Fresh Strawberries!

Tis the season for yummy fresh Strawberries! They are so sweet this year. The crop is the best I have tasted in years! My oldest daughter, Ava & MeMa went out early Saturday morning and picked fresh strawberries back home. I had strawberries for breakfast with a banana and tonight for dinner I decided to make shortcake. I made it in my little machine, which only takes 5 minutes. I will share the recipe with you.


I whipped up some fresh cream and it was fabulous!!

    
I mentioned before how I love my GT Express. I have two of them. Tonight I used it to make my shortcakes. It is so easy and it only takes 5 minutes to cook. After it was done I poured berries on top and chilled while we were having dinner. I topped with fresh whipped cream and we gobbled them up!

Easy Strawberry Shortcakes:
1 cup of your favorite cake mix
1/2 cup water
1 egg
(This batter will make two 6 inch cakes)
Mix all ingredients together with a whisk until all lumps are gone. Pour into your GT Express. Close the lid and cook for 5 mintues. Yummy it is done! Now that is the easiest shortcake ever! It was very yummy!

Fresh Strawberries!

Easy Make your own Chai recipe!

I absolutely love chai! It's not hard to make at home, and many of the spices are ones you likely have in your pantry.

I have several favorite versions to share with you today. Please bookmark my blog because I have some other frugal recipes to share later of some of my favorite Starbuck treats that I make at home!

Easy make your own Chai Version 1:

2 small tea bags (any specialty tea of choice I have used different types each time)
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. allspice
1 C. water
1 C. milk
1/4 C. packed brown sugar
2 T.  vanilla creamer


In your coffee filter put tea bags, cinn., ginger & allspice. Pour water into coffee pot & brew. Heat milk, sugar & creamer until the sugar has dissolved. Pour milk mixture into big mug & stir in tea mixture. Top with whipped cream & nutmeg. YUMMY!


Version 2: Handy Instant Chai Mix Version:
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

In a large bowl, combine milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla flavored creamer, sugar and instant tea. Stir in spices. In a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup at a time, until mixture is the consistency of fine powder.

To serve: Stir 2 heaping tablespoons Chai tea mixture into a mug of hot water.

 
Version 3: Easy Iced Chai
 
One box Oregon (Original) Chai Tea from Trader Joes or Whole Foods.

The Oregon Chai Tea is already in liquid form in a 32 oz yellow and purple box. There are a few different flavors of the Chai, so be sure you choose the Oregon/Original flavor.

You'll need about 1/2 cup of crushed ice chips. (About 5 ice cubes) I use my magic bullet which is one of my favorite gadgets. I pulse it five or six times and that is it. I use it daily for all types of things! Especially my morning fruit smoothies!!


Your favorite type of milk.
Use about 1/4 Chai to a full glass of milk. You may add more Chai if you want the taste stronger.
It is that easy! Yummy Iced Chai Tea Latte just like Starbucks, and for pennies a glass!

Easy Make your own Chai recipe!

The Best recipe for Homemade Bread in my Bread Machine!

Today I am sharing my favorite Bread recipe.

I have had several bread machines through the years. I finally got my favorite machine years ago off of ebay! I like the full loaf size. It  is a Wellbilt 6200. If you don't have a bread machine you can find one very cheap at a thrift store or yard sale. I like using the machine because you dump in the ingredients and it does all of the work. I also like to use organic ingredients. That way I know my bread is healthy!

**TIP: If you don't have bread flour you can make your own by using one cup of regular all purpose flour and adding 1 tablespoon of Vital Wheat gluten.

Easy Homemade Bread

1 1/3 warm water

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp canola oil
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups bread flour

Put water, yeast, sugar,salt and oil in bread machine on dough setting.
Add flours and start machine.  My machine has "light, medium, or dark crust setting" choices. I chose light. It also has the size which was 1 lb. It did all the work for me and came out perfectly in a few hours!

The Best recipe for Homemade Bread in my Bread Machine!

My Shabby Chick Entrance Table!

Shabby Chic??

The Bombay Table was purchased from Craigslist about 2 years ago!

I loved the Bombay company. I can't believe it went out of business. I have a few other pieces I purchased many years ago in Williamsburg.  The beautiful mirror was given to me by my Aunt Margaret! The beautiful glass lamp was a Target bargain that I got for $6.49 this past winter. I saved $33!!! I love a bargain!!!

My Shabby Chick Entrance Table!

Easy Pie Crust Recipe

I am posting this recipe for you Joanie! It is the easiest pie crust  recipe ever. I like to use my food processor. This recipe will make four crust. I will be freezing the other crust to use later.

Easy Pie Crust

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups shortening or lard
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vinegar (you will not taste it in the crust)
1 egg
1/2 cup very cold water



Add flour, shortening, sugar, and salt in food processor and pulse together until it looks nice and crumbly.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, egg, and water. Add to the flour mixture,  pulsing in until it is mixed together.  (Don't over mix) Remove the dough to a big sheet of waxed or parchment paper.  Form into a ball of pastry dough.
Then divide the dough into four equal portions.

Shape each portion into a ball; wrap with waxed or parchment paper and chill for at least 15 minutes before using.  You can keep this pie crust dough in the refrigerator for a week before using,. It freezes well. Just store the individual  wrapped packages of dough in a sealed freezer bag for storage.

** Note: Don't allow the pie crust to get warm before using. The sides of the crust will sink in the pie plate. I had this happen a couple of months ago when I was multi-tasking and forgot I had them out. 

** TIP: Roll out the dough on a piece of parchment or wax paper and also lay another sheet on top of the dough to allow easy clean up! I sprinkle a very small amount of flour on each side so the paper won't stick. Don't use too much because it will alter the texture of the crust. Make sure you roll out the dough from the middle out. Turning the dough as you go.

Easy Pie Crust Recipe

Chocolate Pie is my favorite!

Chocolate Pie

2/3 cup  sugar

3 3/4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

6 egg yolks (save egg whites for topping)

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

12  ounce can of evaporated milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 1/2 tablespoons butter

1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust, baked and cooled

 egg whites (from eggs used in filling)

1/2 cup sugar

 

Whisk together 2/3 cup sugar, flour, cocoa, and egg yolks in a saucepan. Stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick.

 

Remove pan from heat, and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and butter. Mix well and pour into the cooled cooked pie crust.

 

In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until peaks form. Slowly add 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla. Beat again until stiff peaks form. Spread on op of filling.  Bake in 350 degree oven until the peaks are lightly browned. Let cool a couple of hours before serving.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Chocolate Pie is my favorite!

SOUTHERN LEMON CUSTARD PIE

SOUTHERN LEMON CUSTARD PIE

My mother always bought our favorite lemon custard pies at Diener's Bakery that closed many years ago in my home town in eastern North Carolina. Since that time I have never been able to find a lemon custard pie as good. I did find a delicious lemon pie at Ucrops in Richmond, Va that was pretty close. I keep trying to find a recipe that duplicates that pie that we loved so much. I have three recipes that resemble that lemon pie and each resenble the taste but yet I have not found anything that duplicates that particular pie. Here is the newest recipe I tried last night! This is so easy and very yummy!

SOUTHERN LEMON CUSTARD PIE

Lemon Custard Pie

3 whole eggs

1 cup sugar
4 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup cream
4 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

one unbaked 9 inch pie crust


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat eggs and sugar together for 2 minutes. Add butter and cream; beat for 2 more minutes. Add lemon juice and zest, mixing well.
Pour into crust and bake 30-40 minutes, until top is medium brown and jiggling in the middle of the pie.
It will set up completely as it cools. Once it has cooled it is ready to serve. Garnish with Fresh whipped cream and sprigs of fresh mint.

Chill any left over pie.

SOUTHERN LEMON CUSTARD PIE

Southern Old Fashioned Mac n Cheese

Cooking in the kitchen with Grandma!

Ava Grace wanted to cook the Mac n Cheese when she came to visit Gamma. We made it from scratch. She said it was the best she had ever tasted!  I have made this for her before so I know it was because she made it just like Gamma!!

Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk

salt

 pepper

 6 ounces each of Mild Cheddar, Swiss, and Montery Jack Cheese

1 lb box of your favorite pasta

 

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat; stir in flour. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes. Do not brown. Gradually stir in milk and continue cooking over low heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheeses until melted. Drain cooked pasta and mix in sauce. We ate this hot just like this but I also have baked it with spinkled cheese on top until bubbly in the oven at 350. Ava and I couldn't wait so we ate it without baking it with melted cheese on top. It was yummy! 

 

Aww Gamma not another picture!

Southern Old Fashioned Mac n Cheese

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

I am excited about Spring and Easter! It is a time of refreshing and renewal. We begin to smell honeysuckle and see the beautiful flowers in bloom. We open our windows and breathe in the fresh spring air. We can also think of this as a time that we can have a new beginning no matter what we are going through.

Blessings to you my dear friend!

Happy Easter!