My grandma's pie crust

My dad's mom taught my mom how to make this pie crust, and my mom taught me.
All you need is:
2 C flour
1 C Crisco
1/4 t salt
some ice cold water


Mix together the salt and the flour. Then add in the crisco using either a fork to cut it in or a pastry blender.


'It should look lie peas' my mom said. I wasn't really sure what that meant, but this was it. Basically you cut in the crisco until it is in small pieces throughout the flour. Then you make a well in the middle of the dough by pushing the dough to the sides. Pour in 1/4 C of the ice cold water. Mix it all together. Continue adding the water by a 1/4 C until it becomes "doughy". I think we ended up using 3/4 cups of water.


This recipe makes about 3 pie crusts, or in this case 2 pie crusts, and 1 smaller pie crust with a crust on top. Divide the dough into three equal amounts.


Place flour down on a pastry sheet or clean counter. Take one of the thirds and put it on top of the flour. Place more flour on top. (Side note: I love this one of my mother's hands working. There is a part in the movie Beaches when Hillary is looking everywhere for a picture of her mother's hands because she can't remember what they look like. That part always made me really sad thinking about my mom being gone one day and missing things about her. I really treasure getting to do these things with my mom.)


Using a rolling pin roll out the dough with about three strokes. Then pick up the dough, place more flour down, flip the dough over, and lay on the flour. Roll out again until flat and thin. Then fold in half.


Place the dough half way in your pie pan.


Unfold and pat into the corners.


Cut off any pieces that are too long. Then taking your index finger and thumb pinch the edges together to make the crinkles around the top.


This one is cherry (obviously). Apparently fruit pies have to have vents to cook, which you can cut open the middle or just some cut outs. Pour a small amount of milk on top of the crust and spread around. Then sprinkle sugar on top. You will bake the pie at different temperatures based on the type of pie it is.
I hope this all makes sense. It was hard to try to get down into measurements and steps a recipe that is passed by word of mouth!

Peanut Butter-Cup Cookies

I made these peanut butter cup cookies from Real Simple tonight and they were really yummy!
Give them a try! Here is a link to the recipe: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/peanut-butter-cup-cookies-00000000021356/

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

First, mix together 4 eggs


1 Cup of unsweetened apple sauce


1 can of pumpkin


1/2 Cup of oil


and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.


In a separate bowl, mix 3 cups of flour


2 t of baking powder and 2 t of baking soda


2 t of cinnamon


and 1 t of salt. Mix this mixture all together.


Then add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture.


Mix together well


Fold in 12 oz of chocolate chips

Bake at 400 for 16-20 minutes.


This made 30 muffins. It is a light recipe and each muffin is 3 WW points. We loved these and didn't think you could tell they were light. They tasted best fresh and just kept for a couple of days. Because there were so many I froze many of them, and have just reheated them the oven at 275 a few at a time for breakfast.

I will definitely make these again!

Snicker Pie

A family friend shared this pie with our family this Summer. I had to get the recipe because snickers are my favorite candy bar and the pie was wonderful!


First mix together: 8 oz of cream cheese, 1 1/2 C of powdered sugar, 1/2 C of peanut butter (either creamy or crunchy)


Then add in 5 finely chopped snickers bars


Mix together


Fold in 16 oz of cool whip


Pour into crust. I used a chocolate ready-made crust. Refrigerate...


And serve! MMmm mmm!

I halved the recipe and just made one pie. I also saved a few of the snickers pieces to put on the top of the pie.

Apple Fritters

My husband's mom makes apple fritters on Christmas morning, and they are so good. She came over this week and taught me how to make them. They are so yummy!


Ingredients: 1 1/4 C flour, 1/4 C of sugar, 3/4 t salt, 1 1/2 t baking powder, 1 t cinnamon, 1/3 c of milk, 1 egg, 1 C chopped apple.


First chop up your apple. We used 2 apples.


Then mix up the rest of the ingredients. 1 1/4 C flour


1/4 C of sugar


3/4 t Salt and 1 1/2 t baking powder


1 t cinnamon


1/3 C of milk


1 egg


Mix everything together


While you are mixing up the ingredients, heat the oil to 375 degrees


Mix in the apples


You will need a bowl with powdered sugar and another one with cinnamon and sugar mixed together


Using spoons, scoop one spoonful of the mixture


Use the other spoon to drop the mixture into the oil


Once dropped into the oil the fritter will float to the top. Cook until brown and then flip over about two minutes on each side.


Transfer briefly to a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil


Roll the fritters in the cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar


And serve! Best eaten warm. Thanks for the fritter lesson! Makes me feel ready for Christmas! :)

Taco Soup

A friend recently gave me this soup recipe to try and it turned out really good.


First brown 1lb of lean ground beef


Chop up an onion and cook while you are browning the meat


Then in large pot add together 1 can of ranch style beans


1 can of pinto beans


1 can of rotel and 2 cans of tomatoes


1 can of corn


1 package of taco seasoning


1 package of ranch seasoning


Add the beef and onions and mix together. Cook on the stove over medium heat until the soup is warmed through and bubbly.


Prepare to eat a very tasty and really filling soup!

This recipe makes around 7 servings. This was calculated to be about 6 WW points a serving. Great topped with some FF cheese and baked tostitos. I divided the extra portions to have for lunches and will freeze some to have for later.