Homemade Sweet Potato Pie

There is nothing I cherished more as a child, than the times I spent with grandmother in the kitchen helping her prep meals and dishes for big holiday gatherings.

One of those fond moments included helping her get the sweet potatoes ready for her delicious pies and casseroles!  I remember that she used to boil the potatoes whole, then let them cool a bit and peel the skin back from the warm potatoes, I'd sit all wide-eyed watching  a bit of steam pipe out of each potato, just amazed at how cool, calm and collected she would be while handling each one....She's such a G.  Once the potatoes were peeled, we'd divide them up, and cube and slice them....most were used for making the candied yams and the remaining were used for the pie filling.  Well, after the peeling and cutting was done we'd.....well.....actually, all the rest is a blur to me....(record scratch) I remember something about  mashing the potatoes....and brown sugar... nutmeg....but that's about it!

I mean, don't get me wrong here....I know I can make a sweet potato pie E-Z!....I can even call up my dear grandmother (we call her Miss Kitty) and ask her how we used to make it.  It's just that....ain't nobody got time for all of that - ESPECIALLY when you're husband is a born and bred southerner who can cook and bake his tail off.  So, when I had this hairbrain idea to share how to make a homemade sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving, I knew that I wanted to share his recipe most of all.....(sorry Miss Kitty).

I promise you....I didn't marry my husband because he was a great southern cook....well, maybe a lil' bit, because....a girl can eat, but he's pretty fantastic....the great cooking skizillz is just a bonus.  ;)

When I asked him if he'd share his sweet potato pie recipe with my readers, I was a bit shocked when he said yes.  He's a private fella and quiet as kept, there also seems to be an underground secret society of recipe hiders on his side of the family (I'll never get his late grandmother's Caramel cake recipe from his aunt) so,  I just knew he'd say no; but, to my surprise, he was all for it....he even baked said pie for me - two to be exact.

What I love best about his pies is they are chock full of spices....and SO rich and buttery....and he makes a perfect pie crust.  Everyone knows a perfect crust is the crown jewel of any decent pie.  I found out his secret....he BUYS it!  LOL

For years, I turned my nose up at refrigerated pie crust, vowing every holiday to make the perfect apple pie with a crust from scratch...but, to no avail.  Meanwhile, hubby has cranked out perfect pies  with refrigerated dough, like gangbusters.  So, I gave up the ghost and let him be the Pie Making King of the house (kinda.....I've promised Thing  1 that she and I would make an apple pie for Thanksgiving...crossing fingers)  It's still a personal mission to make the perfect full from scratch pie....but I now admit, that there ain't nothing wrong with refrigerated dough - we like Pilsbury :)

Also....the texture of his pies are not dense as some other sweet potato pies I've had.  His tends to be more fluffy and light in texture....almost borderline souffle!  Also, he tops his pie with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon which I just love because it gives the pie even more flavor!  A small slice of hubby's sweet potato pie and a dollup of whipped cream for me is always a win!

I think I've made it pretty clear that I eat a Ketogenic diet most days...but I'm giving myself a pass for Thanksgiving, because I REALLY want to eat pie and a few other carb heavy dishes.....I can indulge a bit, right? (damn right I can 100+ lbs down since this time last year!)


If you're making pies this holiday and haven't made sweet potato before or want to try it a different way, test out my hubby's recipe....you'll love it! (and let me know if you do....he's sort of anxious to hear some feedback.....plus he thinks it's going to make him instafamous LOL)

Here's the recipe for you to download and print!

Are you planning on making any delicious family pie recipes?  Make sure you share them  and tag me on social media at @cwbdparties - and if you make THIS recipe, I'd love to hear what you think about it - or even any fond family Thanksgiving memories you have with your grandparents - so make sure to leave a comment below - Enjoy!

LET'S GET SOCIAL!
Find more celebrations and Halloween fun @cwbdparties on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Spooky Dessert Cups

Welcome to the 13 Days of Handmade Halloween! I've gathered 13 of my FAVORITE blogging friends to share a handmade craft to get you in the Halloween spirit! It's Day 9 and today Tiffany, from Fizzy Party is sharing several fun ideas for making spooky dessert cups!  

Halloween parties means a treats table.  The stars of the treats table are usually cake, cookies, cupcakes and pumpkin pie.  For the small treats like candy corn, gumballs and chocolate candies, I like to serve them in little cups I embellish up to match the theme of the party. This DIY is so simple and easy you can do it last minute while watching a Halloween movie.

First go to a dollar store and pick up a pack of plastic water glasses. They're the perfect size for small candies. Then hit up a craft store for stickers, clips, ribbon, feathers etc.  Or if you're like me you have all these items back in your craft room already.

Having a Poe inspired party?  Add a raven clip and use a glue dot to attach a feather to the stem.  Simple, quick and your guests will love the detail you added to an otherwise boring plastic water glass.

Haunted House themed party?  Pick up some felt, cut out a spooky face and attach to the cup with glue dots. As you can see from the slightly blurred image, this cup is haunted.

Craft stores have lots of great Halloween stickers to match any party theme.  Just peel the sticker off it's backing and attach to the glass.  Stickers stick great to the plastic cups.  Adding a little bit of ribbon gives the glass that extra detail.

Purple is a great colour for Halloween so for this last cup I attached a glittery flying witch sticker and tied a tulle pom to the stem.

I love this Halloween project because it's so simple and can match any theme.  The kids can even help you create these for the party.

That really is a versatile treat idea, Tiffany!  Thank you so much for sharing!  Looking for more Handmade Halloween treats, view our archives here!

{Cupcake Monday} Edible Cupcake Wrapper

I was absolutely over the moon when I got my Cricut Cake for Mother's Day and mentioned that I had a brilliant idea (in MY mind) to take my favorite treat - cupcakes - to another level! So, I made EDIBLE FONDANT CUPCAKE WRAPPERS!!!!

I finally got around to making one over the weekend and since I'm working on getting photos taken for my Mermaid Party Collection I thought an under the water themed wrapper would be appropriate.

I love the little fish!

 

What do you think???  Fun or what?  If you have a Cricut Machine and have the Cricut Lite Cupcake Wrappers cartridge - you can make your own with Fondant or Gum Paste.  I also think there are a few other new Party cartridges coming out that have cupcake wrappers in the collection. 

HOWEVER......since THIS GIRL is turning the big 2-5 (yeah right) on Wednesday, let's jump start the celebrating today and how's about I do a GIVEAWAY for A DOZEN FONDANT CUPCAKE WRAPPERS!!!!!  This would be a GREAT giveaway, especially for anyone currently planning a cupcake party or setting up a dessert table for a shower!!!

TO ENTER:
1. Check out the different wrappers available for the Cricut Lite Cupcake Wrapper (click on the 'images' tab under the product listing)
2.  Come back here and leave a comment below and let me know which design you like most.
3. Be a follower of this blog.
4. (Bonus Entry)  LIKE us on Facebook.
5. Please BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ALONG WITH YOUR COMMENT so I can contact you - that's MUY IMPORTANTE!!!

The contest ends on Friday, August 8th at 10 pm and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 10th.

GOOD LUCK!!!!
(BTW - I'm updating my blog....myself- I probably should pay someone to do it - but I'm super cheap and always think that I can do a better job all on my own.  In a few weeks, I'll admit that I was overly ambitious and will most likely end up paying someone with more time and experience to do it for me.  In the meantime, please enjoy the various changes that will take place on this blog.  It should be quite entertaining!)

Bubbles & Baubles Event Recap

Over the weekend I made a few 'Cupcake Wishes' confections for a my ol' chum Naleli with Quintessential Consultants. She is a jewelry consultant and hosted an event, 'Bubbles & Baubles' (If you remember I created an inspiration board for it) at local jewelry store, DRZ Jewelers and requested a variety of bite size desserts and a dessert table. I created the table as a Dessert Buffet and coordinated the desserts to match her color scheme of robin's egg blue & royal purple.

I made brownie pops (those are the ones on the purple cone), Triple Vanilla & Mocha Chocolate mini cupcakes – we put little decorative diamond rings on them for toppers, Coconut Cashew balls (SO GOOD!), Rice Crispy ‘Petit Fours’, and Raspberry Soufflé-teenies (a raspberry mousse served martini style). I also added some Lindor Truffles in champagne glasses.

The event was really nice and the store had the most unique collection of blinged out jewelry I've seen in a while.  Now I realize the reason I don’t like to wear a lot of gold is that I didn’t know how much I loved diamonds. So, now I’m a Diamond Diva!!!! LOL - Aaaayway, I met a lot of wonderful women and received a lot of compliments on everything.   If you're in the DC, MD, VA area please go to DRZ Jewelers - they have the most beautiful pieces & gift items at very reasonable prices.

Next on the agenda is to get my invitations printed and mailed out for the next event, the Where the Wild Things Are themed Halloween party for my two darlings.  I've recently started getting my daughter amped up about it by reading her the book every night before bed - by special request of course.   I've already started on decoration and dessert ideas, but there is lots more to come so stay tuned!

Keisha