Coconut Custard Pie - Best EVER

Yes, you read that title right.  Best EVER.  And, I do mean ever!  This coconut pie has stood the test of time, & has been passed down 2 generations.  

It originally came from my great grandmother, and calls for just a handful of basic items.  The simple ingredients come together to make a sensual creamy coconut experience. 

You may already have everything you need in the house to make this one.  If you do, what are you waiting for?!  

This recipe yields 2 pies, which is certainly a good thing - because that first pie will be gone in record breaking time.

Coconut Custard Pie

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Ingredients:

• 5 eggs
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 14oz coconut
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

Instructions:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

In a large bowl, beat eggs & sugar until smooth.  Mix in buttermilk & melted butter.  Stir in coconut & vanilla.  Divide the batter equally between both pie crusts.

Bake for 15 minutes, then cover the crust with a strip of tin foil or a pie crust shield to prevent the crust burning.  Bake for an additional 30-35 minutes (45-50 minutes total bake time).

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Menu Planning Monday

I meant to post the menu for this upcoming week this morning, but I got lost somewhere on the road between Laundry Mountain & Homeschooling Hill.  

This week's dinner menu is looking like this.

• Day 1 - Green Chili Stew
• Day 2 - Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza
• Day 3 - Baby Back Ribs, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, & Black Eyed Peas, & Deviled Eggs
• Day 4 - Chiles Rellenos Casserole
• Day 5 - Stuffed Hot Dogs & Homemade French Fries
• Day 6 - Pork Roast, Garlic Roasted Asparagus, & Macaroni & Cheese
• Day 7 - Shrimp Cocktail, Spinach Alfredo Artichoke Dip, & Fresh Baked French Baguettes

In the next 2 weeks, I will be starting to list lunches & breakfasts too - so be looking for it!  

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Make Ahead Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Make ahead foods are very close, dear friends of mine.  When those make-ahead foods involve potatoes, cheese, & bacon -  I'm all over it!  The only thing is though, the rest of my family is all over 'em too.  Even the baby! 

These are so good that I have dreams about them.  I always make extra too, cus mashed 'taters for breakfast is the best.

Make-Ahead Loaded Mashed Potatoes

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Ingredients:

• 3 pounds potatoes, peeled & cubed
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup of milk
• 10oz Italian Cheese & Herbs Cooking Creme (or 8oz cream cheese, softened & double the spices)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• salt & pepper to taste
• 12oz-16oz of bacon, cooked to a crisp - broken into small pieces
• 2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 bunch green onions, diced

Instructions:


Cook the potatoes in a pot of boiling water until fork tender.  Drain.

Beat the potatoes with the butter, milk, cooking creme (or cream cheese), sour cream, & spices until creamy.

Scoop the potatoes into a baking dish, and spread evenly.  Sprinkle with the cheese, bacon, & green onions.

Cover & refrigerate up to 36 hours.  Set it on the counter about 30 minutes prior to baking.  When you are ready to eat, bake uncovered at 350 for 40 minutes.

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Spiraled Pizza Meatloaf

My husband does not like meatloaf very much at all.  My youngest daughter, however, loves it.  So being the good daddy that he is, he never complains when I make it.  

Even though he doesn't complain, it still bothers me.  I want him to want to eat it!  We have been married going on 12 years, & I have been on a quest to come up with one he would actually request for dinner.

After numerous tries over many years, I finally did it!  I created a meatloaf he craves. 

Ladies & gentlemen - I present Pizza Spiraled Meatloaf!


Combine the first 8 ingredients, & 3/4 cup of the pizza sauce in a large bowl.  On a large piece of parchment paper, or silicone liner, press out the meatloaf mixture into a large rectangle.  

Lay out the ham across it, followed by 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese - leaving a 1 inch margin on the edge.

Roll the meatloaf up from the small end, pulling away the parchment paper or silicone liner as you roll - much like you would a jelly roll cake.


Press the sides together with your fingers to seal it well, along with the seam along the top.  Place in a 9x13 baking dish, seam side down.

Brush the remaining pizza sauce on the top.  

Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 75 minutes.


Remove, & sprinkle an additional 0.5 cup to 1 cup of cheese on top, depending on how cheesy you like it.  I like lots of cheese!

Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the oven & let it cool about 10 minutes before slicing.

Pizza Spiraled Meatloaf

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Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground chuck
• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 4-6 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 pound ham
• 2-3 cups of Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions:


Combine the first 8 ingredients, & 3/4 cup of the pizza sauce in a large bowl.  On a large piece of parchment paper, or silicone liner, press out the meatloaf mixture into a large rectangle.  


Lay out the ham across it, followed by 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese - leaving a 1 inch margin on the edge.

Roll the meatloaf up from the small end, pulling away the parchment paper or silicone liner as you roll - much like you would a jelly roll cake.


Press the sides together with your fingers to seal it well, along with the seam along the top.  Place in a 9x13 baking dish, seam side down.  Brush the remaining pizza sauce on the top.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 75 minutes.


Remove, & sprinkle an additional 0.5 cup to 1 cup of cheese on top, depending on how cheesy you like it.
Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the oven & let it cool about 10 minutes before slicing.

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Homemade Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Extract after 2 weeks

Check out my vanilla extract update post here!

This past week, my grocery list looked a little like this.

Yes, that does say a half gallon of vodka.  

What did I need a half gallon of vodka for?  I threw a huge shin-dig!!  

JUST KIDDING!!

Remember a couple weeks back when I mentioned the deal on vanilla beans?  Well, they arrived just a couple of days later - and I was honestly really excited!  Making my own vanilla extract is something that I have been wanting to do for a while now.  Not only is it more flavorful than what you buy in the store, it is also more economical.  


Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon of vodka (1.75 Liters)
• 40 Vanilla Beans
• a half gallon container (I used an empty orange juice bottle that I cleaned)

Instructions:


I made a little label out of plain, white paper & taped it onto mine to try & make it a little prettier. 

Using the tip of a knife, split the vanilla beans in half, exposing the middles - but leaving the ends attached so that they aren't completely separated.

Place the vanilla beans into your empty container, & cover with the vodka.

 

Seal the container.  I used a layer of plastic wrap under the screw on cap just to be sure it was sealed well.

Store in a cool, dark place for 6 months, shaking about every week.  

 

After the 6 months, you can strain the mixture, & use the vanilla beans to make another batch too!

Final Cost Breakdown

Vanilla Beans - $22 for 54

(with 14 left over for another use)

Half Gallon of Vodka - $12

Total:  $34 for one half gallon of vanilla extract

(actually cheaper than that since not all the vanilla beans were used for this!)

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Avocado Onion Salad

Avocado is a food that I didn't used to really care for before marriage.  My husband, however, really enjoyed them.  It took me what seems like forever to even be able to stomach guacamole.  It wasn't really the taste that got to me - it was the color, and texture.  Something about it just struck me as - well, nasty.

Time went on, and I started making guacamole for the Mister here at home.  Since I made it myself, I had to taste it.  After all, what kind of cook would I be if I didn't taste my own food?  Well, I would be a lot thinner I presume....  ;)

Turns out, I liked guacamole, and I didn't even have to add food coloring to it to make it a more appetizing color.  (Purple guacamole anyone?)  Over the years, I have done more & more things with avocados.  It is just one of the many things that my husband has swayed my vote on.  He says sardines are next on that list, but I have to disagree with that one.  (Sorry babe, but EW!)

This simple Avocado & Onion Salad is among my favorite. 

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Ingredients:

• 3 Avocados
• 1 large sweet onion, or the equivalent (I used 2 small)
• the juice of one lemon
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup coarse ground brown mustard
• 1 heaping tablespoon of honey

Instructions:


Thinly slice the avocados & onion, and place in a bowl.  

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, coarse ground brown mustard, & honey.  Pour on top of the avocados & onion, and gently toss to combine.

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Menu Plan Monday

This week hasn't even officially started yet, and I am already feeling tired when I think about everything that has to be done!  I am starting this week behind, and I am HOPING to be ahead, somehow, by the end of the week.  I'll settle for being caught up though. 

I have gotten my menu plan for the week done, which is something I haven't gotten around too lately with these bouts of never-ending sickness in our house.  Each time I think we're done - BAM, something hits one of us again!

Before I list my menu plan - I must say something to the best lady I have ever known...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!! 

Now, before proceeding to the menu plan - everyone wish Mama a happy birthday too!  :)

Ok, now that I have successfully asked complete strangers to send Mama birthday wishes, here is my weekly Menu plan!  (I do my menu plans with Day 1, Day 2, etc instead of Monday, Tuesday, etc)

1.  Southwestern Egg Rolls with Cilantro Cream Sauce, & Avocado Onion Salad
2. Italian Spiral Meatloaf,Make-Ahead Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs
3. Red Pepper Pesto Shrimp Pizzas
4. Spaghetti & Garlic Bread Baguettes
5. Skillet Tacos
6. Beef Cheddar & Potato Pie
7. Southwestern Chicken Mac n' Cheese

Be looking for a lot of these recipes coming up! 

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Frugal Living - Homemade Bread Crumbs

We all do it.  Make bread, or buy bread, that ends up not getting used before it goes stale, and it winds up in the garbage.

Stop throwing away your money!

Make up a batch of homemade bread crumbs.  It's super easy!

You can use sandwich bread, rolls, hot dog buns - really doesn't matter.  It all works the same.  I made some sandwich buns a few days ago, and some of them didn't get eaten, so that's what I used this go round.

Break up the bread by hand, & throw it into a food processor.  If you want to make Italian bread crumbs, throw in some Italian seasoning.

Melt some butter (or margarine) in a pan - 1 stick for 4-6 cups of crumbs.

Add the bread crumbs, & saute, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly browned.

Store your bread crumbs in a thick, Ziploc bag - or an airtight container in the pantry.  They will keep for 4-6 months.  Do NOT refrigerate them!  

Not only did that stale bread not go to waste, but you also were able to cross out the bread crumbs from your grocery list.  Saving money while making something that tastes way better than store bought - win win!

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