Menu Monday...and it's autumn, and a pie recipe!

Hi.  I have to confess, I didn't stick to our menu last week...I made a few of the things on the menu but not on the right days.  We had a busy week, and our schedule looks even crazier this week so I am going to create a very "loose" menu this week that can be changed as needed.  This week we have parent teacher conferences, and I'm watching kiddos for friends on at least 3 of the 5 days this week.  I have also been working at the church on Friday mornings, so this week looks a little wild on the calendar!  It's hard to believe September is almost over...this month has gone by so quickly!  Our September's are usually still pretty warm, but we have had some nice cooler days recently and it's been so wonderful. 

We had such a good weekend.  Kris's parents came over for a visit before Friday night's football game, and we were able to visit and get in some hugs and kisses.  Kris's mom also brought me a cookbook that I had put a couple of recipes in from their church...it looks like it is packed with yummy recipes...can't wait to try some!  Saturday we worked out in the yard, mowing, trimming trees and shrubs, and we even cleaned out the guttering...and by "we" I mean Kris...ha, ha!  I actually did the mowing and he did the rest!  He worked hard this weekend!  Saturday evening we built a fire and had hotdogs and s'mores.  It was really nice to just be home all together getting things done. 



Yesterday we went to church, had lunch, and everyone took naps or had quiet time...it was so wonderfully quiet in our house!  I also tried my hand at making chocolate cream pies...from scratch...and they turned out so good!

 

Basic Cream Pie

(from Peggy Smith)

 

1 c. sugar

3 heaping Tbsp. cornstarch

dash of salt

2 eggs, separated

1/4 c. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. milk

 

In a large microwave safe bowl, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt.  Add milk and egg yolks; mix well.  Place in microwave on high for about 12 minutes, stirring and scraping the sides of the bowl every 3 minutes until mixture thickens.  Remove from microwave and stir in butter and vanilla until smooth. 

You can add anything to this basic filling, 1/2 c. coconut, a mashed banana, or 1/2 c. pineapple.  For chocolate pie, reduce sugar to 3/4 cup and add 3 heaping Tbsp. cocoa powder...so delicious!  Pour into baked pie shell and top with beaten egg whites if desired.  (I popped mine back in the oven for about 10 minutes to brown the peaks of the egg whites!) 

 

 

And last but not least, our menu plan for this week:

Tonight:  Creamy white chili and cornbread

Tuesday:  The Big Enchilada (we didn't have a chance to have this last week)

Wednesday:  Dinner at church!

 Thursday:  Fajitas and rice

Friday:  Pizza Rolls and fries (keeping it real!) 

Saturday:  Sloppy Joe sliders for lunch, Cheeseburger soup in bread bowls for dinner!