Miss April's Apple Apron

We're having a wedding shower at work on Monday for one of the younger teachers at work. She told me her kitchen will be decorated all in red with apples for accents, so of course I HAD to make an apple apron! Thankfully, I had some cute apple/pear print fabric in my stash and didn't have to buy any of the walmart apple fabric that looks like someone's 70 year old Mamaw picked out!
While I was at it, I couldn't resist embellishing a dish towel and making a matching pot holder. For the pot holder I used the instructions from both Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter and Denyse Schmidt's Quilts. It was so much fun to make that I intend on making lots more! The apron is a Vanilla House Designs pattern called School Girl Apron. It was VERY easy and went together quickly!

Pretty Pink Pinwheels

I'm making a baby quilt! This will be a gift for a former coworker and his wife who have just adopted a sweet baby girl.

I don't have a pattern, but I do have enough fabric for several of these pinwheel blocks and have nine finished so far. I'm thinking of putting a strip of pink gingham between rows of three pinwheel blocks.

I'm both an impatient and an inaccurate quilter. Probably not the best way to be for someone who is still learning, but that's just how I roll folks! ;) And I've never actually quilted anything that wasn't straight lines...SO we shall see how it turns out! While I'm at it, here's a look at another WIP. I bought a charm pack at the Fat Quarter Shop along w/a yard and a half of coordinating fabric a while back. I love these fabrics and wanted to make a small lap quilt. However, my inexperience and lack of attention to detail caused me to end up short! Now I must find more coordinating fabric to add the second round of border to this. Don't look too closely at this one. Nearly nothing matches up. Impatient & Inaccurate...remember.

She's got a ticket to ri-hide. She's got a ticket to ri-hi-hide....

I got my ticket!

I got my passport!
I'm going to Europe, Ya'll!

My passport came with a little insert that says. "With your US passport, the world is yours!"
FINALLY! The world WILL be mine! [wrings hands together, throws back head] MWA HA HA HA HA!

Pink Wannabe Turns Yellow

Remember that scene in Grease where Frenchie comes into prom looking like a "blonde pineapple"? I did that to myself yesterday.

First, you should know that unlike Frenchie, I am NOT a beauty school drop out! They actually granted me a license and once upon a time I was a professional hairstylist. I was pretty good at it, but I was very young and at that time I lacked the self confidence and personality(or so I thought) befitting a stylist.

Now, some of ya'll already know that I've had the whole turning 40 thing on my mind a lot lately. It's crazy, I know, but I've been worried about the way I look...I don't know what 40 is supposed to look like! I think of Edith Bunker for some reason when I hear 40. House dresses and roller set hair. I so don't want to be that. Anyway, I'm fighting the 40 frump by dressing a little better, working the makeup more often and I am finally back to exercising regularly and I'm back on WW. And I'm feeling better about the whole thing, really.

Still, I have been thinking/pondering/wondering about doing something drastic. One last hoo-ra before the big day. Like pink. Yes, pink. Pink highlights to be specific. I think I might be able to pull it off. But then I remember I'm turning 40 in 6 months and Pink Hair + 40 Year Old = Obvious Midlife Crisis in the eyes of everyone around me. But still, pink hair would be fun. Especially if I could look like this. and not like this:But, I'm not that brave. I just like to pretend that I'm cool. I'm not really.

So nothing drastic for me.

Still, my hair has been looking a little mousy as of late. My natural color is what my mom calls "dishwater blonde". Since Mom was a stylist for over 20 years, it was only natural that I started getting highlights in the sixth grade. Since then, my hair has been a number of colors: strawberry blonde, plain old blonde, WHITE blonde, light brown, light auburn, bright red(I have a scary photo of that somewhere), and once I turned it a pale purple-y grayish blonde by mistake. OH, and not too long ago I ended up w/yellow roots. Just the roots! Sheeeesh. Continue reading and you'll see that I NEVER LEARN.

I never go to a salon for color(someday I will splurge and do that). Nothing against it, I just don't have the well deserved 80+ bucks that it costs for salon quality color every 3 months, so home hair color it is. I figure I can handle it on my own...although I'm fairly certain it usually looks like a home hair color job.

Now, on to the yellow hair... Since I'm not brave enough for pink, I decided on red. A light auburn-y red to which I was going to add highlights. That's drastic, but not scary. I was in WalMart w/a box of red in my hand when I run into my best friend Trish. SHE tells me I should go blonde. "My favorite color on you is light streaky blonde" she says. OK, I haven't been light streaky blonde in a while! Let's do it! I get a frosting kit and go on my merry way.

I pulled it through a cap. Yes, I know that is SO 1980's but I can control it a little better that way. I put it on heavy, ya'll. And I took it off early. I KNOW that I should leave it on long enough for bleach to do it's thing and get past the yellow stage, I know! I know! I know! I did the same thing a month ago to my roots. BUT I have so many layers of color and damage on my hair that after an HOUR of bleach, I was afraid my hair would start falling out. So I did what I knew better than do and I rinsed my hair before it had completely processed. And it came out yellow.

In the light at home, I thought, "OK, I can get used to this, it's not THAT bad". Mark and I went shopping and I traipsed around the antique mall w/my yellow hair. Mark kept telling me it was yellow(gee thanks) but it wasn't until we were at our favorite Pizza place and I went into the bathroom that I realized just how bad it was!

Jump to Me on the phone:
"Uh, Mom"
"yes"
"I have yellow hair. What color can I put on it to pull it out?"
"Light or beige blonde."
"OK. Hey, they have champagne...how 'bout champange" I like the sound of that "Champagne Blonde". It sounds all sophisticated and grown up.
"Yeah, that'll work. Just remember to leave it on long enough!" My mom knows me well.

Once more, I slathered my head with chemicals...but left it on the full amount of time. It worked! Whew, thank goodness! A lighter blonde to correct the yellow would have given me more of what I was hoping for and the end result is not really all that drastic a change, but it is a change that I can live with. AND it is better than yellow!

Before. Mousy.After. Yellow. This is when I'm thinking. "I can get used to this".In case you are thinking "It's really not that yellow." Yeah, it was. This is what I discovered at the pizza place. See that look on my face. That is called "*&^%%^! I have yellow hair and I've been walking around like this ALL DAY! In PUBLIC!"And finally. Whew. No more color for me for a while. Until I'm brave enough for pink.

Three Good Things

1. My most awesome and excellent brother Shea has hooked us up with tickets to see The High Kings in concert at the Ryman in Nashville next month! Woo Hoo! Or should I say Heidy Diedy Diedy!

2. I am getting my ticket to Europe this week. I shall visit my sister and bro-in-law in their quaint little Polish flat and then we shall all hop to Vienna and Prauge. Woo Hoo! Or should I say Woo Hooski!

3. Yesterday Mark and I ran into my brother in law and his wife at the grocery. After greeting hugs, Bro-in Law asked if I'd lost weight when, clearly, I have not. I heart my brother in law.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm singing Irish Lullaby(Steve Martin, Housesitter style)for you right at this very moment, but since ya'll can't hear me...trust me, that's a good thing...I'll share these goodies with you instead.

First, another song from the High Kings, my new favorite Irish Folk-Singing band. OK, ok, they are the only Irish Folk Singing band I know of! I did get a copy of the CD from Amazon.com and it is fantastic! This song is called The Little Beggarman. Very Irish. Very Fun!


And then there's this. The Ultra Condensed Far And Away. If you've never seen the movie, it's an epic tale of two Irish immigrants starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Definitely worth a watch. This condensed version made me giggle.

And now a random quote for Shea, Jackie & Scott should they drop by: "I have an Irish heritage, I never do that: ‘Ohhh, my mom, she makes a great CORN BEEF AND CABBAGE! It’s magically delicious!’ Then I riverdance my way home.”

Weird and Funky Butt-Ugly Quilt Block of the Month

Back in the Fall I decided to learn how to quilt. I took a machine piecing class and made a couple Easy Lap Quilts from Bend the Rules Sewing for myself and my family for Christmas.

My local quilt shop does a beginners Block of the Month Club. I saw it as a way for me to learn some piecing techniques, keep up the quilting momentum, meet other new quilters(and some experienced ones) and improve at quilting. I paid a ridiculously low price to join(10 bucks or something) and I get a quilt block kit each month. As long as I complete my quilt block and bring it to the monthly meetings, I get a new block kit and instructions on how to complete that block at no additional charge. I do pay an extra 2 bucks per month for the Irish Chain setting block kits, which brings the grand total t0 34 bucks for a queen sized quilt top.

I had an entire month to finish my block for Block of the Month. Did I? No. C'mon ya'll. You know me better than that! I waited until the last possible minute to start. The meeting was at 2p.m. today I started at 11:00 a.m. today. I thought I'd get it done in plenty of time, even have time to run by Walgreens and grab some moisturizer and new lipstick beforehand. HA!

The first cut I made was a good 1/2" too short. I was supposed to cut 4 - 4.5 inch blocks. I saw 4 and got scissor happy. So I immediately panicked because I knew there was no fabric in my stash that will go with the Civil War repros that are in my kits. I used CW fabricsfor Shea's Christmas quilt but didn't have any of that left over.

The fabrics I normally buy tend to buy look like this:or thisor this
Not exactly Civil War-ish, huh? After 30 minutes of digging around and trying to find something that would match I came across the fabric on the left(the one on the right is what I was supposed to have used). It doesn't really match but it does go with the tones in some of the prints that are in the Irish Chain kits, which I have yet to begin. I had no choice but to use it, lest I go to BOTM club empty handed and pay $5.00 for not getting my block done. Oh, the shame and humiliation! So I proceeded with my non-matchy fabric.Everything went downhill from there. I tried two other fabrics, made a couple triangle blocks thinking that would help, it didn't. My seams are nowhere near 1/4 inch, I cut another piece too short and ended up piecing my pieces back together. Nothing matches up...it's just a mess. This is what I get for getting in a hurry instead of planning ahead and taking my time, a weird and funky, not to mention butt-ugly quilt block. BOTM started at 2:00; I finished this ugliness at 1:45. Next time, I'll complete it before the day of the club meeting. Lesson Learned.

I decided to make one of the March blocks tonight so I didn't run into the "I've messed up w/fabric and don't have time to get to the quilt shop before my block is due" dilemma. It did go much better and turned out much prettier but somehow, I don't know how, it's 1/4" too short all the way around. Aaaarrgh! Those of you who are quilty...would it hurt anything to leave it 1/4" short? Can I fudge when I put the blocks together and make it work or should I just re-do the outer border?

Whew. I'm worn out from all this bad quilting. I am hopeful that it'll all work out in the end when the whole thing is together and I'm not focusing on individual pieces.

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to finish up a shirt pattern that I've been working on. I thought it was going to be supercute when I bought it. Not so much. Can you say mu-mu? Can you say Two-Ton Sally? Tune in later for the rundown.

Chicken & Dumplings on a Particularly Domestic Weekend

As a domestic wannabe, I was pretty proud of myself this weekend. OK, so I spent way too many hours online at the Ultimate Blog Party, I did manage to get in some domesticity, however!

I got up early Friday morning and put on some non-frumpy clothes despite the fact that it was a snow day. I even put on shoes and jewelry! Once I was dressed and in Beige Face mode, I donned one of my favorite vintage aprons and got to work. I'm still trying to fight that Turning 40 Soon funk that I've been in, hence the make-up and jewelry on a day off.

Once I was in full domestic mode I picked up around the house and did some light cleaning. I worked on cutting out a pattern for the March Tie One On Challenge. I made Vegan Sloppy Joes for Mark and Chicken & Dumplings for myself! Something I had never tried before and never thought I would be able to do successfully. OH, but I surprised myself 'cause they were yummy!

Saturday...fully dressed, a little more light cleaning, a little more sewing, and more cooking, My meal of choice was pancakes this time! Mmmmm. Nothing better than warm pancakes on a snowy morning. Now I'm going to tell you something embarrassing, but true. Normally I make frozen waffles. This was the first time I've made pancakes. Ever. And they were a mix. And all I had to do was add water. Water. How sad is that? I mean, really.

Now for the Chicken & Dumplings. I know most of ya'll have never eaten my Mamaw's Chicken N' Dumplings, but let me tell you that they are the best on the face of this Earth. Yeah, I know you think your Mamaw's Chicken & Dumplings are better. They're not. These turned out amazingly close to hers!
Easy Chicken and Dumplings

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 45min.-1 hour before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

Now, remember this is me, so as luck would have it I was missing ingredients and forgot to add stuff to the recipe. For instance:

• Onion....I simply forgot.
  
• I didn't realize it even called for butter until now.
• I used one can cream of chicken soup(all I had).
• I used chicken broth to replace the second can of soup and instead of the water.
  
• Next time I'll add the water because it had a slight "cream of chicken soup" flavor. Don't get me wrong...it was still delectable!

I'm sure lots of things could be played with in this recipe. For instance, swap out a can of cream of chicken for cream of something else...celery, onion, pigeon, whatever. Add your favorite seasonings. I added salt, pepper and poultry seasonings. You could probably add some veggies in there too. However I've always only had chicken and dumplings in my chicken and dumplings, so I'd NEVER add yucky old vegetables to it.

If you try this, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Unless you actually do use Condensed Cream of Pigeon soup. Keep that to yourself, please.

Ultimate Blog Party OR the "About Me" Post

**This post was originally for the Ultimate Blog Party in 2008, but I think it sums me up pretty well and has links to some of my favorite posts**

I'm a 39 year old gal who is a wife(to Mark) of 20 years, the oldest daughter(translate: bossy)of some pretty fantastic parents and big sister to the most amazing siblings ever. I'm not a mommy, but I DO plan to be the Most Awesome Aunt Ever. Someday.

I work in the KY public school system as a K-5 library media specialist. I love my job for a lot of reasons, but mostly because every day I can count on one or all of these things happening:
1. Someone hugs me for no apparent reason.
2. Someone says "I love you" out of the blue.
3. Someone makes me laugh so hard I nearly pee my pants.

I started this blog as a way to document my adventures in learning to cook. I STILL can't, but I haven't given up completely. Along the way, I've taken up sewing and quilting as well. Honestly, I get a lot more satisfaction from sewing than I do cooking, so the crafty posts have kinda taken over!

Although I tend to be a trifle socially awkward and shy, I try not to take myself too seriously. I am the first to admit that I am dorky and often downright goofy. Hopefully my sense of humor doesn't come across as completely moronic here, but if it does, don't say I didn't warn ya!

I thought it might be fun to list some of my older posts(starting w/the first). You can get an idea of what this silliness that I call my blog is all about.

Now, I don't expect you to read ALL of these. Just pick and choose as you'd like, if you'd like. I'd love to hear from you! If you leave a comment here or on one of these old posts you will have made my day! :)

Here in my little corner of Western KY, you can't have a party without cake and punch. So I made ya'll some...well, not really...in fact if you were to come by the actual house I could only offer you some Cheetos and Dr. Pepper! But don't those cupcakes look yummy? SO Grab a cupcake, some punch, and let's get this party started!

















The one where I explain why I started blogging
The one with the nearly burnt fried chicken
The one with Brian Setzer
The one with Elvis' cornbread
The one where I gush about Harry Connick Jr.
The one that gets the most hits
The one where I sew my first apron
The one with the Police
The one where I heart Amy Karol's book
The one where I made a monster
The one in which I make a handbag
The one where I published a cookbook
The 20th Wedding Anniversary one
The Yoga Booty one where I started (but never finished) the Great Exercise DVD Experiment
The one where I made my first quilt
The Bluff City Monster one
The one with more Creepy Cymbal Playing Chimpanzee Freaks...and Weird Al
The one where I make a skirt
The Tom Cruise Crazy one
The one where I kill my iron
The one where a giant snake almost kills me (I exaggerate)
The Getting to Know me One
The one where my butt won't do what it's supposed to
The unusual use for a maxipad one
The Barbie One
The one with the pillsbury biscuit donuts
The one where goat dog attacks Teddy
The one where I finally do the thing I've always wanted to do

No Cable=New Music Find=The High Kings

I'll begin this post by saying that I have absolutely nothing against cable television. I adore cable TV. In fact, if it was possible, I'd marry cable. I could literally sit in front of a TV all day and be completely content watching HGTV, Food Network, Bravo, TLC, TV Land,...you get the idea. And I've done that, believe me. But alas, there hasn't been much TV watching going on since we moved into the new house!

Building a home was expensive and cable wasn't a necessity when we moved in. Nearly two years later, still no cable. We're just too poor destitute frugal cheap to pay for cable or satellite service. So if it doesn't come on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, KET or PBS, I don't get to watch it. Oh how I miss you, Project Runway and What Not to Wear! And sometimes the reception is so bad I don't get to watch the channels that we can get.

I was flipping though the six snowy channels that our rabbit ears pick up the other night when I came across the High Kings concert on PBS and was nearly knocked off the couch. I don't know why I was completely taken in by Irish Folk music, but I was. Perhaps I am in a St. Patrick's Day celebratory mood a bit early. Maybe it got the Irish blood in these veins of mine pumping(my great grandfather was Irish). It could just be my affinity for the movies A Mighty Wind and Far and Away.

Whatever the cause, I am now a High Kings fan. I've got the CD on order and I'm repeatedly watching the youtubes to get my fix. I love the harmonies in their voices, the rhythm in the music and the Irish brogue that is so very evident. The tradition and the storytelling aspect of these songs is very appealing as well.

So, for just this once, I'm glad we don't have cable. You know I'd have been watching a Project Runway marathon and totally missed out on the High Kings.

This song is called The Rocky Road to Dublin. Enjoy!

Taste of Home Cooking School Spring Show

Last night I went with my girlfriends Trish, Sheila & Stacy (along w/ Trish's MIL and dear, sweet Mama) to the Taste of Home Cooking School. I thoroughly enjoyed it...if they're coming to your town, you should check it out!

A chef from Taste of Home prepared a variety of dishes, making them all look incredibly easy and appetizing. In addition to the dishes, she shared cooking tips, stories and a few lame jokes. Lots of prizes were given away throughout the night as well. No, I didn't win anything. Dang it! I wanted, no, needed that cake plate filled with cupcakes!

One of the recipes that was featured is this Taco Meatball Ring. I plan to try it out...doesn't it look tasty? The show draws a huge crowd(I had no idea) and the Fine Arts Center was jam packed. We didn't buy our tickets until we got there so we ended up being Balcony Trash, separated from the rest of the theater. I think that made it more enjoyable...it was fun sitting up and away from the crowd. We were front row, center so we had a nice view of the stage, were able to prop up our feet, giggle, make yum-yum noises and comment(quietly of course) our way through the evening without bothering the people around us. Good Times! And yes, we got a little silly...which is the norm for us, thank goodness. How dull would it be to have friends who weren't at least half as goofy as you are?

New Blog on the Block and Girl Stuff

There is a new blog on the block! My dear friend from the "real world", Southern Belle Mama, has started blogging!

Originally from Mississippi, Belle has been transplanted here in Western Kentucky...the sorta-southern state, I like to call it. This girl is a TRUE Southern Belle...clever, funny, and charming with a hint of Julia Sugarbaker sass tossed in for good measure! And she's absolutely gorgeous(though she'd never admit to being such). I think you'll enjoy her take on family, life, love, and lipstick. Yes, lipstick.

Head on over to Southern Belle Mama's place. Tell her Kellie sent ya!

In one of her first posts, Belle talks about getting ready for the day and how we should take a bit more pride in ourselves. Now some of it is tongue in cheek(she's witty like that), but I took the following to heart: "please learn to care about the reflection that looks back at you each morning. God has given you a new day to look and feel beautiful"...

Now, I don't know that I've ever mentioned this but I love LOVE make-up, hair, and fashion ooh and I enjoy the occasional high heel. You know, girl stuff. I had a serious Benefit habit a couple years ago and Sephora makes me giddy. In fact, I recently cried a little bit when I ran out of the Sephora blush my sister got me for my birthday. But other than that blush, I'd kinda given up on enjoying getting made up and looking like a girl who likes to look like a girl.

It's not like I haven't put forth ANY effort, but not to the level that I once did. I mean I still wouldn't go out of the house w/o mascara. yikes. And I don't think I've let myself go, but I have kind of gotten into a rut. As of late my routine has been:

Slap on some tinted moisturizer or powder, some beige(yawn) eyeshadow, mascara, my luscious Sephora blush(see not completely given up) and apply one swipe of neutral lipstick in the morning and be done for the day.

My hair goes into a ponytail more days than it doesn't. But sometimes a ponytail is OK, right?

Now you won't usually catch me in sweats, and I'd never wear them to work, but I haven't worn a skirt in weeks. I've gained a few pounds since the Fat Smash aka "beans and rice diet" ended and now I'm too self conscious to wear one. Which is sad 'cause I absolutely love skirts, adore them. They're swishy and swirly and they make me feel all feminine, like Marylin. Only chubby. With wrinkles. And gray hairs.

Do you see that? Did you see what I just did? I get into this vicious cycle of putting myself down. I want to be pretty and girly and then I think of all the things that need improvement and think. "Well crap. What's the use?". So I continue to do the Beige Face and the ponytail and the comfortable(though not frumpy) pants and shoes. Chuck Taylors whenever possible.

I've never been entirely comfortable with myself but lately, it's gotten worse. I think a lot of my problem is this milestone birthday that is coming up. I will be honest and tell you that turning 40 is starting to seriously freak me out. I don't know why, but it is. Seriously. But we'll save that for another post.

Anyway reading Belle's post I realized that yeah, the reflection looking back at me needs a little TLC. Do I really want to face this new day that God has given me with Beige Face? No! And yeah, I NEED to lose weight but I'm still not to the proportions of the mother from What's Eating Gilbert Grape so I need to get over myself for the moment. And HELLO? Miss Clairol can help me wash that gray right out of my hair!

So what did I do once I reached these realizations? I marched (OK, I drove) myself to WalMart and spent one hour and 70 bucks on makeup and Crest Whitestrips. Most fun I've had shopping in weeks!

Thank you Southern Belle Mama, for putting the thought out there. I will spend a little more time on myself from here on out! Cause I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog-gone it, people like me!

Tomorrow I might even bust out a skirt!

Getting to Know Me

Found this thingy (for lack of a better description) when I was wasting time goofing off doing important online research one night. I think it's one of those things where random descriptions pop up regardless of the name...but still some of it was creepily accurate. You'll note that I have added my two cents throughout.
What Kellie Means You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.

You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. I don't tell secrets but I am guilty of partaking in gossip every once in a while. I apologize.

People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, (in high school & in beauty school I was accused of being stuck up but I was painfully shy) but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. I'm probably just daydreaming or being my normal socially awkward self.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. HARD. Your easy going attitude brings people together.

At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. a little? But for the important things, you pull it together. OK, that's true.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. oh yeah, right. that's me alright, chill. Chilly like Willy. pppphhhtttt!

You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. OK, they're wrong 'cause I kinda do get worked up easily.

Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. I am happy, I'll give them that. BUT I seriously doubt people go around thinking to themselves, "I wonder what her secret to life is? She's just sooooo darn well adjusted!"

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. Mmmm Hmmmm. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.

You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. So true, how DO they know?

You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. uh huh.

So, go find out what your name means...and then come back and tell me! http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/
I'll bet something on my list will pop up on yours!

I've recently been asked by a couple of my bloggy friends to do the "random things" meme, so I'll replay my post from the Summer.

Eight random & not so fascinating facts about me that you may or may not know...

1. I am seriously and I do mean seriously creeped out by monkeys. ESPECIALLY chimpanzees. ooooh...I have full body shivers from thinking about how much they creep me out.
2. I really dig Rockabilly and vintage clothing and style and am jealous of girls who can pull off that look. If I were 15 years younger and fifty pounds thinner, I'd totally wear it.
3. I like raisins but I don't like anything that has raisins in it.
4. I LOVE showtunes, Broadway, and movie musicals. Secretly, I dream of starring in a Broadway musical despite my overwhelming lack of singing, dancing and acting skills.
5. I used to sell vintage clothing on ebay and made tons of money! Once I made enough to pay cash to install a patio on our old house.
6. I like doing laundry. That doesn't mean I don't get waaaaaay behind, however.
7. If do-overs were possible, I'd go to an artsy-fartsy school and study photography or fashion design instead of becoming a librarian.
8. In real life, I'm even more of a doofus than I appear to be on this blog.

You're not supposed to call it Derby Pie

If I could only have one dessert for the rest of my life, it would be Kentucky Derby Pie. It's like a little slice of Heaven on Earth, ya'll! 'Specially when it's still warm and you add a scoop of ice cream!

This pie was created in Kentucky over 40 years ago for the Prospect Inn in Melrose Kentucky. The family who created this deliciousness trademarked the name "Derby-Pie". So if you use my recipe, call it Kentucky Pie or Chocolate Nut Pie or Heavenly Deliciousness in a Pie Tin. Just don't call it Derby Pie...wouldn't want to cause a lawsuit! You can read more about the authentic Derby Pie here.

Various versions of the recipe can be found all over the Bluegrass. The one at Patti's 1880's Settlement is one of my favorites(next to the original, of course).

Mom & me, enjoying the "Chocolate Pecan Pie" at Patti's.

This summer, I put together a cookbook and asked my friends and family to share recipes. Knowing how much I love this stuff, my dear friend Stacy came through for me with this recipe called "KENTUCKY PIE".

½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 frozen 9-inch pie shell

Combine sugar, brown sugar and flour in bowl; mix well. Add eggs,
butter and vanilla; mix well. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips. Pour
into frozen pie shell. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Serve warm with
whipped cream. Yield: 8 servings.

This recipe calls for walnuts, but I used pecans instead. Sadly, I was out of both ice cream and whipped cream but somehow I found the inner strength to go ahead and eat it! Yummmmy!

Now if you are the lazy type when it comes to pie baking or you just want to try out the real deal, you can have an authentic Derby Pie delivered right to your door at A Taste of Kentucky.