Saturday, October 6, 2018

Root vegetables for Thanksgiving

My friend Anita's daughter, Melanie, just posted this 
yummy root vegetable recipe on facebook.

I had to try it! All the ingredients were in my fridge.
I made a small batch for the farmer and I today and
it did not disappoint. So flavourful and pretty.





Adapted from Melanie's recipe:

2 medium parsnips - chopped
2 medium carrots - chopped
½ turnip – chopped
1 large onion – chopped
3 stalks celery – chopped

Cook above in pot with 1-2 cups of water for 10 minutes till tender (turning down to simmer after it begins to boil).
Drain and save ½ Cup liquid in a small dish (I used my 2 cup glass measuring cup)
Put veggies into a buttered casserole dish

Add to the liquid:
½ Cup sugar
3 Tbsp. butter
½ tsp. salt
½ Tbsp. corn starch
1 tsp. nutmeg
Several grinds of pepper
Boil/microwave till thick and pour over veggies

Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Melanie notes - she always doubles this recipe but not the sauce. She makes this ahead and then reheats it in a crockpot for their family's camping Thanksgiving Dinner! Yum....

This may well become a new tradition for Thanksgiving Dinner
for our family too. I will make this again for sure.

Now, the other new thing I made this week was a Ricotta Pumpkin Cheesecake.
Unfortunately it cracked!



Hoping it tastes better than it looks.
In hind sight it probably cracked
because I took it out of the oven too soon and it cooled too quickly?

Who knew?

I may also have baked it a tad too long.  Other hints on line are that you should bake it in a water bath to prevent cracking.
Have you ever made a Ricotta Cheesecake?




I hope this fix will do the trick ....

Pumpkin whipping cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice.
(extra topping saved for tomorrow morning's pumpkin latte)


Tomorrow our extended family will gather for a Thanksgiving Dinner/Feast.
My small contribution - homemade bread, pumpkin cheesecake, and 

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for ....


Till next time - Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family









Monday, October 1, 2018

And that was September!

A quick peek of the last bit of this busy month ...

The annual fibre glass trailers weekend rally in Niagara.
Always a fun time.



A quick and slightly chilly fishing trip with long time friends.
Nothing like a feast of fresh caught Northern Pike!


The scenery was stunning!




And, there was a brief but beautiful harvest moon reflection moment
that had us running outside to the dock to catch a glimpse ...


The month was ended with the annual Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival.
23rd year for Crosshill Mennonite Church's Apples with hot English Toffee Topping
fundraising booth!
It's always such a fun day in the village where I grew up ...


And of course, gearing up for Thanksgiving Weekend with some pumpkin.



Oh, and one more thing. 
The "naked lady" crocus bloomed on September 17th
6 weeks till snow??? - eek!




Till next time ...... Praying today for a cousin's granddaughter undergoing neurological surgery.
       May the Lord protect you Cassie and guide the surgeons hands during this procedure!
       
       

Leaping into February!

  Just turned the calendar page for February and LOVE the caption for this LOVE month on the doorstep. ...  and, there were tulips at the gr...