SaS- Thanksgiving pie!

Yes, I'm actually blogging today!  It's time for SaS with my sissy!  So get out those Thanksgiving Day family sweet treats and link up over at the Tank!  If I can do it, you can too!  Plus I want everyone to give my sissy lots of baking ideas, beans how I'm living with her and all now!   

Growing up, nothing said Thanksgiving like my mom's lemon pies.  Yes, I said LEMON PIES!  I know right!  Most people have pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie or apple pie and the weirdo southerns down here even have pecan (pronounced peCAN not pecon) pie.  But not the Best family.  Nope, we had lemon pie.  It was, and to this day still is my FAVORITE pie.  And my favorite part of Thanksgiving.  Okay, my favorite part right after the ham rolls we have for breakfast and the stuffing and gravy!  Oh man, I do love Thanksgiving.

picture provided by Google images

Mom would start baking days in advanced.  She always made like 6 lemons pies.  SIX!  Two to take with us to granny's house and four to stay home for our family.  Then she'd turn around and do it all over again for Christmas.  I kid you not.  We love us some lemon pie!  Not lemon meringue pie, just lemon pie.  We top ours with Cool Whip!  I'm so excited Thanksgiving's right around the corner!  

I took over making the lemon pies about 4 or 5 years ago.  Mom just isn't able to make them anymore.  I do a great job at making them, except for that one mishap where I forgot the lemon zest!  (Yeah, my family will never let me live that one down).  I have to admit, they just weren't the same.  I remember the first year I made them myself.  As usual I waited to get started until the very last moment and didn't realize I needed something to zest the lemons with.  So William and I made a Wal*Mart run at about 2 o'clock in the morning to go buy one.  When I finally got home and started making the pie I realized I had forgotten the eggs.  It's moments like this we tend to remember the most.  (I'm not a baker, so how was I supposed to know that eggs went into pies)?  Seriously!  So I had to go back to Wal*Mart since nothing close to us was open.  I swore I'd never make another lemon pie as long as I loved.  But here we are, 6 years later, and I will be making my family's favorite lemon pies!

 

Lemon Pie         

1 large or 2 small boxes of Jello Lemon Cook and Serve Pudding  (pie filling)

(You will need the ingredients listed on the box)

1 lemon

1 Frozen Prepared Pie Shell 

(I like to use Marie Callender's)

1 8 oz container of Cool Whip

 

                          picture provided by Google images

First bake your frozen pie crust according to the directions.  You can make your own crust from scratch or use the refrigerated Pillsbury kind.  But I love the Marie Callender's brand!  (Yum)!  Set aside to cool.

Prepare lemon filling according to box directions.  While whisking, add the juice and zest of one lemon!  (The pie filling takes a really long time to thicken).  Your arm will fill like it's going to fall off!  I kid you not!  Well, maybe not if you only make one pie?  Let me know how that works out for you?  The more lemon juice/zest you add, the tarter your pie will be!  Don't be afraid to make it tart, you're going to top it with Cool Whip!  We like to top our individual slices just before eating!  It's really that easy.  It will look just like the picture above!

 picture provided by Google images

Seriously, I cannot wait until Thanksgiving now!  I have so much to be thankful for.  Most importantly my family!  I can't imagine my life or the holidays without them.     

SaS~ It's time to SQUASH IT!

Happy Thursday Seekers!  It's time to break out those fall recipes and link up with my sissy over at the TANK!  Today's SaS is all about the squash!  I love squash.  I especially love butternut squash!  It reminds me of the fall.  When I was 18 we went out west (Utah) to visit my dad's family.  It was our first family trip back, after moving to Florida when I was 3 yrs old.  While we were there, we took turns eating at my dad's 5 siblings' houses for dinner.  I think every single one of them served us butternut squash!  I had never even heard of butternut squash before then.  It's a good thing we all really liked it!  I've been eating it ever since!    

picture provided by Google images

My favorite way to make butternut squash is cutting it up, drizzling it with olive oil, salt n pepper,  and roasting it in the oven!  Num, num, num!  Nothing better!    But today I'm going to share a recipe I got out of another issue of Woman's Day!  I've been dieing to try it!  It sounds delicious.  No, I haven't tried it yet. . . . but only because I'm a broke-ass-crow!  BUT I will be going grocery shopping this weekend and making it after I get paid!

picture provided by Google images

Butternut Squash Soup 

3 lbs (8 cups) butternut squash soup *peeled and cubed*

1 large onion *chopped*

2 large Gala apples *peeled, cored and chopped*

3 Tbsp butter

1 1/2 in. piece fresh ginger *grated or thinly sliced*

1 32 oz box chicken stock

1 cup apple cider or juice

1/2 tsp kosher salt *to taste*

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup heavy cream

Gruyere Toasts

16 slices baguette *cut 1/2 in. thick*

2 oz Gruyere cheese *finely shredded*

 picture provided by Google images

Melt butter in a 5-qt pot over medium-high heat.  Stir in onion and apples; saute 5 minutes or until onion is translucent.

Add butternut squash, ginger, chicken broth, cider, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are very soft.  Let cool for 5 minutes.  

Process soup in very small batches in a blender or food processor until smooth.  OR use an immersion blender to puree.  Return soup to pot and add cream.  Season with salt to taste.  Warm over low heat, if necessary.

picture provided by Google images

Heat broiler for Gruyere Toasts.  Place baguette slices on foil-lined baking sheet.  Broil 2 - 3 minutes or until golden brown.  Take toasts out of the oven, turn over and sprinkle each slice with Gruyere cheese.  Broil 2 - 3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and melted.  Serve with soup!

Doesn't this sound AMAZING?  I cannot wait to try it out!  I'm so glad I signed up for a free subscription to Woman's Day.  Who knew it had such awesome recipes?  If you haven't already, you should get a subscription!  And head on over to the TANK and check out all the other "Squash It" recipes!

 

Hillbilly Hump Day (The beginning of the end?)

It's Hump Day Seekers!!  Time to get my hillbilly on!  Honest to goodness, I think "The Gods" must love my hillbilly posts!  I swear it must be so!  Just the other day my friend Janie left me a message on FB asking for a hillbilly update!  She's one of my faithful Hillbilly fans!  (If you're new to my blog, I used to write about my HILLBILLY neighbors every Wednesday).  Once I got the request from Janie, I started thinking, what have the hillbillies been up too?  It's been a minute since I wrote about them.  Then today it was as if "The Gods" opened up the heavens and said "here Buffee write about this. . . . . . ." 

In the beginning the hillbillies seemed to give me an endless supply of material to write about.  But lately they've been quiet.  Quiet?  Okay, maybe that's not the word I'm looking for?  How about this. . . . .they've been hiding out?  Ha!  Yep, that's more like it!  Apparently they're being investigated!  By who?  Well, let me just tell you. . . . 

So we have another hillbilly neighbor that lives across the street, we'll call him Anthony, (because that's his name)!  Recently Anthony spent some time in jail.  (Something about a fight with his wife, she called the police on him, and he ended up having an old warrant out for his arrest).  Anyfreakingway, Anthony was all sorts of chummy with the hillbillies BEFORE he went to jail, (they use the same drug dealer).  For whatever reason, once he was in jail, he decided to call DCF (The Department of Children and Families) on the hillbillies!  Oh.Yes.He.Did.  Why?  Who the heck knows? (If I had to guess I'd say it probably had something to do with the oldest billyboy trying to bang his wife while he was behind bars)?  Oh man, doesn't this stuff make for great story telling?  (Thanks Anthony).  I seriously couldn't make this shiz up any better if I tried.  This is "reality TV" type stuff at it's finest!  

I guess maybe since they're being investigated by DCF AND they were sited for their trash, they've decided to do some much needed spring fall cleaning.  They even threw out the old bathtub that's been sitting on the side of their house for the last 10 years.  At one point they had so many trash bags in the back yard it looked like a landfield.  I think they might be hoarders?  (See, reality TV people)!  They're the really nasty kind too, that hoard their trash.  They need several of those 1-800-Got-Junk trucks!  Maybe I should call the show and suggest them?  Eeeewwww, can you imagine? 

Anyway, to the really good stuff!  Hillbilly momma has left the building!  Uh huh!  At least she hasn't been staying their the last week or so.  This afternoon (see, I told you even "The Gods" want me to write about them today), the hillbilly momma came home with a trash overnight bag to collect some of her things.  Needless to say, hillbilly daddy was none too happy!  They got into a huge screaming match outside in the front yard!  Bad enough for the neighbors across the street to call the police!  The only thing I heard was, (because you know the MIL and I had to catch the show walk the dogs) . . . hillbilly daddy screaming "what the heck am I supposed to do while you're out partying it up and effing everything insight?"  Okay, maybe I didn't quote him exactly, but it wasn't pretty!  Then the police showed up.  At which point I went inside to eat dinner and ignore the hillbillies!  All the good stuff was over!

Good times people, good times!  Oh, the billygirl has decided to keep her baby.  I'm not so sure if that's a good thing or not?  I guess it's better then abortion, BUT it means ANOTHER hillbilly.  No updates on the old cat lady taking them to court over that dang billydog or not?  Oh, funny story though.  William and I were standing outside with Krickett (one of my Chis babies) late at night.  This was back when all of the cat killing was happening with the billydog pit.  Well Krickett decided he was going to take a nosedive right out of my hands and he landed on his back.  Luckily it only knocked the wind out of him.  Once he could breathe again he let out this extremely loud screeching yelp.  Our neighbor, Mike, (one we actually like), came running outside in his nunderwears with a golf club in his hands.  He was ready to get him some billydog fo'sho!  It was hilarious!  I can't even tell you how funny it was.  Now everytime I see Mike I giggle to myself, because I picture him running out of their house in just his boxer-briefs holding that golf club up ready to strike!  hehe

Oh man!  Thanks Janie!  I needed a good laugh!  So there you have it Seekers!  Happy Hillbilly Hump Day!  It's fall, go bake your neighbors some cookies and thank them (and "The Gods") for not being HILLBILLIES!!  

Stay tuned, you never know when another episode of Hillbilly Hump Day will be coming your way! 
  

Guest posting!

Sorry this is late. . . . . I honestly thought I was guest posting today, but it was yesterday!  (I'm ALWAYS late)!

Anyways, I'm talking pumpkin!  Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins that is with Steph at Problem Solvin Mom!

What are you still doing here?  Go, check it out! 


Mini Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins!  They're waiting for you!

Wordless Wednesday!

So everyone's heard about The People of Wal-Mart site.  How about The Cars of Wal-Mart?  Have you ever wondered what those crazy nutjobs are driving?  Ha!  Yes, I took these pictures myself, in the parking lot of Wally World. 

Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs much?

Here's a little bit of trivia. . . .

Does anyone know the name of the

Cocoa Puffs Cuckoo bird???

It's Sonny!

(Yes, Imma nutjob too, just a different kind)!

Happy Hump Day Seekers!

Stick'Em Up Notes- NFL (Jaguar) Edition

 

OWL- TALENTS

My sister posted a challenge and I meant to take her up on it.  I just didn't know what I was going to say.  This might sound like I'm starting out negatively, but bare with me.  My whole life I've struggled with feeling dumb.  No, not dumb, unable to spell.  I let it hold me back.  I've always felt like there's a spelling monster that lives inside my head.  It jumbles everything up.  I know what I want to say, but taking what's in my head and putting it on paper (or a computer screen) has always been difficult for me.  I have to work twice as hard as the "average" person.  I've always treated it like a dirty little secret.  

So, I have a "learning handicap."  I guess since my dad and my brother both had one, I knew it wasn't my fault.  I knew it wasn't something I could control.  I knew that I was "smart" I just couldn't spell.  But I was still afraid to really apply myself.  I was afraid someone would find out and judge me.  I know, stupid right?  Either way, it's the truth.  But because of it I learned how to make the other parts of myself that "worked right" excel or shine.  I had to compensate for my lack of spelling.

My whole life, people have been drawn to me.  Always.  My husband calls it my charisma.  I guess that's what you could call it?  People have always wanted to hear what I had to say.  (Okay, maybe not on my blog, I'm much more personable in person).  But for what ever reason, people have always wanted to be around me.  I'm fun.  I've always been the life of the party!  Honestly I just wanted to be having fun.  So I was always "entertaining"!  It's what I do, it's what I love.  Making people laugh and smile.  It's honestly one of my greatest joys.  My friend once told me I was infectious, she meant it as a compliment.  She said I have a passion for life and it makes people want to be around me.

I have a way with the little people.  I always have.  I love children and they love me.  (I love everything other than their dirty little hands).  I love the way they think.  They're honest and funny.  They look at life through simple eyes.  They see the good in people.  They love without judgment.  For whatever reason I can relate to them.  I have patience with little people that I don't have with adults.  I should be working with them.

I'm a crocheting master.  Yes, that's like Jedi Master, but I work with yarn!  Ha!  I can crochet anything.  If there's a pattern, I can make it.  If there's not a pattern, I can figure out how to make my own.  When I was a long distance operator the older women would crochet while we worked.  I wanted to learn.  So one day I bought me some yarn and crochet needles, and asked the women to teach me what they were doing.  The rest as they say was history.  It's a talent I love sharing.  I make baby blankets, they are my passion.  

I was meant for public speaking, talking in general.  I love to speak in front of a crowd.  Weird I know, but I love the attention.  I'm good at it.  It goes back to entertaining people.  I'm not afraid to ask anyone anything.  My mom always told me, the worst thing someone can tell you is no, or HELL NO.  So I'm bold.  It's definitely a talent.  I've learned not everyone can do this.      

I'm also a bitch, a sarcastic one.  Ha!  Not everyone can call that a talent.  But I can.  

Is cleaning a talent?  If it is, I'm also a Master Jedi at this as well.  I actually love doing laundry.

I'm very creative.  I love making scrapbooks and posters.  Anything like that!

I wanted to do this posting, because I've honestly been doing a lot of growing lately.  I've been inspired to try and be the best Buffee I can be.  I'm still working on it.  Lord knows I fall short most of the time.  But I have a great heart and I mean well.  I'm learning each and everyday that my happiness is only about me.  I mean it's only about Buffee's successes and what I achieve in my life.  There's no reason to compare what I have or what I do, based on what someone else has or does.  I think that this is a "talent" I'm learning to cultivate.  Happiness.  It's a talent that not everyone has.  I think you truly have to want to be happy and decide for yourself to just do it.  Choose to be happy.  Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

So thanks sissy.  For making me take a look at myself and focus on the positives, again.  It's something I've been working on personally anyway, but this was a great way to reinforce it!