How To: Blind Bake a Pie Crust

With Thanksgiving fast approaching you may see pie recipes that call for “blind-baking” or “pre-baking” your pie crust. This is a very simple step that may be highly confusing to some cooks, especially if you don’t often bake pies.The first thing you need to realize is that blind-baking is VERY easy. You are simply prebaking the pie crust before you add the filling. This is most commonly called for when you have a cream filling or anything else that you don’t need to bake. Here are a few steps you can follow if you need to blind-bake your crust.First, you will want to use pie weights. This is key, in that if you don’t you will end up with a shrunken pie crust. If there is no filling inside the crust will slide down the sides while baking and you will end up with something that is unusable.If you don’t have pie weights on hand, you can simply use rice! I know, it’s a cool little hack that will save you a bunch of time searching for pie weights and money. You can reuse the rice over and over again since it never actually touches the pie. I keep mine in a ziplock bag after I use it and it has cooled. I just make sure to clearly label the bag so I don’t accidentally use this rice for cooking.You want to fill the pie crust as full as possible with rice. This will prevent any sliding of the crust what so ever. Make certain to put a piece of foil or baking parchment down first or else you will never get all the rice out of the crust.Bake your pie crust at the temp called for on the box or in the recipe. You typically will blind-bake a crust for 15 minutes with the pie weights, then remove the weights and bake for another 10 minutes. This will ensure your crust is crispy and cooked all the way through. Make certain it does not brown too much though as that can throw the taste of the finished pie off.Once you’ve cooled your crust you can add any type of filling you like to it. I hope this clears up some of the confusion you may have around holiday pie baking. (Keep an eye on the blog next week for this amazing Maple-Pecan Cream Pie recipe!)

Cruelty Free for You & Me – A Review

Cruelty Free for You & Me is a quarterly subscription box containing cruelty free beauty items and treats for your special fur baby too. A regular box contains six full sized products made up of both beauty products and treats for your dog. When you subscribe, you get four boxes per year, each for 49.95. This is a great way for both you and your dog to try new products you might not necessarily know about otherwise.I was sent a sample subscription box to review. It contained four different full sized products. I received two different types of dog treats and two different beauty items. Pond was sent grain free, coconut banana bite sized treats and lactose free, grain free cheese treats. I was sent a Skinveda Rose and Sesame face masque and Brija cream blush.Customer service was excellent. Every time I sent an email I was responded to quickly and each of my questions was answered completely. I was able to choose which beauty item I wanted out of three different options.Pond absolutely loved her new treats! I also felt good giving her the treats since they don’t have any nasty ingredients. Her favorites are the Cheese Please! treats. Every time I go to get them out she is always sitting there waiting for some new treats.The beauty items are very interesting. I like the Brija blush, it makes for a very nice highlight color with my complexion. It also is a great green beauty item. I hope to do a company review on them in the future.The Skinveda masque is another story though. The ingredients include ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol and Polysorbate 80. These ingredients are either potentially toxic or have been known to cause contact dermatitis. Since my skin is so sensitive I typically try to avoid chemical laden products. I already have two different fantastic all natural, all clean masks so I won’t be using this product again. I will probably end up taking it to my sisters the next time I see them.I may purchase of the full sized subscription boxes in the future. I will probably need to see what type of products, and how clean/green they are, before I decide on a future box. Pond definitely approves of the things that were sent to her!

Spiced Apple Cupcakes with Spiced Cider Cream Cheese Frosting

With the harvest season closing fast apples are seriously in season right now! I wanted to try making a cupcake full of fresh apples and topped with spiced cider. I wanted to really capture the taste of the current season and embrace everything that is fantastic about it.The frosting is my favorite part of these. It is sweet yet full of fantastic spiced cider taste. I’ve used Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider but any you might be able to find will work. I would highly suggest using locally sourced cider if you can find any close by. You can add a little bit of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg before adding the cider to the frosting. I used about 3 cups of powdered sugar for this and it was still slightly wet in my opinion. Make certain to check the consistency of the frosting occasionally until it reaches your optimal piping consistence.These are sure to be a huge hit at any harvest or fall party! They would even be ideal for a Thanksgiving dessert. You can easily double the recipe if you are planning to feed a large crowd.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:135]Source: Adapted from Food.com

Gluten Free – Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Scones

These were an adventure into the unknown.  I’ve never actually made scones before, either with regular flour or gluten free. We also had some friends coming over who avoid dairy so this was the perfect recipe to try!You can make a few substitutions to this recipe in order for it to be Paleo. I simply didn’t have everything on hand to make it that way. You will need to replace the baking powder with a Paleo baking powder, (1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda, 1 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar, ¼ Teaspoon Arrowroot Starch) the shortening with a non-hydrogenated shortening and the sugar with coconut palm sugar. The way I have it written below is simply gluten and dairy free.Everyone thoroughly enjoyed these scones. They are light, flaky and full of great flavor. I’ve used Enjoy Life Chocolate chips in this recipe in order to keep it free of allergens. If you’re not avoiding dairy you can feel free to use any type of mini chocolate chips you like. These are great for a breakfast treat, afternoon tea or simply entertaining guests.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:134]Source: Adapted from Gluten Free on a Shoestring – Nicole Hunn

Maple-Caramel Popcorn

Alex has been begging me to make another batch of my Caramel Popcorn and I finally had time to oblige. Since I try to never make the exact same thing twice, I decided to add maple syrup for a more complex finished flavor. And let me just tell you, this stuff is addicting! I actually doubled this batch since we were going to have company and they finished it off in a matter of hours.The maple and caramel flavors combine beautifully in this recipe. The finished product is an insanely delicious, fall flavored popcorn. I used Trader Joe’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup but you can use any maple syrup you have on hand, although I think a lighter maple syrup would lend a better flavor to this recipe.You can easily whip up a batch of this in under five minutes, the longest thing you have to do is bake the popcorn. This is a great recipe for a party or if you need something to impress your guests.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:133]

Red Apple Lipstick - A Review

I have to admit, I absolutely LOVE the formulation of Red Apple Lipsticks. It is silky smooth, goes on creamy and stays on all day long. They have a wide array of colors so no matter what you’re looking for you will most likely find it from them. They are gluten free, paraben free, cruelty free and carmine free. There are no nasty chemicals or fillers in any of their products, just clean, safe and natural ingredients!I have two of the full size products that I purchased myself, and RAL sent me several samples to review! The full sized products (the ones I purchased myself) I will be reviewing at a later date. This post is simply dedicated to the sample products I was sent.I received six different sample colors from RAL along with a sample of their Ralley Balm. There were some colors I fell in love with and others I wasn’t too crazy about.Hollypeno – This is an absolutely fantastic color! It is a bright vibrant red color perfect for the holidays. I got so many compliments when wearing this color. My only complaint about this lipstick is that it doesn’t dry down very fast, so if you get your hands anywhere near your mouth you’ll  probably be wearing this bright red color all over your face. Also, after eating most of it had rubbed off and I was left with a “lipliner” like line around my lips. However, I’ve come to the realization that the key to this color is blotting, this will get it to dry faster and you’ll be less likely to track it all over your face. I always get a TON of compliments any time I wear this lipstick.Audrey – This is a great pinky nude color for my skin tone. I absolutely loved the way this color looked. It was very understated yet brilliant. It paired perfectly with a more dramatic eye. It dried quickly onto my lips and stayed pretty much the rest of the day even though I ate. I had to use a makeup remover at the end of the day in order to get it all off.Mauve Me – This was the best of the mauve colors. It wasn’t too much on the dark side. Once I blotted it out it was a great medium dark color for me. I don’t think I’ll purchase this one right away, but I could definitely see getting this one in the future.Ralley Balm – This was a very interesting product. When I put it on my lips it was very heavy but did a good job at moisturizing my lips. However my lips don’t really have an issue with being too dry and if they are ever dry Root’s Pretty Balms do the trick for me. I LOVED this product though when I put it on my cracked cuticles. It healed them within a few days use. I have already purchased a full size of this. I do wish it came in a pot or tub though since it would be easier to apply to my cuticles and heels.Maven Mauve, Gypsy Soul, Berry Blast, Ooh La La – Ehh, these colors weren’t just for me. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the formulation, I just wasn't a huge fan of the way the colors looked on me.Red Apple Lipstick is definitely a green beauty brand to try. The formulation itself is enough to warrant purchasing a lipstick or two. However, the colors are what really sold me on trying them. A huge variety of colors means you can purchase just about anything you need.After reviewing these products I actually went back and purchased Hollypeno, Audrey and the Ralley Balm. They were just too amazing for me not to have a full-size product on hand. I have to highly recommend them for anyone looking for a bright red or nude pinky color. I might purchase additional colors I tried in the future, but for now those two were by far my favorites.The only thing I dislike about RAL is their website. It feels like an “as seen on TV” website. I understand they are trying to educate potential clients but it just comes across poorly to me. The product is fantastic though if you can get past their sadly designed website.Follow them on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterPinterest

Ginger-Cardamom Shortbread Cookies

Cardamom is pretty much my new favorite spice. I haven’t baked with it much before this summer, but when I finally tried it, I absolutely love it! It really provides a warm spicy taste and pairs well with lots of other different flavors. These cookies capture fall flavor spectacularly. They are a must try this year!This is a quick and easy treat. When you’re in a time crunch this is a sure way to impress each and every one of your guests without trying very hard. The cardamom and ginger pair excellently together. The cardamom/sugar sprinkle on top lends a lovely extra pop of flavor to these cookies.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:132]

Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats

I’ve never actually made rice krispie treats before this, I know right?! When I realized this I wondered how I could have gone so long without trying to make this iconic recipe. But I had a bag of pumpkin spice marshmallows in my pantry and I’ve been meaning to make this for a while.At first I thought these would be pretty terrible. But after trying them I was actually super surprised! They were pretty good. I got so many compliments on these, everyone was surprised with the flavor combination.These are a must try fall treat. They are super easy yet they will excite even the youngest of your guests. I’ve seen these bags of pumpkin spice marshmallows all over different stores, so now would be the time to try these. These are also fantastic if you need a quick treat since it will take about five minutes to make them, then you can leave them until ready to serve. Happy Baking![amd-yrecipe-recipe:131]

Gluten Free Black Bottom Cupcakes

The last time I was at my parent’s house I had a fantastic version of black bottom cupcakes. I decided that I finally had to figure out a gluten free version. I love the combination of chocolate cupcake and delicious cheesecake filling.You will notice in the photos that the filling is just sitting on top of the cupcakes. I didn’t mean to have such a light filling though! I changed the filling in the recipe below so it is heavier and will sink into the cupcake rather than just sit on the top. I prefer it when black bottom cupcakes have a filling inside rather than all over the top.These are a great idea if you need a quick and tasty treat. Since you don’t need to add any icing, that takes out a typical cupcake step. You can easily whip a batch of these up whenever you need a dessert to impress your guests.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:130]

Vapour Organic Beauty - A Review

I’m constantly on the lookout for new green beauty products and companies. Most of the time I really love them, however, this is not the case with these products. I debated if I really even wanted to post a negative review here on the blog, but I want to be honest with you about the products I try, especially when it comes to if I like them or not. I personally purchased Siren Lipstick in Magnetic and Elixir Plumping Gloss in Mischief from Vapour Organic Beauty.The one thing these products had going for them was the packaging. The packaging on the lip gloss and lipstick are absolutely beautiful! The lipstick comes in a very sturdy tube and is the perfect size to stash in your purse or handbag.  The lip gloss has a beautiful aluminum top, but the brush like applicator is incredibly messy.Aside from the packaging I didn’t like these products one bit. The colors are OK, but they are only a tiny bit pigmented once you put them on your lips. I also found that I had a bunch of feathering around my lips after just a few minutes of wear. I would absolutely have to wear liner if I used this on a regular basis.My first complaint is that Vapour has very few Carmine-free products. If you’re not familiar with carmine: it is a natural red dye made from crushed up beetle scales. Companies who create natural makeup will often use it to achieve a red color. While I don’t have a huge reaction to carmine, I do itch enough to want to avoid it (I also find the idea of it disgusting). It is not Vegan, so if you are worried about it look for companies who are listed as Vegan and make sure to carefully read ingredients.My biggest complain though is the smell/taste of these products. I literally can’t keep them on my lips for more than a few minutes at a time! The smell reminds me of grape cough syrup and the taste is nasty and pretty bitter.Sadly I won’t be purchasing any other products from them and I may not even keep the ones I already have. Next time I see my sisters I plan on seeing if either of them can stand the smell and taste and if they do I’d give them these products.

Birthday Treat Ideas

Happy Birthday to ME! Here are a few of my favorite recipes that would make for a fantastic birthday celebration:Chocolate Birthday Cake CupcakesGluten Free Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Zucchini CakeGluten Free Chocolate Almond CupcakesChocolate Cardamom Cupcakes with Cinnamon Orange ButtercreamSalted Caramel and Chocolate Cupcakes

“Box Mix” Gluten Free Brownies

After last week when I had such great success with making “box mix” brownies, I thought I’d try a gluten free version! This is great to keep in your pantry and whenever you need a quick sweet treat you can easily pull it out and make them.If you’d like to make a family size (13x9) batch of these simply double both the mix recipe and the baking portion of the recipe. You can feel free to add nuts if desired and leave out the chocolate chips if you don’t prefer your brownies with them.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:129]

Halloween Party Treat Ideas

With Halloween tomorrow, here are a couple of ideas for party treats your guests will absolutely love!Caramel PopcornImpossible Pumpkin Pie CupcakesChocolate Pumpkin PieDark Chocolate and Pumpkin BrowniesPumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Maple Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Toasted Pecans

Alex requested that I make cupcakes again for his office, and since I’ve been trying to make as many pumpkin treats as possible I decided on this recipe. I picked up a jar of Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup from Trader Joe’s and thought this would be the perfect place to try using it.I have to admit the frosting on this is incredible! It is one of my favorite frostings I’ve made so far. It is a wonderful blend of tart cream cheese and sweet maple syrup. The pecans add the perfect crunch to the top of it.These received rave reviews from Alex’s office. He even told me several people said they don’t normally like nuts but these were fantastic! If you’re looking for a great fall treat this is the perfect one for you.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:128]Source: Cake adapted from Kiss My Bundt – Chrysta Wilson

October Favorites

Here are a few things I’ve been absolutely loving in the month of October!ZoombinisThe last month I’ve been OBSESSED with this game! This was one of the first computer games I actually remember playing and I loved it then, and I love it just as much now. The game consists of a bunch of logic puzzles that you have to solve in order to safely get the Zoombinis to Zoombini Isle. It is available on the google and apple app stores.BlindspotAlex and I have absolutely been loving Blindspot this fall. Whenever we see a new episode it is alwasys the first thing we watch, no matter how behind we are on other shows. We’ve been watching it on Hulu, but there are some episodes available on NBC’s website.Root Micellar WaterThis has been a miracle product for me. I received a sample portion of this product in last month’s Pretty Club and have been using it almost daily since. I am in love! The full size is now available on their website. You will absolutely love this product from the moment you try it!!!Au Naturale – African Affair LipstickWhile I’m not a huge fan of the formulation of this lipstick, the color is incredible! It is a deep plum color that looks amazing for fall. It has been my go to lipstick for the last several weeks. You can read my review on Au Naturale here.

“Box Mix” Brownies

Sometimes you just need an easy dessert, most often I turn to box mixes to fulfil this need. However, I really hate using these since they just don’t taste like homemade. I wanted to fix this. I decided that I needed to create a homemade “box mix” brownies.These are SO easy to make! And when they’re finished they taste great! Everyone who ate them absolutely loved them. You can of course adapt them to whatever you like. The ones I made had semi-sweet chocolate chips in them. However, you can certainly add different chocolate chips or nuts if you prefer.The mix will stay good in the glass jar for several months. These would make excellent gifts come Christmas time, or they can be an easy dessert whenever you need it. You can make these in a large batch and simply put them in the jars (or a ziplock bag) for later.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:127]

Gluten Free Three Cheese Casserole

This is a recipe I make all the time. It is quick, easy and very yummy. The original recipe was something my Mother makes all the time and when I went gluten free this was one of the first recipes I switched over.I realized the other day though, that this was one I hadn’t yet included on the blog! I decided I needed to fix this immediately and post it right away. This is a great recipe for when you need a quick dinner, you can also prep it a few days before and simply bake when you are ready to eat.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:126]

Gluten Free Pumpkin, Cream Cheese and Chocolate MuffCakes

These aren’t exactly cupcakes and they aren’t exactly muffins. Hence the name, muffcakes! They however, are absolutely delicious! They are completely light, fluffy and the cream cheese/chocolate center pairs perfectly with the pumpkin spice outside.I sent these to work with Alex after keeping one at home for myself. I was quite sad though, after I’d eaten mine, and when Alex didn’t bring any extras home from work. These are treats I will make again and again. I’m even working on a chocolate (black bottom) version of these.You absolutely need to try these muffcakes. You will fall in love with them as soon as you make them. They are a great fall treat, and since they are gluten free anyone can enjoy them![amd-yrecipe-recipe:124]

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream

For the last few weeks I’ve been making pumpkin treats obsessively. If you’ve been reading the blog you’ll know this, and I certainly hope you’ve tried a few of these pumpkin treats. These are a simple pumpkin cupcake with spiced buttercream. They are excellent if you don’t want to commit a lot of time but need a great fall inspired dessert.These were the other cupcakes I took into my office. They quickly disappeared and everyone seemed to really enjoy them. I’ve topped these autumn colored with nonpareils. You can certainly top them the same way or leave them undecorated.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:125]Source: Cake adapted from Kiss My Bundt – Chrysta Wilson

Gluten Free Salted Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

When I saw these cookies on Annie-Eats I know I just HAD to try making these. However, I really wanted to be able to eat them so I decided to make them gluten free. They are of course absolutely incredible! If you don’t need to eat gluten free I suggest you head over to Annie’s blog and get her recipe for them (link is at the bottom of my post).These cookies are a great mixture of rolled oats, chocolate and salt. They have fantastic flavor that will really surprise you. The key to this recipe is to let the batter sit overnight in the fridge. I tried the dough both before I put it in the fridge and after it had sat overnight. The difference was in the blend of flavors. Before it sat overnight the dough was extremely salty, afterward the blend of flavors was perfect!I chose not to sprinkle coarse salt over the top of these cookies. I felt the cookies themselves were salty enough without it. I would highly suggest trying a cookie without the extra salt and seeing if you need it. Make sure you have a flaky sea salt, don’t use Kosher Salt, this will add WAY too much salt flavor. A nice fluer de sel would set it off nicely though.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:123]Source: Adapted from Annies-Eats