So I suck huh?

I have done a terrible job of updating this blog regularly.  It's just been tough to do.  I haven't even kept up with my pie a week challenge.  So much for that.  2013 has just been a crazy rollercoaster ride thus far.  My enthusiasm and motivation has just been non-existent.  The plus side is that I have spent a lot of quality cuddle time with my little one.  So thankfully it hasn't been a total loss.

I'll be moving in the next 15 days, and with some luck I will also be getting a new job within that time.  Not a better paying job, but something that will hopefully be worth the pay cut.  We'll see what happens.  This year hasn't been kind so I don't want to get my hopes up.

Anyway, the move will have me with a bigger better oven than the 1960's model  I have now so maybe more baking.  I bought some cookbooks too so there will hopefully be lots of kitchen fun happening.  I'm just hoping to drag myself out of this weird doom and gloom depression with these upcoming changes.  I know there's plenty of things that I could and should be excited about, but that's just not happening yet.

Here's to waiting, and to hoping.

Blogging After

I had intended on posting a new blog every day or two in order to keep things flowing well.  I have even succeeded in my pie a week challenge thus far.  However, I had a few setbacks since the year started that have kept me preoccupied.  Family health issues, personal logistics stuff, and some loss.

The loss isn't as terrible as it sounds.  I had to re-home my gorgeous  perfect, pug son.  It's been in the works for a while now, but that doesn't make things any easier for myself or my daughter.  So instead of spending my free time blogging, I spent it playing and cuddling with my handsome boy so that I could have lots of wonderful memories.  Now that he's gone, I should be back on the blogging ball as I'll need a distraction once my daughter goes to bed.  In the meantime, I can't help but think about how much I miss my Hamilton <3

Pie A Week Challenge Week 1

One of my goals for this year is to bake one pie a week.  I have been having a very tumultuous beginning to this year so I was really looking forward to some baking time.  I wound up squeezing it in last night.  I decided to start the year with this recipe from Whole Living.  I couldn't find any fresh or frozen cranberries in my neighborhood so I wound up having to double the amount of dried cranberries.  Here is my finished product:

I'm not a great photographer but I tried

Overall this wasn't a difficult recipe which is a plus for a the first one of the year.  I like the mix of flavors.  However I do feel that it was a bit too tart.  If I ever make this pie again I would go for a more mellow apple to even out the tartness.  As it is I need to eat this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to try to balance the flavor.  I think I'll keep this recipe for the future.