Inspirational Leadership

This quote appears on the walls at one of the buildings where I work.  Its intent is to inspire.  It was chosen, because by itself it does – or at least should – inspire.  Inspire the hearer to lead a life that draws out dreaming and learning and doing and becoming in others, for the observers of our lives will see those same traits in us.

John Quincy Adams had another quote that fits hand in glove with what has been on my mind as I read the first quote from President Adams above:

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

For the first time in a long time that I can recall, I have personally heard more friends and acquaintances say that they really didn’t know what to do in yesterday’s Missouri presidential primary.  Should they vote for someone they want?  Should they vote for the one who stands the best chance of elect-ability?  Should they vote the opposite party to block the one they perceive as the worst?  It was remarkable to me how often I heard that.  Remarkable enough, I suppose, that I am blogging about it.

And why is that?  Why do so many people feel this same conflict?  Voting is never easy, and we cannot expect to agree with any candidate on 100% of the issues or expect them to always do or say or act in the way we think that they should.  If that is what we expect, we might as well give up now. 


But why is the privilege of voting such a burden these days?

Part of me wants to say that it goes back to these two JQA quotes.  For the first, we have a real leadership gap in this world today.  Whatever happened to candidates that sounded like reasonable fellows – someone you could have a brew with and a reasonable debate about ideas?  When did we become a nation that prizes bombastic celebrities or idealizes government as the means to take care of everyone or ignores law and deceit and lies in the name of “progress” to have a woman president?  Now I realize I probably just offended a whole bunch of people, including family with that question, but who in the list of remaining presidential candidates truly epitomizes JQA’s idea of living a life that inspires others to “dream more, learn more, do more or become more”? 

Bombastic rhetoric that rouses a crowd but doesn’t have real substance behind it doesn’t inspire me.

Condescending insults to my intelligence espousing ideas of the government providing for all of my needs doesn’t inspire me.

And “what difference does it make anyway?!” definitely doesn’t inspire me.

How many leaders these days live the kind of life that demonstrates dreaming big dreams, learning what works and what doesn’t work, doing more with less and becoming a better friend, confidant, worker, person, spouse or parent?  If there were more, it might inspire me to vote with more energy and belief.

Which brings me to the second JQA quote – “vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”  While I love the ideal expressed herein, I can’t help but feel the angst of the need to vote to “win” despite principle.  Those of us who identify as republicans can feel this quandary particularly sharply after the last two presidential losses, but I don’t believe that this is unique to republicans.  Regardless the political party affiliation, we all want to win, and we all hate the sting of defeat.  And JQA’s sentiment about cherishing “the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost”, doesn’t really feel like that. It feels like your vote is lost – that one vote does not really matter…or that the whole system is so rigged and crooked it doesn’t matter.

But that line of thinking is a dead-end street.  And is the antithesis of what JQA expressed in the quote that appears on the walls of one building I frequent. 

So herein is where I will conclude.  My vote may not matter in the grand scheme of things.  I may cast a vote that isn’t for principle, but that will not have been how I want to remember my voting experiences.  I will instead do my best to vote and vote well.  I may not brag on it, but I will trust that my voting – no matter how pointless it may feel at times – may, just may, inspire someone else to dream more, learn more, do more, become more and vote more.  I may not be a “leader” in title or celebrity or media or power, but I hope I live a life of leadership of the kind that ol’ John Quincy Adams had in mind. 

That goal – in and of itself – will not have been a waste.

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl MJ!

My kiddo's Mama J is having a birthday today!

The day is almost over, so I hope Mama J has had a really nice one, but I still thought I'd surprise her with a little note of appreciation for who this lady is to me and my kiddos.

Mama J - here are 5 things I appreciate that you taught me.  Hope this brings a smile!

5 - Beer bread - Mama J was the first one who ever introduced me to this little genius baking trick.  Back in the day when we would get together more often, the kids and I would go see Mama J and Papa S for a meal, and she would treat us to this little wonder lots of times.  Good stuff - and EASY!

4 - Let your talents bless others.  Mama J has been sharing her piano and organ talents for as long as I have known her, and I'm sure she has been sharing them much longer than that.  Playing at church on most Sundays and holidays, teaching countless students and even selling lots of instruments to many.  Yep, Mama J has brought the joy and love of music to many people.

3 - Laugh easily and often.  Mama J has an easy smile and laugh and finds the humor in life easily.  It's all part of what makes # 1 below true.

2 - Take pictures.  Take lots of pictures.  Mama J has some of the cutest pics of my little ones.  I am still learning this picture taking trick, but Mama J is an old pro at capturing cute moments.

1 - Be a fun grandma.  My kiddos have often spoken of how much they enjoy spending time with MJ and PS.  I often think of Mama J's gifts and easy spirit with my kiddos all these years, and I want to be that kind of Grandma/Mimi.

 

We love you, Mama J!  I hope this gives you a small glimpse of knowing that you are loved and appreciated.  We need to figure out how to make getting together more often happen!

Happy!  Happy!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl J!

This beautiful lady, my sister is celebrating her birthday today!

I realized earlier today that next year is one of those "big" birthdays, which just really surprised me, because J is perpetually 35 in my mind.  40 at tops, but nothing more than that.  Of course, that doesn't exactly fit the math since I know my age, and J is older than me...but in my mind, I am also perpetually 35...38 at tops.  Now that is how my mind feels...my body may feel differently, but...that is another story!

But today - this birthday - is a "regular" one for my YOUNG sister, so it is my chance to honor and appreciate her for 5 things that she has taught me.  Trust me, I've known this wonderful lady my whole life so she has taught me WAY more than 5 things, but these are the 5 that came to my mind today.

5 - Breastfeeding.  Yep, that's right, breastfeeding.  J had her oldest, A, when I was a teenager, and J thoroughly enjoyed nursing A.  I had never given breastfeeding any thought one way or the other at that time, but J made it so real and wonderful and doable, that she sold me.  When I had my babies, it never really occurred to me to feed them in any other way.  I'm not shaming any mama who fed their babies by other means, but I will always treasure that time of feeding each of my children as only I could.  And that is due, in large part, to J's teaching when I was but a teenager.

4 - Read.  Lots.  Out loud and often.

3 - Stay in touch.  I am HORRIBLE at this, so J is still very much teaching me this one, but J is pretty much THE BEST at this.  J makes friends easily and has made many friends in many places all over the world.  But beyond that - she stays in touch like a champ.

2 - Compassion and empathy.  J gets it.  She has experienced deep hurt and loss in her life.  J has not let it close her off, but she stays open and gives compassion easily and genuinely.  J is approachable, and people know it  People of all ages.

1 - Family history.  J and I are the only ones left from our birth family.  She knows some; I know some; we still have gaps.  But nobody else can teach me that stuff about our parents and siblings - places we lived, jobs, schools, churches...memories.

I love you, J!  You are one of the youngest people I know...eternally young at heart.  You inspire me as well as teach me.

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday J!!

So....Pinterest....

Deb Disclaimer:  This post could offend some.  It is not my intent to offend.  The views expressed in this post are solely mine.  They do not necessarily reflect Google Blogger or any past, (none), present (none) or future (possible) sponsor of this blog.  If you are easily offended, you may want to skip this post and join us next time for our usual programming of cute kids, birthdays, events and baking fun.

Ready?  Still with me?  Ok, here we go.

I found this caramel cake on pinterest and baked it.

I read the recipe and had a sense that I wouldn't like it, but the corresponding narrative reeled me in.  Talks of "wow!" and "amazing!" from merely  tasting the unfrosted cake lured me in.  Stories of "Rose" being famous in South Chicago for this cake lead me to go against my instincts and start measuring.

Alas, my instincts were right.  That's right.  Another classic case.  The dark secret of Pinterest.  You know it happens, but nobody talks about it.

Until now.  Yes, I'm going to say it.  Somebody has to.  Because I got sucked in.  Sucked in to the

PINTEREST OVERSELL.

It happens more than it should.  It happens everyday.  Words like "The Best!" and "Perfect!" and "Best EVER!" can't ALL be true.  All the time.  About everything.  

Oversell.

What ever happened to other words?  Words like "Tastes Good" or "Nice for a Tuesday Night" or even "Easy and Good Enough"?  

Not that these words necessarily applied to the above cake, but they would have come closer to the truth than the story I read of tasting the cake right out of the oven and expressing "Wow!" so they rush tastes out to the son in the garage, who also says "Wow!" or some such exclamation.  

Now don't get me wrong.  I'm sure the lady who wrote this means well and maybe the cake fits their idea of a great cake....similar to one taster at work who compared this cake to her husband's relative's preference for "crumby" cake.  

I would have chosen words closer to those from another coworker - "edible."  It was edible, but it needed help.  Help like ice cream and chocolate sauce.  Help like more soaking syrup than I added even though pinterest didn't say to use any soaking syrup.

Help like another friend gave.  He drizzled some coffee over his slice - and that moistened the slice plus complimented the caramel flavor in the icing quite nicely.  

Do I hate Pinterest?  Or think it's a major time waster?  No to both.  Well, ok, it may be a time waster but so is this blog if truth be told.  But it's not a total time waster.  I particularly enjoy the Ikea hacks and pin many of those.  The same friend whose husband's family like cakes on the crumby side?  She found a great trick to take a box of angel food cake mix and substitute Rum Chata for the water.  She says it is great, and I trust that she is not overselling this idea.  

So please don't hear me saying that I will never pin anything else ever again...although I have no idea how to post stuff to pinterest for others to pin.  But hopefully if I ever do figure that out, I will do my best to not commit the crime of the...

PINTEREST OVERSELL.

I may break the mold and become the Pinterest Queen of the Undersell.  Someday.  It could happen.  Posting cakes and pies that are "Strictly Ladies Luncheon" or "Kid Quality" or "Good for a Change of Pace" or "Not The Best Ever But a Keeper."  

Speaking of which...this caramel cake is not a keeper.  Hence, I'm not going to bother to share the recipe here.  But I may try to make some changes to it and make it again.  If those changes make it a keeper, I will let you know.

Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy S!

Today is S's birthday!  I love you, and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

That's right.  That would be my handsome S sporting some serious Christmas beard ornaments.  I did not even know that there was such as thing as beard ornaments, but I do now.  But that bit of learning does not count as one of the 5 things I've learned from S.

So here goes.  Hope these bring a smile to your face and heart, S!

5 - Ask questions.  Ask deep questions.  Ask hard questions.  And respect when your mama can't answer all of them.  And by all means, make sure that you ask those questions while your mama is driving.  Have crazy instinct like that.

4 - Sound tech matters.  And if you make it look easy, it matters even more.  And if you make it look cute, it matters the most!

3 - Go to work even when you don't like testing emissions.  Go anyway.  You're still building a life even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

2 - Graduate.  You don't have to walk, but graduate.

1 - Choose mentors well.   S has chosen some of the best I've ever seen.  They have molded him into the man he is today.  Oh, and while you're at it, choose also to be a good mentee.

What a handsome bunch of great guys.  And this isn't all of the fine mentors that have invested in my son.  I don't have pictures of all of them.  But trust me.  They are da best.  S has chosen very well plus he can do both sides of the mentor life like a champ.

Happy!  Happy!  Good birthday to you, S!!

And look at me...I actually posted every day this week!  Woo-hoo!!!

Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

That's right.  Bacon.  Maple.  Cinnamon Rolls.  Together.

I don't have pictures of making these, but I'm making them again tonight to take into work tomorrow for Bacon Day!  Since I'm trying to post more regularly again, I thought I'd share these with you.  I made this batch a couple of weeks ago, at which point one of my taste testers nominated January 29 as our First Annual IT Bacon Day!  So let it be written!  So let it be done!

The first step?  Well, maybe not the first step, but at some point while the roll dough is rising, half cook some bacon - your favorite brand, which for me is from Aldi! - and then cut it into pieces.  (I will leave it up to you to know the "right" size for your bacon.)

I used my standard go-to King Arthur Flour Soft White Dinner Roll recipe but you can use whatever roll recipe is your favorite (or even frozen bread dough!).  After at least one rise, I rolled the dough into a rectangle (about 12" x 16", give or take) and then spread this maple cinnamon mixture over the top.

1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 T. maple syrup
2 t. cinnamon
Dash of salt
Dash of vanilla
2 drops of maple extract (if desired)

Now take about half of that half-baked bacon and spread it over the dough.  Did I say how much bacon to use?  Why no, I didn't, did I?  Hmmm...I'm fairly certain that if we need to ask how much, then perhaps this isn't the Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll recipe for you!  Hah!

Then I rolled them up from the long side and sliced into rolls like standard cinnamon rolls. My recipe will yield 16 rolls.  After rising, I then baked at 350 for about 25 minutes.

The final step was to pour on the maple icing glaze and garnish with the rest of the bacon.  I used a very simple maple icing glaze, but you could get fancier, if you wanted.

1 T. soft butter
3 T. maple syrup
2 T. brown sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
Dash of vanilla
Dash of salt
1 - 2 T. milk (or to desired consistency)

I just mixed those all together and spread over the warm rolls.

Yummy Goodness!

Happy! Happy! Late Birthday Girl W!

W for Wednesday, right?

Ok, so this is another late birthday posting, but at least I'm in the right month still!  And I'm pretty sure W will be celebrating her birthday until her new remodeled kitchen is done and ready!  It's going to be so purrrrty!  I can't wait to see it!

Sorry this is so late, W, but here are 5 things I've learned from you that I hope bring you a smile!  So glad you are one of my sisters!

5 things I've learned from the Wonderful W....

5 - Don't ask why that dinner guest is wearing an eye patch.  We know you're tempted to ask, but don't do it.  Just don't.

4 - Boxers are easy to love.  Even when they break your heart by not living forever.

3 - Set a pretty table.  For dinner.  For tea.  For a wedding.  For holidays.  For everyday.  Set a pretty table.

2 - Aspic is funny.  Especially when you hear Deb say it out loud and you have no idea what it means.

1 - Host.  Because you can. Because someday you may not be able to host.

Oh - wait!  There is one more thing I've learned from W - Nam's Beef and Noodles.

Good times.  Good memories.  Good friends.  Happy!  Happy!  Love you W!

Happy! Happy! Way Late Birthday Girl C!

This is well over a month late, but this is intended to still bring a smile and bless this sweet sister, C.

I haven't gotten to spend nearly enough time with C, but she has still taught me some important things.  Here are 5 of those things.

5 - Give.  Period.  Give.  And this girl loves to give.  Everything from lotions and shower gels to low-rise lawn chairs to Eddie Bauer travel bags.  (We have enjoyed all of them!)

4 - Welcome.  Choose to err on the side of welcoming new family members and calling them "sister."  Whether that is at a family funeral or a trip to Kansas City.  She should totally rescind that welcome now that I have been so remiss in posting this for her birthday which was like 15.3752489 weeks ago, but I still appreciate the designation.  Truly, she should totally rescind it.  Totally.  (Did I use enough totally's?)

3 - Share your faith.  Boldly even.  And every chance you get.

2 - Stories of Greg as a child.  Sisters and cousins be good for dat stuff.

1 - KC culture pockets.  Kansas City is not all BBQ sauce and sports.  Who knew?  C.  C knew.

We love you, C!  I have no excuse for not being more prompt with this, but I hope you had a wonderful birthday and still smile as you read this!  Thank you for being my sister!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl E!

Ugh...I just realized that it has been over a  month since I last posted.  For shame, Deb!

Ok, I'm going to try and make up for it some this week with multiple birthday postings.  Thank you for your patience with me, and I hope the four postings this week will bring a smile to at least the four people I try to honor.

So we will start the week off with getting one of the four birthday postings on the right date!  Happy!  Happy!  Birthday to E!

We love you, E!  I hope reading these 5 things I've learned from you will bring a smile to your beautiful face and heart!

5 - Love deeply.  Even if it isn't returned or appreciated, love deeply.

4 - Laugh and smile often.  Especially when you are raising boys who stuff clothes down the toilet.

3 - Mother in the way that works best for you.  See # 5 for further details.

2 - Cinnamon rolls for breakfast may or may not mean Grandpa G and Grandma Deb have come to visit.

1 - Create beauty wherever you are and with whatever you have on hand. I remember watching E create this holiday table a couple of Christmases ago, and I was enthralled as I watched her build a centerpiece from thin air.  Well almost, but it was impressive.

Happy!  Happy!  We hope your birthday is full of beauty and love and laughter and tons of smiles!

"Birthday" Girl P

This is one of those birthday posts that is way overdue so I'm making up for it now.  P is one of my "adopted" daughters, and her birthday was last month, but....um....Happy!  Happy!  "Birthday" now!

I don't have many pics of P (something I need to remedy!), but here she is at her "sister's' wedding...

...and here she is at Pie Night 2013...P has never missed one!

I do have one more from Pie Night this year when Auntie P, aka The Baby Whisperer, took the kiddos downstairs to play.  All these kiddos don't phase Auntie P!  She LOVES it!

So this is an overdue birthday post, which means that I am sharing 5 things I have learned from P.  And trust me, P has taught me a LOT, so it was easy to find 5 things that she has taught me.  The hard part was deciding on only 5!

5 - Retail "math".  You may thing 500 + 100 - 75 = 525.  But trust me, it often = 356 and P has taught me to accept such things.

4 - How to read EDI.  If you don't know what EDI means, that's ok.  I don't read it as often or as well as P, but she taught me.  And I can still hold my own.

3 - How to speak P.  "If you were me, and you had been working on a spreadsheet about Germ-X sales in flu season 2007, what would you have called it?  And where would you have filed it?"

2 - Approved stops.  Not all places make the cut.  In fact, very few do for a road trip.  But Flying J always does.

1 - Excel.  Yep, pretty much the whole thing.  I could open Excel and do basic things, but anything I can do beyond that came from P.  And I know I'm not the only one she's taught.  She be good like that.

So Happy!  Happy! P!  Sorry this is so late, but I hope it brings a smile now and makes you feel special today!

Birthday Boy R!

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday to R!

TODAY is R's DAY!

Now before I begin to talk about 5 things that I have learned from R, let me admit up front that this man will most likely never read this, because quite frankly R doesn't have time to read this!  He is currently working 1.x full-time jobs / ministry, plus raising 3 boys, plus being a loving husband.  R doesn't have time for a birthday today much less to read this!  But in case he gets 3 minutes of "free" time, here are 5 things I've learned from or about R.

5 - Gaming is serious business.  Seriously.  R knows games.  He is even helping to develop a game that they hope to take to market someday.  Who does this?  R.  R does this.  Cause he be cool like dat.

4 - Gaming is all about relationships.  R has taught us many games - and done so very patiently.  We would so be gaming rookies for the collection in R's arsenal, but he never even so much as rolls his eyes at us when we are learning.  Cause gaming is about building relationships.  And R knows this full well.

3 - Music is life.  Not just a part of life.  Not just R's life.  Music is life.  Have you ever thought about where music came from?  How it started?  Why our voices (to various degrees of "enjoyment"!) can make music?  Did you know that the Bible talks about God singing over us?  I've heard pastors talk about how God didn't just speak creation into being but sang creation into being.  I like that idea.  It makes perfect sense to me that something as amazing as creation would elicit poetry and song.  It has for centuries by men, so why wouldn't it have done so from the Originator, the Creator?  Yep, music is life.

2 - Give until you have nothing else to give and then give a bit more.  Cause God's supply never runs out.

1 - Trust God.  Period.  He is leading - even if all we see is enough light to lamp our feet.  (Psalm. 119:105)

Happy!  Happy!  Birthday R!  We hope it is WONDERFUL and love you very much!  Like your dad says frequently, we are so proud of you, and I am one grateful lady to know you.  Thanks for letting your kiddos call me Grandma.  Warms my heart more than I could ever express.  Love you all!

Birthday Girl A!

Happy!  Happy Birthday to A!

I said a couple of months ago that I was going to post about 5 things I've learned from each family member on their birthday.  I've missed at least one birthday already, and I will try to make that up in some way.

But TODAY!  TODAY is A's Day!

So here are five things I've learned from this lady that I love dearly.  She has been such a gift to all of us, but most especially to S.  And A has been a most vital part in the gift that Lady L is to us.

5 - God is our ever present help in times of trouble.  Psalm 46:1.  A knows this from experience, and seems almost unflappable at times because she has learned it so well.

4 - Everyone has worth.  A never forgets this.  And lives it.  And not just for a living.

3 - A taught me that while grandsons are WONDERFUL, granddaughters are also WAY SPECIAL.  We got to watch Lady L a few weekends ago and had the best time with her - even if I did dress her wrong on the last day...sigh...Mimi still has much to learn!

2 - God makes beautiful things out of the dust...out of us...

1 - How to give good gifts.  A "wins" Christmas most every year for giving the best relational gifts. And she is teaching S and all of the rest of us about giving.  I doubt that I will ever learn half of what this lady knows about giving.

Happy!  Happy!  Love you Mrs. A!

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

As promised and as some have requested!

It may look like a lot, but it's really not hard.  And if you make the filling ahead of time, it's really easy to put it together just before baking, and you're ready to serve in under an hour.  The whole pie can be frozen for 1 - 2 weeks, too, but the baking time would need to increase about another 10 - 15 minutes.

One other thing - I've allowed for flexibility in the recipe so that you can decide your desired thickness of the sauce.  It tastes yummy regardless of the thickness!  But if you want a perfectly shaped pie wedge, then go with the higher amount of flour to stock ratio.  I'm good to just scoop it with a big old spoon - or skip a serving spoon and bowl and just start digging in!

Hope you enjoy trying this!

Chicken Pot Pie

2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts or tenders

1 medium onion

2 cloves garlic

1 cup diced carrot (about 2 medium peeled carrots)

1 cup diced celery (about 2 celery ribs)

1 – 2 T. dried sage (to taste)

1 – 2 T. dried parsley (to taste)

1 – 2 T. dried thyme (to taste)

Salt & Pepper to taste

2 T. olive oil

2 – 4 T. butter

2 – 4 T. flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 packet chicken enhancer

1 – 2 T. Dijon mustard (to taste)

1 – 2 T. Ranch dressing (optional, to taste)

Dash of soy sauce (optional, to taste)

1 t. brown sugar (optional, to taste)

1 cup frozen peas

Pie crusts for two-layer 9” pie

Egg Wash (1 egg beaten with 1 T. milk, cream or water)

¼ to ½ cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Parmesan, Pepper Jack, etc.)

Cut chicken into ½” to 1” cubes, removing any tough tendons.  Sauté chicken in 1 T. olive oil until lightly brown.  Season with salt, pepper and herbs.  Remove to plate and keep warm. 

In the same pan, sauté onion, garlic, carrot and celery in 1 T. olive oil.  Season with herbs.  Continue to sauté until vegetables are crisp tender and lightly browned.  Remove vegetables to plate and keep warm. 

In the same pan, melt 2 – 4 T. butter, depending upon desired sauce thickness.  Add 2 – 4 T. flour and stir with a whisk 1 – 2 minutes to cook and brown the flour.  Whisk in the chicken stock and cook until sauce starts to thicken, about 5 minutes.  Add chicken enhancer, herbs, salt, pepper, mustard, ranch dressing, soy sauce and brown sugar and continue to cook to desired thickness.  It should at least leave a path on the back of a spoon when a finger is drawn through.

Return chicken and vegetables to pan and stir together.  Mixture may be chilled until ready to bake; sauce will continue to thicken in the refrigerator. 

Preheat oven to 375°.  Roll/place bottom crust in 9” pie pan.  Add frozen peas to chicken mixture and place in crust.  Roll/place top crust over meat mixture and crimp.  Pierce/decorate as desired to allow steam to escape.  Brush top with egg wash.

Bake for 35 minutes.  Remove and add grated cheese to top.  Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes until golden brown and bubble.  Let rest 10 – 15 minutes before serving.

Pie Night 2015!

Pie Night 2015 is in the books!

I wish I could say it was a 100% Success, but alas, I know of at least three failures...

1 - This pic.

Uh, Deb, what pic?

Exactly!  I FAILED to get a pick of the Morrison Family 2015.  GRRRR!!!  Next year, I promise!  I am hereby establishing a new rule.  NO pie will be cut or eaten until the Morrison Family Pie Night pic is taken!

So let it be written...so let it be done.  (Extra credit for those old enough to catch that reference.)

2 - This pie.

This one was for KR...a Banoffee (banana toffee) but we couldn't cut it.  I thought it was the crust we couldn't cut through, but it was totally the toffee.  Long after KR had tried to eat it, I dug into it with my fingers to try and figure out what was wrong and realized that the toffee was like leather.  Can we say "Redo!"  K - I totally owe you a new one!  I've found another recipe that I want to try and send to you by way of SR.  Soon!

3 - This pie...the biggest fail of all.

That's right.  It was a Chocolate Strawberry Tart...a repeat of the one I made for A from last year...but it didn't quite make it to the table.  The floor got to enjoy it instead?  Sorry again A!

Ok, so let's get to the 83.59% successes, starting first with the pies I made for work.  See, we moved Pie Night back to the night before Thanksgiving this year...so I didn't have a work Pie Day with all of the leftovers.

So what else is a girl to do but make a pie for each of a few coworkers?

We had turtle for SR (a different SR than the above SR, just so we're clear!)

And a Combo Berry for D...

plus a Pumpkin for R...

...and finally a Chicken Pot Pie for C.  (I will share the recipe for this one soon, cause it's a keeper!)

I think we had about 20 pies this year...not counting our fails....

Here's another view of the table, anchored by our Thomas Pie.

What's a Thomas Pie you ask?  The brain child of our very own J-man.  However he didn't share this choice with us until about 2pm on Pie Day....what to do?  What to do?  Well, B, suggested using the cookie cutter we had to form some shapes...and before we knew it, we had Thomas!

A little cinnamon sugar for flavor and baking...he turned out rather cute!

In addition to a repeat of the Chicken Pot above, we had the Guinness Shepherd's...smothered in garlic mashed...is once a year often enough?

No, no it's not.  Sigh.

And now in no particular order, the rest...

...for B-man (you haven't really met him yet...), but he goes with C & D....

(oh and PS - Gingerbread Pie - not so much a keeper...)

...for C (B-man's C) - French Silk!  (I will introduce you to C soon!)

And D had his usual Apple.

P had Apple, too...except...it was my first venture into gluten-free and dairy-free...I won't say that I was successful at it either.  I did learn one thing...coconut flour browns WAY fast!

We had another Turtle for J...garnished with homemade toffee...

...and Mocha for R...and this time I got it right!  (unlike last year...sigh...)

Let's see...what next?  How about Eggnog for S with a couple shots of bourbon...cause...bourbon...a total cheat like one-night stand hook-up cheat easy.  But it tasted good...which just makes it that much more of a cheat!

SR (the first SR above!) asked for Crack Pie - and I need to try the real Crack Pie sometime, cause we didn't quite get this right either.  It looked right, but it wasn't the right consistency or taste...Yet!

And little TR-man had Brown Sugar - apparently a classic Southern pie, but I'd never heard of it.  S made this one.  Check out that braided crust!

K chose Oreo - always a favorite...

..and S chose a Fruit Tart like I made for K's sister's wedding last spring.  Light.  Simple.  Fruity.

As long as we are on fruit, I chose Peach...

...and we had a Strawberry for a little Lady L who loves strawberries about as much as K-man.

B had her Pumpkin - unbroken...no whipped cream!

...and G chose to combine two of his favorite flavors - Banana and Coconut.  (I liked this one!)

Last but not least, we had our Pie Night Pie...the Grand Marnier Pecan garnished with whipped cream and orange zest.  I love this pie!

You may ask why I do Pie Night?

This!  This is why I do Pie Night!

And this!

And little faces looking for a train to come out of the tunnel.

Even not so little faces like to look for the train...

Yep...it's all about the little ones and the family.  Failures or successes...if the Morrison Family has gotten together, then that's what it's all about.

It's my goal to share the Chicken Pot Pie recipe this week, so stop by again soon!