I forgot to take pictures when I was making the crust, but it was pretty simple. Flour, butter, eggs, water mix up – pie crust. I’m sure the pie fanatics would have a cow about my lack of caring about the crust, but I’m sure it will be good enough for my family. I can tell you that if you have a dog that likes to stand directly underneath a cutting board that is covered in flour, and you have to roll out a pie crust and flour goes flying everywhere – this is what your dog will look like:

She likes to help out in the kitchen.

So besides the crust, pumpkin pie is pretty easy. You mix up some pumpkin filling, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, eggs, milk & molasses until it’s nice and liquidity.

I have a very well loved, hand-me-down KitchenAid Mixer. It’s not the prettiest thing out there, but it works. If you want to buy me a new one, I’ll make you a pumpkin pie, and maybe some cookies. But until then, I’ll keep trying to win one from the Pioneer Woman.

So it will look like this:

And if you’re lucky you will have your helper-dog underneath your feet for all of this.

Pour it into your pie crust – mine is not pretty. Thats what you get with homemade crust (at least mine)

Bake it for about 45 minutes and here’s what you’ll get:

It’s been very  difficult to not eat this.

I’ll let you know if it tastes as good as it looks!

So, because I was entertaining, I pulled out all the stops for the family.

Appetizers: Goat cheese filled figs with honey

Main Course: Pepper Steaks, Broccoli slaw, homemade focaccia bread and Scalloped Potatoes*

Dessert: What ever my wonderful Aunt Leslie brought

*I didn’t make the potatoes either.

So, here is the scoop, I’m sure you’re dying to know.

The figs are super easy and delicious. I was scared of them at first, and Dylan thinks they are gross (but he also has the taste buds of a 10 yr. old boy)

I used Turkish figs which can be found at your local New Seasons. Slice them into quarters, without slicing all the way through the fig. Fill with as much goat cheese as your little heart desires. Then pop those suckers onto a cookie sheet and into the over at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or so. They will come out all warm and gooey. Top off with a drizzle of honey and you have yourself a delicious snack. I would even eat these as dessert as they are fairly sweet and the goat cheese is divine.

Don’t you love my countertops in all their 50’s glory? It really wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t have 60 years of wear and tear. This was a kitchen that has seen a lot of love.Figs up close and personal.

Dylan was also kind enough to snap a few photos while I was kneading bread. The recipe is from one of my favorite Cookbooks, the Newlywed’s Cookbook. Reminds me of the housewives of Mad Men with all these classic recipes that I feel like I should only prepare in an a-line dress and apron.

As you will see, that is not what I wear when I cook.

And here is the bread after several session of rising and kneading and poking. Right before you pop it into the oven.

Maybe some day I’ll get better at taking more pictures – particularly when I’m done making things. In the case of the figs I was too busy burning my hand taking them out of the oven.