Wordless Wednesday . . . oops!

I was going to start doing Wordless Wednesday yesterday...but with the holiday and out of town plans, it didn't happen.

This is what the Wordless Wednesday picture was going to be.

Yesterday we went to BP to hang out with the hubby's family and friends. It was 101º and humid as can be. I'm not even sure what the heat index ended up being, but it was disgusting.

We visiting our nephews who had gone to the parade earlier. They had so much candy...so naturally, as a responsible aunt & uncle, we had to help them out with the stash!

Then we grilled out at Wes' brother's. We had cheese stuffed burgers (each burger was 1/2lb....I was miserable for many hours after devouring one), pork, beans...mmm! I do not envy the guys who stood over the two charcoal grills in that heat to prepare this for us. I do thank them, though.

We ended the night by watching the fireworks with Wes' mom.

How was your holiday?

Question: I've been thinking about storing my pictures online instead of purely on my computer (as it is becoming less than reliable). Do you guys store your pictures online? Where? Suggestions...?

Getting Creative . . .

Tis the season!!  With the onset of Pinterest, I have felt quite creative lately.  That's the beauty of Pinterest and the internet in general.  You spend so much time looking at all these SIMPLE and doable DIY projects that you feel creative.  Then, as the holidays get closer, for instance, you realize that you haven't done a single DIY project you pinned.  Doh!  I had come up with so many great ideas and even made my own Christmas DIY Gift Ideas board.  Good intentions pave the road to......

Anyway!  A few weeks ago I found out a local small shop is closing due to retirement after so many amazing years in our community.  All of their knick knacks, candles, etc. were 50% off!!  Wowzer.  This isn't just a local shop, it's right next door to the bank I work at.  Dangerous?  Yes (especially because they have $0.01 Tootie Frooties...yikes!).  So, after my lunch break that day of finding out, I headed over.  $80 later my checking account wasn't happy, but I had pretty much done all of my Christmas shopping!  Wow!  It felt great (ignoring that checkbook nagging at me).  Then I realized...what about those DIY things you found?!  Oh Jenna...you're not crafty after all.

False!  I'm doing them, ladies and gents!  Yes, I purchased most people something over at the shop, but some cute DIY things are still in order!  I can't reveal what all I'll be making from the board, as some that read this will be recipients of said crafts.  ;)

Wednesday I'm having my nieces, Abbie & Sydney, over for a girl's night (long overdue) and we will be making a few of the crafts and then we can wrap them up to give to their mom on Christmas! :)  We will also be baking a cherry cake, possibly frozen pizza, popcorn (of course!), and finding an agreed upon movie on Netflix.  I'm stoked!  I got 90% of the things needed at the grocery store yesterday.  So now all I need are mason jars and some odds and ends that I will pick up before class Monday and we'll be set!

Leftovers. . .

After an amazing Thanksgiving feast at the in-law's, we were sent packing with the remains of a 24lb turkey that our sister made.  It was amazing the first time around, and just as juicy the next day for lunch!!  I quickly realized, though, that even after 10+ people dug into a 24lb turkey, there was going to be way more than Wes and I could handle eating on it's own before it went bad.  So.....I thought about making turkey & noodle (instead of tuna and noodle) casserole.  Then, the light bulb turned on. 

POT PIE!!!!  I hadn't made a pot pie on my own before and had been wanting to.  This was the perfect solution.  I figured I could cram a lot of turkey into a pot pie.  Even better...I could use a 2 quart glass casserole dish instead of a pie plate!!  That would fit tons!!  :)

So, first thing's first; collect meat from bird.

After lotsa cutting, picking, and pulling (ok, and ONE cut finger), this is all of the meat!

Turkey, mushrooms, corn, carrots, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and milk...in a homemade pie crust.  Mmmmmm!!

Top crust added and sides crimped.

It was a big boy!!  Very deep pot pie I had on my hands here.  Sticking in the knife, it hit the bottom with nearly alllll of the blade stuck in!!

It was a big soupy inside, but look at all that vegetably goodness!!

See?!  Stuffffffed to the rim!!

Lessons learned: pre-bake the bottom crust because making a 6" deep pot pie doesn't allow for even cooking - so the bottom crust wasn't properly cooked this way.  Also, before putting the mixture in the crust, I was doubtful, so I added a little more milk (afraid it'd dry up).  I shouldn't have done that.

Othere than those two things, though...I think it turned out pretty darn good!!!!  Lots of veggies crammed into an amazing homemade flaky crust.  I give it an A-.

Thanksgiving Eve. . .

Meal (dessert) preparation in picture form.

Had to make Lemon Bars for my dear Aunt Wendy.

Lemon Bars ready to go into the oven.

Pie crust dough ready to be chilled.

Lemon bars begging to be eaten!!

Counter all cleaned off, ready to bake: marathon style.

Pie crust rolled out and ready!

Pumpkin Pie.

Decor to go on Pumpkin Pie.

Ta da!!

My amazing hubby was kind enough to document me working on Pumpkin Bars.

While the Pumpkin Bars baked and cooled, I started getting everything ready for dressing.  This handy dandy chopper was a life saver.

Thanks to the chopper, 2 cups of onion and 2 cups of celery only took me about 10 minutes!!

Celery, onion, and sage sautéing.

Bread ready for dressing.

Add sautéd celery, onion, sage...and all other seasonings.

Mix well.

Add chicken stock & eggs.

Mix well & put in Crock Pot.  I did mine last night and stored in fridge so that this morning I could just pop it in Crock Pot for 5 hours.

I love my KitchenAid - effortless homemade cream cheese frosting.

There are Pumpkin Bars somewhere under that luscious cream cheese frosting.

The fridge has never been so packed!!

I love baking...but I hate the aftermath.  Ugh!

9pm...lemon bars, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, cream cheese frosting, and dressing done.  I'm whipped!!

Today I still have to make Cherry Pie & Pumpkin Pie Bars.