It's a long walk to DC, but I got my walking shoes on!

Tomorrow morning we will have a new president... good thing, because I was about to move to Austria with my friend Carrie.... now I get to move to Denver instead! Austria would have been sweet... still may move there, in good time. At least now I don't feel rushed... So, this evening started with a great segment on NPR, an interview with Mavis Staples... love me some Mavis! Just what I needed, as this turned out to be a somewhat lonesome Monday.

Yesterday I woke up to Kyle on the phone (at 6:30 on a Sunday morning) and a "good morning, sweet pea" from the airport in Atlanta... on his way to Asia... Although early, it was a lovely way to wake up... That is how my Gram used to wake me up when I was lil... Me'mories... Needless to say Monday morning was not as fulfilling.

Anywho, during this Mavis Staples interview, she mentioned how Ray Charles used to absolutely loVe her mother's Sweet Potato Pie... She said how her momma used to put coconut in her sweet potato pie and that made it special... I got to thinking... Why wouldn't you put coconut in Sweet Potato Pie?!?!?!?... So, I stopped at the Asian market on the way home and got me some coconut!

What better way to kick the blues than with some comfort food!! Lonesome no more, I got to cooking.

I had some just now... and it was expectedly divine. I will never make normal sweet potato pie again! I never really make normal anything though... this recipe will definitely go in my cookbook... Tomorrow is going to be a really good day!!!!

This is the recipe that I adapted from my very first cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens, given to me by my sweet Gram...




Sweet Potato Coconut Pie with Gingersnap Crust

Crust

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups finely crushed Annie's Ginger Thins

Crush 1/2 sleeve ginger thins in a food processor. Melt butter in sauce pan; stir in sugar. Add crushed ginger thins, mix together well. Spread in the bottom of a 9 inch pie pan and smoosh against the edges. Let sit for approx 1 hour to harden.

Filling

3 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 lb), or one 10-once can of sweet potatoes
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground corriander
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon pimpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 slightly beaten eggs
1/4 teaspoon natural organic maple flavoring or 1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 cup coconut milk

cool whip or coconut ice cream on the side!

Scrub sweet potatoes and bake them at 450 for 50 min. Remove from oven, let cool, cut in half, and scoop out mooshy insides into a big mixing bowl. Mash up the taters so they are super mooshy, but still have some chunks. Add all dry ingredients to taters and stir together. Combine maple and eggs. Add slowly to tater spice mix. Beat slightly to combine or stir in well. Slowly add coconut milk. Beat together on low till combined. Pour over gingersnap crust and reduce heat to 375. Cook for 50- 60 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool for 30 min. Chill in fridge or serve warm with cool whip or cocunut ice cream!!

My sweet things...

So I think just now this lazy lil hound dog of mine (Namah) took the prize as the cutest thing that I have seen since I left Denver from my Holiday... I swear I did not stage this photo... he actually climbed up on the couch to snuggle with his golden bear... Love that dog. Regarding the Denver Holiday mentioned before.... t'was a blast! (understatement) I met so many wonderfully down new friends. I fell in love again with Colorado and I will definitely be moving there in the near future. Namah's gonna love it...


So, my holiday adventures really started with the Christmas Jam in Asheville, NC. Which could have possibly been one of the funnest times I have ever had. For 1) the music was stellar. Heavy on the Zep, just how I like it...Pictures, and 2) the whole trip was so solid. From the chill time at Kyle's parent's place to the BBQ buffet in the back hills of South Carolina, to the kick ass house on a hill in Asheville... and so it began...

Denver too was solid at its core. My first Widespread Panic experience with Jimmy Herring proved to be outstanding. I met up with Cliff Paulin the night before the shows and he warned me that Jimmy would bring the heat. Highlights for me were acoustic Vacation and Arlene on NYE as well as Climb to Safety, Wonderin, and Pigeons the night before... I tried to play devils advocate and give Yonder a lil Love since all Kyle's friends were hating on them so hard, but by the end of the first night my patience was waning and after the shows I had to give it up... they really had no business at the Pepsi Center those two nights... I would have much preferred more Panic. I am looking forward to the next show... whenever that will be... Alaska has taken me out of the loop and 5 years is far to long to go without one of my favs... can't wait to make it back down to civilization. I digress... all I need is a bit of patience in this situation...

So now I am back in AK waiting for my next adventure... I will be visiting my sweetness, Kyle, in Thailand to travel around SE Asia for nearly a month. I have always dreamed of this adventure... I was reluctant to go it alone... being a lady and all... I have done some crazy things by myself in the States, but the uncertainty principle skyrockets overseas and I could never really find the right travel partner... someone with the means and the same love for adventures with an open heart and open mind... Finally it all came together and I will be actually living one of the dreams... one of the many... I knocked out a bit of Europe earlier this year with my trip to Germany with Moni pictures and it was all over from there... now it is in my system and I have a feeling it will be for a while. On the list after Thailand/ Laos... well, there is Nepal/ India, Packrafting in Croatia, beaches of Cyprus, a revisit to Hawaii, and the big one... South Africa for the world cup and Namibia, Egypt, and Morrocco for my 30th birthday... quite ambitious... let me know if you know anyone that would like to share in the journey... and keep checking in because now that the blog is up, I will keep you posted...

What will come of this?

So, I have always though this would be an interesting experiment. I wonder how I will take to blogging? I suppose we shall see... I think this will turn into me posting delicious things that I ate for breakfast/ dinner and possibly some crazy tales of adventure... I currently live in Alaska, but my condition is in transition and this year will hopefully bring some much overdue goodness to my life! This blog could get quite saucy and a bit spicy... I guess it depends on what I cook for dinner...
Namaste!