Skillet Apple Pie!

Oh man, it's been so long since I've posted!!

I've made so many yummy things, and haven't documented them!

A lot has been going on though! 

I GOT MARRIED! Almost a month ago, I married my best friend and the love of my life!

He's been getting to enjoy all of my yummy goodness! :)

This past weekend we went to the apple orchard and picked 48# of apples! For just the two of us, that's a lot of apples!

I made apple crisp... which was actually not very yummy. I'll try again later.

I also made applesauce. It was phenom! I threw them in the Crockpot all sliced up, added some brown sugar, cinnamon, sugar and water. Easy enough, right? 

My applesauce-obsessed husband though I did quite alright! :)

Today... I tried my hand at apple pie! 

I have made apple pie before, but never my own crust. 

I got the recipe off the Today Show yesterday!  Perfect that they were telling me what to do with my apples from the weekend! Here's the recipe!

I got a little distracted by talking to my mom on the phone and didn't take pictures of every step. But, here's what I got. By the time I'm done writing this it will be ready to come out of the oven! 

Using my awesome Ninja food processor to mix up my dry ingredients!

 My skillet ready to be used for the first time!! 

Adding my shortening for the pie crust

and butter.

Process!

Yum... Crust in the making!

Sprinkled with ice water!

Into the fridge it goes

Time to peel my apples!

Nothing compares to freshly picked apples

Heating them up in the skillet

Apple cider sauce! Oh so good!

Here's what's in it!

Sauce goes in

after fighting to get the crust rolled out, it's on the skillet.

I can't find my rolling in ANYWHERE. I used a wine bottle instead.

It was SUPER sticky so I added more flour. I'm a little worried I added too much flour.

Cutting my ventilation holes.

So... Pie just came out of the oven. The crust kind of fell into the pie. I'll post a picture later. It smells marvelous though!!

Comfort Cookies!

I often find myself craving oatmeal raisin cookies. They are definitely my favorite cookie! I looked around my apartment tonight and discovered I had everything except raisins. Thankfully, I live just a few blocks from glory that is WalMart.
While I was perusing the aisles looking for raisins (Okay, I knew right where they were...) I happened upon a great deal for ice cream. Who can eat cookies without ice cream? Not I! So, I walked out with my raisins and ice cream! I pinned the cookie recipe I used if you're looking for a good one! They turned out so chewy and delicious! :)

While I was baking my cookies I decided to do some studying so I can take my quiz online before the weekend. Bad idea! Unit 1 of my Bio class is Forensic Entomology. Basically, how bugs are used to solve crimes. The thing I was reading about while I baked was using fly larva to figure out how long a body has been dead. If that doesn't make you want to eat cookies, I don't know what does. :)

Anyway. I made a great "ice cream sandwich" with my warm cookies! I think I'll hit the gym tomorrow! :)

Addicted!

Something you have to know about me...
I LOVE strawberries! I have for as long as I can remember. I could eat them everyday. I have all kinds of strawberry collectibles. My mother even has a set (or 2) of dishes to give me when I get married. Oh mom... 

Today, I kept thinking about the graham cracker crust I have had sitting on my counter.
Another thing you need to know about me...
If I get it in my head that I'm going to make something I will just do it. I won't wait until it's 5:00, or whatever. I will do it when I feel like it. (It's a perk to living alone).
so.... I came home and set to work!!

My goal for the night was to make the most wonderful strawberry pie ever using the old ladies church cookbook. Everything old ladies put in those cookbooks are amazing!
I got my two big cartons of strawberries and came home and cut them up (on my amazing new cutting board.) I ended up cutting WAY too many up (oops) so I was thinking to myself. Self, what are you going to do with all of these delicious looking slices of strawberries. And self said back to me You should definitely roast them! Great idea!!

Here they are! I just tossed them with a little olive oil and sugar. Put them in the oven on 400 for about 6 minutes and voila!

So, here I sit, with the most wonderful smelling roasted strawberries. I didn't think my plan through enough because I had NO idea what I was going to eat them with.

The smell of them reminded me of this little Bavarian restaurant in Colorado we ate for breakfast at like 10 years ago.

I decided to make french toast! Instead of topping with butter and syrup I put cream cheese and roasted strawberries on top. Oh my goodness, I wish I could sent samples through the internet for all of you to try. I guess that's why I'm giving you my recipes though! :) It wasn't the most beautiful thing, but it tasted glorious!! I even busted out the old school home made strawberry plate! I will definitely be making that again!



My Strawberry pie turned out fantastic as expected! I will just link the picture from Instagram because my camera was connected to my computer when I finished it. Here it is!

Now that I'm all done cooking for the evening I'm going to treat myself to a little R&R.

Don't forget to hit subscribe so you will know when I update! 

Zesty Creamy Mac and Cheese!

After my great pie adventure I was hungry for supper.
I always turn to home made Mac and Cheese when I want something quick.

When I make it I put the noodles (usually Penne) in the sauce pan and pour in just enough milk to cover it all.
Then, I bring it to boil, stirring often so the milk doesn't burn to the bottom of the pan.
Tonight, I wanted to mix things up... and be ridiculously unhealthy apparently.
I added about 1 1/2 TBLS of Spicy Ranch dressing and 1 TBLS cream cheese.
I couldn't stop there. I threw in a small handful of bacon bits.
Oh my goodness. It was deliciously zesty and creamy. It only took about 10 minutes to make too!

Pie oh Pie!

I'm discovering that I really love cooking and baking. I also love taking pictures.
It seems like the only sensible thing to do now is blog about it.
I already have my photography blog, which you can find here, but I am creating this one just for my kitchen concoctions!

Tonight I made my first pie EVER!

Unfortunately, the pictures I took are from my iPhone so they aren't the best, but the first is a collage of 4 photos and the second is my favorite pie photo of the afternoon!

**UPDATE! It was DELICIOUS!
However, I discovered that I will make my own crust next time.