Halloween Pie

To me, cooler weather not only means cute boots & scarves, it means pie. Lots of pie. Last year I made the most dang-amazing S'mores Pie. So here's another take on that, but with a pumpkiny twist:

Halloween Pie

• Graham cracker crust (I suppose you could make your own... but the store bought kind works great)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows (did you know its mAllows not mEllows?)
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice (in the spice section there really is such a thing - but just cinnamon would work too)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1. In a medium saucepan, melt over medium heat pumpkin puree, marshmallows, & pumpkin spice (until the marshmallows are completely melted and its all smooth - careful not to let it burn!) Then put it in the fridge and let it cool for about an hour.
2. While the pumpkin mixture is cooling, melt the chocolate chips & 1/3 cup of heavy cream in the microwave (heat it for about 15 secs a time, constantly stirring) Pour the chocolate mixture (called ganache) into the bottom of the pie crust & let cool in the fridge.
3. Once the pumpkin mixture is cool, mix it up real good so its slightly fluffy. Using a mixer, whip the 1 cup of heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks (whipped cream!). Then gently fold the cream into the pumpkin mixture - don't over mix it, just gently blend it together.
4. Spoon the pie filling into the pie crust on top of the chocolate ganache and let it set for a couple of hours.

Viola! All done! You could get really creative, like make a jack-o-lantern face with chocolate chips or put another layer of ganache on top of the pumpkin filling... Or you could just eat it for breakfast like I did.

 

What I have recently learned

If you have a filling that needs to be refilled, and it happens to be on the very back most upper right tooth, they will most likely give you Novocain (so you can't eat or let alone speak right for the entire afternoon). It won’t hurt too badly and the whole dental visit won’t last too long, but it MAY numb the entire right side of your face, up to and including your eye. Then you might have a mini-panic attack fearing that your face will be stuck like this for your wedding day.

If you put on a cute dress and snap a picture of it to send to your fiance to remind him that this was the dress you were wearing when you met just to document, your dog MAY think you’re an idiot and ask you what you’re doing.

If you find a great deal on Groupon like I did, a 12-pack of racerback tank tops for uber cheap, your fiancé MAY think you have a tanktop problem when you squeal with delight as he brings the package inside after checking the mailbox.

If you’re obsessed like monograms and you check out this site, you MAY feel tempted to change your iPhone lock screen every day.

If you go to Publix and find they have awesomely perfectly round big ol’ pumpkins for sale you’ll probably buy one to put on the fireplace to make your home feel fall festive.

But you MAY forget that your dog, likeyou, has a fond taste of all things pumpkin and may take a little nibble. And by little nibble, eat the pumpkin like an apple.

Also, don't you like how my first reaction to bad news is that Bo ate something?

I just can't turn off my brain!

M.E. tells me all the time to just "Turn it off, turn off that brain." But I can't!! Maybe that's why I like lists so much, because they help me organize my thoughts and make me feel a little more productive... So Tuesdays will be my list days, I hope you're as excited as I am.

Five things I'll be doing over the next week:
One. Going to the Dollar Store to find things to craft with – its Fall ya’ll and I need to decorate the house/my office.

Two. Saturday’s FSU football game is on TV, which means air conditioning and a comfy couch. Don’t get me wrong, I will tailgate in all kinds of conditions, because I am a real fan. But a big screen tv and a bowl of chips and dips in your lap is pretty sweet.

Three. Getting our passport pictures taken! Or we will not be going on our honeymoon.

Four. I will be attending my first Barre class ever on Friday. This is what a barre class is. I’m very curious to see if I’ll be bad as I think I will.

Five. Making Enchilada Soup in the crockpot. Because its crockpot season!

Four things I can’t stop obsessing over:

Boot socks.

Halloween decorations.

 These candles.

 Something pink for our Paint the Town Pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! (October)

Three wedding updates: 

1. Why are choosing a way to display table numbers so hard?

2. Why did I decide to put my poor fingers through the process of making a brooch bouquet? 

3. Kegs or bottles?

Two things I am beyond pumped for:
Uno. Payday. This last paycheck has been streeeeetched to its limits what with the dentist and the car accident!

Dos. To get my hair did, maybe next week? Maybe darker? Maybe not? We will see!

One thing that's currently bothering me:
My sinuses. My poor poor sinuses. We have been getting awful weather for the past couple of days and its brought on my bi-annual sinus infection. Ugh!

Listing back into things

I know you're expecting me to start this post out by saying I'm baaaack! and going into about how busy I've been. But instead, I'm giving you some lists, enjoy and just be happy I'm back! 

Five things I'll be doing over the next week:

Uno. Celebrating Meghann’s 26^th birthday! My bestie since the 4^th grade! We’re having a brunch at her lakehouse Saturday morning and I plan on making a fancy shmancy birthday cake.

Two. Picking out M.E.’s wedding tux! He promised we’d go on Friday, I can’t wait to see what he’ll be wearing the day I marry him!

Tres. Moooooore FSU football! Go Noles!

Four. “Stemming” vintage brooches for my brooch bouquet. Have to do it in sessions cause it hurts mah fingers.

Cinco. Getting a filling refilled because as of right now I have a huge hole in my tooth. 

Four things I need to purchase: 

1. Birthday cake ingredients.

2. Sperrys. I need some Sperrys! I need some Sperrys for Gamedays!

3. Our passports or we won’t be going very far for our honeymoon.

4. New leggings. I guess I thought I was being clever and put my old ones in a drawer somewhere for summer... and now I can’t seem to find them...

Oh Sperry Gods, these are the ones I need!

Three shows I can't wait to have back in my life: 

Newsroom. Even though the season just ended. But the season finale of your favorite show is so heartbreaking!

American Horror Story. Its not Fall until that show is on to freak you out.

Parenthood. Because once a week I just need a good cry!

 

Two reasons I'm excited for Fall: 

1. Skinny jeans/leggings & boots. & sweaters. & scarves.

2. ALL OF THE PUMPKIN SPICE THINGS! More specifically, lattes, beer, cookies/cakes/donuts/pies. Don’t roll your eyes, I love them.

 One thing that's currently bothering me: 

Well I got my car back yesterday! After driving the Challenger around for a week I was glad to have my baby back! But I have to bring her back in today because the right blinker isn’t working... Also, its really hard to save money for a wedding when your car & your tooth are falling apart!

Although my rental car was pretty fly...

Dear November 2012,

Here are all of the things I am expecting from you, in no particular order:

• The fair - Can't wait for some fried foods!! And the petting zoo. And the rickety rides. And walking down the strip holding boyfriends hand.
• Thanksgiving - Family and fooooood! and a 4 day weekend!
• Breaking Dawn: Part 2 - We've bought our tickets, now we need matching pjs and something to sneak our wine in
• Black Friday - SHOPPING.
• FSU/UF football game - In Tallahassee this year, get pumped!
• The greek food festival - More delicious food with boyfriend
• Holiday spirit - Officially allowed the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday. House decorating and Christmas music playing!
• Veteran’s Day - 3 day weekend!
• Election - I'm excited to see who our next president will be! And I'm even more excited for all of the political ads to be over!

What are you most looking forward to this month?

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear coffee & sudafed,

Thank you for helping me suffer through this sinus infection, even if you make me feel a little cracked out.

What do you use when your sinuses are aching because of the cold Autumn fronts that are sneaking in? I also use a NediPot but I hate water dripping from my nose for an hour later… Gross.

Ouches.

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear BBQ & Pumpkins,

Barbequed pumpkin? Yuck!

Noooo…. Last night boyfriend and I went to Piggy’s BBQ and CHOWED down.

(Not pictured, the best fried okra ever) & let me just say, I can’t believe he ate the whole thing.

Then we went to the Pumpkin Patch at a local church to pick out the perfect one!!

Boyfriend liked the tall ones… I liked the big ones… So we made a compromise J



The cutest boyfriend ever with the perfect pumpkin



And after all the crap I gave about picking a pumpkin with a pretty stem and how it is VERY important NOT to pick it up by the stem… The first thing Bozo does when we get home and place it by the fireplace - he walks up and takes a nibble at the stem's perfect curly-q.

Puppies… can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear fall wreath,

So a couple weeks ago I started this DIY project, then forgot about it... It has been sitting on our dinning room table forever until this morning - when I couldn't sleep any longer and boyfriend was taking his nap after work.

So here it is, my finished fall wreath!

 

It was such an easy, cheap DIY with no glue!

All you need is:

burlap garland (found mine at Michaels)

3 colors of felt

a foam wreath

gold pins

Wrap your foam wreath with the burlap garland, securing on the backside occasionally with the pins. Cut the felt into whatever shape you like (I ended up with this 4 petal flower shape after giving up on trying to cut leaves), and then strategically pin your flower/leaf shape onto your burlap wreath! Easy peasy!

I had some extra garnet ribbon laying around so I simply wrapped it around the blinds inside, and pinned it to the back of my wreath! Again, easy peasy!

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear October of 2012,

Its so great to meet you!

No pressure, but I have some pretty high expectations of the 31 days we will be spending together.

I am hoping to see some cooler weather from you so I can officially wear my boots and sweaters without looking like an idiot in this 90 degree heat.

Also, please continue to bless the Seminoles with this winning streak – it keeps all the men in our lives happy.

And, if you could bring home my friend Lori safely from Europe/Indonesia for that would be spectacular. I haven’t seen her in months and girls’ nights Meg and Lori are very long overdue.

In celebration of October, here is my newest Etsy wishlist:

Lacey White - Boot socks from GraceandLaceCo

Iphone Docking Station by valliswood

Monogram Initails Necklace by KetiSorleyDesigns

Typography Print by StayGoldMedia

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear Pumpkin Spice Creamer,

Yes, it's that time of year. That time of year where I spend ungodly amounts of money at Starbucks on all-things-pumpkin...

BUT NOT THIS YEAR! This year I am making all of my own all-things-pumpkin. So here is the first of many posts of my pumpkin endevours. O-em-gee so delicious.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
(adapted from many recipes I found online and based on what I already had on hand)

3/4 can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cups 2% milk
3 tablespoons canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Combine ingrediants in a container with a cover (I bought mine for $3.50 at Publix!)
• Shake shake shake 'em up and let it sit in the fridge until use. (Make sure you shake it again before using)

Very truly yours, A. Bean

Dear Monday thoughts,

Its Monday. And while I should be doing secretary things, I need to share my inspiration for the week...

1. Pumpkin Spice Creamer
Since I can't seem to find it at my local Publix, I am going to attempt to make my own; for several reasons a) cheaper b) healthier c) I'll have leftover pumpkin puree for something else delicious! (Posting the receipe and review of my creation tomorrow!)

2. Ombre
Call it a fad but I love it. Same goes with the chevron pattern, I love it. I've researched these tights and how to DIY but it seems like a messy process (and Boyfriend has banned me from dying any more clothing in the kitchen...) so I think I may just Etsy these.

 3. HomeGoods

Tallahassee's first HomeGoods opened yesterday. Heaven. 

4. To bang or not to bang?
I have a hair appointment on Thursday because I'm ready for a change! I don't want to loose any length... And I'm almost back to my natural hair color... So I'm thinking bangs?! If I don't like them they'll grow out again, right?? Modeling my thoughts below is a fellow blogger I found on google.

5. Candycorn
Its that time of year and I just can't get enough.

Very truly yours, A. Bean