Snickerdoodle Pie

What could be better than snickerdoodles and pie?  A Snickerdoodle pie!  I found it here and made this over the weekend.  It turned out absolutely delicious!  The flavor was a little more like a cinnamon roll than a snickerdoodle but great nonetheless.  Here's the recipe for the other snickerdoodle lovers out there.  Yumm!!!

Snickerdoodle Pie

Single crust Pie crust (I used one of the rolled kind you find in the biscuit section of the supermarket) OR make your own..which ever you prefer.

2 Tbsp melted butter
Cinnamon sugar - 2Tbsp. sugar + 2 tsp. cinnamon combined and divided in half

Prepare pie crust.  Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray and line with pie crust.  Brush 2 Tbsp melted butter over crust and sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Preheat oven to 350°.

Syrup Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

In saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, water, cinnamon and corn syrup.  Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tsp. vanilla. Set aside.

Filling Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour

In mixing bowl beat remaining 1/4 cup butter with mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar until well combined. Beat in egg and the other teaspoon of vanilla. Gradually beat in milk until combined. Beat in flour. Spread evenly in crust-lined pie plate.

Slowly pour syrup over the filling in pie plate.  Sprinkle top with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture (1 Tbsp + 1 tsp).  Cover edges of pie with foil.  Bake pie 20 minutes; carefully remove foil.  Bake about 20 minutes more or until top is puffed and golden brown, and a toothpick inserted 2" from edge comes out clean. Do not over cook!

Cream Cheese Glaze
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons  milk
1 tsp vanilla

In bowl mix all ingredients together.  (You can adjust amounts based on the consistency you prefer)

When pie is cooled drizzle you glaze over the top, or if you prefer leave the glaze off and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Happy Birthday Daddy! Love, Winston

 For Brad's birthday, I took him out to an early dinner on Friday night.  Bo watched Winston for us and while we were gone, he helped Winston write a birthday message for Brad using sidewalk chalk.  We saw it as soon as we got back - they had written his happy birthday wish right at the front of the driveway so we wouldn't miss it.

Winston was really proud of his handy work.  Bo did help him with the spelling but said that Winston wrote most of it himself.  I love the drawings of Brad and Winston right in the middle.  It's kind of hard to see in the picture but he drew them with big smiles.  What great boys we have!  :)

Helping his Big Bros.

Zack and Bo changed the oil in their car this afternoon and Winston "helped".  He loves and idolizes his big brothers so much.  It was cute to watch them.  Zack and Bo were so patient with him and Winston kept counting their tools, "One, two, three, four, five.  Look Mom, I have five tools."  He was so proud to be helping his brothers and I'm so proud of them for letting him.  :)

Winston's 1st Cheeseburger

Winston finally tried a cheeseburger and he LOVED it!  He's such a picky eater - he's never tried a hamburer before - so when he announced to Brad that he wanted to go to Burger King and get a hamburger Brad was pretty skeptical.  Winston insisted that he would eat it so Brad decided to give it a try. 

When he ordered it, Winston said he wanted ketchup, lettuce, cheese and steak on it.  (Ha ha, steak on a hamburger!)  Brad handed him his kid's meal and as promised, he took a bite and then said, "Mmmm, I love hamburgers." 

Brad didn't notice that they'd put mustard on it too (Winston's always said he hates mustard).  After a few bites, Winston said, "Hey, there's mustard on here.  It's really good."  He ate the whole thing and asked for another one - just like a boy!   

Here's picture proof that he ate it - he's really growing up!

Burrito Chicken Enchiladas

I love Mexican food and am always looking for new recipes to try.  I found this recipe here and thought these enchiladas sounded so delicious.  I made them Sunday for dinner and they were a huge hit.  Zack told me they were the best enchiladas he's ever had and is already asking me when I'll make them again.

I did modify the sauce a little bit because we're not big fans of sweet sauces and added green chilies to the rice - I love the flavor of green chilies!  Here's my modified version.  They're a little bit of work but well worth the effort so give 'em a try.  You can thank me later.   :)

Burrito Chicken Enchiladas

Santa Fe Lime Rice

2 TBSP butter
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh crushed garlic
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup rice, either long grain or basmati

2 cups chicken broth
1 small can diced green chilies

Juice of 1/2 lime (approx 1/2 to 3/4 tsp)

Melt butter in a pot and add cumin, salt, garlic and cilantro.  Add rice and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes stirring constantly.  Add broth, green chilies and lime juice; return to simmer.  Turn heat to low, cover and cook about 30 minutes.  Set aside.

Chicken

1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded.

You can cook the chicken any way you want. My favorite way is to boil it on the stove: wash and place chicken in pot then fill with enough water to cover.  Add 1 bay leaf, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 tsp Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp garlic pepper.  Bring to boil and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. I have also cooked it in the crockpot for about 3 hours on high, or just cut up one of the already made chickens from Costco.

Sauce

1 8 oz can Salsa Verde

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Mix

1/3 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro

3/4 cup sour cream

3/4 cup mayo

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 tsp coarse salt

1 Tbls fresh lime juice

1/4 tsp Tabasco Sauce

Put in a blender and blend away.  If it's too thick, add either buttermilk or milk to reach desired consistency.  This is very similar to Cafe Rio's Ranch Dressing so you can also use this as a dressing for salads or make extra and serve with the baked enchiladas.

Burritos

6 burrito size tortillas

shredded cheese

1- 15 oz can black beans, drained

rice, recipe above

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Put rice, beans, chicken and cheese in the tortillas; roll up and place in pan.  Pour sauce on top, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Remove foil, top with more cheese and cook for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Serve with sour cream, salsa and chips. Enjoy!

Happy First Day of Spring!

I'm so happy Spring is officially here.  It started out cloudy and rainy today but has turned into a sunny albeit cold and blustery afternoon.  I'm really looking forward to the longer, warmer days just ahead and you know what comes after Spring?!  Summer!!  Hooray!!!  Good times are just ahead.  :)

Bangs

Today, I found Winston in the bathroom combing his hair.  He was combing it forward and kept combing and combing.  He's decided he wants bangs.  Despite my assurance that it would take time for his hair to grow longer, he insisted that combing his hair would make it grow faster. I found him in there combing his hair several more times throughout the day. His determination is commendable.  I love the way he thinks.  :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here's a few Irish sayings in honor of today.  :)

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go. -- Irish Blessing


As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!  -- Irish Saying