sukiyaki and pie

Jill's birthday was this past week and we celebrated as a family tonight. Grandma Lois invited us over and Jill wanted sukiyaki. She LOVES it! We all do! And instead of the traditional birthday cake, she and I always ask for the Bread Basket chocolate cream pie. Mmmmmm!


I didn't think one pie would do it, so I decided to make another pie. I was thinking pecan, Allen's favorite. Well, it used to be. But now he raves about Toll House pie. They serve that at the Bread Basket too, but I thought I would try making it. I found this awesome recipe! It is soooo easy!
(this pie pan belonged to my grandmother Voran long time ago)



1 unbaked 9" deep dish pie shell (I make mine with lard, oh soooo good)
2 large eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup softened butter (1 1/2 sticks)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (I used pecan since I was thinking I was going to bake a pecan pie)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat eggs in large mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour and the sugars. Beat in butter. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

Bake 55-60 minutes or until knife inserted 1/2 to center comes out clean. Cool on rack.

Here is Hannah trying out chopsticks to eat her sukiyaki.

I remember when I was a preschooler living in Japan and my maid/nanny teaching me how to use the chopsticks.

Hannah: "I must say I think I'm getting the hang of chop ticks - whatever you call them."

Sophie is too.

Notice both chopstick and fork in one hand!

Watching the KU game.

We ended up in the living room glued to it the last few minutes. But....STINK!

Can't believe the upsets during this March Madness, huh?

Dad cooking the sukiyaki

So, during the meal, somehow the topic of a carnivore comes up. Hannah explains what that means. Then she goes on to explain what an herbivore is.

I don't believe I knew what those terms meant until I was in highschool.

Papa (Allen) says "What do you call someone who eats only ice-cream?"

Answer: FAT!

Getting ready to blow out candles for her 29th birthday.

The whole family joined in to help.

Blew so hard the 9 fell over.

Mom and Dad volunteer at Et Cetera. My Mom comes home with the craziest gifts. She loves gag gifts. And we are recipients of these gifts for birthdays and Christmas (along with very generous gift cards of course).

" Don't be alarmed

Don't be misled

These aren't for you

But for your dishes instead.

So take off the bows

and pull out the stitches

You've now gained 3 dish clothes

And lost your bra and britches."

Jill was hoping I would give her this for her birthday.

I understand that Lindsay Frazier has also been hoping so and wants to borrow this!

Definitely a must see girly movie!

Well, despite KU's loss, we had a fun evening.

Hope this 29th year is a very blessed one, Jill!