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live and let pie

Last week, I made a sweet treat for teacher appreciation snacks. Nothing says appreciation and thanksgiving like pecan pie. This bite size version is so easy and delicious.

Mini Pecan Pies
(Southern Living, 2008)

3 cups of chopped pecans
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of dark Karo
3 large eggs (lightly beaten)
2 tablespoons of melted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon of salt
4 packages of Athens mini phyllo shells

I had every intention to take pics along the way. This is all I got…

I think I got distracted by the conversation in the background. Graham had just finished his dessert (Biscoff cookies dipped in Nutella) and SK was trying to clean him up.

“I look like I’m covered in poop. But if this is poop, I love poop.” -Graham

It was hard for me to get back on track after that. In case you didn’t lose your appetite, here’s the rest of the recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roast the pecans for ten minutes. While the pecans are roasting (don’t forget to stir them occasionally), mix together the sugar and Karo. Add the eggs, butter, vanilla and salt. Once the pecans have cooled a bit, add them to the mix. Spoon some into each phyllo shell and bake for 20 minutes. Let them cool for 30 minutes on wire racks.

NOTES–
* Do not remove the phyllo shells from the freezer until you are ready to fill them. If they are the least bit thawed, the pies will be soggy. Blech.
* Sixty tiny pecan pies will not fit on one cookie sheet. Use two or cook in batches. Line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with Baker’s Joy.
* Do not overfill the shells or they will bubble over. When they do, you will give thanks for lining the cookie sheet with foil.
* You will be tempted to eat all sixty. Remove them from your house immediately.
* Do not put your Christmas tree up until the day after Thanksgiving. (Cough. Cough.)

I ran out of here so fast that I didn’t even get a photo of the finished product. My friend saved the day and snapped some pics in the teachers’ lounge. (Thanks again, Kelly!)

So good y’all. If you are traveling over Thanksgiving, they are perfect to make ahead and take along in airtight tins.

But, if you run out of time, Biscoff cookies dipped in Nutella are a delicious alternative.

wowie

November 17, 2014

Holidays, recipes, Thanksgiving, yum

Octoberfest

I love October as much as the next basic girl, but I hate how fast it flies by. It doesn’t help that it is a super busy month for sports, my job and school events. Cram in the festive fall fun, and it all becomes a blur. And don’t get me started on the ol’ time change. I just woke up in our yard covered in fake spider webs and snickers wrappers. Not sure how long I’d been there.

Wells and Graham both played football… tackle for Wells and flag and soccer for G.

SK coached Wells’ team, so G assumed he was the assistant coach.

It was the 20 year anniversary of my homecoming queendom. I sang the national anthem at the game and didn’t pass out, so there’s that. I also didn’t wear my crown at the request of my family. But, that didn’t stop me from wearing it the rest of the weekend.

For fall break, we went to Memphis and to the Ole Miss/Tennessee game. We stopped at Graceland along with 4,758 other people.

It took Graham about 2.5 seconds to sit on the green velvet sofa with the DO NOT SIT sign.

Despite the shag carpet, Graceland is keeping with the times by offering guided tours via iPad. It took Graham 2.5 seconds to stick his hand in his mouth after he got a hold of one. I told him he might as well go ahead and lick it.

We stayed at the Peabody and had dinner at The Rendezvous. I love their sausage and cheese plate more than Starbucks in Target.

We got up bright and early on Saturday to watch the ducks do their thing…

Then we went to the game…

And then more ducks…

We went to a couple of fairs…

We adopted our newest family member, Handburger from some meth’d out carnies. You can call him Hand for short.

He has really made himself at home.

Hand isn’t 21, so he is technically an illegal alien.

Graham had 50’s day at school.

And Wells had an animal book report/pumpkin project. He chose a snake because it is the easiest animal to craft from a pumpkin.

Aunt Yaya said that I deserved an A on his project. I totally agree.

We decided it was time to watch some “scary” movies as the boys’ Gremlins nightmares have ceased. They watched Edward Scissorhands (“But HOW does he go to the bathroom?”), Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice.

We got Boo’d…

and Boo’d back…

On Halloween morning, we attended our sixth and final Hoe Down at the kindergarten. I was a little sad about it, but Graham told me we could go again next year if he gets held back. There’s always hope.

We spent the rest of the day getting ready for Halloween. You know, pumpkin carving, making candy bags and trying to make our house look spooky. We went to a neighborhood party and on a hay ride. My sweet mama stayed at our house and handed out candy. After seeing the hearse around the corner, I agreed with Wells that our halloween decorations are, in fact, “lame.”

Happy November!

wowie

November 8, 2014

fall, family, Halloween, Holidays, roadtrips, travel, Weekends

lawdy lawdy

Waaaaay back in September, SK turned forty. The boys and I threw a little party for him at home.

It almost had to be postponed due to technical difficulties. After I picked up the cupcakes, my key broke in half. I had to rig it back together. It took a minute, so I was late picking up the kids. And then the balloons tried to escape when Wells got into the car. In other words, a comedy of errors (per usual).

We went out to dinner and then had cupcakes at home. I bought the cupcakes at Fresh Market and added a chocolate covered strawberry (that I also purchased) to the top of each one. Move over, Martha.

Since forty is kind of monumental, I booked a place at the beach for the weekend. This was Graham’s reaction when I told him he and Wells were not invited.

We had a great time, although from the photos I took, it appears we only ate and had cocktails. Speaking of, Mr. Forty got carded twice. TWICE. And in case you are curious, Ms. Twenty Seven (cough cough gag) didn’t get carded at all.

Happy 40th, SK. Except you’re practically 41 now. Here’s to another decade with you.

wowie

October 24, 2014

beach, birthdays, family, florida