Pumpkin Pie

I get asked for this recipe so often that I decided to share it here.  I got it from Mom, but I think she got it from the Mennonite Community Cookbook.  I've never made a different pumpkin pie so I don't know what makes this one better than any other recipe.  Possibly the spices.  Anyway, it's very easy and everyone enjoys it. 

I use Pioneer Woman's The Perfect Pie Crust recipe.  I use half butter, half Crisco and I mix it in my food processor.  

Pumpkin Pie

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 teas salt

2 teas. cornstarch

1/4 teas. ginger

1/4 teas. cloves

1 teas. cinnamon

1 15 oz can pumpkin

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 c. milk, scaled

Preheat oven to 425.  I usually put an empty cookie sheet in the oven at this point so it is hot when I am ready to bake the pie.  I also back pies on a lower rack than other things because sometimes the crust doesn't brown right even with the cookie sheet.  Any suggestions?

Mix brown sugar, salt, cornstarch, ginger, cloves and cinnamon together.  Stir in pumpkin. Add beaten eggs and stir.  Added scalded milk and stir.  (I usually add the milk a little at a time so it doesn't mess up the eggs -that could happen right?)  Mix well and pour into unbaked pie crust. Then (this is important!) sprinkle more of the spices over the top of the pie and swirl with a fork.  

Back at 425 for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 and continue baking for 30 minutes (longer in my oven, but my oven is weird) or until crust is browned and pumpkin is stiff in the middle and does not move when you move the pan.  

Easter 2013

Pictures from our Easter celebrations this year.  

I love Zach's face on this one. :)  By the way, this was taking AFTER church.  Easter pictures before church didn't happen.

This might be my favorite picture from the whole weekend. 

 A highlight of our weekend was meeting our newest nephew Joshua, he's just 5 weeks younger than Zachary.   He's a sweetie!

We have high hopes of Zachary and Joshua being great friends someday.  Maybe next year. :) 

Isaiah at his great-grandma's yearly brunch and Easter egg hunt

Callie loved the hunt too. 

Nate posed for this picture.

My cousin's beautiful daughter 

Another cousin and her beautiful daughter. 

Zachary getting to know one of his great-uncles. 

The oldest holding the youngest.  Zachary with his Great-Grandma L. (Mom's mom)

So sweet

Life

Life just keeps rolling along.  I try to constantly remind myself to hold on to each day, but often I forget.  Pictures are one of the best ways to slap myself in the face and remember to enjoy each moment, craziness and all.  So in celebration of life being lived here in our little house here are some favorites from the last few weeks. Or maybe months, I've lost track

I wonder if there has ever been a baby loved more than this little guy.  I am constantly reminding the kids not to wake him up when he's sleeping.  When he is awake they try to give him toys and play with him and make him laugh.  He loves being held and having people talk to him.  As of Tuesday the 2nd he's two months old!

Painting Easter eggs.

We tried a new recipe this year.  Mix food coloring with 1 T. oil and 1 T. vinegar than fill the cup with enough water to cover the egg.  This gives a lovely marbled look to the egg. 

This month we're celebrating Jeremy's good health.  I'm so thankful to be laughing and enjoying life with him.  One year ago this week we met with the doctor that said "80% chance it's cancer".  Several weeks ago Jeremy spoke with the surgeon from Johns Hopkins about a follow up CT scan he had done.  All is completely clear.  

Isaiah hard at work.  Or something like that.  He's an excellent reader even though he doesn't enjoy phonics.  He loves math, history, geography and history.  

Always a princess.  I was folding laundry the other day and realized Callie's pile of folded laundry was very small.  It's because she lives in her dress up cloths.  She's always pretending something or other.  Often she's getting ready for a wedding, or taking care of "her kids" or talking about "her husband".  I love watching and listening to her.

These beads have provided Callie with hours of fun.  Here they are smoothies and strawberries I think.  She's also been playing a lot with dried beans.  They make a mess to clean up, but it's worth it for the entertainment it gives her.  She also LOVES to play at the sink washing dishes.  So far I've been fairly successful at keeping the beans and water separate.  Sprouting beans all over the house is just what I need! 

Just to prove that he has a mother. :)

Nate's fort.  This is the second fort built.  The first one had the pillows directly on top of Zach's face.  I didn't respond real well when I found it. :(  Nate was very proud of himself for finding a way to build a fort that kept Zach's face free to breath.  I felt a little sorry for Zachary, but I had to take a picture.  I wish I had a picture of all the ways this baby's siblings love on him.  The pretzel up the nose was another moments I didn't respond real well to. :(  On this picture Zachary looks so much like Isaiah did as a baby.

"Look Mom, he's sleeping in his fort!"

Love this face

He loves his daddy and he loves to snuggle. 

We fought through a week of sickness a few weeks ago.  I was about at my wits end by the end of the week.  The kids were feeling better, but weren't well enough to go anywhere and it was too cold to force them outside to play.  I did force them onto the porch for a few minutes though.  Believe me, those smiles were not in place when I sent them out.  For the record, Isaiah is wearing pj's and my crocs.  Nate is wearing his church loafers without socks (I find him at church like this sometimes.  I always feel like I should look to make sure his shirt is fully buttoned and he's not wearing a gold necklace.  sorry) 

Matt and Heather and their girls came to meet Zachary a few weeks ago.  Sadly, most of my pictures weren't very good. :(  However, this one did turn out.  Chloe knitted this hat for Zachary!  I was so impressed.  She does NOT  get her knitting skills from her aunt!  Thank you Chloe!

P.S. Mom, the Easter pictures will be posted soon. :)