Granny Skills| Bird's Nest Baby Throw

I made a baby blanket for a friend of mine who is having a baby. I didn't know the gender when I started so I chose gender neutral colors. Turns out she is having a boy. I couldn't be more excited for her! I went out to California for her baby shower. When she opened the gift she said "No you didn't!?!" Then her mom said, "so your the crazy crocheter!" So I am a crazy crocheter I guess. :) I love the way the blanket turned out! So good that I finished one I had started for Ellie. I mean I guess my own daughter should have a blanket made by me. 

Here is the pattern I used: Bird's Nest Baby Throw

The PERFECT Pie crust!

One thing my mom is known for is her amazing pie crust. She currently has about 10 homemade apricot and peach pies packed in the freezer. Of course whenever we come to visit there is a warm pie waiting for us. Usually Jared and I go home together but this time I was alone and thus I ate 3/4 of a pie all by myself within 3 days ("a la mode" of course). Lets just say I gained a few pound while I was home. 

So this pie crust is absolutely amazing. It is flaky and light and melts in your mouth! The recipe comes from a Crisco cookbook that was printed in 1973. Apparently my great grandmother was an amazing baker and inspired my mom to follow in her footsteps. My great grandma gave my mom a copy of this cook book back in the day. Since then my mom has picked up various copies at Goodwill thrift shops. She NEVER passes up an opportunity to buy one. 

At first glance you know this crust is going to be good with a title like "A perfect pastry every time!" Along with the fact of course that this crust is made with CRISCO! 

So there are two recipes: Single Crust OR Double Crust

You would of course use the single crust for things like lemon meringue or pumpkin pie. The double crust for most other fruit pies or even chicken pot pie.

Single Crust
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 Crisco
3 Tablespoons cold water

Combine flour and salt in mixing bowl. Cut in Crisco with a pastry blender (or two forks or knives) until the mixture is uniform. Should be fairly course. Sprinkle with water, a tablespoon at a time and mix with fork. When all water has been added work dough into a firm ball.

Use a pastry cloth or floured board and roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick and 1 1/2 inches larger than the pie plate. The easiest way to transfer the dough from the pastry cloth to the plate is to fold it in half and then place it in the plate and fold it back over. Then trim the edges. Prick the dough with a fork a few times before baking to make sure it doesn't bubble.

To Bake without filling: Bake at 425 for 10-15 min.
With Filling: refer to recipe for specific pie

Double Crust
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Crisco
1/4 cup water

Follow the instructions from above except divide the dough in half before rolling it out. For baking with a double crust follow the baking instructions for whatever pie you may be baking. For example (Apple pie: bake at 400 for 30-40min).

Aspen Grove | Summit Trail Head

"Going to the mountains is going home"

John Muir

My adventure with Miriam and Aaron was so much fun, I took Jared 3 days later. Jared was busy all week preparing and executing the photo booth for the In n Out burger employee picnic. This is the third year he has done it, and it's a pretty good gig. It is a hot and busy two full days but it's great to have the repeat business and free In n Out ALL day!

Needless to say he needed he could use some time in the mountains. We were scouting out some spots for photo shoots and started our hike from the summit trail head up American Fork Canyon. There is a great view of Timp and plenty of aspen trees! Prepare for a picture overload!

Here are the pictures I took with my Nikon D3200

Here is what Jared took with his Nikon D700. I mean seriously his pictures are so good. We were standing the in the same spots with the same settings on our camera! His camera is so nice, I was jealous! Good thing I am married to him and can look at these pictures all the time!

Ready for a snack

Cascade Springs

"The mountains are calling and I must go"

John Muir

Our latest adventures took us up American Fork canyon to Cascade Springs. This place is tucked back into the canyon, I had no idea this place existed.  By far the biggest fresh water spring I have ever seen. This was a very family friendly hike, with paved pathways all the way around. There is an option to go back through Heber/Midway, which we took. It's a dirt road but totally worth the drive, the views were amazing! We had lunch at a great Mexican restaurant in Midway called Tarahumara. It is excellent! Another successful hiking adventure from the Medley/Hone crew! Thanks for letting me tag along Miriam and Aaron!