Making Pie

When it was my dad's birthday, he requested one thing... pie. He asked me to make strawberry rhubarb or blueberry. Apparently our grocery store didn't sell rhubarb (or I couldn't find it since I didn't exactly know what it looked like), but I found some jarred strawberry rhubarb preserves. Since we had two ready-made pie crusts, I also bought a can of blueberry pie filling. I decided to do a crumble topping because I didn't want to have to deal with any fancy designs in the top crust or have to deal with adding the top crust. The crumble topping turned out well and I spruced up the strawberry rhubarb preserves with some fresh sliced strawberries. The outcome? Dad was very happy and enjoyed both pies. As this was my first pie baking experience (other than the frozen and oven ready ones), I would consider this a success! I have included the recipe for the crumble below, just in case you want to try it out on your next pie!

Crumbly Topping

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup quick cooking or rolled oats
• 1/2 cup cold butter

Instructions:

1. Mix the first three ingredients together.
2. Cut the butter into small chunks and add it to the other ingredients.
3. Sprinkle on top of your pie.
4. Bake the pie.

I followed the pie directions on the pie filling. It turned out well! I hope you try it out! 

Love it? Hate it? Want to make it? Let me know what you think with a comment below!

As always...

Bon appétit!

Chicken Satay Skewers

I've spent a couple days on this post. Writing bits here and there. Hopefully it all makes sense...

I am considered alumni. I did it. I graduated! Now I am just waiting for my diploma to arrive in the mail... I had a new experience the other day. I cut up my first pineapple. I cannot tell you how much I have missed fresh pineapple. I kept cutting chunks and eating it. I probably ate at least 1/4 of the pineapple as I cut it up. So much better than canned pineapple. Lately canned pineapple is another thing that I can't stand to eat anymore. Perhaps it is a bit sad, but at the same time it will motivate me to buy fresh more often.

Another interesting thing is that I have never cut up a melon by myself. I do not like any kind of melon. I have tried and re-tried them over and over with the same result; I just don't like melon. My dad seemed surprised when he found out I had never cut up a watermelon. Has he not been listening while over the 22 years of my life I have mentioned that I despise melon more than 50 times? Eh... whatever. I guess I will see how that goes. I think I am the only person in this house who doesn't like melon.

Other than that, life is life. Busy with "mom" duties that I've been given. Always interesting. On to the chicken! This chicken is called "chicken on a stick" in our household. 

Chicken Satay Skewers (from Concetta's Cafe blog)

Ingredients:
· 1 cup creamy peanut butter, melted (microwave for 30 seconds or so)
· 1 cup water
· 1/2 cup soy sauce
· 8 garlic cloves, minced
· 6 Tbsp. lemon juice
· 4 Tbsp. brown sugar
· 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
· 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
· 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions:

1. If you are using skewers, start soaking them in water. They need to soak for 20 minutes so they won't catch on fire! 
2. Combine all of the ingredients besides the chicken in a saucepan. 
3. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
4. Cut your chicken into 1 or 1.5 strips.
5. Thread the chicken strips onto the skewers. Each skewer can have anywhere from 1 - 4 pieces of chicken. Make your best judgement. 
6. Brush the chicken skewers with the sauce on both sides. Save extra sauce for dipping.
7. If making inside: Broil for 2 minutes; turn and brush with peanut butter sauce. Continue turning and basting for 4-6 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. 

         If grilling: Grill for a couple minutes on each side or until chicken is no longer pink on the             

         inside. Brush with extra sauce as you grill if you would like, or just save it for dipping.

Overall, this dish was a hit. My mom said it was perfectly spicy for my brother and sister, but she wanted a little more heat. I thought it was spicy enough for me. My brother liked the chicken, but he ate his with steak sauce, like he does with most of his meat. I will never really understand his usage of ketchup and steak sauce... But definitely try out this recipe for your family if you like spicy peanut noodles. Delish!

We served these skewers with corn on the cob and some rice. 

Love it? Hate it? Want to make it? Let me know what you think with a comment below!

As always...

Bon appétit!

Silk Fruit and Protein

Wow, the time went by fast on Thursday! I was just packing and doing laundry then BOOM! I noticed the clock said 12:15 am! Yikes! I have a lot of my room packed up, which is kind of sad. Strange to think I won't be back on campus in the fall. Instead, I will hopefully be working at an awesome job and prolly still with the 'rents. Graduation is Sunday. It totally hasn't sunk in yet. Eep.

 I wanted to do a quick review because I promised a post and I know this weekend will be super busy. The funny thing is, I wouldn't know that Silk Fruit and Protein exists if we didn't have a coupon for it. I admit, it looks like some pink medicine... but it doesn't taste awful. It's like soy milk mixed with berry flavoring. It isn't awful by itself, but I liked it better when it was in my smoothies. Maybe I will try another flavor and see if I like it better. Maybe.  



The color on the carton is approximately the color of the drink. You can see from the picture on the right that this 
drink has awesome Vitamin C and D, Calcium, 
and Protein. Since it has so much in it, I think it is
great for smoothies or drinking. I still have to
convince myself to drink it plain... 
but it could be much worse!






So what do you think? Will you be adventurous and try it? Will you go hunting for a coupon for it?

Let me know with a comment below!

As always...
Bon appétit!