Minny’s Famous Chocolate Pie

If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, The Help then you know about Minny’s famous chocolate pie that everyone loves. Of course I’m talking about the version without her shit in it. I’m not much of a pie maker, but since it is National Pi Day I decided to give it a whirl!

The recipe I found is super simple, and while my pie didn’t turn out as pretty as I had hoped, it sure did end up being delicious! I also forgot to get the ingredients for whipped cream so we enjoyed it without, but it honestly didn’t need it. This fudgy pie was a huge hit and it’s creamy filling made it easy to enjoy without whipped cream!

If you feel like trying it out here’s the recipe…you won’t regret it!

Ingredients:

• 1 packaged pie crust (I used Pillsbury) or you can make from scratch
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ¾ cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• whipped cream to serve.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Ease the dough into the pie plate and gently fold the extra dough over and pinch the edges decoratively.

2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, butter, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla and salt until smooth.

3. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 45 minutes, or until the filling is set around the edges but a little jiggly in the center. Cover the crust with strips of foil 15 minutes into baking to prevent over-browning.

4. Cool the pie on a rack before cutting. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Happy National Pi Day everyone! I hope you enjoy this recipe…I’m off to watch The Help while enjoying another slice of Minny’s Famous Chocolate Pie! 

Here are a few things I recommend getting from this post:

The Help (book) // Glass Pie Plate, 9.5-Inch // Duralex Stackable Glass Bowl Set, 2 oz // Airtight Chalkboard Canister Jar (Set of 3) // Sur La Table Copper-Plated Measuring Spoons // Mud Pie Mixing Bowl Set, White // Classic Wood Rolling Pin // Cloth Napkins, Blush

Gimme Some Sugar {Cookies}

When it comes to Valentine’s Day and gifts I’m a big fan of keeping things simple. While it’s nice to do extravagant things for your loved ones every now and then, there is something to be said for a small box of chocolates. Or better yet a batch of sugar cookies.

These heart shaped sugar cookies are a small gesture to show someone just how much you care. Not to mention they are super soft and delicious. I could’ve had about ten of these if I didn’t stop myself.

Valentine Heart Cookie Recipe:

• 1 cup butter, room temp.
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon water
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

-Cream sugar, butter, and vanilla.

-Add egg and water. Beat until fluffy.

-Combine baking powder, salt, and flour separately. Then slowly combine to wet mixture.

-Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour. Then roll out with flour and use cookie cutter to cut into hearts.

-Bake at 375 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Do not let the edges turn brown 🙂

Icing:

Mix 2 cups of powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Then stir in 1 teaspoon of milk at a time to reach your desired consistency. Also, add a drop or two of pink food coloring to the icing and spread on cookies!

These cookies didn’t even last one day in my house, but if by some chance they do last, they’ll also go great with coffee the next morning! Here are most of the letters of this World Market mug: A, B, C, D,  E,  G,  H,  J, K,  L, M,  N,  P,  R,  S,  T

Sending everyone lots of love this Valentine’s Day! I hope your day has been filled with flowers, chocolates and now lots of sugar cookies… enjoy 🙂

You can find my other kitchen supplies here:

Gimme Some Sugar Apron

Wilton 3 Piece Hearts Cutter Set

Pink Silicone Rolling Pin

Cooling Rack

Wilton Gel Food Color Set, Primary

Chocolate Football Cookies

I know that people love the Superbowl for the game and the commercials but I love it for the snacks. And since the Raiders didn’t make this year I’ll definitely be sitting at the food table all Sunday long. If you’re anything like me and live for the snacks or you just need something to bring to the party, you’re going to love these chocolate football cookies!

These chocolate cookies are not only super cute and perfect for the super bowl but they are also chewy and delicious! You might want to double the batch because they’ll be gone before the halftime show. Here’s the recipe:

Chocolate Football Cookies:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Mix together butter, cocoa, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
• Blend on medium speed until smooth.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
• Form a ball with the cookie dough and roll it out.
• Cut into football shapes using a Football Cookie Cutter and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 to 14 minutes until the edges are firm.
• Cool the cookies before moving or icing.
• I used melted white chocolate to frost but you can use regular icing as well.

I hope everyone has a blast this Superbowl Sunday and be sure to share this delicious recipe with your friends!

What are some of your favorite Superbowl recipes?!

Best Donuts in Nashville

My friend and I took a quick trip to Nashville over NYE weekend and the majority of our time was spent eating. Whether it was barbecue, tacos, or late night drunchies, our trip pretty much revolved around what our next meal would be!

I had heard so many great things about Five Daughters Bakery in Nashville that I had to check it out for myself. It was so delicious, I had to go back a second time before we headed home. My favorite donut was the simple vanilla sugar and my friend Jamie loved the vanilla cream!

Nothing is sweeter than family!

While the donuts were amazing, I also loved the story behind the bakery. The bakery is owned and operated by a young couple and their five daughters. The husband just so happens to be a third generation baker (hence the friggin delicious donuts)! The bakery is bright and colorful and when you walk in it just feels super homey. There are family pictures on the walls, as well as adorable signs and decorations. They even had a christmas tree up in the front room!

They also are a company that values giving back! In the front of their shop they were selling a few goodies and had a bunch of information on an organization called Given Ministries. Given works to rescue children and their families from trafficking and slavery around the world. Their mission is to rescue, restore, and reentry. Not only do they remove people physically from these enslaved situations but they offer rehabilitation to restore their emotional health as well. Lastly, they work on reentry, to give these people the necessary skills to form a career so they never have to look back. Learn more about this awesome organization here: http://www.givenministries.org

It truly was an great experience visiting Five Daughters Bakery and I can’t wait to go back soon! What is your favorite local bakery?! I’d love to visit one day!

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Chocolate Dream Loaf

If you hadn’t already guessed, I have an insane sweet tooth. And I’m not saying I have a few pieces of candy here and there. I’m talking eat a dozen cookies and half the batter in one sitting kind of sweet tooth. It’ll probably be a problem for me in years to come, but hey it makes me happy so I’m not pulling this tooth anytime soon.

For those of you who also love sweets or just want to make something yummy for others, this Chocolate Dream Loaf’s name speaks for itself. It tastes like a dream come true. I’ve baked this loaf a few times now and every single time it turns out just so damn moist. I sliced off a piece of this loaf three days after making it and it was just as fresh and delicious as day one.

I love this recipe because it’s super easy to make (though does make quite a few dirty dishes) and it also makes a great gift!

You can find the recipe here:

CHOCOLATE DREAM LOAF

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Whole Milk
• 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
• 1/4 cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 1/2 cup Flour
• 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 6 tbsp. Butter, softened
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F and grease a 9 x 5-in loaf pan.

2. In a bowl, whisk milk into cocoa powder to make a smooth paste; then whisk in the yogurt and set aside.

3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs one at a time and vanilla extract.

5. Take turns stirring in flour mixture and milk mixture, making around 3 additions of each at a time. Fold in chocolate chips.

6. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 min. Let cool in pan for 15 min. Turn over onto rack, remove the pan and let it cool completely.

7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!

I put together a list of a few of the necessary and affordable kitchen supplies! You can shop for them below:

• 9 Inch Loaf Dish, Red
• Baker’s Secret Nonstick Cooling Rack, Set of 2
• 5-Piece Airtight Food Storage Container
• Pyrex Prepware 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set
• KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer, Empire Red
• Set of 4, 18″ x 18″ Napkin, Red Plaid

Spiked Peppermint Hot Cocoa

I’m currently flying over these seriously magical clouds on my way to Cleveland and it made me think of this delicious whipped cream I made the other day.

I used the whipped cream on just about everything I could think of. It was perfect on a cup of my favorite spiked peppermint mocha hot cocoa. I wanted to share this heavenly recipe with you just in time for Christmas! Hot cocoa during the holidays is a must but sometimes it’s fun to spice things up by adding some peppermint schnapps and Bailey’s. You can make it without the alcohol though if you are under 21 or just don’t drink and it tastes just as good!

Here is the recipe to warm your soul this holiday season!

Ingredients:

SPIKED PEPPERMINT MOCHA HOT CHOCOLATE

• 1 1/2 cup Whole Milk
• 1/3 cup Coffee-Mate Peppermint Mocha Creamer
• 5 1/2 ounces Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
• 3 tablespoons Irish Cream, optional
• 2 tablespoons Peppermint Schnapps, optional
• Marshmallows, Crushed Peppermint Candy Canes, or Whipped Cream Cutouts

WHIPPED CREAM CUTOUTS

• 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 tablespoons Sugar

DIRECTIONS:

SPIKED PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

Add the milk, peppermint mocha creamer, and chocolate to a small pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat, mixing constantly with a whisk.

Continue to cook on low for about 1 minute, while whisking. Then turn off the heat, and slowly stir in the peppermint schnapps and Irish cream.

Serve immediately, topping with either whipped cream, marshmallows, peppermint, or all of the above!

WHIPPED CREAM

In a chilled bowl add the cream and sugar and whisk at a medium speed until the cream begins to thicken.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the whipped cream out into an even layer. Place in the freezer for a few hours or until completely firm. Using a cookie cutter cut out shapes of the whipped cream and store in a freezer-safe container until ready to use!

Important:

Do not serve alcoholic beverages to persons under age 21. This recipe can be prepared without the Irish cream for serving to minors, or anyone who does not consume alcoholic beverages.

How do you guys like your hot cocoa?! I’d love to hear!