Keisha Pittman McKinney shares her chocolate pie and the sweet story behind how it came to be such a family favorite.
So, I figured out pretty quickly that pie was the quickest way to Mr. McKinney’s heart. And more specifically his mama/Grandma’s chocolate pie.Its makes an appearance at every holiday, birthday, or when he is home and just says, “mom, I think pie would be really good.”My grandmother made pies and frankly pies are my favorite dessert too, so I was so ok with that.
Heck, we love pies so much, we threw cake out the window in our wedding planning and had a pie bar instead! I found out who made the best homemade chocolate pies in the town where we got married and I hired a “grandma” to make about 30 chocolate pies that she delivered the morning of our wedding. It was perfection!
Year 2 of marriage found me brave enough to ask for Grandma’s recipe and try to attempt it on my own.I just opted for my grandmother’s or Ree’s recipe in year 1…or when my mother-in-law asked what she could bring to our house, I would keep it simple and ask for her to bring the chocolate pie and save me messing it up. READ MORE
Keisha (Pittman) McKinney is settling in to married life in South AR after she #becamemrsmckinney.A Digital Media Director by day for a church in Northwest Arkansas, Keisha is remembering what it’s like to plan ahead for shopping trips to “the city,” getting resourceful at her small town Walmart and creating online shopping personas everywhere.She blogs @bigpittstop about daily adventures, cooking escapades, #bigsisterchats, the social justice cases on her heart, and all the activities tied to becoming a new mama in Jan 2018!
Biscuit’s what we’ve been talking about all month.Grands has perfected them and we can get them in a can or frozen by the bag.Our Sister, has yet to let us in on her secret, but who cares when you can eat them by the panful (or as a cinnamon roll or wrapped around a sausage link)!Homemade are soft and fluffy with that perfect golden edge. And, I’ve already told you guys that I’m the luckiest gal because Mr. McKinney < http://arkansaswomenbloggers.com/keisha-mckinney-mr-mckinneys-biscuits/> has them down pat, or at least by the recipe he keeps on the notepad in his phone!
The 5th of this month was our first Anniv and we celebrated by a quick weekend away in Natchez, MS.One of the perks of being in South AR is that it was only a 5 hour drive.We felt like we got away without having to go to far…and you know we made it in to an adventure!
When I was doing my excursion research, I found that they had a biscuit tour.Yep, you read that right.My husband was taking me away for a weekend straight off the set of Steel Magnolias with southern homes, southern cooking, coffee shops, flower gardens, and potentially a trip to the casino.I had to find something to get him through the weekend.We bought our tickets at the visitor center and with our biscuit passport in hand we were off.Except, no one in town on the biscuit tour stop knew they were a biscuit tour stop so showing our card and asking for biscuits really became the best excitement of the trip.If you think ladies in AR get in a tizz when they don’t know what’s going on…you should see a Mississippi 60 yr. old Southern Belle try to figure out what to do with your card so she “still gets paid.”
None the less, biscuits are heaven.We had them traditional with homemade jam.Plain with butter melted on top.Cut like silver dollars (my new personal favorite).But, the best were the savory ones with bits of bacon and herbs spread throughout.They were so magical that one particular restaurant used this biscuit dough as a topper to their brisket pot pie and I could not stay out of it.
Growing up, my mama always kept “cheap” biscuits on hand and I find myself doing the same thing.Whether its to put in the bottom of a cupcake tin as the base of an appetizer, when I forget to get something for Sunday breakfast, or to make the amazingness we really came here to talk about today…Easy Monkey Bread. This is one of those recipes for me I just always remember my mama making.And one of the earliest she let me help her with.
Its easy to make, it only takes a few ingredients.And, you can put it in the oven and still have time to take a shower and fix your hair and serve it piping hot at home or even take it on the road and impress your coworkers.
Now that I’m the grown up, I do sometimes switch out butterscotch pudding mix for the cinnamon and with the melted butter, it makes a super caramel sauce on top.
[stextbox id=”custom” direction=”ltr” shadow=”false” bwidth=”3″ color=”030303″ ccolor=”030303″ bcolor=”030303″ bgcolor=”FAFAFA” cbgcolor=”FAFAFA” bgcolorto=”FAFAFA” cbgcolorto=”FAFAFA” image=”null”]All I can say is hot or cold, it’s biscuits, covered in cinnamon, sugar and butter.Enjoy![/stextbox]
Keisha (Pittman) McKinney is settling in to her new married life in South AR after she #becamemrsmckinney. A Digital Media Director by day for a church in Northwest Arkansas, Keisha is remembering what its like to plan ahead for shopping trips to “the city,” getting resourceful at her small town Walmart and creating online shopping personas everywhere. She blogs @bigpittstop about daily adventures, cooking escapades, #bigsisterchats and the social justice cases on her heart.
It’s awards season. The Grammys. Peoples Choice. The Oscars. You’ve seen them or at least some of them, I’m sure. Well, around here at ARWB we have our own kind of special recognition to hand out.
Only there won’t be any little golden statures or glass pyramids. Nor will we be giving out swag bags worth thousands and thousands of dollars.
Just tons of thanks and deep appreciation from all of us in ARWB.
I thought it might be interesting to take a look at our Foodie Friday stats just to see how those posts from so many of you have performed. I was pleasantly surprised.
So here for you are the Top 10 All-Time Favorite Foodie Friday Posts as evidenced by their page views starting with the #1 MOST VIEWED FOODIE FRIDAY POST – Mel Lockcuff’s Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls?
I’d say she created a real winner, wouldn’t you? A winner created a winner?
But…you’re all winners in my book and I want to thank all of you who give of your time and talent to ARWB and Foodie Friday.
Take some time to visit these posts and leave a word of thanks and congrats for these gals. You’ll be glad you did. Promise.