Let's Get Social Sunday 9/29/2013

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Just a reminder - Lets Get Social Sunday will be on 9 different blogs every week!  That means maximum exposure for you :) 

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!

This party is for bloggers who wish to make new friends and gain new followers. It is also an opportunity to link up all your social media sites to gain more followers for blogging opportunities and it increases traffic to all your sites.


Have you noticed our new feature, "Last But Not Least" blogger? ... That's right, you don't have to get to our party early to have a great time and meet other bloggers! This feature will be for whoever the last link-up is when the party closes on Wednesday night! As a bonus, we'll share your blog the following week - just to show you that being late doesn't mean you can't have fun! As an added bonus, we'll even link-up your blog and social media for you the week that you are featured! (Remember, this feature is for bloggers only and not businesses!)


Coconut Oil Pie Crust- two ways


I love pie, and pie crust may be my favorite thing about pie. Although I don't eat it daily, and pie is not particularly health food, I thought it would be fun and interesting to experiment with making pie crust that did not involve using vegetable shortening (Crisco). My favorite recipe for pie crust uses a combination of butter and shortening. I began with it and started substituting. 

I thought both versions of the coconut oil pie crust were very good. The first version, made with half butter and half coconut oil, was probably indistinguishable from my regular pie crust. The second version was also very good; it just didn't have quite the same flavor that you get by adding butter. No flavor difference, really, from any all-shortening pie crust.

If I had to choose, I would say that the first version might have been just a little bit flakier. My husband preferred the taste of it, too. I liked them both. 


Coconut Oil Pie Crust #1
Makes single crust for 9" pie

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold
4 tablespoons coconut oil, cold
1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon (heaping) table salt
1 teaspoon sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Measure butter and oil and keep refrigerated. Place flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Dice the butter and coconut oil (which will be a solid when cold) and add to food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until the butter and oil are about the size of peas. With the machine running, slowly pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse until dough begins to form a ball (you may not use all 4 tablespoons). Empty dough out onto a floured surface, roll lightly into a ball, gently flatten dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for half an hour (or up to 24 hours).

When ready to use dough, remove from refrigerator (let sit at room temp for a few minutes if refrigerated for too long to roll well), roll it out on a floured surface, transfer to pie plate, prick all over with fork, and bake at 400 degrees until golden brown (if preparing for prebaked shell; or follow recipe instructions if using for a baked filling). 



I also made this crust using all coconut oil:

Coconut Oil Pie Crust #2 

To do: substitute the 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons coconut oil in this recipe for 8 tablespoons coconut oil, very cold. Then proceed as written.


Cook's notes: 
  • Cold coconut oil has a different texture than cold butter. It kind of "shatters" more than "dices" when preparing it to cut into the flour. Just do your best to get it into uniform pieces. It works out. :) You can also use coconut oil that is just solid, "scoopable" out of the jar. 
  • The coconut oil I used was unflavored and unscented, so it did not give any flavor to the crust. Although I haven't tried using the less processed (more natural) flavored oil for pie crust, I would think it would be delicious for some pies. 



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Let's Get Social Sunday! 9/22/2013

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Just a reminder - Lets Get Social Sunday will be on 9 different blogs every week!  That means maximum exposure for you :) 

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!

This party is for bloggers who wish to make new friends and gain new followers. It is also an opportunity to link up all your social media sites to gain more followers for blogging opportunities and it increases traffic to all your sites.


Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie


I made this for my dad's 96th birthday a couple of weeks ago. He and I share a love of all things sweet, and if they happen to involve peanut butter, all the better.

This pie has a sweet, rich, custardy-creamy filling with a flavor that might remind you of peanut butter fudge. It was a huge hit with all of us. 



Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie

Filling:
1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
1 and 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
2 cups milk
3 eggs yolks
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Meringue:

3 egg whites, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt

You'll also need 1, 9 inch pie crust, baked (here's my pie crust recipe)


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix the confectioner's sugar peanut butter until well combined. Set aside. 

2. In a three quart saucepan over low heat, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, milk, eggs yolks and salt until well combined. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles and thickens, about 10 minutes (this will vary, based on exact amount of heat, thickness of pan, etc.). When thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and butter until butter is completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the meringue. 
3. While filling is cooling, place the egg whites in a medium size bowl and beat on medium speed until the whites begin to foam. While beating, add cream of tartar and pinch of salt. Beat on high until whites become glossy and soft peaks begin to form. While mixer is running, slowly pour in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then add vanilla. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Set meringue aside.
4. Stir peanut butter into cooked filling mixture until completely combined. Pour mixture into baked pie shell. Spread meringue onto pie filling, mounding slightly in the middle, and completely sealing meringue edges to crust. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. 
5. Let  pie set on a wire rack until completely cooled before slicing, at least 2 hours.





History: Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter ran a family peanut farm and warehouse before Jimmy Carter was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970 (and President of the United States in 1976). They were always proud of Georgia and Georgia crops, such as peanuts. Recipe adapted from Brookshire Grocery Co.'s publication of Rosalynn Carter's recipe.

Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie has been taken to these great parties!



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Linky Party! Happy 10th Blogiversary to "CharlieBeth, My Life as Mumma Walker"!

From Yesterfood: Today's post is about celebrating my friend CharlieBeth's 10th anniversary as a blogger- 
and she's throwing a party for US!

Please come and join her party by linking up whatever you want- your blog, your favorite post from the week- it's up to you. 
Your post will be seen on 7 blogs!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From CharlieBeth:

"CharlieBeth, My Life as Mumma Walker" 10th Blogiversary Party!

10 years ago today I started blogging! 

Just a little diary blog. I was turning over a new leaf  after a few years of ups and downs which had included a bout of depression. I was settling down with the man I loved, I had just got some work though a job agency for the first time in a long time, which then led to the first job I ever loved! I was a different person back then. My life was all computer games, going to the pub, and office gossip (which I still love but have learned not to share on-line!)  Amazing how much you can change in just 10 years!
Read more at charliebeth.blogspot.com



Now for the party! :) You know how these work:

  • Check out the featured bloggers and follow them (let 'em know and they will return the love!)
  • Join the linky party: link up your blog, a post- it's up to you! :)
  • Click on others' links and meet some new friends.
  • We'd love it if you'd share this special party! 


Featured Bloggers

"ritewhileucan"

So many blogs to choose from.   So little time.    At ritewhileucan you will find inspiration,  new ideas,  and thought provoking discussion. I am a passionate advocate of the lost art of letter writing AND making the most of every moment —rite now! My hope is that this blog will fuel the desire for you to connect with people in your life in a very personal way – through letter writing.     And that while connecting to those around you,  you will seize every moment that we have been given (the good and the bad) and learn and grow.
After a career as a newspaper reporter and editor, Melissa Swedoski thought she was well informed on the chaos of everyday life. Then she married a man 13 years her junior and became a SAHM to two toddler girls. Now, she’s mumbling through the mayhem of marriage and motherhood in a small Texas town, turning her investigative eye on the mishaps and misadventures of parenting and the marathon that is marriage, always with the emphasis on humor and love. You can find her living her big little life at Home on Deranged.


MamaMummyMum

"Mama Mummy Mum"

Hi my name is Chantelle, I thought I would share with you my story of how I came to be MamaMummyMum I am a SAHM to 4 beautiful girls and wife to a hard working husband. I decided to write this blog to help me remember all the moments I share with my little family.

Yesterfood

"Yesterfood"

Yesterfood is about how cooking connects us to each other and to the past. I love recipes with a history or a story, one that often begins with somebody's grandma or daddy. I live in a small Texas town in a big old house that was built in 1905. I share it with my husband, 3 dogs, and at least that many motorcycles. We enjoy traveling, our 3 grown kids, and 2 grands. :)
Melissa is a mom entrepreneur, multi-faceted business woman, and creative producer, authoring and illustrating seven children's books and three self-help books. She has written articles (Color and Its Affect), been interviewed on television (discussing How to Raise Creative Children), spoken in front of hundreds of people (Southern Women’s Show), and successfully achieved two degrees undergraduate degree in finance and graduate degree in marketing).


10th Anniversary Blog Party!

No rules... Go for it!






Note from CharlieBeth: By participating, linkers agree to be added to my bog hop email newsletter list, but don't worry, I wont spam you! I'll just email you invitations to hops and announce featured bloggers. You can opt out at any time

Let's Get Social Sunday! 9/15/2013

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Just a reminder - Lets Get Social Sunday will be on 9 different blogs every week!  That means maximum exposure for you :) 

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!

This party is for bloggers who want to make new friends and gain new followers by linking up all your social media sites.


We've been enjoying our new feature: "Last But Not Least" blogger ... That's right, you don't have to get to our party early to have a great time and meet other bloggers! This feature will be for whoever the last link-up is when the party closes on Wednesday night! As a bonus, we'll share your blog the following week - just to show you that being late doesn't mean you can't have fun! As an added bonus, we'll even link-up your blog and social media for you the week that you are featured!


Cheesy Garlic Biscuits


With fall fast approaching, the food gets a little heartier. These cheesy, garlicky, buttery biscuits are just the thing to compliment a big bowl of soup or stew, fried chicken and cream gravy, or even a weekend breakfast.


Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
Makes about a dozen 2 1/2 inch biscuits

2 cups baking mix (such as Bisquick, or homemade biscuit mix)
2/3 cup milk

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 3 oz.)
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, divided use
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
4 tablespoons warm melted butter, divided use


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Swirl 1 tablespoon of butter into iron skillet (10" to 12") to coat the bottom and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk baking mix, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and parsley until well-combined. Add milk and cheese and stir just until combined. Dough will be wet.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface, and sprinkle top lightly with flour. With floured hands, lightly pat dough out a little, then fold it in half, and gently pat into a rectangle. Fold again, dusting with a little flour as needed to keep dough from sticking. Handle dough as little as possible. Gently pat dough out to about 3/4 inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a cookie cutter, cut straight down (do not twist cutter). Place biscuits in skillet, sides touching, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

While biscuits bake, whisk remaining 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder into remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter. When biscuits are done, brush tops generously with garlic butter. Serve warm.


Notes: Pre-shredded cheese doesn't always melt very well because it is coated with an additive that keeps it from clumping. These biscuits will be a little more tender and the cheese will melt a little better if you shred your own. 



Try these biscuits with Roasted Garlic Potato Soup



Cheesy Garlic Biscuits have been shared at these great parties!


Let's Get Social Sunday! 9/8/2013

Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday!


Just a reminder - Let's Get Social Sunday will be on
9 different blogs every week! That means maximum exposure for you :)



This party is for bloggers who wish to make new friends and gain new followers. It is also an opportunity to link up all your social media sites to gain more followers for blogging opportunities and it increases traffic to all your sites.


Please:)


(1) Follow your hosts and co-hosts in as many ways as possible. We are the first 9 link-ups in each category.
Hosts





and meet our co-hosts this week:

Victoria from Creative Home Keeper




and

Liz from Rustic Peach




and our
"Last But Not Least" Featured Blogger:

Rhonda @ If you do stuff, stuff gets done



(2) Grab our button and share it on your blog
(3) Let us know if you followed in the comments, so we can return the follows!
(4) Find some new blogs to follow and let 'em know you found them from the Let's Get Social Sunday party.


Not a requirement, but we appreciate the love - If you enjoy this party, would you mind hitting the tweet button to help spread the word? Or share on your favorite social media! Thanks y'all :)





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Dark Chocolate Cherry Pecan Brownies



Here's an indulgent brownie for the dark chocolate fans. 
Rich with two different kinds of chocolate, cream cheese, cherries, and nuts, 
this little brownie brings big flavor.



Dark Chocolate Cherry Pecan Brownies

1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 (3 oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried cherries

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 13 X 9 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder until well-combined. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese and sugar on medium high until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.
4. On low, gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture; beat 2 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, and cherries. Spoon batter into pan, spreading evenly.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until edges are somewhat firm and set, and the middle still seems a little soft (do not wait until brownies are pulling away from the sides of the pan, a popular "how to tell when brownies are done" indicator). Do not over-bake, or brownies will be dry.
6. Cool in pan on wire rack. Let cool completely before cutting. Store leftovers tightly covered, refrigerate if desired. If you can wait, these brownies are better the next day.





Adapted from brownies at Family Circle.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Pecan Brownies were shared at these fun parties!


Let's Get Social Sunday! 9/1/2013


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Welcome to Let's Get Social Sunday! 
 
This is a social media party- the place to link up your Blog site, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Bloglovin and Instagram! 


 We'll be on 9 different blogs every week...
and so will you! :)


Fun news! We've added the "Last But Not Least" feature!
You don't have to get to our party early to have a great time 
and meet other bloggers! 
This feature will be for whichever blogger is the last link-up when the party closes 
on Wednesday night. 
As a bonus, we'll share your blog the following week, and we'll even link-up your blog and social media for you the week that you are featured!


Now for the party! 
Please:)


(1) Follow your hosts and co-hosts in as many ways as possible. We are the first 9 link-ups in each category.


Hosts



and meet our co-hosts this week:



Yuen @ The Craziest Paradigm

 photo blogbutton2_zps8c657adf.jpg


and


Melanie @ Mommy Mentionables





Now for our
 "Last But Not Least" Featured Blogger:


 
Be sure to visit Joel's blog for a big helping of humor and good cooking!



(2) Grab our button and share it on your blog

(3) Let us know if you followed in the comments, so we can return the follows!

(4) Find some new blogs to follow and let 'em know you found them from the Let's Get Social Sunday party.



Let's Get Social Sunday


Not a requirement, but we appreciate the love - If you enjoy this party, would you mind hitting the tweet button to help spread the word? Or share on your favorite social media! Thanks y'all :)




*Just a note - If you would like to co-host, we are accepting spots in the future for co-hosts. Please, email us at letsgetsocialsunday@gmail.com and we will send you the information on scheduling. :)



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