 Boy, today started out a little iffy as our whole area was covered in a thick fog that froze onto everything it touched. The trees were beautiful displays of crystaline branches, sparkling when a tiny ray of sun would peek through the pea soup. Driving was a real adventure as bridges turned into skating rink surfaces and a two foot visability made one feel like one could run into the back of another car at any moment. The news said that we had over 100 collisions in Oklahoma City, but fortunately, the only things hurt were the bumpers, hoods and rear ends of numerous vehicles. Valentine’s Day is almost over and I figured it would be the perfect day to announce the results of our Pie Baking drawing. I hope all have had a wonderful day. Poor Mr. Fix-It was so pleased with himself for ordering me something special (I suspect chocolate-covered strawberries) that was guaranteed to be delivered on Valentine’s Day only to wind up pacing the floor all afternoon as nothing came. I think somebody must have hijacked the truck and had a feast themselves!! I think he deserves an “A” for effort and a refund, don’t you? And yes, I DID see the invoice so it’s no “gotta keep myself outta the doghouse” story!! There are always photo and comedy routine opportunities made available on this holiday, but today provided a chuckle for me. In the village-style mall at Midwest City, there was a line of men who were shivering in the 35º cold, wrapped all the way around one of the buildings at noon today. Following the end of the line to the beginning revealed anxious males waiting their turn to enter the Incredible Edibles store. I’m thinking that 12 noon on Valentine’s Day is a little late to be expecting a floral-like centerpiece of fruit for one’s lady love!! Anyway, for the last three weeks, we have been gathering names and email addresses of everyone who has commented on posts over that time, and put them into a most appropriate vessel in order to hold a drawing. We had 86 entries for the chance for two winners.  I figured that a lead crystal ice bucket would serve nicely to give us that hoity-toity, high-society, Okie prairie feel and so all names were tossed into that, to be drawn yesterday, February 13th.  Of course, it snowed for added drama and so, with wood stove burning and Jack Frost doing cartwheels outside, I manipulated the most objective and non-partisan culprit I could find – Mr. Fix-It – to choose our winners. Doesn’t Mr. Fix-It have a handsome arm? 🙂  The two winners chosen were Penny and Cindy (who signs herself as Herdog) and both have been notified. It’s kinda exciting getting to do that!! Both are very excited to receive their gift boxes and were pleasantly surprised at the last minute addition of an Oklahoma Pastry Clothâ„¢ to go with their pie tin sets and “First Out” pie spatula.  Cindy is very excited to share her prize with her grandchildren. She sent us a photo to include. Look at those gingerbread houses!! Are they not adorable? Congratulations Cindy. And congratulations to you, Penny. Your boxes are on the way!! And to everyone else, stay tuned!! There is a new giveaway coming up in March!!  |
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Posts Tagged ‘First Out Pie Spatula’
Giveaway Winners
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
Thanksgiving 2010
Saturday, November 27th, 2010
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Thanksgiving is over – it was wonderful for us – and time to move on to the next big meal at Christmas! I think that this time of year is measured as time between meals or maybe, as pounds gained? Whatever, the food just seems to taste better during the 37 or so days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. While it appears that everywhere from Colorado to Idaho to California experienced a freezing, snowy Thanksgiving, those of us in sunny Oklahoma felt some nippy temps but still had trees with painted leaves as a background, through the window, to our massive dinner spread.  We enjoyed a houseful of guests, four of whom sported guitars, and so a lovely day was spent eating and then listening to the soulful strains of Hank William’s “So Lonesome I Could Cry”, the harmony of gospel songs and the catchy beat of the eldest son’s original creations. Having two professional musicians in the family, along with a whole slew of amateurs makes for a toe tapping, knee slapping concert whenever we all get together. Our dinner consisted of the usual turkey, oiled up and totally covered with smoked paprika, baked in a separate roaster for a much more tender, juicy bird. Cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn on the cob, 7 layer salad and my pasta salad (recipe follows) accompanied the bird of the hour. Just for the heck of it, I decided to see what everybody had to say about the sauerkraut and so I sliced up smoked sausage and baked that on a bed of the kraut. If I may brag, everyone went nuts over it and several ended up carrying home a jar! Yay. I suppose I’ll have to find cabbage at 10 lbs for $1 again and get busy.  I have to admit to a huge, red-faced mistake, however, before I give you my recipe for a pasta salad. My favorite pie in the whole world is pecan pie. I am a terrible American because I can’t stand pumpkin pie. However, because I love my family I do make a pumpkin pie each year and I generously let them have every single bite! For the pie cook, one of the kitchen utensils that we carry at the Oklahoma Pastry Clothâ„¢ store is the First Slice Out Pie Spatula and it is the handiest little thing. It is placed into the pie plate and then the pie shell is placed on top of it. Once the pie is filled and covered, it is baked and the first slice out is easily achieved by cutting around the spatula and just lifting it up.  Sounds brilliant, right? Well, it is – that is unless a runny, sticky, custard pie filling and large, glass pie plate are involved. It works like a charm for apple or cherry or such in a standard pie tin, but a pecan pie is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish. Well, not that pecans and fish have anything in common. Bad metaphor. Never mind. Anyway, it seems that when the sticky, gooey mess that is pecan pie filling is poured into the shell, if there is ANY kind of crack in the crust, some of it WILL seep under the pie shell at the edge where the spatula and crust meet. The baked result is a pie spatula that is adhered to the pie pan with the strength of Super Glue. I sheepishly pried under the spatula with a knife to no avail to get that first slice out and everyone gathered around to watch me battle with my genius utensil, each giving their own suggestions based on obviously more engineering know-how than I possessed. Finally, my dear son-in-law who is so smart, took the knife from my feverish fingers and gently rocked the spatula back and forth until, with a great sucking sound, it lifted off of the surface of the pie pan, bringing strings of oozing mess with it. He popped the mess into his mouth and announced that it tasted like taffy candy. Lovely. My pie was a dug-out disaster, but it tasted like taffy! It may have been the ugliest pie at the buffet, but it DID taste good. So word of warning: The pie spatuala works best in a standard pie pan and make sure that your crust is thick and perfect if you are going to use a custard filling!  Our Thanksgiving Day was just that – a day of thanks. However, for us here at the Oklahoma Pastry Clothâ„¢ homestead, every single day is a day of thanks for all that God has provided and for the strength and wisdom He offers. There is good in every situtation, no matter how bad it may look to us. Growth can always be had if one will focus on what God is teaching rather than what the circumstances seem on the surface. We pray that, for you all, this time is one of love, joy and personal growth. 1 1/2 cups uncooked pasta 2 tsp olive oil 3 stalks celery 1/2 cup sliced carrots 1 small head broccoli cut up 1/2 med. onion chopped 1/2 cup black olives, chopped or sliced 1/4 cup green olives, chopped or sliced 1/2 c. mayonnaise (light or fat free is fine) 2 tbsp + 1 tsp sugar 3 tbsp vinegar 1/4 cup any type Italian salad dressing 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp oregano        |
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