Lemon Meringue Pie

My parents have 1 lemon tree and every year it produces a ton of lemons. They taste fantastic and we looove lemons. SO I swipe a couple....... dozen. :) This last Christmas I made my first Lemon Meringue Pie for my parents Christmas dinner. I would've made 2 if I had known it was gonna turn out so good! I doubted that I could make one, but it's easy peasy lemon sqeezy. You can do it! :)

Funny story... I stayed up til 2 in the morning helping Santa on Christmas Eve. Then I made this pie and crust. I wanted it to be cooled before I topped it with the meringue, after the Christmas hub bub. I didn't get to bed til like 2:30. I was so surprised the pie turned out! This is my 2 AM pie.....

(Recipe from 2004 Logandale Stake cookbook, page 237)


I used the Basic Flaky Pie Crust recipe and you can find the recipe HERE.

INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS:

• 1 c. Sugar
• 6 T. cornstarch
• 1/8 t. Salt
• 2 c. water
• 3 egg yolks (save whites for meringue top)
  

*Heat in double boiler, if you have one. Cook & stir ingredients (EXCLUDING egg yolks) until thick and boils (not over boiler). Put over water and cook covered for 10 minutes. Stir egg yolks with fork and temper. Then add to the cornstarch mix and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

• 3 T. Butter
• 1/3 c. Lemon juice
• 1 T. grated lemon zest

* Remove from heat and stir in butter and lemon. Cool a few minutes before pouring into cool baked 9" pie shell. Cool completely before topping. *Do not cover pie with foil. You don't want it to be wet on top when adding the meringue.*

"NEVER FAIL MERINGUE":

• 1 T. cornstarch
• 2 T. Cold water
• 1/2 c. Boiling water
• 3 egg whites
• 6 T. Sugar
• Salt (dash)
• 1 t. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

1. Blend cornstarch & cold water in sauce pan. Add boiling water and cook, stirring until thick & clear. Let stand until completely cold.
   
2. Beat egg whites til foamy. Then gradually add sugar and beat until stiff but not dry.
3. Turn speed to low and stir in vanilla and salt.
4. Gradually add in cold cornstarch mix. Turn speed to high and beat well!
5. Spread onto lemon pie and spread making the meringue touch the crust.
   
6. Bake @ 350* for 10-12 minutes til golden brown.
   

Frosted Lemon Cookies

I love anything lemon and I love cookies. These cookies are made from my parents home grown lemons. yummy! I took these cookies to my parents house and they were devoured in no time. I do have 4 (BIG) little brothers. :) I love them dearly and they ♥ cookies.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 c. Butter
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 T. Grated lemon peel
• 1 T. lemon juice
• 1 1/2 t. Cream of Tartar
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1/4 t. salt
• 2 1/2 c. Flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine dry ingredients.
   
2. Cream butter, sugar and eggs.
3. Stir in all other ingredients until mixed.
   
4. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 400* for 6-8 minutes.
   
5. Drizzle with glaze while warm.
   

GLAZE: 2 1/2 c. Powdered sugar, 1/4 c. lemon juice and lemon zest (optional).

Recipe from Highland Hills Stake cookbook.

Waite's Famous Ice Cream

Recipe from Highland Hills Stake Cookbook
I didn't actually make this recipe in the winter! It's an old pic I found. I made this a few times last summer. It's light and refreshing. I love it!

I use half this recipe because the whole recipe makes 4 quarts! Love this recipe, but the full recipe is a little much for our family.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 oranges
• 3 lemons
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 2 c. half & half
• 3 c. sugar
• 1 c. heavy cream (no whipped up)
• Milk
• Zest from 1 orange and 1 lemon for extra flavor. (optional)
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut fruit in half and and juice all fruit. Put through strainer to catch pulp. DO NOT use frozen or store bought juice. It has to be straight from the fruit!
2. Add canned Milk, sugar and half and half. Stir together then add in heavy cream. Stir and pour into the ice cream canister.
3. Inside the canister there is a "fill" line. Add milk to the fill line.
4. Process ice cream per the instructions on your ice cream maker.
   

Mint Chocolate Delight cookies

(Toll House recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 c. flour
• 2/3 c. cocoa powder
  
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 c. butter, softened
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 2/3 c. brown sugar
• 1 t. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. Dark chocolate & mint chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
2. In the mixer beat the butter and sugars until creamed.
3. Add in eggs and vanilla.
   
4. Gradually add in flour mixture.
   
5. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet @325 for 11-13 minutes.
   

*Makes 4 dozen. I half the recipe and add in a splash(1 T) of milk.

Boys 5th Birthday cake

Just a Birthday cake idea.
My twins are into Knights and Dragons at the moment. This year for their 5th Birthday my son requested a Knight cake with Oreo's on it. I went down to Toy's R us and got a cool pack of Dragons and Playmobil Knight pack. Took out what I needed and wrapped the rest for presents. BTW- I went to Walmart & Target and they didn't have Dragons. Toys R Us was awesome and I found just what I needed.

The tower was made from a plastic sand castle toy.... I took from our backyard (shhhh). I did wash it though. :) Inside the tower was filled with a stack of "gold coins". I told the boys that the dragon stole the knights gold coins and they needed to "slay" the dragon to find them. They loved it and the fun cake!

Inside is a box of yellow cake mix. I took 2 small bowls of the batter to dye red and orange. Poured half yellow cake on bottom. Drizzled the colors in the middle and plopped the remaining yellow batter on top. Then just cut with a butter knife in a swivel motion up and down the cake. Bake and you'll have some "fire dragon flames".

Spaghetti with Meatballs

This recipe is Pioneer Women's and it is so tasty! You probably notice that there aren't any noodles on my plate. That is because THIS easy bread stick recipe is just so dang good! My hubs and I like to leave out the noodles and dip the bread sticks in the super delicious sauce. YUM.

Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. It is easy and well worth the wait!

INGREDIENTS FOR MEATBALLS:

• 3/4 lb ground Beef
• 3/4 lb ground Pork
• 3 Garlic cloves, minced
  
• 3/4 c. bread crumbs
• 3/4 c. Parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 c. Parsley
• 1/4 t. Salt
• Pepper
• lil Milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
  
• 1/2 c. Oil for browning

INGREDIENTS FOR SAUCE:

• 1 yellow onion, chopped
  
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can whole Tomatoes
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed Tomatoes
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1 t. Sugar
• Pepper
• 1/4 c. Parsley
• 2 lbs Spaghetti Noodles
• Top with Parmesan Cheese (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix meatball ingredients and roll into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place in freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up and make browning easier.
   
2. Brown all sides of meatballs, 8-9 at a time in a large pot. Set on paper towels to dry. Keep oil on heat.
   
3. Sauce: Saute onion and garlic in the same large pot until tender. Then add in all sauce ingredients. Excluding last 2. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.
4. Add meatballs to the sauce. Cover and simmer on low an additional 30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Stirring occasionally.
   

*Perfect! The only thing I do differently is I use only ground Turkey meat. Turns out great! I also use whatever tomatoes I have in the pantry. This time I used petite diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Also, if using dry Parsley you do not need to use a 1/4 cup. Just add 1-2 T or to taste.

Enjoy! :)

Super Easy Bread Sticks

This pic is shown with only half the sheet of bread sticks. It's a big batch!

This garlic bread is OH so good!! It is super DUPER easy. No kneading or rise time. Just mix dough, put in a pan with butter and bake! Nice crispy top, soft dense bread and tastes great.

This bread paired with Pioneer Women's
Spaghetti & Meatball recipe.
AHHH-mazing.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 T. yeast
• 1 1/2 c. warm water
• 1 T. powdered milk
• 1 T. sugar
• 1 t. salt
• 4-5 c. flour
• 1/2 c. melted butter or margarine
  
• 1 t. Italian seasoning
• 3/4 t. garlic salt
• grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix first 6 ingredients in a mixer adding flour slowly until dough cleans sides of bowl.
   
2. Mix melted margarine, Italian seasoning and Garlic salt. Pour half into bottom of regular sized cookie sheet.
   
3. Flatten dough into pan and pour remaining butter mixture on top.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375*.

* I shape the dough into a long loaf. Then roll it out with a rolling pin a tad larger than the cookie sheet. It makes it easier to already have it the shape you need before putting it in the pan.

*The recipe doesn't call for Parmesan Cheese, but I like it on bread sticks. Just sprinkle desired amount on top.

(Recipe from Highland Hills Stake Cookbook)