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It's not "life's illusions", but "life's infusions" that I recall!
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Oh my, I love Sweet Potato Pie !

I don't remember the first time I tasted it.  It must have been in the South someplace.  My Grandmother didn't make it, and not one of my Aunties made it. My Mom didn't either.  One day, somewhere, at some time, I tasted it and fell in love. And I have held Sweet Potato Pie in high regard ever since !


I adapted this  recipe from a storybook full of recipes: Sweety Pies by Patty Pinner. She says, "What a woman cooks is a window into her womanly personality---what she thinks, how she behaves, how she feels about herself and the people she cooks for."  I'm still mediating on this little quote, wondering what the full implications could be ? If she means, what a woman cooks, when she cooks, well then, that might open a window into my "womanly personality".


Frankly, sometimes, I don't cook.  I eat cottage cheese and yogurt or a bolonga sandwich with mayo.  I use whole wheat bread though.  I think this means I'm flexible, healthy and maybe not in the mood to clean up a cooking mess !  I am blessed though..... I have a Sweet Husband who is an excellent cook and he enjoys it.


When I do cook, I love to bake this Sweet Potato Pie.  My family and friends keep coming back for seconds.  If there is any left, we have pie for breakfast !   I'm sure your family will want second helpings too.



sweet_potato_pie



Sweet Potato Pie


Ingredients


9" Pie crust


3 medium sweet potatoes


2 large eggs


1 ½ cups sugar


1 teaspoon lemon extract


¼ teaspoon salt


½ teaspoon ground nutmeg


½ cup butter, melted


½ cup half-and-half or evaporated milk


1-2 tablespoon bourbon (optional)



Cover the sweet potatoes with water and boil until tender. Drain. Let them cool.


Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the pie crust.


After sweet potatoes have cooled, peel and mash in a large bowl until smooth.


Add the eggs, sugar, lemon extract, bourbon (optional), salt, and nutmeg and beat together until blended and smooth.


Add the melted butter and half and half and beat until creamy. Pour into the pie crust.


Place in the oven. I usually put it on a cookie sheet, just in case it spills over.


Should cook about 45 minutes. Test the center for doneness. Set on a wire rack and cool completely.


Can be served with whipped cream or plain. I think its perfect plain.








Monday, October 26, 2009

Tea Tasting and Friends.....

A big thank you to all our family and friends who attended the Tea Tasting Party at the Antique Cottage and Garden Friday night.  I miss all of you and it was absolutely divine to connect again with so many of you !!


Thank you also to Lynni Miller, the owner of Antique Cottage and Garden, and Kelly and Mark, who all pitched in to help us get ready !  Lynni, the goodies were perfect with the teas....thanks !


Congratulations to the winners of the door prizes !!


My Sweet Husband is the best !  He patiently loaded and unloaded teas, teapots, hats and all kinds of other necessary "stuff" !


a_few_teas_for_tea_tasting We couldn't bring the entire tea room inventory......


so we brought some old favorites .....english_breakfast and some new ones to try.....


genmaicha oolong_orange_blossom


Of course, we had to brew a pot of our most requested tea at the tea room...French Creme Brulee...


Famous_French_creme_brulee and what's a tea party without a green tea ? We tasted our lovely Japanese Bancha !


Aunt Ressie May, a strawberry-kiwi fruit  infusion (no Camellia sinensis-- no real tea--) has been a delicious choice since we first  introduced it as our signature "Drink Pink" tea several years ago.


aunt_ressie_may


A blooming tea contributed to the ambiance of the evening...


blooming_tea



The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the garden was delightful.......


garden_tea_party



Thank you again everyone for making this enjoyable, and successful and we look forward to the next Tea Tasting Party !


Happy Infusions,


Kate


http://tea4kate.com


http://oregonstretteacompany.com


http://twitter.com/tea4kate