I Heart Pie

When the mood strikes, pie!

Thoughtfully, Albert brought me home a big bag of mini golden apples. A big bag! What a treat! I removed them from their bag and arranged them on my poker party plate. They sat and sat for days, well ok four, and then like a bolt of lightning it hit me. Apple Pie!! But I had never made apple pie. But I have a handy dandy apple peeler/corer/spiraler!....soooo snap the jobs a game. I could never find the patience or the English language on the instructions that came with the device, so my apples ended up being spiraled, peeled, and cored. I should have just spiraled and peeled. The slices looked like little c's or arches. Funky, but tasted good.

So I did what I normally do. Enter main ingredients into google and pray. I also did what I normally do which is scan scam-like and probably virus-like paid ad sites and find tidbits of not helpful information.

I eventually consulted the Southern Sideboards cookbook And found one seriously lackluster Apple Harvest Pie. Which I really didn't have the ingredients AT all, but I did go by it's baking time and flour requirements. And sortof its corn syrup, topping idea, and sugar measurements. although I kept adding the sweet like a fiend. And salt too.

For the top I took a cue from Stevie Weissman and first added brushed on milk(where the f*$K is my pastry brush?..do i have a pastry brush?) with my fingers, and then dusted with sugar. But to tell you the truth the top begged for something more and the corn syrup was so fun to put in the pie so I added it in a corn syrup sugar vanilla glaze on top. And more salt too. The glaze was SS suggestion. But I didn't use as much as it asked for. I have to say, it came out pretty, but a little well..um...it kinda looks like um well. oh dear. clear goo...is anyone taking the hint?... I love my dirty mind!

Just so everyone's clear, this was my first attempt at apple pie. I didn't mean to make goo on my pie.

p.s. Southern Sideboards is a good go-to and I'm sure their pie is delicious and goo free.

p.s.s. I forgot to tell you I practically had to hack it up with a hack saw, it totally stuck everywhich way to that glass pan. I buttered and sorta floured....hmm..next time

*When I have the time I'll post the written SS recipe and my wonky fairly successful sugary confection.*

Dear God, The Universe, and Alissa,

Thank you for Evernote.

Amen

Writer's Block

I am creative. I can create. I can create. I will create. I can create. I can create. I can create. I will create. I must create. I will create. I can create. I am creating. I can create. I have to create. I will create. I create. I create. I can create. I will create. I must create. I will create. I can create.

Clippings of the hair and receipt variety...

So today I gave my scalp a reprieve. A long overdue haircut. I always feel so much lighter when I leave the salon. Today was a little different. Although I was physically lighter, it wasn't until I hit up some serious retail therapy(see followup later) did the icks really go away....Is it bad when your stylist repeatedly asks you if you're stressed? Uh woohooowaa! What? Like you can tell!?!! It must ooze from my follicles. The past few days had been going so well. Well the past few months and weeks really...Anyway, just cause I have a lot in my noodle and it shows on my face doesn't mean I'm stressed.....right?

At one point Lee faced me towards the door so I wouldn't get to see what he was doing. Which was fine and totally hilarious. I didn't laugh out loud because he already thinksmeinsane. Whatever! SO, I face the door and watch a totally adorable twosomethingshe must be(very yoda like but whatev) play outside. I actually took a mental timeout and enjoyed the cut for a few minutes. I have to admit and am realizing now how stressed I was going into that appointment. Although I had had a great productive, happy walk, coffee kindofmorning, I was totally freaking that he was going to go at me with the razor and feather my hair into a frenzy. AND totally cut off all my months and years worth of patience and damaged hair.

So sorry Lee if I felt stressed..

When i said i had had previous traumatic experiences, I wasn't JUST talking about other stylists.

Do you catch my drift?...

p.s. love ya though...will totally return. and upon reflection of my new do,

it's much healthier, thank you so much and not feathered into a frenzy(even if it is a little more than I would like) grrrrr8! wedding hair!

Day 2 Productivity-Dirtier, but still bound and determined.

Hello blog,

Today was a full one. It's never a great beginning when you leave things unsaid from the previous day. It rarely happens, but when it does it leaves you with a even worse case of morning breath. go figure. I highly suggest all forms of intimacy, talk and the other kind. It just makes life more pleasant. and happy, which I know I need more of.

So anyway, after words were said and wrinkles smoothed, I began to tackle the list.

What was not on the list....but delightfully satisfying just the same...:)

Discovering my father's old waffle iron in the pantry and making belgian waffles for breakfast at noon..delic'!

Taking the party outside, while continuing to spy on the neighbs and the undercover op that is sure to go down, and starting to brainstorm on the candy tree. Inspecting branches, spray paint, and wire...more on this later. Which also, speaking of undercover, somehow it must be an elaborate scheme with loads of detectives..."dressed and speaking like construction workers." hmmmm...

Picked up a sturdy branch and made a craft of it. See above.

Fun day full of unexpected and expected checks!

How is your list?...

At the Starting Line

Organized and de-funked the porch this evening.

Items I threw away...over a years worth of cigarette butts from various friends, wanted and unwanted guests, rotted wood of a turn of the century-esque sling chair that needs a MAJOR overhaul, poinsettia biznasty, various pieces of straight-up trash of the sick kind, and an old derty air filter that I swear has been out there for over six months. Recycled goods included not one but two Chicago's pizza boxes. I believe it's Mr. Papa John himself that says "one slice of pizza should satisfy a person." We like to gorge on the good stuff what can I say?

Let's see what else?...

Ahh yes, finally cleaned up that maple branch I had rescued from someone's brush pile. I stuck it in one of the painted terracotta pots that stands proudly on the steps. I stuck some magnolia branches (also saved from mutilation) in its matching mate. It conveys a wintery feel that I want to hold onto as long as I can.. Summer is waaaaay too long here and with this past year scorching us into October, I'm not looking forward to the pit stains THIS summer's sure to bring.

So yeah, I swept the porch and organized unfinished projects to the left and gardening supplies and tools to the right. At least we're no longer living in complete squaller. Now if I can just keep up this momentum and pull last years weeds.