Chocolate Fudge Pie

I get the Real Simple magazine (I don't know why because I never ordered it but I'm not one to ask questions) and I found a great recipe that I'm going to try for a chocolate fudge pie. Ryan's birthday is on November 4th and I've made him birthday cakes in the past but this is different and sounds like fun.

I will come back to this post when I buy an electric mixer (handheld, I don't bake enough to buy a $300 mixer) and will have my own pics. I need this post as a reference if my magazine disappears.

Serves 8

Hands-On Time: 20m

Total Time: 4hr 00m

Ingredients

Basic Flaky Piecrust

or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, plus more shaved for topping

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

3 large eggs

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
 
Directions


1.Heat oven to 375º F. Place the pie plate on a baking sheet. Prick crust with a fork and line with foil. Fill to top with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are firm, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake until just golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

2.Reduce oven temperature to 325º F. In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter.

3.Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, salt, and ½ cup of the sugar until fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Fold a third of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remainder.

4.Pour the combined mixture into the crust and bake until puffed and beginning to crack, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for 1 hour, then chill.

5.Beat the cream with the remaining sugar until soft peaks form. Spread over the pie and sprinkle with the shaved chocolate.

Update on 11/4/09

Super easy to make and delicious!

Procrastination

I "deep cleaned" the house Thursday night so I could relax during this weekend.

There is now no excuse for me to not be working on the coffee table that I am refinishing. When we were furniture shopping I could not find a single coffee table that I liked anywhere. I have a modern but comfortable style. I decided to try to salvage Ryan's "bachelor pad" coffee table because the shape is fine (and free) but it needs some revamping.

I sanded it down as best as I could and it's been sitting in the garage ever since. I've already bought all the paint and I'm just a little bit intimidated by trying out a crackle finish for the first time.

Time to get off this couch and work on it.

Will update with pics.

Eventually.

Before

After sanding and applying the base coat of a flat red

I'll be waiting for this to dry until tomorrow before I can continue. I've never used a crackle paint before. Actually, I've never painted anything besides walls before so this is brand new to me with no guarantees. I'm hoping for the shabby/chic look so even if something goes horribly wrong, it might just look like it was done on purpose.

To be continued...

Crackle = disaster. The only thing that ended up "crackled" after today would be my hands and I think that only happened because humans have fingerprints.

I'm sure it was more user-error than anything.

The good news is, the table looks shabby chic alright. It almost looks intentional.

I'm waiting for everything to completely dry and by tomorrow I'll put the clear coat(s) on and take a picture when it's all finished.

One of a kind for sure.

Just wanted to add that I actually DO like it. It's not what I was expecting but it almost looks planned. It must not be too awful because although I got a big DENIED when I asked (jokingly) if I could paint the piano next, Ryan did say we should start going to thrift stores so I can tackle some more projects.

I do enjoy these things. I have an artsy fartsy side that I can't deny. Early 20's and then motherhood put that on hold but I've always been into creativity.

11-3-2009

UPDATE!

The coffee table is "finished" and has been serving it's intended purpose since the weekend. I've finally gotten a chance to take some pictures (at night and indoors so excuse the terrible quality). I'm even waiting for Ryan's birthday pie to finish baking in the oven. Procrastination no more.

I started to get so angry when the paint wasn't working you can see my frustrated brush strokes but that's ok. Made it quite the original and originality = special.

First piano lesson

Finally! After being with Ryan for over 3 years he has finally decided to air out the keys on his piano. This is only the third time I've heard him play. The first time was a fluke and very short occasion. The second time was after much much much begging from my family when we flew up to Mass last Christmas.

I even told him about the theory of classical music having a positive impact on a baby's intelligence ever since pregnancy. Zero effect.



Take 2



And there is one more I will post when it's done uploading. I deserve this after the hundreds of times I've dusted this piano over the years.

All about YOU during pregnancy

A thought crossed my mind earlier today about my favorite things I bought for MYSELF during pregnancy.

Maternity Underwear from Motherhood

An absolute must would have to be maternity undies. I'm not referring to the super large granny panty style either. I have no idea what they do to those to make them so comfortable but I think it's strange that they don't make regular undies as comfortable as those are. I'm guilty of wearing them well past pregnancy. A good year past pregnancy to be completely honest. I still have some pairs left over from my pregnancy with Bryson and some new pairs that are washed and ready to be worn for next time.

http://www.motherhood.com/maternity/panties.asp

My favorite kind is the boyshorts but I think they call them hipsters on their site.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion

Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion. I really believe stretchmarks are mostly caused by genetics and lifestyle. There are some things you just can't control. But there is no need to feel that terrible itchy feeling all across the bottom of a huge belly that you cannot even see anymore when you look down. Pregnancy is all about finding comfort. It's very soothing to put on especially after a long shower.

Palmer's can be found at any drugstore. Of course I realized after a few trips to CVS it's actually located in the BABY aisle, not the aisle with body lotions and creams.

Snoogle Body Pillow

The snoogle became a third body in our bed, right smack in the middle, from very early on in my pregnancy. I LOVED this thing. I flattened it out to the point that it had to be tossed a couple of months after having Bryson. It was a sad ending to a loving relationship as I shoved it down the trash chute to the dumpster below. I was still up all hours of the night, especially towards the end, but for the hours in between I really believe this pillow made the difference.

It looks ridiculous but it is amazing. When you are off balance, have horrible heartburn, gain 60 pounds, and spasms in the 7th month that make you immobile, (wait maybe this is just about myself, for the sake of humanity I  hope so) this is a lifesaver. Mine was a purplish pink and the cover comes off and is washable. The Snoogle can be found here.

Ginger Ale

I've always associated ginger ale with being sick. I guess in a way pregnancy is like an illness. It's not terminal though and there is a deadline. This seemed to be the only thing that could soothe my stomach. Of course I began by drinking the regular kind and have my midwife tell me months later I need to start drinking the diet because I was gaining too much weight. Diet tasted just the same, it just never occured to me to be drinking that instead. Learned for the next round.

There are many more little things that made the experience easier. Monthly pedicures, a husband willing to rub your feet every once in awhile, a maternity massage, fulfilling the craving for salad... not just any salad. Outback Steakhouse salad! Tums. Floating around weightless in a pool. Naps. Napping got me through the 1st trimester. I often wonder what the next time is going to be like. I don't have the luxury of being a first time mom the next time around. I will have a very mobile toddler and a puppy to keep my hands full.

Enjoy the sleeping first time moms. Appreciate every second of your snoogle with the ginger ale at arm's reach because once that baby is here, it's a lifetime of never enjoying sleep ever again.

Life becomes staying up all hours of the night with a newborn. Staying up all hours of the night with a 10 month old that's teething and decided sleep isn't necessary. Nightmares and "afraid of the dark" nights. Staying out way past curfew in high school while you wait, reading a book or magazine for the distraction. Sending them off to college where they NEVER call you.

I didn't think of the long term sleep deprival (the rest of my days) until after my son was born. I should have slept every minute I had the chance when I was young and single. If a little sleep deprivation is the main cost of raising beautiful and wonderful children, then so be it.

Clinique 3-Step Skin Care

If there is anything to splurge on, it would have to be with the products you cleanse and moisturize your face with.

I was a huge fan of tanning and can't begin to imagine what my face will look like in 50 years. I almost never used to moisturize. That was saved for extra dry skin caused by a sunburn.

Now that 30 is approaching, I'm taking extra care to keep my face and neck well taken care of.

This is what I use on a daily basis. It isn't overly drying, the moisturizer isn't too oily, and the toner makes my face feel just the right amount of tight. The wash also foams.

I bought this set at Sephora when I was in NYC but it is also available on here.

Fried cauliflower

This is a recipe that my stepmother shared with me that was something her mother used to make.

No, this is not healthy.

One head of cauliflower, broken into small florets
One egg (more if needed, I know I am messy with this)
One container of Italian bread crumbs
Vegetable oil

I usually start by organizing my little stations. I'll fill up a large pan with water for boiling the cauliflower pieces. Let that heat up to a boil. Add a touch of salt to the water.

I use one bowl for my egg(s) that I scramble and another bowl for my breadcrumbs. I also get a plate ready with some paper towels on top.

Add the cauliflower to the pan and let them boil until they are tender, but not too soft so that they break apart. Less than 10 minutes should do.

Heat up a pan of oil on the stove.

After the cauliflower cools down I'll dip each cauliflower piece into the egg, completely coated. From the egg it moves on to the breadcrumbs, again completely coated.


I'll do just a few pieces at the time. After they are coated, I throw them in the pan with the oil. While those are cooking, I continue on with the next few with the egg and breadcrumb mixtures.

I like them to get to a nice crispy brown color. Throw them onto the papertowels and move on to the next pieces.

At the end I usually take the rest of the bread crumbs and egg (that will have a little bit of cauliflower pieces that have broken off inside of it) and that will be the last part that I cook. Leaves nothing wasted and the last scraps are delicious.

These are absolutely delicious! I am a huge Ketchup person so when I am finished I grab a plate of a few, add some Ketchup to the side, and dip them in that before I eat them. This part, of course, is optional. I promise it tastes good though!

I'm actually making this later tonight and will add a picture.

I wanted to add that I made this from a HUGE head of cauliflower. It actually took me 4 eggs scrambled to coat all of the florets. The leftovers are just as tasty when reheated in the toaster oven.

VS body and bath oil

I bought this body and bath oil on Sunday at Victoria's Secret. Love it! I took a bath last night and it really made my skin soft and smell great. I think it was a little pricey considering it's only from VS but I've never used anything like this before.

This scent smells so great. I originally ended up in the store because I had two coupons for free panties plus $10 off your purchase. I got the underwear, another pair of sweatpants (another favorite!) and this oil.