Graham Cracker Crust Substitute

This blog isn't so much about the finished product, which turned out to be amazing key lime bars. It is more about the discovery to think outside the graham cracker crust.

I LOVE key lime pie. It is my absolute favorite. I wanted to make a key lime pie (with fresh key limes) that would take me back to the pies I have gotten in Florida.

I look in the pantry and see a box of graham crackers. Good, so now I just need the ingredients for the pie.
I bought my key limes, the cream cheese, and the sweetened condensed milk.

I get home super excited to make this pie. Take out the box of graham crackers and it has two little squares. Can you say UGH!!!!! I am sure most can relate. I start digging around what can I make a crust out of? Thought about just a basic pie crust. Nah not the same. I come across a box a girl scout cookies not the thin mints or caramel delights, but shortbread cookies. Tada instant light bulb. I take a sleeve and 1/2 crumbled it up and put in the food processor till it is almost fine.

 After that I added 3 tbls of brown sugar and 4 tbls of melted butter.

Since this was an experiment and I didn't know how this was going to work out I decided to make bars instead of a pie. I mixed the three ingredients together and pressed into my square baking dish. I then baked this experimental crust for about 20 minutes at 325.

I am a genius or at least that is what I shouted. The crust was a success. I do not have a picture of the final bars, but this crust is soooo much better than a graham cracker. I am all ready thinking of other ways to improve like maybe chop up some macadamia nuts or what other kind of cookie crust can I make. Maybe I am sheltered and this was a known idea, but I truly amazed myself.

Hope this gives you some ideas and have fun!!!!!!

Dresser Re-do

It has been a few months since I posted anything on my blog. I have been so busy vacations, back to school, oh and of course work. Right now we are in full cheerleader mode since it is football season here in Texas.

I just have to add the vacation photo from my first morning in Biloxi. This was back in July, but I truly love this place, I am thinking next year I need to stay a month vs. just a week. It was a glorious cup of coffee and not a bad view.

Anyway back to my latest project. It was time to upgrade Abigail's furniture she has been using the same dresser she was born. The rails had fallen off of one drawer and the bottom out of the other. Good news is that I only needed the top drawer intact. I once upon a time painted this dresser white and Abigail discovered she could carve her name and draw pictures in the paint.

 

I wanted an entry table that had storage, so I placed this worn, used thing next to the front door to see if having it there would start to bug me. Needless to say the only thing that bugged me was the way it looked.

Yeah!!!! Project time. This dresser is going to be a stylish entry way table with storage to boot. I hit the ground running spending the better part of a Saturday sanding, sanding, and more sanding. I am so glad it was an electric sander.

 
After about 6 hours this is all I had accomplished. On Sunday morning I got up and started sanding again. This time I finished the drawer face and the door. It only took me about 4 hours to finish all the sanding work. Now the fun part. Painting!!!!!!


I went with a dark brown on the outside. The interior color was suppose to be a green gray and looked that way on the paint card, but when painted it just looked gray. I still like the way it turned out.

 Finishing touches. I painted the drawer and the door the same brown. I reattached the railings for just the top drawer. I bought new knobs, and I added a border around the bottom. Almost forgot I did add a sealer to the piece, just so the paint wouldn't scratch off when I put things on it. After all was said and done I spent about $60.00 to transform the original dresser. The biggest expense was more sanding pads. The end product looks great and I discovered I need to go shopping for some great accessories.

The cigar box belonged to my husbands grandfather. A nice catcher for keys.

I hope this gives you some ideas and have fun!!!!!!!