If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

Friday, September 23, 2016

Getting back to "doing stuff"

If you haven't noticed from my scarce posts,  I don't feel like I have been living up to my motto.  
Not that I am being Idle but the last year has brought lots of changes -my husband retired, my parents moved to our town, we now have 8 young grandchildren with 3 of them being babies.  
So I have been busy but I haven't done much creating or extra stuff that I like to do and get so much satisfaction from.   And when I do have free time, I've relaxed with Social Media and Candy Crush instead of doing things like handwork or recipe book reading,  

So yesterday, I decided it was time to get back to my "do stuff" ways.  

Our front entryway needs spruced up for fall so I looked on Pinterest for inspiration.  I found a simple photo and I am shooting for that look.  Here is a peek - a just sewn up Autumn-looking pillow by me

This morning, I got out the food processor and mixed up 12 pie crusts.  One will be for supper tonight and the rest are going in the freezer.  I used my tried and true recipe and mixed it up 3 times.  

Simple ingredients --- 
All the dough mixed up
Rolled out 
Then stacked alternating with wax paper in a plastic cake keeper.  9 of them went in pie pans and  the others are just discs of dough for top crusts or lattice when needed,  

My son is probably wondering how did I ever get this many pie crusts in our freezer,  Sunday, he helped me dig out a container of pecans when this chest freezer was messy and heavily frosted on the sides.  That was quite a chore.  So........
Monday, I defrosted and organized that neglected freezer so now there is plenty of room, see? 


There is a mess on the counter 
And in the sink but I only have to clean it up once!  

Other tips if you want to bulk-make pie crusts to freeze.....
    All of my pie pans, except one don't have handles.  The plain pans are easier to fit into bags or a        
     plastic pie or cake keeper.  
    Don't bother with fancy crimping before freezing.  When stacked, it will just get squashed. 
     Do the crimping after the crust thaws when you are making pie. 

We are a family that really enjoys pie.  I think these 12 crusts will last for several months and will be so handy to make a great dessert even if I'm busy.  


This sign is over the door of one of our pantries.  

Hopefully tomorrow,  I'll have the front porch area finished and ready to share.  

33 comments:

  1. Your sunflower pillow is so pretty! Nice job!

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  2. I love the pillow!
    Thanks for sharing your bulk pie crust recipe. I never think to make it in advance and I really do need to. You inspire me to get it done.

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    1. Thank you Ann. The frozen pie crust really are a time saver. It took me right at an hour to make them all.

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  3. Having those pie crusts ready will be so handy! I dislike making pie crust but my mom likes to do it and is super good at it so when she comes to visit, she often offers to make a big batch for my freezer. ;-) I've been doing some freezer cooking and fall cleaning around here.

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    1. Hi Mary Ann, what a nice mom you have ❤️ I suspect you two are a lot alike,

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  4. Your pillow is adorable! Did you have a pattern? Can't wait to see the whole porch! I am diligently trying to use down my freezer to defrost before turkey/ Christmas cow gift season arrive.

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    1. Thank you. No pattern, I used a preprinted fabric panel and I'll show it in my next post.
      How nice you will have a supply of homegrown meat, it is the best!

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  5. Cute pillow. I make up piecrusts in bulk and freeze them too. Hopefully one of these days all this prepping will lead to some leisure time. Hope you are enjoying the first days of Fall!

    Hugs
    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane, thank you. I am enjoying these first days of fall ❤️
      We will all have leisure once there is less outdoor work needed to be done, right?

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  6. Love the pillow! Do I spy chickens on the center fabric? I need to make a batch of pie crust. We love pot pie and it is super convient to have the crust preparred.

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    1. Hi Wendi, thank you and I had to go look at it again. No chickens, the designs on the black center are buttons.
      Pot pie is one of my very favorite meals too,

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  7. Those pie crusts look so easy to do! Great idea! Glad you have been able to do a few things you enjoy.

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    1. Thank you Mrs. White ❤️ We mommas take care of our families but we also need to do a few things that satisfy our hearts.

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  8. Wow, 12 pies is a lot. But I'm sure you are making ahead for more than one meal. Or maybe such a large family needs 12 pies for one meal :-) Anyway I can surely see why you don't have much time to blog about "doing stuff". You are very busy doing with your family and that is how it should be though now and then it is nice to have some creative time. Your cushion looks very cute and bright. Enjoy the pies ;-)

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    1. Joyful, even my big family does not eat 12 pies at one time 😂
      It's hard to say how long the crusts will last.

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  9. You really got back in the groove quick! I love the way you froze your pie crusts in a disk. What a space saver! I need to defrost my freezer too -it's amazing how much room you get when it's all clean and defrosted. I will be good to take inventory too! love your pillow!

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    1. My freezer was so jumbled up- it seemed to full to capacity until I took off all the frost and got everything organized in bags. Hope you find time to get yours done soon, n

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  10. Love the pillow, it will sure brighten up a porch!

    Great job on the pie crust--will be nice to have them in the freezer. That is one thing that I have really never tried often.

    Take Care!

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    1. Hi Lana, I've been thinking about you.
      The crusts are so handy to have on hand. Pie is my favorite dessert to serve and having the crusts already made will make pie-making fast.

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  11. Replies
    1. I think that can happen. ❤️Your dad wants cherry and pecan.

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  12. Replies
    1. Well, it is just sitting on my front porch.......
      Thank you ❤️

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  13. Could you pease tell me what Crisco is?

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    1. Hi Jane, you must not be in the USA. Crisco is a brand of shortening or fat used for cooking. It is a corn or soybean or canola product, hydrogenated and shelf stable, you can also fry with it but I only use it for pie crust.

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  14. I'm impressed with your pie crust making skills! Mine never turned out right but I have a DIL who makes the most amazing pies and other desserts so we have her do the desserts for our family gatherings. ;)

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    1. Debbie, I used to think I could not make pies right because my mom and other relatives are amazing at pie making, but I like pie so I started making them, mine don't always look as pretty as theirs but they taste good so I just bake anyway. I'm guessing our pies are better than you think.

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  15. Love the pillow... and the pie making makes my mouth water. You are a busy lady. Good job!

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    1. Thank you Debbie ❤️ The pillow was easy, I'll explain in my next post,

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  16. Your pillow is gorgeous! Your plate is very full but the ehjoyment is so worth it.

    Your pie recipe looks like it may be one my grandmother made. I am going to try it. Thanks so juch for sharing.

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    1. Thank you. Yes, it is all worth it.
      My crust recipe is an old recipe and I think I first got it about 1992 or so. It very well could be your grandmothers recipe.

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  17. Thanks for the pie crust instructions. The pillow is wonderful! Looks like a real professional job. Well done. I have one question, or request concerning one phrase near the end - "ONE pantry"? Please let me (us) in on how you arrange your pantries, or at least to understand the layout you have. Since I've seen on the "Homestead Blessings" films from Franklin Springs, I've wanted to have a large walk-in pantry. Their kitchen is smallish, but all the storage is inside a room of shelves - no cabinets. The kitchen looks like it looks out to a family room of some sort, or maybe a dining area. You can see snippets of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPMl2jyMM5E in the kitchen scenes. This is their trailer for the series. (No, they're not paying me and I'm not an employee. I just love the videos).

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