Touring Home: Blog Friends and Pie

One of the pleasures of blogging is having the opportunity to meet up with bloggers you've known online for years. 

This happened with me this week when Annie of Annie Go Lightly and her husband,

 Don, came through Lansing.

They couldn't help the weather, which slowed down some of the activities we might have engaged in throughout their stay, but we made the best of it! 

Annie and Don had been doing mission work for the Catholic church in the past months, 

so one of our stops was Lansing's St. Mary's.

The church is rather old but was remodeled in the 1960s and has a more contemporary look. Still, the stained glass dazzles.

And the statuary and carvings are striking. I particularly liked this one.

 

We drove past my old school, the Grand River (which cuts through town), the capitol -- 

and then headed to DeWitt to have pie at Sweetie-licious Bakery and Cafe.

 

I've posted about this local treasure here and here in the past. I love all the vintage touches.

 

We all loved the pie -- and Don also loved the cherry cupcake! Isn't it cute?

 

Everything about this spot is cute. And mighty tasty, too!

 

(And yes, they mail order, too!)

 

And after all, doesn't pie fix anything? Even the rain?

 

Well, our rain held up, but next post join us on another round of the Lansing tour! 

Out and About in February

I've been hunkering down a lot this month -- too much snow and cold (and it just doesn't stop). I'll look out the window and it may be large puffy flakes; wee, idly falling flakes or rapidly descending snow -- pure and simple, snow. The one thing that is constant is that it doesn't seem to stop. But that hasn't stopped me for getting ready for Valentine's Day.

Or getting about when need be. The other day I took my turn on our university theatre friends board delivering cookies to the actors and tech crew during their first tech rehearsal of "Cyrano." (Isn't that a good show for Valentine's Day?)

I spent a lot of my life in this building as a student; it's nice to give back. But I'll tell you -- I don't think anyone was arriving by bike!

Even Rick has been off the bike this winter. Instead, he is turning his attention to bread-baking.

He took a class at the renowned Zingerman's Bake House in Ann Arbor a couple of weeks ago and learned what he had been doing right and wrong!

I've been taking my turn in the kitchen, too. This is my potpie from the new "Sweetielicious" pie cookbook.

(I've written about this enchanting bakery here which has achieved a national reputation before. Here is Sweet Linda herself, signing my book and others that found their way into Christmas boxes!)

There is a story to this chicken pot pie. The night before was my friend Mike's memorial service. After, a number of us went to one of Mike's favorite restaurants for dinner. I ordered what was billed as the "all you can eat chicken dinner" -- it was a lemon herbed chicken with a side of pasta and a salad. I figured there would be leftovers. I didn't think it would be this much!

Yes, they didn't mention in the menu it was a whole half chicken. After the salad and pasta side, I had about four bites. Needless to say, the leftovers made for a great pot pie! (The leg and thigh are in the go-box and the white meat still on the plate. Bad blogging photo.) Ah, well...and the U.S. doesn't have a problem with portion control?

On another front, I haven't killed my rosemary yet, bringing it inside for the hard winter.

And I'm still trying to kick off icy snow yuck from the car. Almost broke a toe trying. Rick managed, but I know I softened it up for him.

 

I've been busy making valentines, too, and a gift for Rick -- but that's another post. Meanwhile, keep the candles burning and your hearts warm.

Season of Frenzy: Sweetie Edition

'Tis the season to run around, find gifts, decorate, wrap. I think it's time for pie!

That means a visit to Sweetie-Licious Pie Pantry and Bakery in DeWitt! (And yes, they mail order!)

Linda Hundt, the Sweetie herself, is the winner of the National Pie Contest (as seen on Food Network), along with a number of other contests. Check out her delightful blog, too!

One bite of her tasty treats and its easy to see why!

But a visit to Sweetie-Licious is more than sweet treats, especially at the holidays.

So, enjoy a few of my favorite touches from one of the tastiest places in town.

It all begins with a welcome.

Then you enter -- and see the line! It moves quickly and besides, that gives you time to puruse all the options -- decadent cookies, large deep dish pies (Tom's Cherry Cherry Berry Pie is a hit!) and enchanting cupcakes -- I was fond of the coconut covered white cupcakes! The cabinet below this display is filled with treats!

Take a look left, right, up and down. You'll see a giant story book hanging from the ceiling...

...the "Pixie Pantry" atop Linda's signature pink boxes, all awaiting pick-up.

Here's a closer look!

A jolly Santa climbs down a vintage chimney.

Sweet vintage villages remind us of our childhoods...

...while a cute sign reminds us that special orders are available.

Holiday balls and greens are another reminder of the holiday.

Like we needed it. (The reminder, I mean. We always need pie.)

Feel like cooking? Grab an apron! The vintage textiles look perfect here!

And if you're looking for some reading material, you'll find a book or two to enchant you!

Settle in for a snack at one of the three tables -- or a salad or quiche.

Or, if you prefer, just take pictures! It's hard not to!

The fact is, Sweetie-Licious is just so darned sweet that you might not even need to have a snack to get that happy sweet feeling.

But you'll want to. Time to make pie?

Word on the street is "it's easy!"

(Thanks, Linda, for letting me shoot to my heart's content! And the Lemon Cherry Bomb cookie gave me the energy to do it!)