey marshmallows. Sounded like a great idea and simple twist on this family classic! I mean, would you just look at those beautiful swirls? Carrie’s so smart!

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When I was a kid, I remember standing at the stove, stirring for what felt like hours to make sure the milk didn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and eagerly wait to see those first boiling bubbles pop through the surface. My arm hurt. My hand cramped up. I whined and complained. I was eager to share that experience with Carrie and teach her how to make the pudding component of the pie! Sounds fun, huh?!

This pie requires a baked pie crust so Carrie rolled it out and blind baked it then let it cool. The pudding filling is sugar, arrowroot (or flour or cornstarch), salt and milk. Cook those over medium low heat FOREVER or until your hand cramps up–Carrie’s words, “My arm is going to fall off! Can I sit down?” 🙂

Once the mixture has thickened, temper egg yolks and add them back to the pan to bring back to a boil for a couple minutes. Then remove from the heat and add nice quality chocolate and vanilla.

Once the chocolate melts, add a little butter to give it that silky finish and cover in plastic wrap (press the wrap directly onto the pudding to prevent it forming a skin). Let cool slightly. Close your eyes and lick the spoon.

Fill the baked crust with the filling and top with the meringue or whipped cream. We added chocolate pieces to the center for fun but you can let your imagination run wild and get creative! I think Carrie’s arm finally felt better! I really love her smile!

What a fun time teaching Carrie an old family recipe and having her put her own spin on it! We ate the pie after dinner and it was so good! Homemade chocolate pudding is delicious! We decided the marshmallow meringue is really yummy on top but we think whipped cream might be our favorite because it’s not quite as sweet. This could work with a graham cracker crust as more of a s’mores pie. We inhaled it and didn’t mind the meringue but I’m definitely in the whipped cream camp!

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Oh, I didn’t get photos of these events, but I broke the edge of our pie dish and Carrie’s first piece of pie slid off her plate right onto the floor. It’s not all swirls of beautiful meringue and rich chocolate decadence all the time in this house!

If you’re like us and staying home, this is definitely a nice, comforting treat to make. You can use store bought crust or graham cracker crust or just make pudding and plop some whipped cream on top. If you’re not a chocolate fan, simply omit the chocolate, add extra vanilla for vanilla pudding and serve it with sliced bananas or any kind of fruit. Stir in some coconut for a little taste of the tropics or add a fresh fruit puree. It’s very versatile! This is one of those family recipes that never goes out of style. It was nice to pass it on to Carrie and enjoy some fond memories of baking with my family when I was a kid. Stay healthy and I hope you’re finding lots to do with loved ones during this crazy time in our lives. I’m treasuring the time as much as I can and doing my best to keep us well!

From the heart,
Shannon

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Dark Chocolate Pie

Pie Crust
Ingredients:
Butter: Diced into 1/2” cubes: 9 TBSP in the fridge; 5 TBSP in the freezer
Pastry Flour: 2 1/4 cups
Kosher Salt: 2 1/4 tsp
Sugar: 1/2 TBSP
Apple Cider Vinegar: 1 TBSP with 1/2 cup cold water

Instructions:
–Place 9 TBSP cold butter and all dry ingredients in food processor and pulse until it resembles the texture of sand.
–Add in the frozen butter cubes and start with 5 TBSP of the apple cider water and pulse until it holds together.
–Dump it out and work the dough on the counter until it holds together and is smooth.
–Divide in half and form into discs and wrap separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate (preferably overnight). You can also freeze at this point.
–Remove dough from fridge to soften a little. Place disc on floured surface and roll out.
–Butter and flour pie pan. Once bottom crust is in prepared pan, place a piece of parchment paper and some pie weights (or dried beans, coins, rice) to blind bake the pie. –Bake for 15 minutes at 400 then remove pie weights and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and let cool.

Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup AP flour (or 1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder)
1/4 tsp salt
3 cups whole milk
4 egg yolks
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 TBSP butter

Instructions:
–In a sauce pan, combine sugar, flour (or corn starch or arrowroot) and salt and gradually stir in the milk.
–Cook and stir until thick and bubbly over medium low heat. Reduce heat and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
–Whisk egg yolks and temper by adding a little of the hot milk mixture then pour it all back into the pan and return to a gentle boil. Cook and stir (just keep stirring!) 2 minutes then remove from heat.
–Add chocolate then vanilla and butter and cover with plastic wrap or wax paper or parchment to let it cool a little.
–Pour filling into baked and cooled crust and top with meringue or fresh whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours then slice and enjoy! Don’t drop your slice on the floor! 🙂

Meringue
6 large egg whites
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Whisk egg whites, sugar and salt over simmering water until sugar is dissolved. Mix with a whisk attachment in mixer until fluffy, add vanilla.

bread · Recipes

More Time (and a recipe)

Here we are! It’s nearly the end of March and what a month this has been. This post is kind of all over the place because there are resources I want to share but I also want to share a little personal life for a sense of connection to so many of you! I hope you’re staying healthy and safe and finding the extra time to be a gift. Finding “more” time is something I hear people say they wish they had more of. The bright side of this quarantine is that, more time is exactly what we have.

Time to breathe. Time to reflect on what’s really necessary in our busy lives. Time to give our kids and fur babies extra hugs. Time to get outside and notice that everything is waking up from the winter sleep. Time to connect (virtually) with family and friends. Time to dust off some old board games. Time to do TikToks with our teens (see the video at the end!). Time to clean out a closet or organize a pantry. Time for family room dance parties. Time to admire our kids for adapting to new ways of learning. Time to thank teachers for being creative and dedicated in ways they never imagined they’d have to. Time for driveway basketball and hopscotch games. Time to explore a hike we’ve always wanted to do. Time to figure out how to access and do a home work out. Time to bake and make meals together. Time to wonder what we’ll do when things go back to normal.

Home workouts; cinnamon rolls and coffee; hiking; matcha in my favorite mug (Billy Ritter)

I thought I’d use some of my time to share what we’ve been doing to fill up our days (and a healthy recipe below). This week is Carrie’s spring break and we were planning to go to Florida to visit my mom and get in some sun and beach. This week looks a little different than we planned but we’re trying to make the most of it. We all are and I feel for everyone who’s had to cancel plans or wonder about what the next couple months will bring. My heart goes out to all the health care workers, grocery employees, airline employees and everyone else who must get out there everyday and do their jobs. Thank you! As always, I’m thankful for farmers who continue to do what they do so we have access to healthy food. If you live in NE Ohio, Countryside is launching Countryside Curbside to help with access to local food makers! Creative solutions are everywhere!

Since all of this quarantine came to be, we haven’t really been on a schedule, which is tough for me. I like structure and routine. I actually thrive with structure and routine. I’ve let it all go. No specific wake up time or schedule throughout the day. What I’ve tried to do is have a list of things I’d like to accomplish each day. I’m not getting hung up on specific times. For example, I want to work out, get outside, make meals, connect with a friend or family member, read, play games, tackle a house project and catch up on some shows I’ve wanted to watch. I try to fit all of these in each day but I’m not stressing about it because we all have enough to stress about. If I start to feel antsy, I take Daisy for a walk or pour myself into an online yoga session. How about you? What are you doing to fill your days? Are you finding joy in having time or is it stressful?

Here’s a snapshot of some of our days. Lots of outside time, cuddles, food and games (not pictured–plenty of wine!):

I voted; Daisy Mae keeps me warm; we spotted a beaver at CVNP; beautiful sunset; homemade soft pretzels; photo fun with Carrie (and Jasmine).

Carrie and I did an Instagram Live on St. Patrick’s Day while making cupcakes; hiking in CVNP; playing James Bond (card game); supporting local brands-Masthead and Cleveland Kraut; more hiking in Summit County Metroparks.

Nothing too complicated here. I’m so lucky to have what I need and I hope to be able to share some of that with others throughout this challenging time. I keep supporting local and small businesses and we’re staying home. Carrie, Daisy and I have been home for 14 days (except for voting). Casey had to work and he’s been home for 3 days.

I’ve been baking but not nearly as much as I’d like because there aren’t enough home work outs to burn off the calories I’d consume if I had baked goods within reach 24/7. I don’t have any self control when I’m stuck at home! Also, I’m trying to not blow through all of our ingredients in case we really need them later.

The other day I made a healthier version of banana bread and it has been a nice little treat and thought I’d share it here. It’s not overly sweet and it’s delicious with a smear of nut butter (I love Nosh and they’re offering free shipping across the U.S. with promo code HUNKERDOWN) and a drizzle of honey (Brighton Wool and Honey is one of my favorites). I also love to sprinkle hemp seeds or chia seeds on top. The point is, this bread feels like bread but isn’t full of the carbs and sugar I’m trying to limit. Yay! I’ve also been experimenting more with healthy alternatives to some of my favorite comfort foods and baked goods. This one is a winner!

If you’re on Instagram, the videos are in my highlights. It’s easy, healthy and yummy!

IMG_8553

Friends, I wish you health–physical and mental! We’re all in this and we’ll get through it with kindness, patience and love. Sending you all a BIG virtual hug and hoping you find lots of ways to spend your gift of extra time that bring you joy! Here’s something you might get a laugh out of (gotta love TikTok!):

From the heart,
Shannon