Happy Halloween! Get Out There and Trick-or-Treat!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 cups pumpkin puree
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth. Mix in the pureed pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and eggs. Mix well.  
• Pour batter into pie shell.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Coconut Macaroons Recipe

Ingredients:

1 and 1/3 cup Baker's Angel Flake coconut
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/3 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
2 egg whites

Directions:

• Combine the coconut, sugar, flour and salt. Mix well. 
• Add remaining ingredients. 
• Drop from a teaspoon onto greased baking sheet. 
• Bake 20 minutes at 325 degrees or until edges are lightly browned. 
• Remove from baking sheets and let cool.  Makes approximately 18 cookies.
  

What I Wouldn't Give for Ora's Vintage Pillowcases

I've been suffering from terrible insomnia lately, so a friend of mine recommended I try melatonin.  I went and picked some up at the drugstore, and it definitely makes you sleepy.  But unfortunately, it takes too long to kick in and leaves me groggy all day.

I was remembering today how nice it is to lie down in bed at night and drift right off.  And that made me think about sheets and pillowcases.  When my Great Aunt Ora died back in the '70s, she left my mom a ton of vintage sheets and pillowcases.  And then when my mom passed away in the late '80s, she left them to me (what was left).

Now I couldn't tell you where a single one is.  I've moved so many times over the past few years, and they've all disappeared.  But let me tell you, there is nothing to compare to the softness of a vintage pillowcase.  It is cool and smooth against your skin.  You just can't buy new pillowcases that feel like that!

I've been hunting for some to buy.  I know you can find them on Ebay.  But I also found this website where vintage linens of all kinds are for sale.  I'd give my eye teeth to get back the pillowcases I lost.  But no point crying over spilt milk.

Memaw's Egg Custard Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 (9 inch) pie shell
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. scalded milk
Pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

• Place milk in a double boiler. Place over heat until milk is hot. 
• In mixing bowl, blend eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. 
• Add scalded milk slowly, then pour into pie shell. Sprinkle with nutmeg. 
• Bake in 400-degree oven 30 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between outside and center of pie comes out clean. 
• Cool on rack 20 to 30 minutes, then chill in refrigerator.

Vintage Apron Patterns Bring Back Warm Memories

 

I was cruising around the Internet and came across a site that sells vintage apron patterns.  My grandmother always had just such an apron hanging by the sink.  Aprons sort of fell out of favor for a number of years.  The picture of a woman in an apron became the symbol of household servitude to a generation. 

But now they're coming back.  Women are confident enough now, I think, in their ability to do whatever they please.  And that includes embracing the kitchen, cooking, and homemaking, if they so choose.  Just looking at these apron patterns brought back warm memories for me. 

Easiest Chocolate Chess Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 whole eggs
1 small can Pet milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa
1 unbaked pastry shell

Directions:

• Beat eggs well.
• Add Pet milk, vanilla, butter, sugar, and cocoa. 
• Mix well and pour into unbaked pastry shell. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30- 40 minutes or until set. 
• Cool. Serve with ice cream, if desired.
  

Foodie Alert! Check Out A Great Retro Blog!

 

Occasionally, I'll post a food or food-related blog that I really enjoy. One such blog is Kitchen Retro.  It's always an entertaining read.  Today, for instance, there's a recipe for Borden's Magic Fruit Cake.  Why is it magic?  Check out Kitchen Retro.

Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Ingredients:

3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
2 c. sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen

Directions:

• Cream the butter and sugar, then add beaten egg. 
• Sift flour. 
• Alternately add milk and sifted flour with salt and baking powder. 
• Fold in the blueberries. 
• Spread into a  greased and floured 9 x 9-inch pan. 
• Sprinkle with topping and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. butter         Mix all ingredients and sprinkle on buckle before baking, as directed above.