Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

Last night I was looking for recipes for a pumpkin pie (something with a little more umpph than the Libby's can recipe). I stumbled across one that used apple butter (which I altered). I just so happened to have my own homemade apple butter handy, and the combo sounded pretty good. It came out quite lovely. The apple butter is very distinguishing in the pie, almost overpowering the pumpkin, but it's really good. So here's pretty much what I used:

Pie:
1 cup canned pumplin
1 cup apple butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 eggs, beaten
1 can evaporated milk
1 pie crust (I like the kind you unroll & put in the deep dish pan)

Streusal topping:
3 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

I mixed together the apple butter, pumpkin, spices, and brown sugar. Then I added the eggs and milk and baked for about an hour. Then I mixed the streusal topping together & added it on top & baked for another 20 minutes. Yum! I really like the streusal topping better than a crust or no topping.

Happy Birthday Dad & Nathan!

13 years ago today, my nephew Nathan was born on my Dad's 50th birthday. Happy birthday to Nathan & Dad!

I took pictures of my Christmas tree this morning. The theme is purple, silver, and gold. So pretty! Last year we chopped down a pretty cedar tree but they are very prickly & the limbs don't hold heavy ornaments well. So this year we went with the hardy fake tree.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

I have spent the last 37 years of my life avoiding this movie. I don't like horror movies. I've heard that it's very unique & interactive at midnight showings (at least years ago when they used to show it). It came on cable on Friday night. Wow. What a freaky weird movie. It was not at all a horror movie, but more like a freak show. I had no idea about the sexual content or homosexual undertones throughout the movie. Definitely not one for kids. I can see how it would be fun to be in the theater & do the interactive parts. I did jump up & do part of the dance in my living room. Vince did not join me...he just laughed.

Christmas Tree!

This weekend while Vince worked on the cars replacing burned out bulbs, I got the 10 foot tall Christmas tree put together. Vince helped me a few times when I could reach something even using the ladder. It looks great! I know a lot of you are thinking "it's not even Thanksgiving." But to me, these holidays are just way too close together to really enjoy a full time of Christmas decorations. Plus I've spent a lot of money over the years on these decorations and want to see them for more than just 3 weeks. I don't know how some people put up a tree on Christmas Eve. All that work for just one day.

I haven't put the lights up on the bushes outside. I hope to get to it sometime this week. I did have one strand that didn't light up this year. That's not bad out of the 8 or 9 strands I used on the tree. I did have one bulb that was burned out & the glass part was missing. I grabbed the little strands sticking out so I could pull it out & replace it. Let's just say that when you do that with them plugged in, you will get a slight shock & it will burn your finger & turn the little spot white that was touching the bulb.

On Saturday night, we went to eat Mexican. When we arrived, it was packed. I've never seen it so busy. It was karaoke night! There were a lot of people on the list so we didn't sing anything. Everyone either sang old country songs I've never heard of or High School Musical songs that the pre-teens sang. It was a fun night & I'm sure we'll go back.

Last night we watched Transformers 2. Good movie. Lots of action. Speaking of movies, my brother-in-law gave us a whole collection of the Star Gate series. I watched the pilot episode and episode 1 this weekend. It's pretty good so far.

Estate Sale

I went to my first ever estate sale this morning. I think a lady died. I heard someone say she never married so a lot of the unused items were from her trousseau. I left my house around 6:35am & got to Boiling Springs at 6:59am. It started at 7am. There were already 20 cars there. They advertised Wilton cake pans & tons of other things. I barely looked in the garage & then headed in the house.

I found all the Wilton pans right there in the front room. They were priced like new ($8 - $15). I can get them at Michael's for $12 plus 40% off with their weekly coupon. So I looked for vintage ones. I found one....a Smurf! He was really cute and only $8. Most vintage ones go for $30 - $50 on eBay. I also got a punch bowl set for $3 and a couple of small cookbooks for $0.10.

And then I found the mason jars for my jams & jellies, only they were the larger quart size. She had 4 huge boxes of them. Drat! If only they were pint. So I bought all the lids (since they fit both sizes) for $3. Not a bad haul for $14.40. I was at work around 7:35am.

Overall, I think eBay has better prices, but it was fun to rummage around someone's house. I really wanted a few things (like the $100 never used rotisserie or the antique sewing machine & table), but they were a bit over priced & they only took cash. They had lots of items to sell - tons of pots, pans, dishes, utensils, etc. The most unique item almost got stolen. As I waited in line to check out, the couple 2 people in front of me were trying to negotiate for an old newspaper. She wanted to pay $1. The man wanted $50. She said no, but she kept it in her stash. Another girl had to come take it from her before she walked out the door with it. I found out it was the newspaper that came out the day Elvis died with his picture on it. I bet they could get some good money for that on eBay.

Random Noises

It drives me crazy if I'm in a car and hear something rubbing against something or a clicking sound that shouldn't be there. The same holds true lately at work with weird noises. We have had an empty row next to our row for some time and got spoiled with the quietness Then a month or so ago, a team of folks moved in. They are so noisy.


1. They don't know the meaning of silent mode for cell phones. I've heard many annoying ring tones lately. It wouldn't be so bad if they answered the phone, but they usually go off to a meeting & leave their cell phone on their desk. And whoever calls them does so at least twice in a row to make sure they know they called. Although, the Mario Brothers game ring tone was funny (the first 2 times).


2. Whistling. Whistling non-sensical melodies that aren't even a song, just to be blowing air through your lips. It's like listening to off tune karaoke with no music. I do however, like Andy Griffith or songs I know that are whistled.

3. Ok I don't really have a number 3, but since I made a list I feel like I needed more than 2 points.

This week has been back to routine for Vince & I. The trip to TN was nice, but too quick. I'm ready for a much longer vacation. I'll be glad when my vacation days start over in January so we can go somewhere for a long vacation....preferably somewhere tropical.

Brock & Stacey's Reception

The Leslie Family

Stacey''s friends and adopted family

Aunt Linda's side of the family

Uncle Robert's family takes a quick picture

The first dance

Since I had so many pictures to upload, it's easier if I just make multiple blogs about this wedding occasion. These are the reception pictures. They had a huge tent with lots of round tables under it. Aunt Linda made most of the food which included roasted pork, potato casserole, quiches, rolls, and prosciutto wrapped asparagus. She ordered two types of cake: chocolate and coconut with pineapple filling. Everything was great. The hot apple cider was greatly needed to fight the chill.