Pie of the Month -- April!

Last week we invited my lovely cousin Stephanie over for Andy's Green Chili Stew as well as her new "friend" Scott and his almost 5 year old daughter Sylvie - the perfect opportunity to try out my mom's recipe for Lemon Chess Pie (which she actually got from one of her friends but I can't remember who so as far as we're concerned it's just Grammary's pie recipe.) I was considering trying it out for my Spring menu at the restaurant but I ended up with another rhubarb dessert that turned out great too - I'll share that one later. But back to our Chess Pie. It was awesome; we devoured it! I think Scott ate four pieces, but who's counting? And the rhubarb was an excellent accompaniment - so fresh and tart, yet earthy mmmmm mm!

Lemon Chess Pie

• 9 " unbaked pie crust
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 TBS all purpose flour
• 1 TBS cornmeal
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 4 oz melted butter
• 2 TBS lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice

Combine all ingredients and pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake for 50
-60 minutes until set. Best served at room temperature.

My pie took the full hour of baking time and although it is set, it will still jiggle a bit. The top should be nicely browned and it's nice to have a glass pie plate so you can see that the crust has browned as well. Definitely dish it out at room temp - I thought my leftovers got a little too sticky in the fridge and the cold makes it lose it's comforting quality.

And please try the compote if you can find some really good rhubarb. It would also be delicious with any fruit that you enjoy with something lemony.

Vanilla Bean Poached Rhubarb

• 4 stalks rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, scraped
• zest of 1/2 orange
• 1 cup water

In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, vanilla bean, orange zest,
and water. Bring to a boil and immediately toss in the rhubarb. Lower the heat
to a simmer and cook rhubarb until it is just tender but still retains its
shape. Remove the rhubarb from the pan with a slotted spoon and allow to cool.
Reduce the leftover syrup until it thickens slightly. Cool the syrup and then
pour over rhubarb.

Hope everyone likes this one! Thanks for being patient with me this month - we've had alot going on. Feels good to be writing again, though. And thank you for your thoughtful comments about Lu dog. Feels strange to not have her lying out in the grass while we were playing just now. Finn, without saying a word about it, has started carting around all the doggy stuffed animals we have. Funny how kids have their own way of expressing themselves.

Goodbye my Friend

Thank you for being at my side for over twelve years - I love you Tallulah with all my heart and will miss you everyday.

Ta Da!!

Halleluiah!! I finally finished a quilt - I mean actually completely done, washed, laying on the bed. I tell you, making quilts is a very long process but I like that there are so many different steps from cutting and piecing to spray basting and quilting to hand stitching the binding.

I'm especially proud of my binding because I learned how to do it from a great little tutorial at www.crazymomquilts.com. I thought I would have to take another class and I still might when I start to care more how perfect things should be. I'm at a point now where I'm just so happy to be doing this that I'm not to worried about the details.
I'm just about finished with Finn's quilt too; just have to complete that binding as well. Finn's was an exercise in speed quilting because I must admit I'm ready to be done with these so I can get back to the fabrics I truly adore.

It's finally warmed up a tad in the last couple of days which has really lifted my spirits. Life is just better to me when it's warm and comfortable outside - front door open, no shoes, kids running around with their shirts off, neighbors popping by for a chat. Things take on an easier attitude it seems to me - I for one feel more alive and able to move my tired old self. I'm feeling better than I have in weeks, which is largely due to the fact that Gram has allowed me to get a full night 's sleep for the past few days. But partly it's me coming out of my winter hibernation.My folks arrive tomorrow to spend Easter with us. Looking forward to the company - I miss having more family around.