Emily - I am feeling homesick for the midwest (from KC, but living in Baltimore for a while now) and for some reason this recipe was in the back of my mind, so I made it for dinner tonight. Perfect! I made it with roasted brussell sprouts and red potatoes. Delicious! Thanks for making me feel a little closer to home!

Wendy - I have to watch that SNL skit every Christmas!! Always gives me the laugh I’m in desperate need of around that time of year. 🙂 Mmm….Schweddy balls!!

Anna - DELICIOUS!!! My hubby (Craig) loved these as well! However, I think if he were to check your blog, he’d like your attire much more than mine. I mixed them up, threw them in the pan, and jumped on the treadmill for 30 mins. I had planned on showering before serving, but it was the baby’s (11 week old) feeding time. I took no picture of my sweat drenched hair and running clothes.
But seriously, these were great. My 3 year old asked for seconds!

Andrea from O-H-I-O - We have cookbooks that we give to brides at our church that have that exact same cover!! I found them in a cupboard about two months ago and we have been giving them away again since.

Anne-Marie - Love your simple recipes! Please keep them coming. I think you are a SUPER-creative, fun mom, and your family is adorable! Thank you for sharing you daily days with all of us. Your blog always makes me smile.
AM in CT

Courtney Walsh - Meg,
Been without internet since our move, but I am loving catching up with you and your vacay. I made meatball subs tonight for dinner and they DID smell sooo good. Can’t believe I didn’t think about Pete Schweddy once while I was making them. Sure would’ve gotten a laugh out of my husband if I’d named them though! 🙂

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five - These look and sound delicious, Meg!
It’s been such fun to read your latest summertime posts. So funny. So sweet. So “it’s summer and the kids are home and driving me crazy” true. Keep ’em coming!
And I just have to marvel at your pristine white pants. That’s no easy feat with a house full of kiddos. Way to go!

Lacey - do you know how absolutely beautiful you are? I just found your blog last week, and have gotten very little sleep since then trying to read it while my kiddos are asleep. No worries though. have a great day!

Kat - You always look gorgeous Meg! Especially your hair, it really suits you like that.
I hear ya with having to alter recipes for the fussy eaters.
Hey, did you catch the meatball? lol. Sounds like my fussy eater. Oh the joys!

Amanda - So funny, this is one of my husband’s favorite recipes, too. Except instead of bread crumbs, my recipe calls for rolled oats. It’s yummy and my husband begs for it!

Mindy Harris - recipe looks yummy–i’ll have to try it. your apron is just delightful. and you are so cute in these pictures, as always.

Rebecca - So glad Typepad suggested I stop by ~ It’s great. The recipe sounds delicious…and your reference to Pete Schweddy ~ just too funny, cracked me up!
The days of kids throwing food have passed here but you reminded me of one evening when during dinner our daughter flung mashed potatoes on the wall behind her just because the peas had “gotten stuck” and she was trying to shake them off. 🙂

katie - i just read a few comments and i have to disagree with Janine. don’t retype it. don’t put it in sheet protectors. one of the things i love most about the cookbooks i use alot is remembering things like leaving it on a burner once (even though i’ve never done that). sheet protectors have no character. or cute cover.

Bec - Mmmmm….this sounds a lot like my mom’s meatloaf recipe. Could be fun to make them into meatballs! Kind of like mini meatloaf bites 🙂

Rhonda Roo - You peeps are all silly up in here. Meatballs in white pants, a shmillion questions, rainbow brights and slip and slides, happy babies what what what?
I must now therefore love you to pieces.
And visit often, and put you on my twinklestars blogroll, ohhh yes.
🙂

Kelly - You are cute!

Christine Ishmael - thanks for the recipe, had everything including the hamburger I never put in the freezer ready to go…it’s in the oven now…my sauce is not bubbling yet…hope I made it right!

RLG - Great post, Meg. I love that you do special things for your man despite how busy I KNOW you are. The picture of you in pearls with the blue plate special is AWESOME. I will try your recipe b/c they are always amazing. Thanks for sharing. xoxo

crystal b - I am laughing my head off at the questions about catsup and the comments you made about your outfit! Too funny. I love these meatballs! Strangely enough, I have this recipe in one of my old church cookbooks too! Next time I make them, I’m wearing my white pants. I think it might make them taste better if I look cute while I’m cooking. And you are right, mashed potatoes are a must with anything meatloaf-ish, which is what these meatballs remind me of. You will be happy to know that my son has …. and does ….. throw meatballs. He hates catsup more than anything. Even if I leave the catsup off his meatballs, they were near catsup and that’s enough to throw him over the edge. Kids are weird.
Hey, how did the photos with Blue Lily turn out? I ran into her before I left on vacation and asked her about her recent trips including her shoot with you. She said you had such a fun family! Can’t wait to see what happened!
Looks like you are having a really fun summer with your cute fam!

kathy Eller - LOOVE that cookbook!! I have been wanting to make meatballs. You made it feel doable:)I want necklaces like yours now:) Thank you for your amazing post and sense of humor… You encouraged us to eb cool like you without showing off how cool you are. Thank you for that:)
<3 Kathy
Having a Hallelujah Good Time
http://www.handfulofellers.blogspot.com

Henita Riesen - Thanks for the great tasting recipe! I made it for supper all the way over the ocean here in Germany! A new favorite I think!
By the way…I really enjoy your blog! Lots of inspiration and makes me feel like I am not alone in the world of mommy-hood.
I love your bright colors!

robin - i love you…i love your blog…you make me laugh out loud to the point that my husband says, “what are you laughing at???” and most of the time i’m so engrossed in reading what you are “saying” that i don’t even hear him ask… 🙂
in light of the Pete Schweddy comment… 🙂 your meatballs look so perfectly round and juicy… mmmmm, i can just imagine what they are like when i…. never mind 🙂
and well, i TOTALLY relate to the “throwing” event from Annie…our daughter is the PICKIEST eater ever…and well, at 21 months, suffice it to say that we’ve seen food fly when she doesn’t want to eat it… tough love…tough love…

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - oooh, those look so yummy!
that’s hilarious that annie threw her meatball! probably not to you at the time, but funny nonetheless. 😉

Jen - 1. My husband (Derek Enger…from GEFC) and I hung out with “Chicago Dave…and kids” the other night while “Chicago Jen” was at work. I asked Dave how you guys met (aside from GEFC) and he gave me the short version…”and we lived in the same apartment complex”. SO glad I got the long version in your previous post (the way a women would tell it) 🙂
2. I WILL be making these meatballs for my husband SOON.
3. SOOOO glad you mentioned Pete Schweddy…I was thinking of that from the beginning of the post.
4. LOVE your blog!!!
~Jen (also from Chicago…but NOT the REAL Chicago Jen)

Janine - You should retype all of those recipes, put them in laminated sheet protectors and into a binder. You’ll be glad you did. Especially if this cookbook is so well loved and falling apart now. With that sauce on top it sounds like your meatballs are like mini meatloaf servings. And who doesn’t love a good meatball!

Laura - My husband is going to be sooo happy when he walks in from work this evening! Thanks Meg for another “ridiculous” recipe! 🙂 p.s. you look fabulous!

Leah - These look delicious. Can’t wait to try them!

patti - yum…I have an awesome recipe for meatballs too…this one looks easier. Oh, and if you wanted to add green, put some dried parsley in the meatballs! 🙂

Katie - I have that same shirt! And that looks sooo yummy!

Beth - You are so cute–I wondered about the jewelry 🙂 Those look tasty, my husband loves meatballs, too. AND, my mom always, always, says “catsup/ketchup, whichever” every single time she serves it! Silly.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Well mission accomplished! You made your man good food and you looked cute as a button too. Never heard of Pete Schweddy.

Lauren - My mom calls it catsup too. I have no idea why, but she has for as long as I can remember… but her mom didn’t call it that. We live in Philadelphia, PA, not many people here pronounce it that way =) So I knew exactly what you were referring to!

Staci - You’re so cute 🙂 I’m not much of a “meat” girl myself, but my hubby would love it if I made these 😉 I might have to wear gloves ;( And did you crack up or what when Annie threw her meatball across the room!!!??? I might’ve laughed at that 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Marisa - Ooh, that sauce is similar to my meatloaf sauce. Or, er, Martha’s meatloaf sauce. Yummy!

kristi rediske - Looks great-I think I may have to cook that for my husband but I dont think I am going to dress up so much and put jewelry on-you are exceptional-does that sound right-it was a compliment-HA! Anyway-you sure look good after cooking a meal.

Nicole Q. - Never made meatballs so I think I’ll add this to the list! I laughed at Annie throwing a meatball . .. she could fit into our family. HA!

Lisa - Dinner. Tonight. Thanks.

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Megan,
For everyday regular people, I would have to say, yes the picture of the smiling mom holding meatballs in her Out on the town garb is strange. For a world class blogger…just perfect : ) So glad you share the everyday. Wow, have never had a meatball thrown…Yet. Thank goodness there wasn’t any sauce. Made me laugh.
Dana

Julianne Brimner - This is one of my hubby’s fave meals, too….and the recipe I use (very similar to yours) came from the cookbook from his home church. Don’t you love it when they walk in and say it smells good?

Nancy - Those look fabulous. Meatballs make the world go round in my house. That leads to my comment about Schweddy… thank you for the 5:00 am smile. One of the best skits, EVER!

Tara - i literally laughed out loud at my computer over the “white pants, heels, holding a plate of meatballs while smiling for the camera” part of this post!
you are TOO funny. Now, I’m going to get my coffee.

Carrie - Sorry…one more thing.
The recipe calls for 2 medium onions, but I see you used dried onions. How much dried?

Julie - That does look good! Those cookbooks are always the best cookbooks! And I’m not surprised that’s his favorite ~ that is a very meat and potatoes meal ~ a guy meal!!! Thanks for sharing.

Kimberlee J. - Great…I have that cookbook. 🙂
The first pic of you holding the plate of meatballs is a good one…in white pants and heels, Mrs. Craig.
And did B on one of the hottest days of last weekend start pulling out the “Schweddy” quotes. Oh yes he did.

amanda - This looks delicious! I think I’ll make it for dinner tomorrow (or really today … must go to bed!) Ugh – a writer’s hours …

Lisa - You do stay up late! 😉 Its midnight in Oregon and I’m only up cause I can’t sleep. Hate when that happens. And I’m working this whole week at VBS at our church and its surprisingly exhausting so I am wishing I was getting a wonderful nights sleep right now! I think my hubby would LOVE this meal. Not so sure about one of my kids though. But I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂 Can you tell I’m tired? I hardly ever comment on blogs and here I am not only commenting but blabbing on and on about nothing. Think I should try again to sleep. Night!

ICEAGE - These are great! Never thought of beer as a component of margarita mix. Big fan of Blue Moon anyway, so this was perfect. Thanks…

Bailey C - Ladies Night In tomorrow and margaritas are on the menu. I remembered this post and although I still have yet to try them myself, we will all be experiencing them together…can’t wait!!

Rattikarn - Ohhh this sounds so yummy! I might just have to go buy these inreedignts and have one tonight! Heck, why wait, maybe I’ll have one this morning! Thanks for the recipe Meg!

Bridget Gladman - Love this receipe! We made 5, YES 5 pitchers of it one weekend. UMMM GOOOD! Thanks for sharing.

Meredith - I’d missed reading your blog for a week or so and was catching up and saw this. I got my boyfriend to sit down and read over it (we love margaritas) and he said that in Mexico, if you wanted a very similar drink, you’d need to order a michelada! In Mexico, they have both drinks, the difference being a michelada has lime and beer (and sometimes spices)!

Courtney - Okay, I had a party last night and tried out these margaritas. They were awesome! The beer cut a bit of the “twang” out and tamed the super sweetness. No more margarita mixes for me…I’m sold!!!

matt - I’m always trying random stuff in our margaritas so thanks for posting your mom’s recipe. It looks wonderful. I personally think one key to a good margarita is to make it reeeely cold. My only beef is the salt. The salt never comes out right. It’s always chunky and not pretty like a string of aciduous pearls. So if you have tips on the salt rim I’m all ears. Oh, and I see someone posted about adding sugar and salt. great idea heather! I’ll try it.

Meg - Drank these last night from jelly jars, on the patio, with some of my favorite “church mommies.” they were delish! thanks for sharing.

Lisa Currie-Gurney - WOW, DID I SERIOUSLY JUST TYPE MAIN, NOT MAINE? CAN YOU TELL THE KIND OF DAY I’VE HAD.
THINK I NEED ONE OF YOUR MUMS MARGARITAS!
HUGS FROM MAINE

kat - Oh my yummy yum yum! I can’t wait to try that Margarita recipe, I wonder how it would taste with a Bud Light Lime? Sounds delish. I love Blue Moon, that sounds like the perfect choice. Wow. Thanks for sharing. Looks like me and the hubs will have to test it. Can’t wait.

Julie - YUMMO!

Jessica - Oohhh Im definitely going to make this tonight! Nothing beats the Florida heat like a good margarita! Thank your mom for sharing this recipe!

Stina - We are in Wyoming and call that rice dish a Hawaiian Haystack. Funny thing. My husband is born and raised in HI and not only never heard of them his whole life…but was absolutely horrified that we would put cream of chicken and fruit, or anything close to either, on rice. lol.
I wonder if it’s just called that because of the fruit? All my in-laws were appalled when he told them. Darn haoles! 🙂

Selina - Yum! I wish I could find limeade here in Australia. 🙁

sarah - One of my friends asked recently if I knew about a margarita that added a beer in the mix. I told her about the ones your mom made us that night when we were there… they’re were delish.
We have plans to make them for one of our next ‘sisterhood’ gatherings 🙂
The food looks so yummy!

Jessica @ One Shiny Star - We call then Hawaiian haystacks too, and they are ever popular and church gatherings! Yummm. Looks like a good start to the summer!

Rachel / cREaTe - funny funny – just read Ann Marie’s comment & yes – the recipe i use is technically called “knock ya nakeds”. 🙂 small world … wonder what its origin is!

tara pollard pakosta - they sound delicious!!!
I just saw a recipe on the barefoot contessa
show and it was for pineapple margaritas, they sounded
yummy too (it was triple sec, tequila, ice, pineapple juice and the juice from limes)
I want to try this one!
sounds like a delightful evening!!!
tara

chasity - wondering if there is a good non-alcoholic version.
it’s against my religion to drink alcohol…something to think about.

Ann Marie - I have a very similar recipe for these! They are called ‘Knock you naked margaritas’. We always have them on the rocks but instead of adding water we add a can of 7up

Trish - yummers… gonna have to wait awhile since i’m 30 weeks pregnant and planning to nurse til he is one! oh well, I will just live through you 😉

Krista - YUMMMMMMM, I am soooo thirsty right now (at 12:15 in the afternoon) for one of those. Interesting recipe, I am writing it down now so I can try it when I have company!

Patty - Beer in a margarita? Gotta try this!

Sara Cameli - This makes me miss you all so much! Love the photos of your Mom and Lorel! 🙂 Wish I lived closer…boo hoo. Not that I need Margaritas to love you all! ha ha.

jennifer - Ooooh! Those will definitely be made at some point this weekend!
Funny story about that beer… About a year ago, the county that we live in decided that our street name needed to change because there was another street about a mile away with a very similar name. We live on a small cul-de-sac with only three houses, so they sent us each a letter and told us to come up with a new street name. We thought we were moving at the time, so didn’t put our suggestions in and another neighbor could care less, so my next door neighbor submitted her choice and we now live on Blue Moon Ct. Named after the beer! I love my neighbor, she’s the best! And she’s going to LOVE your mom’s margarita recipe.
Thanks for sharing!

susan - wish I was there!! love your pics..can you post some from further away so we can see the whole atmosphere?? xoxo

Kari - Sounds yummy! My mom is diabetic and we make the On the Border light margaritas – you can buy the mix at Target. There is only about 40 calories in one I think (not counting the tequila).
I can’t wait to make your rainbow cupcakes this week for the last day of school. Just did a Chicago Cubs groom’s cake this weekend – love to bake!

Casey - Need to try the margaritas with beer……on my list!
And, I love the idea for dinner. Well done!

adrienne - just wrote it down! … will be great on memorial day while floating in the pool!

Kimberlee J. - Hello summer margaritas. I love you.

Rachel - YUM!! This is my recipe, too, minus the beer! We call them “Rachel’s Famous Margaritas” (I make all my friends call them that. It’s not like I have a big head or anything.) Now I’ll HAVE to try the beer in it!! And my fav beer too!! LUH-HUV Blue Moon.
Thanks for sharing! Great pics!

Gemma - It all looks lovely!! The lanterns look so pretty too 😀
I’ve never treid a margarita but will remember this one if I ever make one : )
Gemma @ Musings of a gem X

Lori - We are going to try this! Margaritas are my favorite but we never make them because they DO NOT taste like they are from a restaurant! Too boozy- ugh. I’ll drink one, with salt of course, and think of you and your Mom! Please thank her for sharing! Yippee!!! Lori

jodi - Meg, you’re the best! I LOVE your blog! I too have never cut a pineapple until today. I followed your direction and turned out perfect. Thanks for letting us into your world, and keep up the great blogging.

Toni :O) - I buy TONS of fresh pineapple. There is always a tutuorial on the card attached to the pineapple too. The canned stuff is very acidic and will give heartburn to some…fresh is the way to go. Literally, I can cut up my pineapple in five minutes now. YUMMO!

Danielle - I loveeeeeeeeeee fresh pineapple!! I am one of the people who didn’t know how to cut it, I am totally buying one this week at the grocery store!! Thanks for the how to! 🙂

Kelly - The first time we bought a pineapple we watched a youtube video to learn how to cut it, so if you’re a dork, we’re dorks too. 🙂 Kelly

BeckyB - I love this post! The only thing I would add is to squeeze the peel over the cut fruit – the sweetest juices are found there! (taught to me by an old produce guy) Thanks!!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I cut mine very differently. Maybe we should start a pineapple cutting blogfrog community. Or a linky party for all those who want to post on how to cut pineapple. No apple cutting thingies allowed : )
Dana @ Bungalow’56

nichole shinners - Thank you for the great post! I cheat and use a pineapple cutter thingie 😉 So I loved your post on how to cut it with just a knife! Also thanks again for the green color info, we did our living room/ dinning room and we LOVE it. Best color EVER!! Yep, leave it to Meg to pick my colors, hahahaha!! Thanks again.
nichole

bobbie - I’ve been cutting in the really hard way for years! I never thought about doing it this way. Seriously, one of the best blog posts this week that I’ve read.

Bailey - Someone may have already mentioned this, but Pampered Chef has a Pineapple Wedger that is a great $18 investment!

Suzanne - i do it that way and haven’t bought canned pineapple n years…no comparison.

Pamela duMont - you are very funny! When you buy a pineapple people there are directions on the tag!!! It is more fun to read your blog about it though!

lifeologia - I was bummed that you didn’t post your smoothie recipe… there’s some material for your next post 😉
PEOPLE PLEASE DON’T BUY A PINEPPLE PEELER – it’s just a money grabber – a good sharp knife will do the trick – as Meg just showed. (Meg I hope you did a video of it to post on YouTube 😉
Happy Weekend.

melia - One more thing about pineapple cutting I’ve learned. 30-45 minutes before cutting, twist the top green stuff off and place it upside down. This helps evenly distribute all of the juice that has settled in the bottom…works like a charm 🙂

Diana - That’s awesome! I definitely don’t buy produce that I don’t know how to pick out or how to cut! Now I can buy pineapples 🙂

Krista - DITTO on all the other posts, it really looks yummy. You have inspired me to go and dig into the one that’s waiting for me in my kitchen! Please post your smoothie recipe– pineapple and blueberries? What else is in there?

bopha - okay, i thought i had a good way, but that’s much better.

Leigh @ Kesler Expressler - Thats a neat way to avoid getting the brown bits. I’ll have to try that next time. i’ve always just tried to kind of “peel” the outer parts off.

Courtney Walsh - I will never forget the time my husband taught on the fruits of the spirit in kids’ church and every fruit was assigned an actual fruit. One of them was pineapple. I couldn’t believe how many kids had no idea what it was. lol
I LOVE fresh pineapple and have been known to sit down and eat an entire one by myself. I cut mine a tiny bit differently, but I”m trying your way next time!! Smoothie. Yum. Wonder if I could make a good smoothie without milk or dairy…hm…

ashley - That’s SO much easier that how I do it. Thanks! [And it’s not dorky. Enjoy that smoothie.]

julia - I’m struggling with step one.

Ally - man, I LOVE canned pineapple. One time in college the cafeteria had a carribean themed night and they used pineapples as decorations. Well, yours truly had the brilliant idea to smuggle one out under her coat and eat about half of it, until I realized that my lips were BURNING. I guess that was my punishment. I still like fresh pineapple, but I could eat a whole can without my mouth burning off. And that’s my story.

monique - never have i ever bought a pineapple b/c of exactly that…not a clue as to how to do it!! so thank you bunches for enlightening me 🙂

Elise - I’ve been cutting pineapple wrong my whole life. Dorky, or not, this post made my day.

Laura - yep, i’m that one person who never learned how to cut a pineapple (i won’t even tell you how old i am!) thanks for the lesson – i’ll buy fresh from now on! now if my kids would just eat pineapple…

sarah - Love this.
I was just staring at a pineapple at Sprouts yesterday,
wondering if I bought it… how would I cut it up.
(hubby is on business.. he usually does the cutting, he’s the cook around here)
I didn’t buy one. But with this handy dandy ‘how to’, I think I’ll have to pick one up today.
I feel silly though, for not knowing how to cut a pineapple.

Sandy - thanks, you’re the best! I’m with anna…you stopped the tutorial too soon….what’s in the smoothie? looks yummy!!

Lee Ann - it’s not dumb! I have people ask me all the time how to cut one. My mom was visiting last week and asked me to buy a pineapple. She’s NEVER bought one becasue she didn’t know how to get a good one, or how to cut it. Now she knows!

Amy - Look at all the people you helped! 🙂 Including ME! I’m bookmarking your post and putting pineapple on my grocery list right now. I’ve always been too afraid. THANKS MEG!

Aimee - Fantastic! Thanks for this. I remember watching my mom cut a pineapple once as a kid but she did it very differently and the pieces all had the brown part on them. You have inspired me to try this now. I am going to buy a pineapple this weekend!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - i seriously had no idea how to cut pineapple….so thanks. 🙂

Erin @ Cultivating Home - I’d like to add to Naomi’s suggestion of planting the top half. You need to cut the top so it has at least 1-2 inches of pineapple meat still attached. I plant mine directly in a pot of soil, put it outside (to avoid fruit flies), and water it regularly. It will look like it’s not doing anything, but you have to resist the urge to pull it up and check. The roots take a while to form and are very delicate; you’ll pull it up, see that it does have roots growing but you will by then have killed the plant. In about 1-2 months (depending on how much sun it gets; it likes a lot), you’ll notice a new green sprig sprouting from the middle. I have gained three gorgeous pineapple plants this way.

Alisha Gibb - I love it!

Robyn - I’m a dork too, but one who has never cut a pineapple 🙂 so I’m glad you let your dorkiness out today!

Janie Fox - I love a fresh pineapple and a big dork! 🙂

Tanya - I love learning 🙂

Kelley - ThAnK yOu! I have never bought a fresh pineapple before because I didn’t know how to cut it. I just paid more and sighed as I bought the fresh cut from the grocery store. I am buying one this weekend! Thanks Meg!!

jeana - I’m another one of those!I have bought one before but chickened out and had my husband cut it…I ususally buy the fresh already cut up and the big proce tag. I will give this a shot, thanks!

alyssa - I cut the skin off after I cut the top and bottom off. Just cut strips around until you’re done/ But that works too! Can’t say i’ve ever seen it done like that. So, I guess what I’m saying is, you didn’t help me, but you showed me something new! Have a great day.

Susan - Not dorky at all! Thanks!

angela - Dorky? Maybe, but I love this post! I cut them all the time, so I know how. But, I remember when I DIDN’T know how…and I would have loved this post! keep being dorky!

Zarah - It’s not dumb, I love fresh pineapple! (although I totally peel it differently than you… your way looks easier though. After trimming the top and bottom, I cut all the prickly stuff off the outside first using a serrated knife.)

Amy - So not the dumbest post ever! I try to tell people it is sooooooo worth it to buy a fresh pineapple over the nasty canned variety, but they inevitably whine about how to ‘get to the good stuff’ of the prickly fruit. Now I can send them this post and revel in the joy of gaining another ‘freshie’ convert. Thanks, Meg!

Jenn Thomas - The smoothie looks yummy – I have a question – how do you pick out a good ripe pineapple?

Ashley - Pampered Chef just came out with a pineapple corer/peeler – a bigger version of their apple corer! It is AWESOME!

shelley - you helped me too!! i just bought one this week and was going to google how to cut a pineapple! wahhoo! 🙂

Chad - I have wanted to find this recipe for about 15 years. I had this pie a few times at church potlucks but the lady that made it refused to share the recipe. I do not see where you have it posted either. Can you help me find it?
Chad

lisa - this is very close to the recipe my husband uses for his peanut butter pie recipe which he ‘borrowed’ from an amish bakery in ohio! it’s awesome!!! lucky you 🙂

Kathy Young - Hi Meg, I’ve never posted before but I do follow and enjoy reading your blog. I read other poster’s tips for pie crust & agree that you can’t stretch pie dough much because it will shrink back. When you flute the edges, be sure to snag it over the edge of the pie dish a little with each pinch to give it something to “hold” on to while baking. Then either prick it well with a fork or weight it to prevent it from bubbling while pre-baking.
After that my best advice is to relax and go with however the finished crust turns out because something made at home with love beats store bought any time no matter what it looks like! 🙂

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - Yum!
And.. God heavens, you have pretty hands!
🙂

Mansi - Hi Meg,
I have been following your blog since last 1.4 years.
You have been such an inspiration & the blog is full of colors & blessings.
No wonder, each of us dream to have an ideal house like yours.
I am from India & unlike you all, belong to a different segment of world where women are still bound by so many roles & responsibilities that most of us prefer to give up on our hobbies & craft skills.
I have recently thought of starting an inspiration blog that might help me to share some good practices of the west with the east.
Please feel free to visit my blog http://mansirana.blogspot.com/2010/04/indians-can-never-think-like-americans.html
It’s not as good as yours but I am trying 🙂
Please feel free to share some suggestions to make it better.

Gemma - That looks great but unfortunately i’m allergic to Peanuts! If I wasn’t I would definately make it..
If any of you get a chance please take a peek at my blog http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/
Gemma X

robin - OK, I didn’t put on any cute apron, but I made this pie tonight and it was DELISH. I even got inspired and went all out with a stouffers family lasagna and garlic bread beforehand. My family was SHOCKED and are being so nice to me. 🙂 Thanks for the wonderful recipe!

Rebekah - That looks SO good! I wish I could make one. My daughter is allergic to peanuts and while we do keep a jar in the house for my husband and me to have sandwiches once in a while, I don’t cook with them because I’m afraid the fumes might cause her to have an allergy attack! Maybe one day when she’s not at home… 🙂

candace - oh, that sounds (and looks) goooood! can’t wait to try it, but i will be honest, it will probably be in a pillsbury pie shell. 🙂

Meredith - I make the same recipe but with homemade pudding instead of the box kind. It is delicious. The funny thing is, whenever guests have it, everyone agrees it is such a southern recipe! (I’m in North Carolina.) I guess we all like to claim the really good recipes. 🙂

Kellie Dugan - I have never heard of this type of peanut butter pie recipe. I will have to try this. My hubby loves peanut butter anything.
I just purchased your “4” shirt from etsy. Thanks, I had not even thought of what my son would wear for his BD. Oh the things that slip our mind till the last minute.

Lisa - Um Yummy, I was thinking that it would be so easy to substitute the peanut butter if you had nut allergies to something like chocolate spread. MMMMMMM

merlin - That pie crust spells L-O-V-E, and that makes it perfect!

Lee Ann - You just made my DAY!!! I was looking all weekend for a PB pie recipe that had the crumbles on top!!! My baby sitter (when I was a little girl) made one like this! I can’t wait to try it!!!
Tips for the pie crust. Put it in the freezer (after it’s in the pan) for a bit before you bake it. If it’s super cold, it won’t shrink as much. you can also buy “pie weights” at a kitchen store, and they keep it from bubbling up so much. Awesome start!!! I’m a pie crust snob 🙂

Cami - Thanks for sharing 🙂 I have a son who honestly lives on peanut butter.

Tam - oh yum! that looks delicious. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe, it’s a bit different from the PB pie we make. I can’t wait to try it!
Happy Belated Birthday Craig!

Kimberlee J. - Can’t wait to try this!

tinycandi - That looks amazing! I’ve never actually made a pie before (aside from helping my grandma make pies since I was little…didn’t require a lot of work on my part)…but I may just have to try making this one!

Courtney Walsh - I am a huge PB pie fan!! Would be fun to put some little mini Reeses’ on the top, just because, you know, I love those too!
About the crust…do you sort of wrap it around the edge of the pie plate? I am certainly no expert, but I do make a mean apple pie (seriously, it is A.MA.ZING.) and the recipe actually says to wrap it around the edge of the plate an it works like a charm! (Of course, you cover it with another layer of crust, so maybe that’s why it holds up so well.
Hm. At any rate, it’s worth a shot, no? I don’t really think it matters since this pie is gorgeous and looks super yummy! 🙂

RLG - Can’t wait to try it. BTW, I made the chicken enchiladas for my family when they came to visit. My mother actual said, “These are the best enchiladas I’ve ever had.” And she’s the cook in the family, not me. So thanks for making me look so good, Meg. Much love to you. xoxo

Lori - Yum! thanks for sharing!

Angel/TaDa!Creations - This looks heavenly and probptly made it on the menu for when my bestest blogging friend comes to visit me in 2 weeks (we’ve never met in person). She loves peanut better! I can’t wait to swap stories over this one.

Anna Marie - I had peanut butter pie for the first time a few months ago and I couldn’t believe I had never had it before! “Where have you been my whole life???” It was very similar to yours except for the crumb stuff which sounds like “icing on the cake”…I mean pie 😉

Tara - hummmmm??? who is my life is having a birthday??? I wanna make one!

`Kelly - As “fate” would have it, today is my husband’s birthday. Too bad he doesn’t like peanut butter. Yeah, I know, it’s wrong but I don’t hold it against him. My birthday isn’t until November but good thing Mother’s Day is coming up! I’ll make it for myself then! 🙂 Thanks for sharing – yum!

Heather - Okay, is it too early in the morning for all this goodness? I think I’ll have peanut butter pie for desert – after my cereal. Yum!

Melody - Meg, my mom worked at Marie Calender’s in the 70’s here in California, and she said they had peanut butter pie there and it was “to die for.” She said their version was like a peanut butter type custard with meringue on top. YUM!

Carrie - You need pie weights – or save money and use dry beans when you blind bake a pie crust.
After you have placed the crust in the pie plate, just prick the crust a couple of times with a fork, place some parchment paper on the crust, and then put the dry beans in on top. This will help keep it from shrinking.

Jen - Yum! I have a certain 13 yo who would LOVE this. I may just have to figure out a way to add chocolate though–chocolate pudding instead? Chocolate pie crust? Chocolate whipped cream??? Thanks for sharing!

carissa... brown eyed fox - i love you so!

jimaiemarie - hahah!! you are too funny, this looks SO GOOD!!!!!

Molly Green - Ooooohhhh…yummy!

Diana - ROTFL! you go girl!
great job! proud of you!
♥

Craig's Mom - Unlike the rest of you who just get to drool over the pie, I actually got a piece and it might have been the best piece of coconut cream pie I’ve ever had and it’s my favorite! Great job, Meg….the whole meal was delicious.

Christina - I’m all about sticking to the story…but somehow they always stick to me. Hmmm.
About PW’s pie crust…I bet it’s awesome, but if you like to substitute something for shortening then just use butter. Shortening is just wrong. 🙂

Elizabeth - Great story!!!
Too Funny!!! Love it :]
Elizabeth

chasity - that’s great news since i’m starting my diet today!

tam - oh it looks delicious! Coconut cream is my favorite!

patti - meringue is mostly air anyways…right? RIGHT?? 😉

Anna - Same for double layer strawberry cake with cream cheese icing!!!!
At 7.5 months preggo, you are hotter than hot!!!
So Bad!

Amy - looks divine! wish I had some!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Does this work for store bought apple pie, strawberry shortcake and peanut butter cups?? I know…I know;) It doesn’t hurt to ask. Looks so yummy:)

Staci - Oh man 🙂 I am not a huge coconut pie fan…but you make me want to make this RIGHT NOW!!!!!! I ate sugar yesterday for the first time in over 40 days….I waaay overdid it and felt YUCK-EEE last night 🙁 Uggh 🙁 So today, it’s back to protein shakes and I’m just going to go through my life pretending it’s Lent all the time 🙂 Happy Day to you!!!!!

jack - Now that is great news indeed!

morningt - Looks scrumptuous and I don’t even like coconut!

Holly - I’m stealing your story and sticking to it as well 🙂

Vera - Something that gorgeous can’t possibly have any calories!

Julie - I don’t know about your story (haha!), but your pie looks DELICIOUS! Yum!!!

Susan - I like that story!

Jennifer - My family love this recipe and we make it on a regular basis!

melissa mae - nothing like homemade lasagna! I’m making my moms recipe on Sunday. YUM! As for sugar…oh my, you and I are in the same boat. Oh, how I love sugar. I am also on a “no sugar” kick and I lost 5 pounds. Totally worth it.

Meg - I have never heard of making lasagna with Cottage Cheese. Around these parts we make it with Ricotta Cheese. I’ll have to try it with the Cottage Cheese.

Nikki - This looks yummy. And to offer you some encouragement, I gave up all refined sugar several months ago. I lost 45 pounds and feel better than I ever have. Eventually my taste buds did adjust and sugar really doesn’t taste that good any more (and I LOVED sugar!) and other flavors suddenly taste amazing. Keep at it!

Ashley Crenshaw - I made your lasagna last night and my husband LOVED it! Finally, I can get him off of the frozen kind. (Blah at frozen lasagna.) Thanks Meg!

wakana - i’ve never tried cottage cheese so i will try yours next time i make “ba-zanya” (my little daughter calls that way!)

Traci - looks yummy. i just made my first homemade lasagna last year. found a recipe to make the day before and you don’t even have to cook the noodles. it is so good and my family asks for it all the time now. what took me so long?

Janine - Easy sugar free recipe…
My grandmother used to make these and I will admit they do satisfy a sweet tooth. Core & peel a whole apple and put it in a deep baking pan. Pour diet black cherry soda (random generic is fine.)on the apple and inside the core to coat them. Let the apple sit in about an inch or so of the soda and bake till the apple is soft and the soda syrupy. It’s sweet and the only sugar in it is the natural sugar from the apple.
I have also made pumpkin pie using splenda and it came out great. (used the recipe off of the Libby can and followed the splenda subtituting rules)
Splenda brown sugar does have some sugar in it but it does make a great low sugar apple crisp.
Don’t forget about sugar free jello.
I need to give up sugar too. It’s so hard. Good luck.

Christina - Don’t boil the noodles, and that’s one less pot to clean! 🙂 I add a little extra sauce and 15-20 minutes to the cooking time, and it’s so good.

Beth - Ummm, I can’t see my first comment, which I really left. Anyway, my second comment, minus my first comment, sounds a bit schizophrenic. My first comment (which I can’t find) said you should watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpunQZ4cUyI on youtube. I might have posted it in your comments section before, but I do think you’ll love it (it’s about ART, not sugar).

DreamGirlLisa - Love you Megan, but not sure about the jarred sauce and cottage cheese(I love it, but not in lasagna, I use ricotta). I do love to cook though, so making the sauce from scratch is all part of it for me, but also why I don’t make lasagna too often. I loved Julie & Julia too, definitely one of my new favorites too.

courtney - can not wait for lasagne…I am nine months pregnant and the idea of that much acid in my tummy makes me green, but oh my once my little is here; bring it on! Your blog is awesome! Congrats on the HOMIE too!

christi - you are always SO practical. so practical. and i watched the movie twice last weekend … LOVE IT!!!

feather - i am such a lover of lasagne. however, my kids don’t eat mixed foot. mixed food…you know, chili, soups, casseroles, lasagne. i will never understand them.

Janine - ok, so I have to admit I am a little grossed out by the cottage cheese thing. I have never heard of using cottage cheese, and I never liked it. I always use Ricotta cheese and I spice the cheese up with herbs. I guess all that matters is that your family loves it. And you can easily make a small tray (use a mini loaf pan) for Lauren without meat.

megan - hilarious my easy lasagna recipe is almost identical! i always use cottage cheese in place of ricotta and i always use prego sauce with mine too. i usually double and freeze one.

Renee - Are you trying to make me fat, Meg? Cause all of your recipes make me eat like I haven’t had a meal in a week! This from the woman who has given up sugar! LOL For me, lasagna will always be one of those meals that tastes better when somebody else makes it, know what I mean? But I’m still going to try your recipe (cause I always do). xoxoxoxo

Dianne Avery - Tell Lauren to make a separate batch with Morningstar Crumbles. I’m a lifelong veggie and I love the stuff. I’ve made lasagna with it for friends and they didn’t even realize that they weren’t eating meat. It works great for Tacos too.

carissa... brown eyed fox - i’ll take it… a bite… BIG one… that is! 🙂
yum!
and i love how salad just melds right in as the perfect side… with ranch of course! 🙂
now if i could just try making it! 🙂

Shelly Reil - Please, PLEase, PLEASE!!! Don’t even boil the noodles!! Layer everything with noodles uncooked, Bake at 350 covered with foil for 30 minutes, and uncover and bake another 15 – 25 minutes. That simple!! Don’t need special pasta either, it all works! Saved you some water, and the hassle of ripping and tearing the cooked noodles

Courtney Walsh - I actually make lasagna as one of my “easy” dinners. Sometimes I prepare it ahead in the morning and then bake it closer to dinner time. I use ricotta instead of cottage cheese too and LOTS of garlic (in my beef too!! yum) and we all absolutely love it!
Oh, I have to tell you I’ve more or less given up sugar too and I feel your pain. It’s really, really hard!!

amanda - I’ve gotten quite a response asking me about my crock pot lasagna, so here’s the recipe!
Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 box lasagna noodles
2 jars spaghetti sauce
1 large tub ricotta cheese
1 large bag mozzarella or italian blend shredded cheese
Parmesan cheese
Whatever spices your heart desires
1. Season, cook, and drain ground beef
2. Add sauce to beef
3. Mix parmesan cheese and salt and pepper into ricotta cheese
Layer into the crock pot however you want. I do it like this:
Noodles, ricotta, sauce, grated cheese, repeat until full.
It’s so quick and easy and you don’t have to cook the noodles! Also, sometimes I skip the beef and just use the sauce and cheese and it’s still super yummy and even quicker!

Val - When my son was little he pronounced it “jon-g”.
And I use the no-boil, ready to use lasagna noodles… you can’t tell the difference!

Janet Biernacki - It is a great movie..I’ve seen it twice.
I’m a big fan of Prego as well…plus no boil noodles. And..I use ground turkey sometimes. Or when I want to make my hubby swoon will use ground turkey, plus ground beef , plus sausage.
Kudos to u and the no sugar! You can do it.

Kim - Thanks for posting! I’m even making lasagna without cooking the noodles first! It is so nice to get rid of one step in the process!

Immyyas - I’ve never made lasagna before either. My sisters always tell me how easy & quick it is but never have said “Hey, here is the recipe give it a try!” I enjoy cooking & make tons of things way more complicated than this… I do believe I will have to give this a try. Looks Yummy!!!

Amy - My kids love Lasagna! I have to laugh at your prep pictures. My girls got in this huge discussion how annoying it is that there parents only buy the white stuff (Great Value)So when they get home I will show them this picture.
We decided to a cook book in a year but NOT Julia Childs I am not sure butter for every meal is such a great idea.

Janelle - I love making a lasagna – mainly because my husband is under the impression that it is super hard to make and I must be a goddess for knowing how to do it. So stop going around telling everyone it is easy!!!

Rachel / cREaTe - LOVE lasagna … it IS easy & yet looks fancy. 🙂 my recipe has you lay thin tomato slices across the very top, sprinkled with some parmesan … nice fresh touch. another little tip my recipe came with: alternate your layers of the lasagna noodles to go lengthwise on one layer, then lay across the width [or on a diagonal] on the next layer & keep alternating to make it easier to cut & hold its shape instead of all sliding out. a little cutting is involved on the width layer… but i think it does help.
might have to make ma-zan-ya mañana! 🙂 ha ha [that’s what you should call it when you make it the night before … the mañana mazanya.]

Tracy - mmmmm! My mouth is watering – what a perfectly easy and great short cut recipe!
I think i need breakfast now….mmmmm!
xoxo

Christy - Yum! I am the designated lasagna maker in my family (took the title from my sister). I use ricotta cheese & Barilla (plus one can tomato sauce & one can diced tomatoes for my marinara). I also like to add some shredded zuchini to get some veggies in & no one is the wiser. 🙂
There is also a great recipe for skillet lasagna from Country Home or Country Living mag a few years ago. It’s a great week night dinner as it only takes 10 minutes to cook!

Hattie - I make my lasagna the exact same way! I’ve been bugging my hubby to order Julie & Julia from netflix for me, I can’t wait to watch it.

The Lady of the House - Man! I love your Annie – she’s a doll! What she calls lasagna is hilarious! Looks really good and thanks for sharing your way of doing it! Always fun to see how other people do things… Julie & Julia was totally marvelous!

Beth - This made me laugh out loud! I just made out my menu for the week and I’m making your crescent chicken, baked french toast (for breakfast for dinner), my own ‘no boil noodles’ lasagna, AND cream puff dessert. Ahhhhhh, do you hate me? I will take extra bites for you, my dear. 😉

Trasie Bressler - Ok so that looks too good to eat. Love that stuff but I use the no cook noodles because I can never get the one that you have to cook right.
I want to know what the side of your 9 x 13 pan says……LOL!!!

linda@LimeintheCoconut - I make it all the time…but still even LOVE seeing it be made! Yum! Now I wanna make it for dinner!

Cori - I think i’ll pick up some stuff to make lasagna today. This week is a quiet week kid activity wise but next week looks a bit crazy on the old calender. Wouldn’t it be great to pop this into the oven one night. You are an inspiration to me Meg with your Sugar thing. I need to kick my habit and soon!

Ivy Bettinger Smith - Sometimes I use spiral noodles if I dont have any lasagna noodles. Also I like to add in cream cheese and sour cream in between my layers. I just get a spoonful and use my finger to kinda plop in down in between the layers…yum!

Karen Gerstenberger - Yes, I just saw it 2x last weekend: once with friends at a Julie & Julia party at my house (it’s on my blog, but beware – there was sugar & chocolate involved), and once with my husband, because the friends were chatting through the movie. It’s a great one. If you haven’t read Julia Child’s book, “My Life in France,” it’s wonderful, too.
We love homemade lasagne, and one interesting difference in ours is that I use the pasta sheets that my fabulous grocery store makes fresh, & then freezes. They don’t require pre-cooking; you can just lay a full sheet in the pan, and then add your other ingredients, lay another sheet down, etc., and bake.
I love your blog!

Staci - YUMM-MEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! I agree, it really isn’t that terribly hard to make 🙂 Your’s looks super yummy! (I will have to say…I’m with Lauren, I don’t LOVE beef so much…but I will eat it in ma-zan-ya!) Oh Annie…how I love ya 🙂

Diane - I love lasagne. It’s not hard to make but I do make a huge mess in the kitchen when I make it. The great thing about it is that you can make it and freeze it for another day. I can make one pan for my carnivores and one for the veggievores.

Amy - Mmmm. That looks delicious!!

Holly - Oh Yum! I am so making that this weekend!

amanda - I make lasagna in the crock pot. SO easy and the house smells like heaven all day!

Nancy - Ok. I’ll add the lasagne to my list. I won’t tell you what i have made… but I always love it and it is multicolored and has a few layers.

kat - We love lasagna at our house too! Homemade is way better than frozen any day!!! My daughters call it “De-san-ya” which makes me laugh and think of designer lasagna.

Christy - sounds easy., I have been contemplating about trying Pioneer Womans Recipe. Thanks!!

Dana Banana - That is my exact recipe for lasagna! Way too easy, don’t know why people think it is so hard to make. I am doing without most sugar here, so I feel your pain. Jonathan watched Julie and Julia with me the other day, even he liked it. Take care!