Travel - Things to do in the Outer Banks!

After spending a long weekend in the picturesque villages along the Outer Banks, I can't believe it took me this long to visit!  Yes, it is a 10-hour drive from the north side of metro Atlanta, but it is truly worth every minute it takes to get there!  We only went for 4 nights but we should have stayed at least a full week - there was so much more to see!

On our first day, we went to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, which is located on Roanoke Island, in Manteo.  It was about a 15-minute drive from Kill Devil Hills. 

Earthen walls are all that remain of Fort Raleigh

Fort Raleigh is where the Lost Colony was last seen.  If you don't know this story, it is fascinating.  And over 400 years later, it is still America's longest unsolved mystery. 

Schedule your visit to the site so that you can take part in the Ranger talk.  The Ranger has great information about the history of the Fort and shares some of the possible theories of what happened to the Lost Colony.  You can walk out back and see the ruins of the original earthen walls of the fort.  The Visitor's Center has a wonderful exhibit about the history of the area, as well.  We spent about 2 hours there and enjoyed it so much! 

Down by the water, if you're there during the season, you can watch a live performance of The Lost Colony.  This Friday, May 31, they open for their 82nd season!  I hope to go back in the next year or two and see this! Here's the FB page for the play.

While you're on Manteo, visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. It's really close to Fort Raleigh.   The prices are affordable, and it's a great aquarium! We really enjoyed the Turtle rescue/hospital area, and the sting ray touch tank!  The jellyfish and sea horses are always my favorites at every aquarium, and this one didn't disappoint!  There are plenty of interactive displays for both little and big kids. 

Outside there is a long pier to walk on, a dinosaur fossil dig, and other cool things to see! A great place to visit for a few hours, for sure!!

I hope you enjoyed these fun things to do! Click the links for pages or websites to get all the information!

Thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway: I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug #BearHugs #FlyBy

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.

Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is a sweet, loving bedtime story book that is also sure to become a Valentine’s Day favorite for little ones who enjoy celebrating a day full of hugs and kisses from loved ones. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug will be available in hardcover for $16.99 in retail stores nationwide.

This book is adorable.  I loved the illustratons showing all different types of hugs!  It's fun, silly, and sweet.  The pictures are precious and complement the silly rhymes and will prepare your kiddos for bedtime and sweet dreams.

About the Author: Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. Caroline is the author of 90 Young Adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold over fifteen million copies. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are grown now.

About the Illustrator: Tim Warnes has been illustrating children's books for twenty years. He lives in Dorset, England, with his wife, children's illustrator Jane Chapman, and their two sons. When he's not drawing little critters, Tim loves to write, watch birds and play his banjo.  Visit Tim at www.ChapmanandWarnes.com

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it creates products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 14. Zonderkidz is also publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader’s Version) Bible translation, the third grade reading level edition of the NIV. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Want to win a copy of this for your family?  Enter through my rafflecopter widget below!

Giveaway - Where Jesus Slept #WhereJesusSlept #FlyBy

Can y'all believe Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK!? Then the Christmas hustle and bustle begins. Even though my kids are older, I still keep a shelf of Christmas books out for the months of November and December.  Sometimes when things get crazy, I'll sit on the couch and read one or two of them by the glow of the Christmas tree lights, just enjoying the peace and quiet for a bit. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year and I enjoy finding new Christmas books to add to our holiday bookshelf.

I was able to review a new hardcover children's book that is for sure going to be on my holiday shelf from now on!  It's called Where Jesus Slept, and it has the most darling illustrations (look at that precious Baby Jesus on the cover!) and the sweetest rhymes that tell the story of the first Christmas.  I absolutely love it.   I think y'all will enjoy it too!

Here's a little more about the book:

"This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept.” From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers young and not-so-young of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the delightful illustrations and the engaging repetition in this cumulative tale.

About the author:
Norma Lewis is the author of ten books. She lives in Grand Haven, MI, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty.    Illustrated by Katy Hudson.

It's perfect for ages 4-7 and retails for $16.99.  It will surely become a Christmas must-read for your family too!



I have a copy of Where Jesus Slept to give away to one of my readers!  Just enter via my rafflecopter widget below.

Don't forget - you have to leave a comment below this post as your mandatory entry. Without that, no other entries will count, so you won't be eligible to win if you don't complete that mandatory entry.

Remember to share this post with your family and friends using the share buttons at the bottom of this post under my signature!  Good luck!

Giveaway: ESV Family Devotional Bible

Hi y'all!

I have a fantastic Family Devotional Bible to share with y'all today! I absolutely love this Bible/Devotional.  It's the ESV (English Standard Version) hardcover, and it is a great way to bring your family together for Bible Study and Devotional time.

David & I have only had time to do a few of these together, but so far, we both agree they are wonderful.  Lovely full-color illustrations accompany key Bible stories (there are 130 total). The complete ESV text is interspersed with engaging illustrations and gospel-centered readings. Each reading is placed within the Bible text where it is found.  A few of the stories you'll find - "Jacob's Dream, Moses and the Plagues, Ruth and her Redeemer, God's Promise to King David,  Daniel in the Lion's Den, The Last Supper,  The Conversion of Saul, and The Amazing Vision that Jesus Gave to John.

The stories are simplified so that children of all ages will be able to understand them.  Each reading also includes discussion questions, plus a key verse.   Reading this together can help your family develop the habit of reading the Bible and applying its truth to all of your life!  It's such a great way to connect with your family in a meaningful way.

I really like the full-color maps at the back of this Bible, and the easy index of devotionals makes it easy to find each one. There is also a ribbon bookmark that helps us keep track of where we are in the Bible.   This will be a wonderful addition to our bookcase!

It is the perfect Devotional for David & I to use this summer while he is out of school.  I am really looking forward to working our way through this ESV Family Devotional Bible!  You can get your own copy from Amazon.

So happy that I have one copy to give away to one of you!   Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below:

Giveaway/Review: The Plans I Have for You Devotional & Journal #FlyBy #PlansIHave

Hey y'all! I sure hope the New Year is off to a fantastic start for you and your family!

Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to get back to our routines.  One thing we're working on this year is for my son and I to be better at taking time for reading devotionals, our Bibles, and journaling.  (gratitude, prayers) We tend to become distracted and get bogged down with school, family stuff, and just plain old busy-ness, and forget to spend enough time with God.  Today I get to tell you about a really cool kids devotional and coordinating journal that encourages kids, sharing that God has a plan and a purpose for each us, and inspiring them to learn more about that purpose! It makes me so happy that these two books will make it easy and fun for David to spend time with God every day.

I appreciate how these books speak to the child reading them.  They reach out and ask questions, inviting them to respond, pray and learn about God's plan for them. I especially love the colorful and whimsical illustrations in the devotional, and the thought-provoking questions found in the journal. These will be outstanding additions to David's library, and I can't wait for him to dive into these two books! Here are a few pics from the books, and then some more information from the publisher.

About The Plans I Have For You Devotional:
The devotional is an illustrated 90-day devotional written by bestselling children's book author Amy Parker and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, teaching and inspiring kids to dream about their future, to focus on faith, love, and joy, and recognize that God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us.

Hardcover; 160 pages
Age Range: 8-12 years

About The Plans I Have For You Journal:
The journal prompts creative thinking and exploration of the talents and personalities that make us special, and then helps explore how God may use our unique traits to spread love and joy and make the world a better place.

Stationery; 208 pages
Age Range: 11-14 years

About author Amy Parker:
Amy Parker has sold more than thirty books for children, teens, and adults.  She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son.  Two of these collaborations are recipients of Christian retailing's Best Awards, and she has also won three Mom's Choice Awards.  But Amy's greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.

About illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton:
Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter.  Her passion for children's books began when she came across The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats as a child in the 1960s.  Growing up in a musical family who love to sing, Vanessa's illustrations are as fun and whimsical as a beautiful melody.  Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charlotte, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.


Zonderkidz is sponsoring a giveaway of both of these books to one of my readers! Y'all know I love being able to share things with you that I think you will love too. Well, these books are a treasure!

So, you know the routine - I use rafflecopter for my giveaways, and I like to give you a few options to enter.  Of course, you only have to complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win, but some of you (like me!) want to have more than one entry in a good giveaway!  So enter below (if you don't see the giveaway automatically, you may need to click the link) and I'll be drawing a winner next week!

Giveaway ~ Chuck E. Cheese's all new menu for grown up tastes!

If you are a mom, you've probably spent many hours at Chuck E. Cheese with your kids.  I know I have! We've both hosted and attended many birthday parties there, and I can't even count how many times I've taken my kids for play time when it is too hot, too cold, or rainy outside! It's a great place for me to catch up with friends while our kids play and run off some energy.

My kids always liked ordering pizza there, but I usually just ate a few breadsticks.  We didn't really go for the food, it was mostly for our kids to have fun.

Well, parents - that has changed! Chuck E. Cheese has added some delicious new menu options just for us grownups!   CEO of CEC Entertainment, Tom Leverton, says "We've added new items that cater to the more sophisticated tastes of the parents who take time from busy family schedules to bring their kids into Chuck E. Cheese."

David & I attended a Taste Test at a local Chuck E. Cheese yesterday and I must say that we were surprised by how good the new menu items are!

Corporate Chef Gregory Casale was on hand to tell us about the new menu and let us try everything. He told us about their new thin and crispy crust (you can order it with any of their pizzas), and that they make their dough fresh in each store every day.  The whole-milk mozzarella cheese is freshly grated, veggies are chopped by hand - just like any pizzeria.  He shared that "The new menu boasts a wide variety of options and flavor combinations and I'm most excited about the new pizza crust and pizza options."  In a blind taste taste of 308 respondents, 59% preferred new thin and crispy Chuck E. Cheese pizza to Pizza Hut and Dominos combined!   I have to agree - I really liked the new thin and crispy crust - it's delicious!

So now you get to find out about the delicious new menu items Chuck E. Cheese has to offer!

There are two new Signature pizzas:

Cali Alfredo ~ thin and crispy crust with alfredo sauce, fresh spinach, sliced musrooms, chicken breast, sausage and freshly grated mozzarella cheese.

BBQ Chicken Pizza ~ thin and crispy crust with chicken, bell peppers, freshly grated mozzarella, crispy onions and a BBQ sauce drizzle.  (This was my favorite pizza!)

Here are the three new sandwich options:

Caesar Wrap made with whole wheat tortilla

Club Wrap made with whole wheat tortilla

Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich


Want an appetizer with your meal?  Try one of these new options:

These are the new boneless wings ~ I loved the Sweet Chili sauce.  Spicy but oh so good!  They also come in BBQ sauce.  Chuck E. Cheese also offers bone-in wings with either sauce.

The breadsticks are tasty, and the new Buffalo Chicken Cheesy Bread was awesome.

A visit to Chuck E. Cheese deserves a sweet ending, so you should try one of the new desserts:

David loved the Churros with the salted caramel.  My favorite dessert is the new, improved Cinnamon sticks with a cinnamon shortbread crunch and a drizzle of white chocolate icing.

We will be going to Chuck E. Cheese for a family fun night soon! David is growing up so fast, and I want to enjoy every moment with him.  I love watching him have fun and let loose when we visit Chuck E. Cheese.

And now I want you to do the same with your kids.  Chuck E. Cheese gave me a Guest Pass to give away to one lucky reader.  It's good for a large pizza, 4 soft drinks and 30 game tokens.

All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck!

Giveaway! The Three Dogateers DVD

Hey y'all!  Have you heard about The Three Dogateers? This sounds like a Christmas family movie you'll want to watch with your kids every year!   It's about three pampered pooches left to guard the house on Christmas Eve.  They become fearless DOGATEERS when thieves break in and steal every present, every ornament—even the yuletide tree! Vowing to save Christmas, the three canines set out in search of Santa, the only one who can help them on their quest.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/39746485

#TheThreeDogateers

The Three Dogateers is Dove “Family-Approved”!



Check out the trailer in the blog app below: 





I'm excited to have another giveaway to share ~ one of y'all will win a copy of The Three Dogateers on DVD! All you have to do is enter through the Rafflecopter widget below....

What's going on? : )

My sweet seventeen year old had all four wisdom teeth out today, and my husband is out of town this week, so I'm pulling nurse duty, as well as my regular mama duties!  I will probably not be on here for a while.  But I wanted to let my three BestPetHealth.com winners know that Amanda from BestPetHealth.com is mailing your prizes today! YAY!! I hope your fur babies love their new treats and that you enjoy them as well!  Hope y'all have a good week ~ I'll be back soon with something fun to share!

Review ~ Stone Mountain Lasershow Spectacular in Laservision!

Last Thursday we were invited to attend the premiere of the brand new Lasershow Spectacular at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta.  I've lived in Atlanta since 4th grade, grew up going to the park, and I have been to many, many Lasershows since it started more than 25 years ago! I was very excited to see this new production in Mountainvision!!

Unfortunately, Katie had an exam early the next morning, so she had to miss this.  David chose to miss the last day of school so he could see the Lasershow.  Being seven, he didn't miss much - they have a picnic and play a lot!  So Randy, David & I set out on a stormy night for the 40 mile trip to Stone Mountain. 

Stuck at Spaghetti Junction, trying to get on 285! Rush hour + storms = delays!!

 

Our view for dinner ~ sweet!

Delicious cupcakes ~ sweet ending to dinner!

Despite the rain and storms, we got there about 7 pm and checked in.  We ate dinner out on the Terrace (luckily it was covered, because the rain kept coming and going!)  Then we enjoyed some delicious cupcakes while waiting for the darkness to fall.   Kids played on the terrace, and it was a nice, relaxing way to spend the evening!

Finally, the lasershow began at about 9:30 pm! It's not completely new, but that is good.  The fan favorites of Stone Mountain's Lasershow are still here:  Dixie, Sweet Home Alabama, Georgia on My Mind, and other favorites are still played much to the delight of the hometown crowd.   But there are fabulous new additions.  The new, state-of-the-art, multi-dimensional show is amazing!  Watch the mountain open up, and turn into an erupting volcano! Or watch pieces of it "crumble" and fall to the ground.  It's really something to see!  The fireworks were so beautiful, and it was truly an inspiring, feel good show.  We loved it.  It's a little over 40 minutes long, which is just about perfect!

See my little D's head? He sat in front of us and clapped so hard - he can't wait to go back and see the Lasershow Spectacular again!

I never got a truly good shot of the gorgeous fireworks, but here is another attempt!

Here are some facts about this amazing new show:

• The Lasershow is free with $10 vehicle admission to the park.  Or buy a $35 parking pass good for the entire year!
• Mountainvision is four to five times the size of an IMAX screen, taller than the Statue of Liberty!
• Seeing the show in Mountainvision is similar to owning a 5500 inch high definition tv!
• Mountainvision is included in all parts of the show, but there is one section of the show that really shows off the new technology - the volcano, ice cave, and skyline section! It's really, really fun!
• There are some all-time favorite music medleys, along with some new!
• Heroes Salute is a tribute to everyday heroes
• Georgia Artists showcases our fabulous homegrown artists - Sugarland, The Allman Brothers, The Zac Brown Band, REM and more
• The Devil Went Down to Georgia - need I say more?! : )
• An American Trilogy - Elvis segment where the beautiful Mountain Carving comes to life!

And here are some facts about Stone Mountain and the park:

• It's the world's largest exposed piece of granite, home to the world's largest relief sculpture. 
• The carving features three Civil War figures: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, & Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and their horses. 
• The carving measures 90 feet tall, 190 feet wide, and is 11 feet deep.  It spans three acres, and is larger than Mt. Rushmore!
• Stone Mountain Park is Georgia's most popular attraction, and one of the top historical attractions in the U.S.!

Other attractions to see at the Park include:

• Crossroads - a village of shops, restaurants and activities!
• Yogi Bear 4D Adventure - new for 2011, this is a 12 minute experience with 3D film and 4D special effects!
• Mini-Golf - 18 holes of fun!
• Paddlewheel Riverboat - 150 passenger authentic paddlewheel boat cruises Stone Mountain Lake
• Ride the Ducks Siteseeing Adventure - the only place in Georgia you can ride the Ducks!
• Scenic Railroad - fullsize 1940's locomotive with open-air cars takes you on a five mile excursion around the mountain
• SkyHike - a treetop adventure course!
• Summit Skyride - high-speed Swiss Cable Car takes you to the top of the mountain for stunning views - on a clear day you can see for more than 40 miles! 

There are also hiking trails, picnic areas, lodging and camping areas!  The park is open from 6 am until midnight daily!  Access to Stone Mountain's natural areas is free with parking admission.  There are options for annual passes, day passes and more - check out http://www.stonemountainpark.com/ for all of the details!

The park now offers VIP Terrace seating, with snack or casual dining options.  Reservations can be made online at http://www.stonemountainpark.com/.  The new laser show runs nightly now through August 7 at 9:30 pm.  August 13, 20 & 27 it runs Saturdays only.


Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post.  We did receive free admission to the park, plus dinner with my family to view the premiere of the new Lasershow Spectacular.  This review is my honest opinion of the show, and I would have said the same thing whether we had to pay to see the show or not - it was fabulous!!

Happy Birthday D!!!

What a crazy week it has been! Between dealing with some nuttiness with PTA, to throwing a party together in 3 days, I've been a little frazzled.

David was able to convince us with his constant pleading, and big blue sad puppy eyes that his party neeeeeded to be at Stars & Strikes, the bowling alley/arcade/fun place. Only 3 friends (plus one's little brother) were able to come, so it was just the 4 of them playing bumper cars, laser tag, and then running free in the arcade!! They gave us a sweet party hostess who ran interference for me and handled candle lighting, cupcake handoffs and more!

I made some cupcakes with sprinkles to mimic storebought confetti ones, then added milk chocolate frosting (alas, from a can!)and then added some cute sprinkles from Wilton with purple jimmies, colorful dots and lots of stars. They were really cute.

Goody bags were different this year - no toys or junk that will end up in the trash. Instead I raided my back-to-school box and gave the kids a composition book, a pen with multicolored ink options, a package of mechanical pencils, crayons, ring pops, and assorted candy. His class is focusing heavily on journaling, so I thought that would be a great way to continue the learning at home! Hopefully the kids enjoyed their bags - I know his friend Kennedy did, she sat down at a booth with the crayons and comp. book ready to get busy!!

Here are a few pics ~

Yes, even the birthday boy got a goody bag, though the majority of the candy & ring pops were gone before I got a picture of it!! 

I wish I'd gotten pics of the arcade.  Compared to the ones we had growing up (Goldmine, 2001, etc), and even compared to our usual game place - Chuck E Cheese,  this one was incredible!! They had Guitar Hero, simulation rides (the kids went to a haunted mine on one of those), Dance Dance Revolution, and so much more.  There is even one of those claw game (you get to try to grab Ipods, no less!) that is the size of my closet!!  Can you tell we don't get out to places with arcades much? 

It turned out to be a super-fun night that David will always remember, and Stars & Strikes made it easy by giving us such a great hostess to take care of the details.  Katie wants to have her 17th party at their Boutique bowling lanes, and David said he is having #8 there as well!!

The best Christmas gift ever...

I'm SO excited, my sweet friend Stephanie, (from the Halloween party!) invited us to go with them to Orlando the week after Christmas! She and her husband have rented a house down there with 6 bedrooms and a fabulous heated pool! There is one other couple going as well - it is going to be fantastic!

Six years ago I wrote for a local website - AtlantaChristianWeekly.com, as a features editor & columnist. I did reviews of local attractions, concerts, etc, as well as a few travel feature/reviews on Savannah, South Georgia, & Central Florida & Orlando. One reason I started this blog was to be able to review more places to share with all of y'all. And this trip offers me the perfect opportunity to start reviewing more - I've not really done that since summer! (Well, except for the Melting Pot last month- does that count?) So I'm hoping to visit & review a few new places while we are down there and share them with you!! Maybe you will find a new place or two to visit on your next trip to Florida!

Tomorrow is David's party ~ I'll share the details of that either tomorrow night or the next day. It's just been super-busy here and I haven't had much time to myself at all, so new posts here or on the blog FB page!! Thanks for being patient with me, I will be back soon to share more with you! I'm also working on a very frugal craft that will highlight my Grandmother's vintage glass ball ornaments - it is so pretty and easy-peasy to make! Pics of that to follow!
~ Aimee

My Nana's Buttermilk Pie

Confession time. I really wish I could be one of those amazing food bloggers I follow - like Pioneer Woman, Bakerella, and I am Baker. I love to see all the yumminess they share! So please indulge me when I pretend to be a foodie blogger and share some special recipes here. Pretty please?!

Today for our summer birthday gathering, I'm making two of my Nana's favorite pies. Almost 20 years ago, my mom made our first family cookbook. My copy is battered, stained, and worn with time and lots of love. I use it often! Being a bit of a messy baker means my cookbooks get worn out - but to me it shows how much I love them and use them!  It means so much to have these recipes from our family's best cooks.  My Nana is now 88 years old, and she still loves buttermilk pie!!




The first time I made them this year, my six year old tried it with much trepidation. to his surprise, and my delight, he loved it! I think this is a great dessert for kids, because it has only a few ingredients, and they are all natural and yummy. A few hours after he tried the pie, this is what he made for me:




If you can't read his bubble letter sign, it says I want more pie.... and you guessed right, I gave the kiddo more pie! How could I not?!

So back to the pie. It's very simple and I usually have all the ingredients. I keep buttermilk frozen in the freezer (when I buy a new carton, I measure out the
1 1/3 cup portions needed for this recipe, then bag them up and freeze them!) and the rest are standard ingredients you probably already have.

My Nana's Buttermilk Pie (makes 2 pies)

2 c. sugar
4 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 1/3 c. buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 unbaked pie shells
5 large eggs, beaten
4 Tbsp self rising flour
1 tsp lemon extract (which I never have, so I add a dash of lemon juice, it doesn't seem to do any harm!)

Cream sugar and butter.



Then add flour, beaten eggs.



Now add the buttermilk, vanilla and lemon extract or juice, and whisk it all together.



Pour into the unbaked pie crusts. Mine are on my PC stonewear bar pan, and they kind of overlap, which means your crusts will get funky on one side - but that's ok! It will still taste incredible.


Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and transfer pies on baking sheet into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown on top, and it tests done with a toothpick.   PRINTABLE RECIPE 

Even if you don't like buttermilk (my family does not like it, except my husband, who drinks it regularly!) you will love this pie. It's sweet, creamy and the perfect comfort food!



If you try this, please let me know what you think! This is one of those old-fashioned recipes that never goes out of style!

How to make Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

Tonight I wanted to use some items from my stockpile to make dinner. I had plenty of pasta, several bags of cheese, and cans of evaporated 2% milk, so I decided on macaroni & cheese! I got a great deal on Hormel Bacon Pieces at Publix (50 cents a bottle with their coupons!) so I wanted to use those as well....

On the back of my Mueller's Pasta box I discovered this recipe:

Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz (1/2 pkg) Mueller's Macaroni
1/4 c margarine or butter
3 Tbsp flour
1/8 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 c milk (this is where I used the evaporated milk)
2 c shredded cheese (I used some sharp cheddar and some colby jack)
1/3 c bacon pieces or bits (my addition - not in original recipe)
1 c croutons

Cook elbow macaroni for 9 minutes, drain, cover & set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In medium saucepan, melt margarine, blend in flour, mustard, salt & pepper.
Cook until mixture is smooth and bubbly, gradually add milk.


Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; simmer one minute, stirring constantly.
Gradually mix in cheese, stir over low heat until cheese is melted.


Add in bacon.


Add pasta, mix together lightly. Pour into buttered 2 quart casserole dish.


Top with croutons, dot with butter, cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes.


I can't tell you how delicious this was! Everyone enjoyed it.