Minny's Chocolate Pie

Yeah I knew that would get your attention….Talk about food or share a recipe and everyone comes a running.  If you haven’t guessed already…I’m reading "The Help" …..and Minny’s Chocolate Pie is one recipe that you do not want…trust me.  Holly and I saw the movie back in the fall; I purchased it on DVD when it came out and have watched it over and over…now I’m reading the book!  It’s the best movie/book I’ve seen or read in several years!  Emma Stone who plays Skeeter in the movie could not have been a better pick for the part.  Watch this sneak peek and you will want to watch it:

It is filled with tears and laughter right up there with Steel Magnolias. 

I won’t spoil it for those of you who have not seen or read "The Help" but it is truly an eye opener about civil rights…I was born during this time period so most of what went on escapes me. 

Some really sad facts….I still cannot believe that folks thought that much of themselves….they needed todays saying of: WWJD…What Would Jesus Do!  Better yet…they should have stopped and thought:  What Would Jesus Think of me!!  Don’t you know He frowned down on those high and mighty folks and said tisk tisk…... Aside from the bad, there is impeccable southern humor and charm, and it is so worth the viewing and reading!!

Anyway…I can’t wait for Kathryn Stockett’s next book, although I don’t know if she can top this one!

I am here to share a recipe with you though…no not chocolate pie; but Honey Beer Bread.  I found the recipe on Pinterest, of course, and it sounded like something I could do….heck anyone could do.  Talk about easy peasy!!  Now let me tell you this….I have never ever bought beer…I don’t even like the taste of it!  So I head on out to Wally Mart with my grocery list for the week.  As I stand there in front of the beer case….I wonder…just what kind do I get?  Light, fancy, cheap, dark or what….I don’t know anything about beer!  So I opt for the one around $5.00 for a six pack in the pretty brown bottles, cause you can’t just buy one beer.  I "hide" it in my buggy because I just know the preacher or someone from my church is going to walk around the corner any minute!  Haha…..just kidding…how dare they judge me!  It just felt weird buying something you don’t even like!…and yes I call it a buggy not a cart!

Pinterest

So here’s the awesome, wonderful, tasty recipe for Honey Beer Bread:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons honey

1 can beer 12oz.

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions:  Preheat over to 350F. Spray a 9″x5″x3″ loaf pan with Baker’s Joy.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. 

Using a wooden spoon, stir the beer and honey into the dry ingredients until just mixed.  (Microwave the honey for 5 to 10 seconds beforehand to make it easier to stir in.)

Pour half the melted butter into the loaf pan. Then spoon the batter into the pan, and pour the rest of the butter on top of the batter. Use a pastry brush to spread it around.  I even drizzled more honey on top!!

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until top is golden brown and a toothpick/knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Now this is the truth:  It is good cold, so you can only imagine how awesomely good it is hot-straight-out-of-the-oven.  Warm, buttery, sweet, and malty all in one!  Be sure to breathe deep while it is cooking…. you'll swoon with your eyes closed!!  As for the other 5 beer still in the frig….I told my hubby he could not drink them….it was for 5 more loaves of Honey Beer Bread and I’m keeping count!! 

They see no color...
This is how it should be!
"Change your thoughts and you will change your world."

 And always remember:

 

Have a joyous day and stay away from chocolate pie...Especially Minny's!!

Credits: Google, YouTube, and Pinterest

I'm Addicted and I'm Not Alone

I am an addict…..yes I am addicted to Pinterest.  I know that I am not alone….most of you are also addicted….but if you don’t know what it is…. DO NOT go there.  Warning: if you do you will be captured and engulfed by the obsession of pinning. Webster cannot even define it!
Seriously....Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.  It lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.  It allows you to:  collect things without having to dust them, be the author of your own custom virtual cookbook, inspire your creative juices, create a picture book full of eye candy, quote somebody, travel the world over, dream big, and wish beyond your wildest imagination…………oh my I could go on and on. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.  There are some real smarty pants ideas out there too…..why couldn’t I have thought of those helpful things?  Don’t know how we have survived without Pinterest so long!

You can follow my madness here if you like ~ Click here:

And you will see what I’m talking about….. but remember you have been warned…so don’t blame me!!  Here are a few lovelies that I found:

Oh the wonderful things you can find....

Here is just one of the many recipes, found on Pinterest, that I tried at Christmas:

~Chocolate-Marshmallow Pillows~

You can find this cookie recipe here: "Good Eats"   Or here: Betty Crocker 

As you can see I did mine a little different…Instead of using the frosting, I opted to drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of the marshmallows…..so you could see the white gooey goodness!!  Either way they are so good….and if you cannot find the Betty Crocker® double chocolate chunk cookie mix,  no worries, just use any regular chocolate chip cookie mix…it works and is good either way!  And by the way…more nuts are always better!!!

Check out all my other recipes that I have collected on Pinterest under “Good Eats” and for the ones I have tried out on my family, go to “Tried and True Pins by Me”.  The White Queso Dip and the Broccoli Pasta Salad are to die for….well not really...but they are oh so good! 

With what I have found on Pinterest; I now want to build another house, cook like a chef,  become an even crazier crafter, sew like a mad woman, collect every vintage thing I can find at the thrift store, grow a beautiful garden and dream my days away!  And with the time I have spent pinning….well I could have done several of these things and marked them off my list by now!......But what better way to spend a cold damp winter day than pinning!! :)
  

So far, this year has been a JOY for me….my new word for 2012…

and I hope and pray it has been for you too.  

Take care, heed the warning, and happy pinning!

Credit where credit is due: Please note that all photos in this post are

selected from Pinterest except the one of the cookies....it is mine!

Reflections…

This is how I spent ringing in the new year…..

Yes....the empty chair is mine!! Temps in the 70's and lots of relaxing
with some shopping, good seafood, and fireworks over the ocean!!

The warm beaches of Panama City in sunny Florida were a welcome treat as the year lingered for the last time. As one door closes new ones will open….and I look forward with anticipation..........

2011 came to a close like the slamming of a door.  It started out good….really escalated to being on the top of the world…. and then came crashing down all at once.  Life is good when we are constantly walking on the top of the mountain….however; God wants us to rely on Him in every moment.  Those moments when we are struggling deep in the valley of darkness, we are not alone.  I walked in this deep valley from August 30 until the end of the year.  I honestly do not know how people can pick themselves up and move on without the unselfish help and love of our Heavenly Father.  

He has now shut that door and I am glad to put it all behind me…not forgetting and not without learning, but moving ahead and excited about what He has in store for our family in 2012.  I have missed blogging and so appreciate those of you who “checked in” on me throughout this time.  I know without any doubt that things could have been worse and others experienced far greater tragedies than we did; so I must remember how truly blessed we are and to take this valley journey and see it as a bridge between the mountains.  While crossing this swinging dark path, I learned that there are not always answers to our questions…so we have to rely on FAITH and TRUST.  Sometimes that is easier said than done….but the sun will again rise over the hills and a new day is always there. That new door will open wide and welcome us in…..

I have busied myself with crafting and painting. Door hangers (speaking of doors)  seem to be all the craze at the moment …so I tried my hand at it, first making a couple for Holly….and then boom….everyone wanted some!! I’m not complaining, mind you, it’s good money for a hobby I love!  Here are a few I’ve done:

Aubie from Auburn University

This one is reversible!!

Not a door hanger...but still some of my work!
Gooble Gooble!!

These are all designed, cut, sanded, primed, painted,
sealed, and ready to hang.... all by me!!
Yes I use power tools....don't mess with me!! :)

So…. my reflections on the past are for making me stronger, they are for putting a few things into a new perspective, and for making me grow in the Lord and trust Him more each new day. When I look in the mirror this year and see that reflection I hope I will be smiling most of the time....and with God's help I will.

As many bloggers have done in the past by picking a "word for the year"…so shall I this year too.  My word for last year was "HOPE" and I carried it throughout each day until the year ended; but it did not end without "hope"; it was still always there….  This year my word will be

 ….too find "joy" again in everyday experiences and regain some "joy" that was lost somewhere toward the end.  So I’m looking forward to the new year with hope and joy.  I hope you too will have a joyous new year with lots to make you happy!