Lion or Lamb?

The Last Blast of February!!

Last night we arrived home,

started supper prep before going to the gym

and braced for the coming storm.

The wind whipped up just like predicted

and the hydro flickered and promptly went out!!

We called ahead to the gym to see if they had

hydro and they did - so, we carried on

with our plans, hoping all would be well

by the time we returned home.

Alas, it was pitch dark in the neighbourhood

and we knew that we were in for a dark

and very stormy night!

A candlelight supper of left-overs, warmed on the 

woodstove tasted not too bad.

The planned menu of Salmon and fresh veggies

would have to wait for tomorrow's meal.

The wind howled bending the tall evergreen trees

that surround our farm house.

We were so thankful to have a warm cozy

fire to sit by as we attempted to solve

the latest crossword puzzle, using the only

flashlight that had a good battery.

What IS the 6 letter word for 

Saddle Horn starting with the letters PO???

5 hours later,

we were back on the grid,

just in time for the

11:00 o'clock News.

By morning - our lane was

cleared and off to work we went.

Morning of Feb. 28/13 - The Old Apple Tree

Looks like March is coming in like a Lion!!

I hope so......that means it will

go out like a Lamb - right!?

BTW - the word is "Pommel"...............who knew!

3-2-1 SPLASH!

Bath Salts

Salt baths are excellent for sore and aching muscles.  They are easy to make and are wonderful gift ideas when presented in a nice container or decorated mason jar!

3 Cups Epsom Salt

2 Cups sea salt or pickling salt

1 Cup Baking Soda

Splash of fragrance or essential oil (recipe calls for 1/2 oz. but I just used about 1/4 oz. Lavender essential oil)

Measure out the salts and mix them together well, making sure to break up any clumps.

A few drops of food colouring can be added if you wish.

Use ¼ Cup per bath.

                       

Easy as One, Two, Three!!!

Till next time ........... heading to the sauna and then for a refreshing salty bath!!! 

Lemon, Pumpkin and Banana Breads

Happy Family Day!

I've taken the opportunity today to do some Quick Bread baking in preparation for a ladies group get-together this week. I've used one of my favourite recipes "Lemon Bread" that I got from my sister years ago - it always turns out.  The other two kinds are new to me......I think they will become my favourites too.

Evelyn's Lemon Loaf

This is super easy and makes 2 loaves:

4 Eggs - well beaten

1 pkg. Lemon Cake Mix

1 pkg. Lemon Instant Pudding

2/3 Cup Oil

2/3 Cup water

Glaze - 1/4 Cup lemon juice mixed with 3/4 Cup icing sugar.

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare loaf pans by lining with waxed paper, leaving 1 1/2 inches sticking up above the pans.

Mix the cake mix and pudding in a large bowl.  Make a well in the dry mixture and add the eggs, oil and water.  Beat with a mixer for 5 minutes.

Pour into prepared loaf pans and bake for 45-50 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 5 minutes.  Poke holes into hot loaves with a knitting needle and slowly pour the glaze over loaves.  Let stand for an additional 20 minutes before removing from pans.

Nutty Brown Butter Banana Bread

This recipe appeared on Lizzy's blog called "That Skinny Chick can Bake" - isn't that a great name for a blog?  It's very true as well! Click on the link to find this fabulous recipe.

The loaf turned out beautifully and I couldn't resist trying anything like this that has browned butter as an ingredient!

If you've never tried browned butter on things like popcorn, veggies, mashed potatoes, etc. you have missed an amazing flavour.  You must try it!

Last but not least - finally a great pumpkin bread recipe that uses butter and not oil.  I always find the oil recipes to be quite heavy and almost too moist!  

Pumpkin Bread

Makes 2 loaves.

3 Cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. ground cloves

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 Cups sugar

1 Cup butter, very soft and melted a bit

3 Large Eggs

1 16 oz. can of pure pumpkin (2 Cups)

1 Cup chopped pecans - optional  (I put 1/2 Cup in one loaf and left the other one nut free).

Mix flour, spices, salt, baking soda and powder and set aside.  In your stand mixer bowl, put the sugar eggs and softened butter. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or until fluffy.  Add in the pumpkin and combine well. In thirds add the dry ingredients mixing gently between each third until the dry ingredients have been incorporated.  Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 350F for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted comes out clean and top is golden. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack!

Now I'll just make some hot drinks and add a cheese tray and fruit tray for my get-together!  Most of the work is done - smile!!

How are you spending your day???

Popcorn to Pizza

Our Sunday Suppers have evolved

into PIZZA!

We used to just make buttered popcorn

for Sunday supper,

but since I got my sweet lipstick red KitchenAid Mixer

it seems that pizza is the norm of late!

Is this a bad thing??

The goal is to have the pizza in the oven

before Amazing Race starts and tonight

happens to be the first episode of the season.....

or should we watch "Catch Me if You Can",

tonight's movie?

We can't get Downton Abbey but have been 

watching Season 3 on DVD - maybe we'll choose 

to watch that!

We'll have to decide soon ...... no "taping"

devices or Netflix or any of that stuff here in the boonies!

Hmmm - are we getting old and set in our ways or what!?

Chop all your favourite toppings

and watch the sun set

while the dough rises!

I love our February sunsets on these very cold

Winter evenings, even though I am longing for Spring.

Here is the recipe for the pizza dough I've been using:

Pizza Dough
(makes 2 regular thin crust pizzas)

1 ½ Cups warm water

1 tsp. yeast – rounded

2 Tbsp. sugar

½ tsp. salt

1/3 Cup olive oil

4 Cups Flour – approx.

In large bowl combine water, yeast, sugar and salt – let sit for 5 minutes.  Stir in the oil, then a cup of flour at a time – continue adding flour, stirring with heavy spoon (or let your KitchenAid with dough hook do some of this work for you).   Knead in more flour as needed to get a smooth elastic dough. Let it rise in a greased bowl until doubled (approx. 1 hr.). I like to loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap while rising. Punch dough down, knead a bit and divide in half. Roll half the dough on floured surface forming a pizza crust and place on greased pizza pan or stone.  I usually form the second pizza as well, spread half the pizza sauce on it and freeze it for next Sunday night's supper!
Spread half of the pizza sauce on the dough and top with your favourite toppings.  We like to use regular, good old "Canadian" ingredients such as mozzarella cheese, green pepper, red onion, mushrooms, and pepperoni slices.  Sometimes we also enjoy using a yummy combination of Pesto sauce, topped with cooked chicken strips, fresh basil and goat cheese! 
Bake at 425F for 15-20 minutes. 


Hints - if you have a "proofing" feature on your oven - use it for letting the dough rise.  I also heat a T-towel in  
the microwave for 35 seconds and throw it over the plastic wrapped bowl for extra warmth.
Cheese - grate your own cheese with a box grater.  Don't use pre-grated packages of cheese.  Why? Because the pre-grated cheese is sprayed with something to keep it from sticking together - yuck!

Voila - botta bing botta boom - here it is!

Let the shows begin.....

Till next time ........... what is your favourite Sunday Supper meal???

Love is in the Air

I just wanted to share 

a few of my favourite Vintage Valentine Cards

that I inherited from my mom and dad's

collection ...........

They must have had such fun exchanging

these notes of Love.....

Back side of the cards

They were both born in 1916 so these cards 

are from their school days in the mid 1920's to early 1930's

I am guessing.

I am so thankful that they kept these

lovely cards!

The farmer's family also recently

discovered a wonderful collection of these

beautiful Vintage cards

from his side of the family.

I have wonderful memories of my

school days Valentine Parties......how

I wish I had kept some of those cards - sigh!

Trust me, by now they would be on the

verge of being Vintage as well!

Do you remember what your school days

Valentine Day parties were like?

Till next time ............... the steak is in the marinade for our special Dinner tonight!  A quiet "at home" celebration.  Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours.

Love is ...... Chocolate Pie!

Today I made my first love's 

favourite pie!

He was kind and gentle

had a warm and welcoming smile

Dark brown kind eyes

Loved his family with all his heart!

That was my dad.

His very favourite pie was Chocolate Pie

and just about any other pie

that my mom made.

Chocolate Pie surrounded by vintage Valentine cards that my dad received during his school days (circa 1920's)

I used my mom's recipe 

and this is how she wrote it in her 

recipe book:

Makes 2 pies

4 Cups milk (she always used whole milk) – heated to boiling point

Mix together:

1 Cup “good full” of Brown Sugar

4 Tbsp. Flour – heaping

2 Tbsp. Cocoa

Mix with 1 Cup of Milk – add into remaining hot milk and cook till thickened.  Add vanilla, salt and some butter.

Pour into baked pie crust, cool and top with whipped cream.

Foot note - My sweetheart likes this pie too!

Till next time ...... this is my February edition pie

Frosted Snow Flakes!

STORM DAY!

The woodstove is heating up

All the buses are cancelled

All the area schools are Closed!

Every window in the house

is covered with snow - beautiful!

I shall enjoy the day,

clean the house,

catch up on the bookwork,

maybe even break out the sewing machine.

I LOVE SNOWDAYS!

Stay warm and safe today everyone - where ever you may be.......

Super Chili Bowl, Cardinals and Snow!

A beautiful snowy weekend

for enjoying some Turkey Chili

and the game!

Also, my favourite bird 

has been feeding in the back

yard.....

How did you enjoy the game?

As hard as I try and as many times

as football has been explained to me

I'm afraid I still don't get it.

I DO love, however, the getting together with

friends and enjoying some hearty food and fellowship.

So Handsome!

Look closely and see the neighbour coming in the lane with the horse and buggy on this very snowy Monday Morning.  He comes each day - twice a day - to tend to his goats in our barn!

TURKEY CHILI - one of our favourites!

Turkey Chili with Barley and Black Eyed Beans! I almost always make a double batch and freeze portions for easy supper meals....

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1 Cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic - crushed

1 lb. ground Turkey or chicken

1 19 oz. can chopped tomatoes with juice

1 1/2 Cups chicken stock

1/4 Cup barley - I always make my measurement heaping!

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. minced and seeded jalapeno pepper (optional)

2 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

2 bay leaves

1 19 oz. can drained and rinsed black eyed beans (I use black beans)

2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste

Mushrooms - throw in a handful or two (required by the farmer who loves shrooms)

Corn - sometimes I add in a cup of corn

In large pot heat oil and saute the onion and garlic.  Add in the meat and fry until no longer pink (8-10 minutes). Add in the remaining ingredients - bring to a boil and then turn down the heat to simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes or until the barley is tender.  Let it simmer even longer for a nice thick Chili.

Garnish with chopped green onions, grated cheese, sour cream and parsley.

Enjoy!

Have a great week everyone...............