Hey, friends!

Good gracious, it has been a while since my last post! No, I haven’t stopped baking or developing recipes, I have just been busy. It turns out I am in what is called the “Sandwich Generation.” Squished between layers of motherhood and “daughterhood,” I am piled high with responsibilities and sizzling hot with stress more often than not. With that being said, this season of life, as challenging as it may be, is a blessing. I am the luckiest mother and daughter I know, and my husband Chris’ support has only re-confirmed the love I’ve had for him since we were teenagers.

For those of you who don’t know, my mom, “Bobbie” fell and broke her pelvis last spring. Since her fall, she has been on the road to recovery, regaining mobility, flexibility, and strength. And believe it or not, one of the most critical goals of my mom’s healing journey has been weight GAIN. Apparently weight loss is a common issue for hip/pelvic fracture patients as they are immobile during their recovery and lose significant muscle mass. This weight loss reduces energy and strength, creating a larger gap between injury and full-recovery. So what did that mean for me as her caregiver over the holiday season?

WE ATE REALLY WELL!

My holiday baking strategy was filled with no-nonsense, high-calorie comfort foods that could satisfy a range of ages and preferences, EASILY! From quick cinnamon rolls and egg casseroles, to spaghetti and crockpot lasagna, our holiday “comfort food challenge” was a success. However one of the best dishes to feed my holiday crowd was this classic (and very Southern) baked ham and cheese slider recipe. These simply sweet sandwiches combine Hawaiian rolls, ham, cheese, and a buttery poppyseed glaze that any group, regardless of age will devour.

If you too are smothered within the Sandwich Generation, maybe it is time to celebrate the fact that we can spend time with our parents and children. And during your time together, these classic ham and cheese sandwiches, while calorie-centric and nap-inducing, make and day and any season of life, feel like a celebration. A time to make memories, have fun, and in our case, heal. Let me know what y’all think!

Love,

Emily

Steamy Ham Sliders

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 10 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes | Makes 1 dozen sliders

Take one bite of these unfussy ham sliders and you will see why variations of this recipe are in every community cookbook down South . A punchy Worcestershire based drizzle adds a tangy zap to stacked ham and cheese on a hot buttery roll.  For a twist, try with thinly sliced roast beef or pulled pork.  No matter where you are from, this recipe will make you feel like you are sitting on a front porch under the oaks in your favorite southern city.

Ingredients

12 Hawaiian-style rolls, sliced

1/2 pound ham, thinly sliced

1/2 pound sharp cheddar, sliced

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 tablespoon mustard

1 1/2 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons poppyseeds

Instructions

• Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spread the bottom half of your sliced rolls across a 9×11 baking dish and layer the ham and cheese on each roll.
• Cover with the top half of the rolls and pop in the refrigerator while preparing butter sauce.
• In a small skillet on medium heat, add butter, mustard, honey, Worcestershire, and poppyseeds.
• Slowly stir until melted together and bubbly.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Carefully pour the butter sauce generously over the rolls.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until melted and golden brown.

Enjoy!

P.S. My aprons have SOLD OUT in pink and blue! I am working with my manufacturer and will keep you posted!!

The post Sandwich Generation appeared first on Pie Crust and Pixie Dust.

Hey friends,

Typically our recipes are fairly whimsical and wild, but in this post I’m focusing on recipes that are fundamentally helpful for parents.  Recipes that we can easily cook in advance, freeze, and make available for our kids to SERVE THEMSELVES!

The concept of self-service food for kids is a little funny, I get it, but what’s not funny is being quarantined with three hungry children due to a global pandemic.  I mean y’all, who would have ever guessed that a dirty bat in a meat market in China would threaten the existence mankind, crush the global economy, and turn modern day parents into homeschool teachers and exhausted short order cooks?  I don’t know about you, but the first two weeks of this quarantine had me going BAT S**T crazy with cooking for my family around….. the….. clock.  Is it the boredom that’s making us all hungrier than ever?   Who knows…

So, without delay, here are the three self-serve recipes for kids that have really made our time in quarantine feel a little less apocalyptic.  Serve these dishes with fruit or any other healthy sides and your little ones are good to go (or maybe just stay inside in quarantine).

Recipe One:

Breakfast Burritos

Eggs, sautéed onions and peppers, shredded cheddar cheese and a soft flour tortilla.

Recipe Two:

Morning Glory Muffins:

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Morning Glory Muffins

I modified this recipe from a recipe used by the chef at my son's school.  Chef Michelle used to make the whole school smell so incredible with her Morning Glory Muffins.  We miss those cozy mornings!

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 chopped apple
• 1 shredded carrot
• 1 cup Craisins or Cran Cherries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and slowly blend until combined
• Place batter in cupcake cups or a greased loaf pan
• Bake until toothpick comes out (almost) dry.  Usually about 15 minutes.
• Let cool.  Great served warm with a little butter!

Recipe Three:

Mac n’ Cheese Minis:

Whip up your kid’s favorite Mac n’ Cheese (we use Annie’s Alfredo and Kraft), put in cupcake containers and freeze.  These heat up in about one minute in the microwave, and are a great alternative to chips and cookies when the kids get hungry.

Here are a few of my favorite self serve meal and snack ideas from around the web!

The post Self-Serve Snacks for Kids appeared first on Pie Crust and Pixie Dust.