I made a simple discovery last week.  We seem to have a problem with afternoon school snacks.  One kid will start with ice cream, move on to Oreos, and finish up with waffles.  ”Guys!  How many times do I need to say this?  One snack, only ONE!”  Another gets home from school and begins playing.  Then around 5:45pm he meanders over to the frig and ...Read More]]>

Cookies at 3:40 pm

I made a simple discovery last week.  We seem to have a problem with afternoon school snacks.  One kid will start with ice cream, move on to Oreos, and finish up with waffles.  ”Guys!  How many times do I need to say this?  One snack, only ONE!”  Another gets home from school and begins playing.  Then around 5:45pm he meanders over to the frig and  helps himself to a leftover slice of pizza.  About the time he’s swallowing the last bite I happen to show up in the kitchen. “What are you doing?! We’re going to eat supper in 15 minutes! You have to eat your snack by 4:00; can’t you smell the roast cooking?!”  A third walks into the house, opens the frig, and says, “Mom!  There’s nothing to eat in this house!  What am I supposed to have for a snack!”

…and the empty plate at 3:45

So I found a solution.  I had their snack ready for them.  Cookies and lemonade — they loved it!  Naomi wondered if I would have a snack ready again the next day.  I intended to, but unfortunately, my plan only works if I’m able to be home for the day.  I’ll have to continue to work out the kinks.

After much deliberation, I finally chose some oilcloth fabric and coordinating rickrack For my new market table cloths!  What do you think?

Along with the warm weather and budding trees, I also noticed the wildlife has returned.  Robins, red-winged blackbirds, oh, and this little North American monkey I found in my maple tree last week…

I made Cranberry Buttermilk Scones for a fellow co-worker today.  I love this recipe; moist and delish!  Great for Mother’s Day~

• Prep/Total Time: 30 min.
• Yield: 12 Servings

151530

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup cold butter
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

• In a bowl, combine the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in the buttermilk just until combined. Fold in the cranberries and orange peel.
• Turn onto a floured surface; divide dough in half. Pat each half into a 6-in. circle. Cut each circle into six wedges. Separate wedges and place 1 in. apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush with milk. Combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over scones. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.

Remember the picture of steaming apple pie that I shared with you on Facebook last week?  Well, it turns out that apple pie is a great breakfast food!  Let me know when you’re ready to test my theory~ Naomi did, and she’s officially a firm ...Read More]]> Don’t you just love to watch spring unfolding?  Daffodils, grape hyacinth, tulips, bleeding hearts-the yard is absolutely bursting forth with color!

Remember the picture of steaming apple pie that I shared with you on Facebook last week?  Well, it turns out that apple pie is a great breakfast food!  Let me know when you’re ready to test my theory~ Naomi did, and she’s officially a firm believer!

Last Friday was a busy day; we made blueberry, cherry, apple, wild berry, pumpkin, and pecan pies for Danielle and Matt’s wedding.  I love the idea of pies at a reception.  It reminds me of a time when the reception took place under an old oak tree in the front yard.  Guests socialized over fired chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs and pie.  Congratulations Matt and Danielle, thanks for choosing Maisy’s Pie Company!

Check out our new labels! No questions about what’s where; and they look awesome! Thanks, Amy!

Part of the dessert buffet at Danielle and Matt’s wedding

In addition to pies, Naomi created her very own blueberry coffee cake, while I was busy rolling pastry.  She opened up a cookbook that Josh had brought me home from Maine last summer.  ”Let’s see, Mom- what does this say?”  She  showed me the open page.  ”Blueberry Kuchen with Almond Topping.”  ”Hmm, okay blueberries!”  and so it began.  I gave her the blueberries.  She grabbed an apple, cut it up and tossed it.

“Let’s see, what else does it say,” she mused.  ”Oh, butter!”  (the child doesn’t read).   She added butter, milk, vanilla extract, flour, sugar, and eggs.  Oddly enough, when she finished the mixture resembled something with the consistency of cake batter.  I had Maddie add a teaspoon of baking soda, skin and chop the apples a bit more, and we threw it in the oven to see what would happen.

The proof is in the”pie”

Not only did it rise, it actually smelled good, too!  Ellynne taste tested.  Her mouth turned down, her brow lifted.  ”It tastes like coffee cake!”  ”Something’s missing,- like cinnamon.”  Okay, you’re not going to believe this, but I actually stopped her before she threw in the cinnamon.  My 5 year old had improvised and made coffee cake!

Ah!  Warm weather has come to Michigan!  Don’t you think we appreciate good things when we have to wait for them?!

Hand-picked and beautifully arranged in an elegant but sterile specimen cup

Every year, I wait with eager anticipation for these lovely daffodils to bloom.  And every year whoever my youngest child happens to be, brings them to me in his/her hot little fist.  They’re just too beautiful ...Read More]]>

Ah!  Warm weather has come to Michigan!  Don’t you think we appreciate good things when we have to wait for them?!

Hand-picked and beautifully arranged in an elegant but sterile specimen cup

Every year, I wait with eager anticipation for these lovely daffodils to bloom.  And every year whoever my youngest child happens to be, brings them to me in his/her hot little fist.  They’re just too beautiful to resist!

Last week, we took a little road trip- I love little road trips!  Tuesday morning, as we ate breakfast, I popped the carefully planned question.  ”So- Do you think that we could maybe stop by Sweetie-licious on the “way” home?”

I for sure caught him off guard, but the element of surprise worked totally in my favor.  ”On the way,” is actually a 2 and 1/2 hour drive compared to mm… Maybe 2 hours maximum, but then, I’ve never considered myself a geography buff.  It was a relaxing, pleasant drive, watching farmers plowing their fields, enjoying the newness of Spring.

We arrived in DeWitt around 1pm.  It’s a tiny little town, old fashioned Americana style.  As we pulled up to the curb, I could just feel myself smile.  Cute, cute, cute!  Striped awning, etched window, black iron street lamps, and pie.  i love to watch other women as they drive up and walk in.  Big, happy, smiles of admiration all around.

As we opened the door the bells jingled.  The first thing that I saw really wasn’t a thing at all.  It was the owner, Linda Hundt, in her coat, leaving for the day.  Somewhat of a celebrity to us, we exchanged smiles, as she said goodbye for the day.  How cool was that!

The shop itself is simply wonderful.  Pink, red, mint green, very retro; oh, and pie!  We chose a slice of coconut cream, and a key lime and raspberry to take home to the kids. Both very delicious.

Do any of you know of any other fun little pie shops, within road trip distance?  BTW, road trip distance is negotiable!

“Sam! You’ve been invited to Andrew’s birthday party!” I said smiling.  His brow knit together as ...Read More]]> Several weeks ago, Sam came home with an invitation to a birthday party. I’m pretty sure that this was his first class party. I pinned the invite to the bulletin board, and kept working. The next morning, I noticed the invite again as I hurriedly stuffed lunches into backpacks, and children into snow pants.

“Sam! You’ve been invited to Andrew’s birthday party!” I said smiling.  His brow knit together as he looked at the brightly colored card. “No. That’s just from Brandon’s birthday treat,” he explained. “No, Sam, look, it says right here: You’re invited!” I said, pointing. “No, Mom, I’m not,” he insisted. “Sam, really, you are invited, it says so right here!” Kate tried to convince him. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Can we just throw that away?” he asked.

Only my kid would get invited to a party and want to throw away the invitation. Nothing worked to get him excited about the party. “What kinds of things would Andrew like for a present, Sam?” Slumped shoulders, eyes heavenward, “Oh, Mom! Can we please just not talk about this?” “But Sam! It’s going to be so much fun! All the boys in your class will be there!” Seven year old lying on the floor. “That means like 15 people that I will have to talk to — do you know how hard that is?” I RSVP’d anyway. “Sam is very excited about the party!” I lied.

On the big day, I sent the little worrywart out the door and told him to have a good time. His brothers picked him up after the party and brought him home. He burst through the door, dropped his coat and backpack and shouted, “This was the funnest day of my life!” He ran from room to room dispensing treats from his goodie bag and punching his balloon. “We even got to hit a baseball with a bat until the candy fell out of it!”

Well, don’t take my word for it…

Well, of course, things didn’t go as planned.  At my third stop, I knocked. ...Read More]]> Last week Wednesday, I worked feverishly to prepare Valentine treats for all my loyal customers.  Sweetie pies, cherry pies, lemon tarts, sugar cookies and more.  I was back up early Thursday morning to package everything, and left around 10 am to begin my deliveries.  If everything went as planned, I hoped to be finished by noon.

Well, of course, things didn’t go as planned.  At my third stop, I knocked.  From inside, I heard (what seemed to me) a large dog begin to bark.  Immediately, my brain sent my legs an urgent, RUN! message.  Leaving the treats on a chair, inside the mostly enclosed front porch, I ran back to the truck.  I smartly grabbed my cell phone and dialed, but, alas, my phone was not working.

This meant that I couldn’t get directions to my next stop, either.  Thankfully I had been paying attention when Dwight gave them to me earlier.  I found the next place, even with the extra 1  transcribed into the address on my written flight plan.  Just one more stop before picking up Caleb, Naomi’s little friend.

By this time, Naomi had broken into a full blown whine.  ”I’m starving, Mom!”  ”When are you gonna get me McDonald’s?”  We made a pit stop.  I didn’t end up finding my last address before pick-up time.  Once my wee ones were safely dropped at school, I made another delivery and headed home.

From home, I called the folks with the dog, to let them know where I had left their treats.  A couple hours later, Dwight called.  ”That pie that you left on Arthur, a squirrel ate it, and the card and cookie are no where to be found. Here’s the man’s number.”

The gift giver was very gracious, and after we had a nice conversation about raising chickens, I promised to replace his goodies, free of charge, by 8 pm.

At 8 pm, I knocked on the same door for the second time that day.  This time, I was met by the home owner and his half gnawed pie box filled with the remains of a perfectly delicious Caramel Pecan Apple pie.  ” You may just throw that one away,” I suggested.  ” You didn’t want to keep it?” he asked, smiling.

We never did I find that beautiful, cellophane wrapped sugar cookie.  I hope your Valentine’s Day was less eventful.

So much time has lapsed since I last posted!  Thank you all so much for letting Maisy’s help you with all of your holiday dessert and gift-giving needs.  As a special thanks, I have a fun give away for you!

I have, in my hot little hands, a gift certificate for a one-night stay for two at the Cottonwood Inn, a lovely little bed and breakfast  in Holland, ...Read More]]>

So much time has lapsed since I last posted!  Thank you all so much for letting Maisy’s help you with all of your holiday dessert and gift-giving needs.  As a special thanks, I have a fun give away for you!

I have, in my hot little hands, a gift certificate for a one-night stay for two at the Cottonwood Inn, a lovely little bed and breakfast  in Holland, Michigan. Holland happens to be one of my favorite places to visit. For one thing, it’s located near the Lake Michigan shoreline. Downtown Holland is filled with little shops and cafes. Holland has an awesome Farmers Market, and Windmill Island and the Dutch Village are main attractions.

Then there’s the bed and breakfast. In one word: Adorable! Upcycled wood floors, cozy nooks and crannies, beautiful gardens, and wonderful hosts — you’re gonna love it!

To enter: use the table below. Best wishes to you all! Entry deadline is Monday, February 25.

Lemon Cream Pie

Mouth-watering Maple cheesecake with Cranberry Compote

The kids decorated cookies Saturday afternoon with their cousins; taste testing was unavoidable.

...Read More]]> We made it successfully through the Thanksgiving pie season and are so grateful to all of you, who entrusted your family desserts to Maisy’s Pie Company! Apple, pumpkin, and pecan were most popular, but I want to share a few of our other delicious options.

Lemon Cream Pie

Mouth-watering Maple cheesecake with Cranberry Compote

The kids decorated cookies Saturday afternoon with their cousins; taste testing was unavoidable.

Bowls of colored icing

Little hands at work

The artists with their finished work

While we had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with our family, leftover turkey makes the holiday even better; tonight’s supper: Turkey Soup!

Everyone asked to have the leftovers in their lunches!

So, to recap, the Autumn Open Air Market facebook ...Read More]]> Hey there everyone!  This is just  a “Heads up!”  I’m going to change the Autumn Open Air Market page name on facebook!   Why?  Well, the page title suited our fall needs perfectly, but thinking ahead and moving into spring- not so much!  From here on out the market page will be called, “Maisy’s Open Air Market.”  Catchy- right?!  Ya, I know.

So, to recap, the Autumn Open Air Market facebook page is changing to Maisy’s Open Air Market.  You heard it here first- when you notice that you “Like,”  Maisy’s Open Air Market page, but can’t remember having done so- well, now you know!

Thanks so much for following along on the website, Maisy’s Pie Company, and Maisy’s Open Air Market (formally Autumn Open Air Market).  Keep your eyes open for some super cute gift giving ideas, right here!

Local honey in nostalgic jars