Something New

These are the result of seeing an idea in an old magazine then carrying that idea forward, putting my own ideas with it, and making something new.  I had discussed wanting to find little vintage tartlet/chocolate/butter tins with my mom, and she found some at a flea market in Florida.  So, I played and experimented, and these "tin pins" are the result.  I had originally wanted to embellish the outside bottoms of these...but, alas, that would be too hard to fix a pin to.  I had some vintage jewelry pieces--some of them very old pieces--that are beautiful but too delicate to really utilize on my other projects.  So these assemblage pins are the result.  What do you think?

This one uses a sugared flower piece. I love the glass leaf spray and the heart shape of the tin.

This one has a Bavarian theme with an aurora borealis rhinestone piece with a spray of pine cones and tassels...then I added a cuckoo clock.

There are three others that I've listed in my Etsy shop if you would like to see. 

Mmmmm, Mint and Chocolate

For some reason I have had mint and chocolate on the brain. It might be because we are waiting for our box of Girl Scout cookies to arrive--you know, the mint and chocolate covered ones. Or, it might be that the grass outside has gone from green to brown too quickly. Or, it just might be because a mint and chocolate candy sounds really good right now--cool and fresh and indulgent. Well, regardless of the reason, I have put together this Etsy treasury and had a grand time doing it too! It features some of my favorites (just love Pei Li's work--I can't get enough of her miniature creations--check out her shop here....Dollhouse Miniatures). If you'd like to look at the treasury in more detail here is the link...Mint and Chocolate.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

This recipe is my grandmother's, and she made this pie (at everyone's request) for most major family functions. It is a lot of work because it is made the old fashioned way (no instant pudding mix filling here!)...and you know what? Each bite has a deep, rich, old-fashioned, chocolaty taste that is worth every minute of work spent on it. Now my husband's side requests it, and I make it for major family functions....like our Thanksgiving dinner we just had this past weekend. I put only real whipped cream on top--a thick layer of course--without anything added to it--the cream definitely completes the pie without adding any more unnecessary sweetness. You'll need to save out time to do this--really great things take longer than a minute to make, you know--but you and your family will be pleased with the results...I promise!

Mamie's Chocolate Cream Pie

3 cups whole milk (needs the fat in the whole)
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp flour
5 tbsp cocoa (I prefer Hershey's taste)
2 egg yolks (no white parts at all!)
2 tsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 baked pastry shell (a larger shell is best)

Scald 1-1/2 cups of milk over boiling water. Mix sugar, salt, flour, cocoa, and remaining milk in bowl (mix very slowly to avoid any lumps). Stir into hot milk and cook slowly until thickened stirring constantly (this takes the most time). Once thickened, cover and cook over boiling water for 5 minutes. Add egg yolks and cook 1 minute longer. Add butter and vanilla. Cool. Pour into cooked pastry shell and top with whipped cream once cold.