Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

• 
  
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
• 1 piece pre-made pie dough
• Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Bake for 10 minutes, 

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust Make sure you cover the edge of the crust with foil for the first 25 minutes  of baking so it does not burn. Total baking time is 55 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Then I personally like to refrigerate mine for a bit.  Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

Double everything to make more than one pie :o) 

Prep time is about 15 mins

Cook time 55 Mins

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Day in the life!

I seem to keep myself unusually busy being a stay at home mom and writer. Also filling my days with volunteering at different functions as well as the PTO over at the kids school. The today and tomorrow are a whirlwind of things to do. Besides the norm. of getting the kids up, dress, with full tummies off to the bus. Today I had to be at the school at 8am to get the laminating done for the week for all the teachers. I got home and did about 3 loads of laundry and straightened up the home. (I absolutely hate not having everything in its proper place) UGH! by the time I was finished I had about an hour before the kids were getting off the bus to arrive home yet again. Dinner was completed and now I have 20 mins left before the monthly PTO meeting. I will spend about an hour and a half there jotting down the minutes so I can then update the schools website tomorrow with all the functions that are being planned and what we discussed for those that were unable to attend. Trust me I will be ready for bed once I get home to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow. Except I  will be spending from 10am - 12pm at the school helping out in the art room. Coming home after to make the pumpkin pie I have promised the kids. OH yeah come to find out the kids are calling me out for making cupcakes for the halloween parties. Which means about 55 cupcakes to make and decorate. RAWR!! It is a good feeling that they love my baking but the way I do it takes so much time and effort. I will add photos of what I did the past 2 years so you can understand why they pick me for this lol. Hope everyone is having a good evening, I am off to my meeting.

tombstones from 2009

my bats from halloween 2010

Snowmen from 2009

Reindeer from 2010

End of school cupcakes 2009

Hence why I get volunteered for making them all the time lol

The Ghost within

Thursday evening. I struggled to get to sleep that night I had both kids that took up residency in my bed and last thing I recalled was looking at the clock and it being 12:43 and myself still attempting to fall asleep. Next thing I realize is that it is now 2:30 in the morning and I was woken up by screams. Russ downstairs screaming my name like a mad man telling me there is something wrong. It sounds like something is walking up the stairs.  First off WTF! OK Myself and the kids are up here so why in the world are you just sitting on your ass curled up in blankets if you are hearing strange noises in the house? One would think he would get up to investigate whatever the heck he was hearing to make sure everyone was OK instead NO he sits downstairs yelling at the top of his lungs for me, who just recently got to bed. So sleepy and groggy I walk downstairs with my heart racing a million miles a min. Being startled awake is not fun, with 2 kids in tow whom where also woken up. To have him explain the noises. First thing that came to my mind was OK where is the cat? Let's check the closet. GUESS WHAT? he woke the world up due to our little fur baby getting herself locked inside of it. The cat was the ghost he so freaking out over. His explanation to me, for the screaming was he is terrified of the paranormal and I am fully intrigued by it. Since I have no fear of stuff like that he screamed for me. Gotta love it.  Finally I went back up to sleep only to have to wake up at 6am to get the kids ready for school. 

Scary isn't she!

Hosting a Halloween Event!

I try my best to be a great Hostess….

If there’s just one thing I have going for myself it’s the ability to have friends over and show them a great time via food, drinks, music, ambiance and conversation. Even if it’s just cards on the patio, effort is still made. It comes second nature, I look forward to, and love doing it.

On October 22, I’m hosting 28+ adults for a Night of the living Fed, spooks and Spirits Halloween Party… Oh. Shit!!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving this challenge. Going all out or trying damn hard — that’s my style. But this 28+ adults thing is freaking me out a bit;  One thing is for sure my townhouse is not the biggest thing in the world.

GOD FORBID IT RAINS.

With dry, semi warm weather we will be able to play flip cup and beer pong outdoors. The dining room is being converted into the place to play incase of inclement weather as well as the entire downstairs being converted to a semi- haunted house (See? I throw a kick ass party.)

But it has to be sunny. Ok, I’ll take not raining.

There is zero room for rain. I absolutely cannot have those numbers in my home with just our basic living room / dining room furniture. Uh uh, no way, no can do. I’m getting freaking heart palpitations just thinking about it. YIKES! there will have to be rules in place if the rain occurs.

So I am praying to the sun gods asking them to help a sister out and send SUNSHINE VIBES  and I will be indebted to you, one weather vibe sending, ok? That is not to much to ask. 

Kids, Homework, & Life!

OK so last night the kids get home from school, as I am sitting with them helping them do there home an I honestly can't remember doing any of the stuff they are doing when I was their age in school. Seriously my son is in forth grade doing Calculus ? Seriously I do not even understand this crap????? Looking at this confuses the bejeebus out of me.

My daughter is doing simpler stuff  like writing sight words and then making a complete sentence off her words. Which still for a 1st grader I can not recall for the life of me doing stuff like that. In my mind I recall playing, coloring, cutting, and ABC's and just learning to count.

While in the midst of doing that my new headboard showed up from UPS so I spent the remained of my evening putting that entire things together. I official hate diagram instructions with out any form of written words UGH! The watching the guys try to get it hooked up to the wall was funny all on it's own. Thank you baby jee-bus for Brian being here and knowing how to work tools otherwise I may have slaughtered Russ during last nights building events lol. But it is up woot complete with stuff put away. SEE! WOO HOO.

This morning is yet again a rain event which is kewl it does not bother me any. I got the kids up and off to school and after headed over there myself so I could get at least 2 hours worth of the laminating completed. I swear I should be on Salary over there I volunteer so much. But in the long run it is fantastic that my kiddos see so much of me. Now I am off to get the rest of the house clean. Have a great day!

Pumpkin Bread w/ Cranberries

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups pumpkin pureé (15 oz can)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup fresh or dried cranberries

Combine flour, spice, baking powder, and salt in bowl; stir to blend the dry ingredients well. Combine eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil in a mixing bowl, beating until smooth. Stir in flour mixture, then stir in cranberries. Spoon into a greased and floured 9x5x2-inch loaf pan. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Raising Children

Teaching my children unconditional love. I am far from the perfect mother but then again anyone that tells you that they are I call bullshit and will tell you, that your a LIAR! We are human after all and human beings are flawed by nature. I have emotions, I curse and sometimes forget things. I have faults just like everyone else. I am a very serious parent however. Being a Mother is after all a very serious job.

I feel in my heart of hearts the best way to raise a child is to teach tolerance and acceptance. To accept others for their differences, to keep an open mind and perhaps learn from those people instead of ostracize them. I want them to try their best to spread love through our world instead of hate.

Yeah I have opinions on organized religion as a whole I think it is borderline child abuse to force your mind/beliefs onto a young child. I am Pagan in belief but I keep religion as a whole away from my kids, unless of course they ask me. They I will answer with truth, honesty and the difference between scientific accuracy and faith.

When they reach an age when they want to search for there own path I will gladly help them with any decision they chose, But they must find their way there on their own so they understand why they feel the way they do and where not forced into it because mommy or daddy dragged them to church.

I feel it is your job as a parent to teach right from wrong. Guide them on the path of what is good and try to steer them in the right direction if you see danger ahead. Be there for them with care and guidance. It is not your job to force your political views or religion upon them. In my eyes it is equally wrong force them into Sports or pageantry just because that is what you love or what you want for them.  My Son is just beginning the Clarinet in the school band, not because I told him he had to but because he chose to do that. Now do not get me wrong establishing goals for them is very important as well so the can achieve what they set there mind to and feel proud of what they have accomplished. However allow them to pick what feels right to them. Then set a goal based of of that. 

At this time my son whom is in 4th grade wants to be an Astrophysicist when he gets older. I am doing my best to help him with lots of Science and Math. He watches the science channel a lot with I am very very proud of him for wanting to do this and being so excited for his love of the universe. This all began with his parents watching a show on black holes. He just wanted to learn more and more and came to the decision of wanting to do this on his own.

My daughter at this time and for the past 3 years says she wants to be a Veterinarian when she grows up. She has had a massive love for animals ever since she was 2 and I adopted our current cat Hannah cause she wanted he so bad. That cat falls asleep with that girl almost overnight.  Once again this is not something I forced on her. It was something that was within her heart.

Any who where am I going with this? I am just spewing out my opinions on raising a child. I feel it is massively wrong to force anyone into anything. I do not care if my kids work as a Janitor or a Doctor when they get older as long as they are happy, have a good heart, and learn how to unconditionally love themselves.

Once again I am not without flaws I do past judgement on people, But ONLY based off of their actions.  If you commit crime, live for drama, or have close minded views will I have an opinion. I will NEVER judge based on the color of their skin, sexual orientation, age, or any  that stuff that should never be a factor in who a person is inside.

Life with Great Friends

Yeah it has been awhile since I have been able to sit and blog it up lol. Since the school year has begun: I have been super busy with helping out with the PTO website, Laminating, and doing Thursday packets on top of being the assistant couch to my daughter's cheerleading squad. That plus finding the time to keep up on writing, housework, and finding time for friends. i have barely had any mommy me time, just to veg out or even read. UGH! Labor day weekend we had a big neighborhood BBQ and then after party. Over all it went very well. The after party was the best *wink* Beer pong/flip cup and all the necessary evils that go along with it. Dan one of my best friends in the entire world even showed up, when I was not excepting him to. I was so thrilled to see him. My Bro, Tina, Devon, Justin, Emily, and the greatest neighbors any one could ask for Sarah, Brain, & Molly as well as Joe, Becky, Kelly, AJ, Dave, Plus my 2 ren. faire sisters Helen and Jackie all came to the party. We all had a pretty terrific time and I hope you are all ready for the Halloween event coming up, Named Night of the Living Fed, Spooks and Spirits Party!!!! I love all you guys and gals *** Hugs*** I am seriously blessed with some phenomenal people in my life and I am very grateful to have such wonderful friends..

Today was a Cheerleading Clinic for my daughter, She seemed to enjoy herself even though Mommy was not overly thrilled. Being around Catty people id not normally my thing. But J's Best Friend is on the team and her awesome mother Lori is the coach: Which is the only reason I volunteered to assist. Well now it is time for me to Veg. out a bit before I need to get the kids from the bus.