Family, food, and fun...

 What a fabulous weekend.  Family, food, and fun.  Kelly's family from Minnesota came out to turkey hunt.  We had a great time. While the guys hunted, Tricia, Mya, and I found all sorts of things to do.  Baking, shopping, hiking, and of course sitting and visiting over coffee and watching the turkeys in the yard while the men are out in the woods hunting. 

My GREAT niece, Mya, enjoys baking as much as I do and has always wanted to try making a French Chocolate Silk Pie.  I found a recipe at  The Best French Silk Pie: Copycat Perkins at Home - Wholesome Farmhouse Recipes

For the chocolate silk filling

• 4 Ounces Unsweetened Chocolate melted and cooled
• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter softened, 2 sticks
• 1 ½ Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 4 large eggs or pasteurized eggs if preferred

For the whipped topping

• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Chocolate curls or shavings for garnish

Instructions

• Prepare the pie crust. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Trim and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom with a fork, line with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dry beans. Note. A purchased unbaked crust will work just fine for this recipe. But you can make your own. We have a flaky pie crust recipe.
• • -Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes. Remove weights and bake another 10–12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.
  • -Prepare the filling. Melt the unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl. Let it cool slightly.
    -In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar for 5–7 minutes, until light and fluffy.
  • -Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Beat to combine.
  • -Add eggs one at a time, beating on medium-high speed for 3–4 minutes after each addition. This gives the filling its silky texture. ⚠️ Note: This recipe uses raw eggs. Use pasteurized eggs if concerned about food safety.
  • Assemble the pie. Spoon the chocolate filling into the cooled pie shell. Smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • -Make the whipped topping. In a cold mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe the whipped cream over the chilled pie.
    -Top with chocolate shavings, curls, or chocolate chips to garnish.
  • Chocolate curls or shavings

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It was fun trying something new and it was delicious.  We are putting that recipe in the cookbook for sure.  I also made a S'mores, strawberry, and banana cream pie.  It seems like a lot of pie, but with 7 people made short work of them.  My husband did the cooking, and I was in charge of baking.  We had to rely on the smoker, as we still don't have an oven.  I was pretty apprehensive how pie crusts would work on the smoker, but everything turned out grand. He found a new recipe cheeseburger tater tot hot dish.  You top it with pickles, mustard, and ketchup.  Yum.  Then Kyle brought monster steaks and shrimp.  As I said it was family and food.  During one of the meals we were all sitting around the table eating and laughing.  I was filled with an overwhelming sense of contentment.  

Fun is also in the works whenever they come out. We didn't just eat.  Tricia, Mya, and I explored a new antique store in Deadwood.  I was able to show them around my school.  We always go to Hill City and wander through the plethora of shops.  After the guys filled their turkey tags, we also went for a hike up to Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon.  

It was a beautiful day to hike and luckily there weren't a lot of people on the trail.  The water was cold and clear.  The stream was filled with trout, and we were lucky enough to see the American dipper.  It is a rare bird here in the hills.  I wasn't able to get a good picture of it.  They are pretty cool little birds as we watched it swim under water looking for food. 

Traditions are important and I can't think of a better tradition than the Fuller Turkey Hunt.  Kyle and Tricia have raised some amazing kids and it has been a joy to watch them grow.  Whenever we are together there is laughter, stories, and adventures. 

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and was able to spend time with their family.