Kindergarten is going to make me FAT!

Ok, so Mary Elliott and I are bored! We miss Allie and are trying hard to fill our days.  Lately, its been cooking that has done the trick! I decided that after 8 years the KitchenAid mixer was ready to come out of the box.  I apologize to whoever gave it to me as a wedding gift, but rest assured that it is about to be put to much use!

And now that I have some time on my hands I'm trying to figure out my camera.... I have a Cannon Powershot and if anyone can tell me WHY my pictures always have a weird streak, fuzzy look or just not crisp I would love you.  I have read the manual 20 times (and I really hate manuals) and still can't take a good picture??

Anyway..... back to cooking!

I decided to start out with cupcakes....

And seeing as any woman can justify baking and eating lots of sugar when she has friends with her I invited Sarah and Candace over.   We made chocolate sheet cake cupcakes and icing from Pioneer Woman.

I enjoyed the mixer so much I decided to bake my moms biscuits and rolls..... But my camera and I got in a fight so there are no pictures for that :)

Then Mary Elliott and I decided to take a little trip out to the Reeds farm and get some local produce. YUM!!  Does anyone else have a okra fetish like I do? It's fabulous :)

And I've saved the best for last....

First let me say this picture doesn't do it justice.  Nor does the name... fruit pizza.  It's more like 'yummy crust so good that it melts in your mouth then top it with cream cheese and fruit then take a bite and moan' fruit dish

It's Darby's mom's fruit pizza recipe.  And if your skeptical then let me digress for a minute and tell you how picky I am about fruit.  

I only like it fresh... not in a fruit salad...  not in some soggy juice... not baked and all mushy... just fresh! But here's my exception.  This is SO good, run to the store and get the ingredients.  You'll thank yourself!

So hhmm, that makes cupcakes, biscuits, rolls (honey butter rolls, even better) fried okra, and fruit pizza. 

Now I'm off to the gym I guess...

FRUIT PIZZA {yields 2 pizzas}

CRUST:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup Crisco {butter flavored}
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

FILLING:

16 oz cream cheese {room temperature}
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons milk
Assorted fresh fruit: strawberries, bananas, blueberries, kiwis, peaches {you will also need lemon juice for bananas & peaches}
Chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400°. Cream butter and shortening together, add sugar. Beat in eggs. Stir in dry ingredients. Grease two pizza pans or tart pans {12″}, spread dough on pans and bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely. Cream together all ingredients for filling and spread on cooled crusts. Top with fresh cut up fruit and pecans. {Bananas & peaches should be dipped in lemon juice to prevent browning.} It is best eaten the day it is assembled.