So now that we have cupboards

I've tried my hand at baking. I know this seems weird, but now I can clear my counter enough to make me want to try.

Joanne over at My Random Insanities was kind enough to send me a pie crust shield when I asked her about one she had shown in a post. I promised her I would take pictures, and I did. :-)

This is the pie before it went in the oven. Not completely right, but pretty close.

This is right after it came out of the oven. And yes, it is pumpkin pie. It smelled great! We like it any time of the year. This year we may even try growing our own pie pumpkins, but I think I need a pressure canner for that?

Yes, I overcooked it and scorched it slightly, even with the pie crust shield. I can't draw a straight line with a ruler, either. I think when I checked it the second time it was actually done, but I left it in another five minutes because I thought the knife didn't come out clean.

Oh well. Live and learn.

My other baking foray I only took two pictures because it was a disaster and I wasn't going to share it. I will definitely need more practice with kneading and adding flour and bread baking. That and figuring out how to get bread to rise when the temperature in the kitchen isn't more than 55 degrees Fahrenheit with a heater on.
I used the oven and a pan of hot water that I changed a couple times, but nothing would have helped, haha. I know now that I added waay too much flour (I added only as much as the recipe called for, plus a tiny bit because the dough was so sticky!); and I kneaded too much, probably because of that sticky part. I swear I never saw the 'smooth and elastic' form that the recipes tell you to look for.

Anyway, after FIVE or SIX hours of trying to get the bread to rise, it looked like this.

It was already 7:30 at night and I wanted to get it baked before bed, so I started the oven and let whatever might happen, happen.

This is how it looked coming out of the oven. My first loaf of cheese bread. (I LOVE Cheese Bread!) ;-)

It is quite heavy. Can't eat more than two slices at once. But it tastes good and I'll try it again.
I'll be trying some of the bread and pie recipes that Gail over at At The Farm sent me, too. :-)

Have a wonderful Sunday and stay warm if you're getting hit by that next cold front! ♥