Butter Tarts and Celebrations

In celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday Year,

I've been gathering up some of my "uniquely Canadian" recipes.

Butter Tarts are quintessentially Canadian - right? eh?

As much as they are also considered a Canadian Mennonite tradition.

This is my attempt at making some butter tarts.

I will also try to make my sister Evelyn's butter tart recipe next time,
which is quite different from this one.

One can never have too many butter tart recipes!

Aunt Sarah’s Butter Tarts

Aunt Sarah (Gerber) Leis – Dad’s youngest sister, who just passed away in June of 2016. These were my favourites and I remember having these at Aunt Sarah’s while hanging out there with my cousin Doreen. The pastry is unusual, rich and almost cookie like made with brown sugar. My Mom had this recipe written out on a scrap piece of paper as “Tarts from Sarah L”.

Cream together ¾ Cup Lard and ½ Cup Brown Sugar. 

Add 1 egg and ¼ Cup Sour Milk

Mix into 2 ½ Cups Flour, ½ tsp. baking soda, and ¼ tsp. salt

Roll out and line tart tins – approx. 2 doz.

Filling:

½ Cup melted butter

½ Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup corn syrup or maple syrup

2 eggs

Vanilla

Mix in order given. Fill tart shell and bake at 400F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F for another 15-20 minutes.

“She puts some raisins and pecans in each shell and then fills with filling”

Hint: I rolled the dough (which is quite hard to handle) into two logs and then refrigerated them for a good 1/2 hour. I was then able to cut each log into 12 equal parts/disks for easier rolling and handling. The shells were cut with a glass bowl which is 4 1/2 inches in diameter and it worked out well with less handling and waste.

The filling only filled 20 of the 24 shells? I have an idea that Aunt Sarah's tart tins were not quite as deep as mine.

I made them plain - without any raisins or nuts.

Another very Canadian celebration happened a few weeks ago.

Our friend Ali became a Canadian citizen!!

We felt so privileged to take part in this special ceremony and  it

made us so thankful to be a citizen of this fine country.

Ali was thrilled and had worked so hard to achieve this special reward!

This past weekend

a fancy customer appreciation dinner for the farmer's 
branch office was held at the beautiful

Langdon Hall in Cambridge - what a treat!
Well done Oak Tree Financial ...

Our menu included amazing beef tenderloin, trout, flavourful squash soup and the most interesting chocolate mousse dessert!

The appetizers were so pretty - dips for beet chips and veggies

and a cheese tray with piles of raw nuts and dried fruit - so delicious.

Canadian Cuisine at it's best!

I think there will be many more Canadian celebrations to come

during this special year 2017.

Happy Birthday Canada!

Till next time ...... do you have a favourite butter tart recipe?

Sew Blah ....

The January Blahs have set in ...

Instead of bright snowy days over here, we have been having

unusually dreary, mild and muddy weather!

"Sew" why not do some sewing ...

There were a few unfinished projects calling my name in my sewing stash!

Finished this "quilt as you go" project that I started last May - eek!

I think it will be great as an extra blanket in the RV trailer and also
as a wrap on cool summer evenings on our back deck.

It took about 3 spools of thread but the great thing is that it's completely
quilted when it's done.

Even before the quilt was done I was already planning my next project.
I need to learn to actually finish things before my mind wanders to the next one.

My nephew and his wife just had a sweet baby girl a few weeks ago
and I could hardly wait to start this flannelette rag quilt for little Kate!

It only took a few days and was so much fun to make - again a quilt as you go project.
Hope she likes it.

O.K. one more project to finish - I've almost forgotten how dreary and blah it is outside.

This is a free snowman table runner
pattern and fabric from a local
"shop hop"
before Christmas which also needs to be finished,
even tho' Christmas is long over.

It isn't finished yet - I'm experimenting with
free-hand machine quilting - a technique I'd love to master.




















Clearly, as you can see, much more
practice is needed.
Question is - will this get finished
before next Christmas???
Time will tell.






















Needless to say, I have a package of beautiful fabric that 
was recently delivered with a quilt or two in mind ....

Maybe the January Blahs aren't so blah after all.

Till next time - what projects are you finishing, starting or hoping to do this Winter?

West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls

West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls.

Something I've been wanting to try for some time.

I first read about these yummy looking rolls on an interesting

website called Chickens In The Road by Suzanne McMinn

.

Suzanne is a homesteader deep in the rural West Virginia countryside,

milking her own cows, raising goats, horses, etc.,

and of course free ranging chickens!

I so enjoy reading about her farm activities and am always

impressed with her daily farm photos and her delicious recipes.

The first batch I made just didn't quite turn out like they should.

I rolled them incorrectly and let them rise a bit too long, thus causing

large gaps and bubbles in the dough.

I know what she means by practicing to perfect these rolls.

I love that she puts chopped pepperoni, some cheese, and garlic right into the dough

as well as for a filling!

I'm sure that I will be making these again and again.

They taste delicious dipped into pizza sauce.

Christmas 2016 has come and gone - it was wonderful!

The jig saw puzzle has been completed,

most of the decorations have been tucked away,

and lovely memories were made.

Flashback to 1957 when these pictures were taken of my family (siblings)

There was a Christmas Tree behind my tall brother!
Check out the bold oil cloth flooring and fern wall paper - Cool!

I was 5 (almost 6) years old and am third youngest (wearing plaid jumper)
My sister Marilyn and I were holding our baby sister Evelyn!
The china cabinet now lives in my dining room.

I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters.

We have a very large family and many, many wonderful nieces and nephews

who now too are busy raising their beautiful families. 

Another birthday has come and gone - not sure what I think of this one - eek!

The best part was that my daughter and granddaughter took the time to

treat me to breakfast at the "famous" local Anna Mae's Restaurant!

Grammie turns 65!!!

My dear farmer drove a distance during a horrid snow storm the next day

to fetch my gift - a set of golf clubs!

I guess there is hope that at 65 years young, I might take up this

sport of leisure? Time will tell.

Right now we are under a beautiful blanket of white stuff again 

with temperatures to set your teeth a chattering.

It is ever so pretty and especially when we spotted our Amish

neighbours heading to the skating pond with the horses and sleigh.

Snapped this with my iPhone through the windshield - lucky snap!

Oh, how I long for Spring - and maybe even some golfing!

In the meantime, I'll fire up the sauna and count the days till

we head south for some vitamin "sea"!

Till next time ...... Happy New Year to all! May 2017 be extra wonderful and blessed!

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

... twas extra special!

The prime rib dinner complete with yorkshire pudding

turned out reasonably well and, of course, we ate too much

and forgot to take any pictures ...

Our entertainment was seeing Christmas through the eyes of 

this wee blessing that has joined our family.

the house was decorated (but as I type this one string of those mini lights

on the banister has already "half" burned out) - oh well!

The reason for the season!

Mom's china cabinet

Mom's Hoosier always lit with candles on Christmas Eve

As soon as the table was cleared, the puzzling began!

Tired baby and Mommie chilling with Elmo's world

We are blessed beyond measure ...

The fire kept us cozy, our tummies were full, and the true meaning of Joy was experienced!

Hope your Christmas was filled with light and warmth.

Till next time ......... see you next year. God bless you and yours abundantly.

Bright Spot!

Here we are on the Winter Solstice,

the shortest day,

the longest night!

On this short, first day of Winter - I had a bright spot ...

She was here for the day and we had so much fun.

We baked her favourite "muffins" - they are very green, toddler friendly,

and she really likes them!

Found this great spinach and applesauce recipe here:

http://www.themamamodern.com/spinach-muffinstoddler-friendly/

I sometimes substitute a ripe banana instead for the applesauce - also approved by the wee one.

It makes 8-9 regular size muffins or 16 mini muffins (which is how I bake them).

Yep, a spot of bright sunshine on this short day ....

My heart is full.

Till next time ......... may all your Christmas wishes and dreams come true! God bless us all!

Bread Dip and Meditations!

Wrapping a few of my favourite things!

Slowly but surely I'm getting my Christmas shopping

and wrapping done.

I pretty much bought out the stock at MennoMedia in the Kitchener store.

 What a joy it will be to gift this beautiful book!

BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

Written by some of my favourite people - The Mennonite Girls Can Cook.

All the "royalties will be given to orphans and widows who face each day in need"

One of my favourite verses is on Week 11, Day 2

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11"

I can't wait to dig deep into this meditations book.

What a wonderful way to have a daily devotional with recipes as well!

Thank you Lovella, Anneliese, Kathy, Ellen, Marg, Bev, Betty, Judy, Charlotte and Betty

for inspiring me every day with your books and with your amazing daily blog posts!

I will be adding a small package of Bread Dip Spices:

1 Tbsp. Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

1 Tbsp. Dried Oregano

1 Tbsp. Dried Rosemary

1 Tbsp. Dried Basil

1 Tbsp. Dried Parsley

1 1/2 Tbsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. sea salt

Mix all the spices and store in an airtight container.

Place 1 tsp. of the mixture in a small bowl or platter and add

1/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Add a squirt or two of fresh lemon juice and grated Parmesan Cheese - optional

Enjoy as a dip for your favourite crusty bread.

Till next time - how is your shopping and wrapping coming along?

Chihuly and Teasel

Have you ever heard of Chihuly's Glass Sculptures?

We went to see his exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto

and were blown away (no pun intended).

Such incredible talent and so thankful that we got to see it.

The first time we ever saw any of his work was in Las Vegas 

in the lobby at the Bellagio Hotel - we were amazed.

Then - we saw another piece recently in Nashville in the lobby of the beautiful

Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Here are some pictures from our visit to the R.O.M. yesterday.....

... a perfect way to spend an afternoon with dear friends!

Totally worth the drive to Toronto.

Thanks so much to our friends Karen and Ron,

who told us about this a few months ago.

Wouldn't it be fun to travel the world to discover all the Chihuly installations!!!?

Meanwhile back at the homestead I got busy today,

(inspired by Chihuly?)

(nice weather?)

to get my outside Christmas decorating done.

The teasel, dogwood, and greens were snipped and before I knew it,

the containers and window boxes were filled.

Now to start on the inside decor - what will inspire me for this?

Till next time .... don't miss an opportunity to be inspired.

The Walnut (no walnuts) Cake

The Walnut (no walnuts) Cake

This is the cake that my mom so often made as a birthday cake!

Her children and grandchildren remember this cake well.

It was called Walnut Cake but she never used walnuts,

in fact, she often decorated the top with pecans!

I have her hand written recipe which says it came from "Mrs. D. Schwartz",

her sister-in-law - Dad's sister Esther!

I wonder sometimes if my cousins, Laura Ann, Irene, Florence, David, and Wayne

remember their mom making this cake and if so how it was different.

Did Aunt Esther actually use walnuts or raisins???
Did she put brown sugar icing on it like Mom did???

My daughter, Becky, turns 33 today - I simply can't believe it

and this is the cake she requested - eek!

I know that my sister Evelyn has mastered the recipe (with it's scant/no instructions)

but I will give it a try.

After all, it has been so long since I've been able to bake a cake for Becky

on the day of her actual birthday.

In the past years, her birthday was celebrated by telephone or FaceTime while she was living in Alberta!

Sometimes I would bake a cake anyhow for the farmer and I - 😏

I began bravely, after consulting with my sister, putting together the ingredients.
On one of the recipe cards she had written "mix in order and alternate milk and flour".

First I greased and floured the actual cake pan that she always used for this cake.

Somewhere I found a recipe for greasing cake pans that is used by professionals so I mixed up a batch, greased the pan and floured it.

Cake Pan Grease:
Equal parts vegetable oil, shortening, and flour.
Beat till well blended and store in fridge for up to 5 months. This stuff really works well.

The cake baked beautifully (much to my surprise) and came out of the pan perfectly.
I didn't know what temperature to bake it at or how long but used 350F and baked for approx. 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle came out clean.






Now the icing (the cake with the "brown" icing) as requested by my birthday girl....
I wonder if this is why they all loved this cake?

Mom's Brown Sugar Icing (as written by her)

1 Cup Brown Sugar - packed

½ Cup Sweet Cream

“Boil till it forms a soft ball in bottom of a glass of cold water.  Add vanilla and a nice (walnut size) piece of butter.  Take off heat and stir till cool and creamy.  Lots of luck, Sarah”

I believe a walnut size of butter is about 2 Tbsp. - I used a heaping 2 Tbsp.

This is the actual depression glass cake plate that Mom always used to serve her Walnut Cake!

With a little fiddling and much needed practice with the icing technique,

it's iced and ready to go.

Pecans - no walnuts in the house, and Mom's apron
Just maybe she never had walnuts around either and used pecans instead? Who knows?

I'll come back later and let you know how it tasted and whether the "Walnut Cake"

 made the grade....

I think it was a success ...

The cake was a tad too sweet - but not as sweet as this girl of ours!
Happy Birthday Becky!

Oh, and one more thing - exactly 5 years ago I posted my very first blog post - Wow!
Here is the link .... (for some reason the pictures did not show up except for one)?
http://rhubarbandroses-rosella.blogspot.ca/2011/11/60s-here-i-come.html 

Till next time ......... Thanks Mom for being the wonderful mother you were and for making amazing memories for us all!!!! I miss you always.