Pecan tart in a jar

Typically I wouldn't make a dessert like this until the fall. Autumn to me would host the best of pecan and butter tarts. The crisp toasted pecans are perfect for the fall harvest season. For me however, pecan tarts are my all time favorite thing in the world. So I will make them any time of the year.

Anyways I wanted to share this idea with you, I absolutely love desserts in jars. I think they make great gifts for others as well. This dessert can be frozen and can last up to 6 months in the freezer.  

2 cups pecan halves, coarsely broken

1 cup sugar

¾ cup light corn syrup

¾ cup dark corn syrup

4 eggs

¼ cup butter

1½ teaspoons vanilla

pinch salt

2 refrigerated 9 inch pie crust dough

 

Preheat oven to 350°. Spread pecans on a cookie sheet and bake for 6 minutes to toast them. Set aside and let cool while you prepare the filling.

 

 

 

 

 

In saucepan boil sugar and corn syrups together for 2 minutes; set aside to cool slightly

 

In large bowl beat eggs lightly and very slowly pour the syrup mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly so they don’t scramble.

Stir in butter, vanilla, and salt.

 

 

 

Spray all jars with non-stick cooking spray. Fill jars with pieces of dough half of the way up the jar and press down to fill the bottom and ⅓ of the way up the sides. Fill the bottom with a good layer of pecans and then pour filling to just below the lip.

 

Place the jars on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes until done. Check at 25 minutes and cover top with aluminum foil if it is getting too dark on top. Let cool for several hours before serving. Serve with sweetened whip cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.

Tie with twine to make them extra special!

 

I would love to receive something like this as a gift. There's nothing like a homemade treat from a loved one.

 

Well my lovelies, until tomorrow good night and god bless~

 

Your best life~

We must get out of the mindset that our lives are too follow the same direction as our parents, friends, teachers, co-workers and/or anyone else you may have seated next too you throughout the course of your day.
I too am terribly guilty for believing that I was too be finished highschool by the age of 18, you MUST attend college by 20 yrs old and then married with children by the age of 25.
I was to have a job that made money, a boy and a girl, a small modest home and a happily ever after marriage.

You keep your house and kids clean, go to work, cook healthy dinners, do laundry, join bowling leagues, entertain friends on weekends and love your husband.

Take yearly trips, mow your lawn, own a dog and always smile.

You live a simple life, and follow the crowd. As you age you prepare for retirement, Christmas is extravagant, Thanksgiving is prepared for a feast of many, Easter is spent with  Easter egg hunts surrounded by family.

It's the Canadian dream~

That was what I believed I was suppose too do. I don't even think I felt I had a choice to go down a different path. I was too worried what people would have thought. Now, I always wanted a family, always wanted to be a mom. There is no question about that.

But imagine if that isn't that path you want, what if you don't want to get married but you want a child. Or maybe you don't want any of that, you want a life partner to travel with. Someone to share a small apartment and occasional dinner date. Those things are not so unheard of any more. People are living their lives the way they want.
It has taken me a long time to come to the understanding that it is not up to us as parents, friends, sisters, brothers, uncles. aunts and grandparents to determine what might be best for someone we love.
Their journey in life is theirs,  and as long as they are happy and self sufficient then who are we to judge.
I'm not too sure why I never felt I had the option to take a different path, why my generation felt it was still necessary to settle down at a young age and have a family?

When I think about it, both my parents came from unstable, unhealthy family lives. My mom made it her life goal to give her children the best childhood possible. I must say she did pretty damn good. We had a cute single detached home, went to our neighbourhood public schools, had the same friends all through childhood, there was absolutely no disruption to our every day life. My mom and dad provided food on the table, family dinners, Christmas mornings filled with toys and love, Easter dinners, spring clothes and new bikes. It was a childhood everyone would want. My mom had worked so hard for this life, it was what she longed for as a child herself.

Maybe growing up knowing that about my mother was what made me believe that "having a family" was the only happy route I could take. I didn't' even consider an alternative.
The only reason why I question it today is because of todays generation. The young adults today are venturing out into the world and living their lives the way they want. Our world is a much smaller place, the internet has provided this generation with a knowledge about the world none of us had.

I can only hope that both my children know they have the option in life to do what ever they choose to do. Whether they marry or not, bring grandchildren into my life, or travel the world and only FaceTime me once a week. I only hope they live their authentic life.

BUT, I also hope they understand that the best thing I could have done was settle down young and start a family. MY mom was right! Family has brought me nothing but happiness and love. I would not want a different life, the one I have is perfect for me.

Well my friends, whatever your life holds for you I truly hope you are living the best version of you. Another life lesson my mother has taught me is too leave this world with no regrets. Clear your conscious, don't hold grudges, let shit go~
Be happy, its a choice.
Until tomorrow friends~ xx

 

Stay away from "Still People"~

If you have kindly come back to this blog, I thank you! From here I hope to continue to provide decent content that will hopefully find you coming back for more. I appreciate your commitment and I would love to hear from you.

I have decided that I need to come up with certain  blog topic ideas for each day of the week.

 Kinda like what I use to do, with Monday's Menu and Wednesday's reflection.

That way I know what I need to prepare for each day. I suppose my biggest challenge is finding the content. My life has changed so much since I stopped blogging and the things that I do want to write about are things that I am still learning and going through. How do you write about things when you don't know how to handle each situation?
Some parts of my life I have absolutely no idea how to handle, other areas are down right perfect. But who wants to only hear about the great times? No one.

Most people like to hear the shit parts...and that's only human nature.

I'm not about to share that on here, not yet anyways.l

So for that reason, I have to be creative. I've been so consumed with many other issues lately. I haven't had time to even think of the things that make me happy. I mean, there's the obvious things like my family, dogs, kids, husband and job but the creative things that once inspired me are just not the same. The ideas that once encouraged me to be expressive.

I absolutely love to throw parties. I love to decorate. I host small parties and serve amazing new and delectable cocktails.

I love Halloween.

I love my dogs, I love to try new recipes and I love the idea of redecorating my home.

But who am I today?

I am in the midst of a life changing course. There is so much changing in my life, some things I have control over and some things I don't. Technically everyone's life changes and so its suppose too. That's how life works, if you are not changing and evolving in life then that's just sad.

I am so blessed to have these life adjustments. It means I have done my job right, our family is progressing along as it should. Both my children are developing into wonderful young adults, both are living the lives they have chosen and both are happy.

What more can a parent want?

Where's my creativity?

Where have all my creative thoughts gone? I so badly want too get this blog up and running again. But I just can't seem to find my drive. I use to have so many ideas, and I loved following through with crafts, recipes and family blog posts. I suppose maybe because I am working and spend a lot of time on my computer the desire has escaped me. Who wants to sit down and write when you've spent most part of your day on a computer?

Anyways, my hours are changing. I am hoping to be freer this spring and summer, possibly I'll be back. Maybe I should stop putting expectations on myself and just blog when I can?
I guess a large part of the problem is my interests have changed. My life is different now, I don't have kids living at home that I can bake or decorate the house for.

Not to mention they are adults and sharing their lives publically wouldn't be fair. To all my blogger mommy friends, when your children grow up your content will need to be changed.
Your young adults won't want you sharing their lives on here. Don't forget, there's so much I don't know. I do keep in touch with my kids daily, and for the most part I know what's going on in their life's.
Truly however, do I know? Probably not!
There is no more ringette games, hockey tournaments, school projects, sleepovers and high school drama.

With all that gone, I've got to be creative once again.
Stay tuned my friends, maybe i'll take up a new hobby or you'll just get a lot more about my dogs~

100 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter #67 Help yourself first, then ask others too help~

#67, Help yourself first, then ask others to help~

No one is responsible for you except you.

That's a hard lesson for so many people in life to understand. So many times we have people in our life who come to us wanting us to fix their problems or lend them a helping hand in time of need.

Naturally our instinct is too help others, and by all means fox it is so important to be there when someone needs you.
However there is a difference between lifting someone up a ladder, while they are taking the steps, then having to push someone up each step.

My expectations of you and your brother are just this;

When you find yourself in difficult times, it is important to reach out to those who love you. Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. I feel its more pathetic if you don't ask for help when you need it. Trying to be stoic, strong and independent when dealing with a personal crisis just seems ridiculous. When you have loving, kind and caring people in your life why wouldn't you accept a helping hand.

With that said, keep in mind the importance of helping yourself first. Always be aware of the changes you need to make in order to fulfill the demands of your life challenge or event.
Before you expect others to lend their time and resources, be sure you are not wearing down your offers of help. There is only so much someone can do to help you. Ultimately its up to you, the outcome of your journey lies in your own hands.

People should not be expected to lift you up and spoon feed you the answers to your problems. That's your job. You need to be your own advocate.

If we are constantly trying to "help and encourage" others, we ourselves will run out of fuel. It is not your responsibility to care for and tend to those around you. If however they themselves are putting in the effort, working hard to better their problem then I would feel it is kind to support them.
Never turn your back on someone who needs you, and I strongly suggest you guide them in the right direction of help. Once you have done that, its up to them to follow through. YOU are not responsible to see that they are moving forward.
So don't get caught up with those issues in your life fox, always remember the difference between encouraging and enabling. It can be a fuzzy distinction sometimes, so listen to your instincts. Understand your own body, mind and soul and what they may be trying to tell you about the situation.

 I love you Fox, stay true to you always xo