Pear Custard Pie and friends

Yesterday, I baked a pie and shared it with some friends. I didn't go home this year, 'cause I'm trying to save for Rome. But it reminded me that there are loads of people who don't ever go home for Thanksgiving. We gathered together and feasted and had a great time. 





I threw this pie together in no time. It was a lot easier than any other pie I've made before because it didn't need a crust. The custard, which is the best part, bakes into a lovely filling and is hearty enough to be mistaken for a crust. 






Make this for someone you love. Or maybe even someone you just sorta like. It's easy and amazing. =]

Pear Custard Pie (Recipe from Shutterbean)

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted plus more for the pie dish
• 3 ripe but firm Comice or Bartlett pears, peeled, halved and cored
• 1/3 cup  sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I tossed in a small bit of almond extract in it, too)
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• confectioner’s sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350F; butter a 9 inch pie dish. Slice the pears 1/4 inch thick lengthwise. Arrange the slices, overlapping slices, in the dish. (The bottom layer dosen't have to be pretty, but the top one should at least try to be)

In a blender, process the melted butter, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, eggs, milk and salt until smooth.

Pour the batter over the pears; bake until golden and firm to the touch, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusting with confectioner’s sugar. Enjoy with friends or family. 

Obsessions Regarding This Moment Right Now

My mind is so full of everything right now. I'm obsessed with lots of things right now, so lets see what those are.

1. ROME!

I'm going to Rome in January!! I've never been abroad, so I'm very much excited about this. I've been reading guide books and attempting to learn (VERY) basic Italian. I really just want to be able to ask for a cup of coffee (Posso avere un espresso?). Even though it's only two weeks, I'm very eager to go. Andiamo!! 

2. Pie (Or Something Else To Bring To Thanksgiving)

This is going to be the first Thanksgiving that I haven't spent with my family. Although I am bummed about it, it gives me an excuse to bake a pie. I'm thinking a Pear Custard Pie or an apple pie. Choices choices. 

3. The Smell of Fall

The beautiful colors. The crisp air. The sound of the leaves crunching under your feet. It's so magical. I love it! But when the leaves are wet, like they have been here for a while, they just kinda cling to my shoes. It's annoying cause then they end up in my house.  Oh well.

4. Law & Order: SVU

One awful thing about Netflix is how they have multiple seasons of a great show. So, for the past few weeks, all I've been watching is SVU. Olivia Benson? Yeah, she's a badass. Stabler? Hard headed, yet lovable. I'm starting to get down to the end of the seasons, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do once I'm done. 

5. Paradis

It's French electronic band. But it's not like a normal electronic band, its way better. Words can't describe it. Just listen and fall in love. 

Fall Bucket List

If you know me in real life, you know I LOVE Joy the Baker and Shutterbean. These ladies inspire me everyday and I wish we were friends in real life. I did meet Joy in March, so I guess that kinda counts. But anyways, they have this podcast and mentioned a Fall Bucket List. And I thought. Yes. Yes, this is something I need to do. So here we go. List for improvements in my life for the Fall time!

1. Make Pumpkin Something -- Muffins, pancakes, pie. I don't know. I just want pumpkin everything!

2. Work on Fall Fashion -- Really into skinny jeans + sweater + combat boots + scarf right now, but I'd like to expand on it a little more.

3. Carve a Pumpkin -- Again. Pumpkin everything! And its an excuse to roast some seeds. Yummmm

4. Drink My Weight in Cider -- Fall is full of wonderful foods (and drinks). It's only Fall if you drink and eat tons of wonderful food.

5. Keep Biking (Even When It's Cold) -- I didn't bike hardly at all last Fall, and it's so amazing riding over crunching leaves. I really should do this more often.

6. Start A Podcast -- I've been wanting to do this for ages, so I think it's time I start one.


What are your Fall Bucket List items??

3. Get A Passport -- 21 Before 21

So today, I stood in line for an hour at the post office so I could apply for my passport. Have you ever been to a post office in the middle of a city at noon? Yeah. Don't do it. It's not fun. It's crowded and no one will help you for the first 20 minutes that you're there. But. In the end. It was worth it. In 4-6 weeks, I will have a passport. What am I going to do with said passport? Lots of things. More to come on that later. 

Getting Out Of A Funk

So. If anyone has noticed. I've been in a funk. Blech. It sucks. I feel unmotivated and stuck. BUT! I'm working on it. For reals this time.

One thing I did? Visited LUSH and totally treated myself. Got a solid shampoo bar for my new short hair (which I love!) and a face mask. Also got some samples of other things that make my skin very very happy. I spent about an hour in there with these really lovely ladies and they helped me pick out everything that was perfect for me. Its amazing what a few new beauty items can do for ones routine.

Cooking something new each week is something else to try. This week, I made borscht. Oh man. If you have never tried it, please. Stop reading this right now and go do it. It will change your thoughts on beets forever. They are heavenly. I need to make this Chocolate Beet Cake from Joy the Baker now.  

Getting a new sweater (now that it's FINALLY starting to feel like fall) is on my to-do list. Even though it's a bad habit, retail therapy can help with a funk. So can cleaning out old clothes. Mocking me in the corner of my room is a HUGE bag of clothes that I need to sell/donate. Once that's gone and I have more room for things, life will seem a little more balanced. If you hear of any sales or anything for fall stuff, let me know. Cool? Cool.

So, yeah. That's how I do it. How do you guys get yourselves out of a funk?

 

19. Shave My Head

I did it. I shaved my head. Its wonderful. I love it. :-) Life is good.

I was really nervous doing it, but I'm so glad I did. I feel feminine and lovely. I encourage everyone to do it!

Louisville -- Day 2

So much to do in L-ville! Check it out!

Day 2 of Louisville! Naomi and I went to the Frazier History Museum and then strolled around downtown for a bit. There were tons of things to take pictures of! So great. Here are some pictures from our adventure. 

What I Wore :: July 10, 2012

I went to go see my friend Naomi of What Naomi Loves in Louisville last week! We spent part of the day at the Frazier History Museum and found perfect spots to take outfit photos downtown! That huge thing behind me? That's the HUGE bat in front of the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. So fun. 

Dress :: Forever 21

Belt :: Came with another dress

Shoes :: TOMS 

Sunglasses :: Ray Bans

Pin :: Thrifted

Hair Scarf :: Thrifted

Watch :: Urban Outfitters

Louisville -- Day 1 (Plus Crossing Something Off My List)

Last week, I went to go visit my good friend Naomi of What Naomi Loves in Louisville!! It was wonderful, and I'm so happy I got to spend some time with her. This was my first trip without my parents (though I did see my mom for a minute while I was in Louisville), so I got to cross something off my list! Here are some pictures from the trip!

These were the bike racks all over the city. I thought they were so dreamy. 

Painted turkey in a parking lot. 

A beagle puppy that Naomi was watching.

Beautiful shoe display. 

Tandem bike!!

Sleepy puppy.

I loved this shirt!

This shirt was pretty cool, too.

Frozen yogurt at Lula's. 

Hula hooping! This took forever to get. 

More tales of the trip to come!

Also, check out Naomi's Blog, too, to see more photos from my time there. =]