Granny Squares

     Hello! I hope you are enjoying your Saturday! It is sunny and mild here in Maine today, and Mr Evans and I are enjoying a day of relaxation. I am working on piecing the afghan squares that I have been making all year. I am hoping to give the blanket as a gift this Christmas.

     I have been bundling the squares together in groups of 20 as I have made them, aiming at getting 20 bundles, I have 13 so far, but decided to start putting them together, to see how big it is so far.

 
     I started by sewing each bundle of squares into a strip,

     Then I sew the strips together. It is looking nice and colorful so far. It's my first traditional granny square blanket, I am copying the one that my husbands great grandmother made, as seen here,

     I quite like this project, it has been a stash buster, using up all sorts of odds and ends yarn. Even the colors I do not really like are going to add to the bright and cheerful blanket. This is another project that is extra thrifty, as I am using a lot of yarn that was given to me, and end pieces from other projects, making it virtually free!
     Also, in other news, Mr Evans started his new job this week! WOOOHOOO! We are quite happy with it, as it comes with a raise, something we haven't had in years. Don't get me wrong, we have been VERY grateful that he has had a job through this awful recession, we are just happy to have been blessed with a new job that will make it less of a struggle to buy the necessities. He will be working at a small company that makes dough for pizzas, partly as a dough maker and partly as a delivery man. Coming home after his first day he brought in no less than a dozen dough balls of assorted flavors! I see a lot of pizza in our future! Oh gosh, this is going to murder my diet! But hey, we are still in a position where free food is good food, so I have been using up some of the dough in creative ways. Today, its a batch of cinnamon buns, YUM!

    
     Well, better head into the kitchen to make a pot of tea to have with the buns, I hope you enjoy your weekend! God Bless!

Creamed Orange Veggie Soup made with Homemade Chicken Stock!

     We have been incorporating more REAL food into our diet this past year, and we are healthier and thinner because of it! If you would like to learn more about real food, I suggest getting the cookbook Nourishing Traditions, it is more than just a cookbook, it has loads of information on nutrition. One of the most informative chapters of the book is the one on bone broths. Broth is a wonderfully healing food, good for aiding in the absorption of minerals and protein, as well as helping to heal your insides and protect against bad "bugs" and colds. Its also a thrifty food, as its made for virtually free, since its made with things usually thrown out, so its a win win!
     To make my bone broth I save the all the bones and carcasses from when I roast chicken and chicken pieces and freeze them. When I am ready to make the stock I toss them in my crock pot and cover with lots of water. If I can find them, I add chicken feet. Now, I know, chicken feet are not something a squeamish cook can handle easily, but I promise you, they make an ordinary stock extraordinary! They boost the gelatin content too, and gelatin, my friends, is why broth is so good for you! If you like, you can add an onion, a couple carrots, a bay leaf or two, some celery leaves and a few peppercorns, these add more flavor to the broth and bring it up to the same level as soup, but they aren't necessary, as plain broth is still very good and great for using in recipes for soups, stews and gravy! I never add salt to my stock, I salt it as I make the recipe, that way I don't need to worry about the evaporation creating an over salted end product.
     So, once everything is in the crock pot, turn it on high until it comes to a simmer then switch to low and cook at least 12 hours, I let mine go for 24, to leach every last drop of goodness from the bones! When done, turn off and let cool a little, then strain through a cloth.

     After you have strained it, you should have a nice rich broth, if its not clear like store bought, don't worry, I find that the flavor of an opaque broth is much deeper and richer!

I usually get almost a gallon of stock from one chicken carcass and a pound or so of the feet. If you don't want to use the feet, save your bones and use two carcasses instead. Oh, and I have one of the big crock pots, I think its an 8 to 10 quart one, so I can make a good sized batch at one time! If yours is smaller, no problem, just use one carcass and your broth will be more concentrated, you can use it as is, or add water to it. Broth is not a fussy food, so try not and over think it!
     I try and make a batch every week or two, and use it up by making soups, stews, gravy, and chili. I seriously believe in the power of good homemade stock to boost the immune system, as we are rarely sick! I invented a new soup the other night, and it came out SO good I just had to share it with you!

      I took a buttercup squash, two large carrots, a sweet potato (not shown) and two cloves of garlic and tossed them in a large soup pot.

     I then added enough stock to cover them and then a little extra. I simmered until the veg were all super soft, then let cool a bit. Since I don't have an immersion blender I put the whole lot through my beloved ninja blender, and ended up with a rich, smooth, creamy soup. I put it back in the pot, and seasoned with sea salt, turmeric (a VERY potent healing spice, google it and find out it's numerous benefits, and anti-cancer properties!) cumin (another healing spice) and curry powder to taste. In the end, the results were bloomin' fantastic!

    
The husband agreed! Upon tasting, he told me I had better write this invention down!

     This batch made about 10 mug sized servings, perfect combined with some hearty sandwiches! (we shared the sandwiches, I didn't eat them ALL by myself!) I stuck half the batch in the freezer, ready to reheat for an easy weeknight dinner. Very good, and VERY good for you, you can't ask for more than that! Enjoy:)

Chicken Pot Pie with All Butter Crust

    In a pie plate place cold, leftover chicken, add a cup or so of gravy, or make some up quickly with butter, flour and milk. Add your choice of cooked veggies. Leftover veg work great if you have them, I used an "Italian" frozen mix with Lima, broccoli, zucchini and carrots. Stir, season, cover with crust,
   
    This is for a top crust only, double if you want a two crust pie!

    In your food processor add 1/2 cup cold lightly salted butter,
    add a cup and a couple extra tablespoons worth of plain flour,
    also a pinch of salt and one sugar. (to aid browning)
    Blitz a few times until its crumbly,
    add ice cold water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts pulling together,
    it should be "clumpy" but not soggy, about 3-4 Tablespoons worth.

    Scrape out the dough and squish together, roll out on a generously floured surface. Cover pie, tuck in, crimp edges, cut vents, bake at 400' for about 30-4o min if veg are not frozen, more if they are. When the gravy bubbles out of the vents, it is done!
    YUM! The crust is a buttery, savory, crispy treat. Just like shortbread, just not sweet! Enjoy!

   

Grilled Summer Squash Salad

      We are nearing the end of a rather wonderful summer here in the northeast of the United States. My husband and I have enjoyed our new eating habits, and I especially am enjoying dropping TWO skirt sizes as many months! Unfortunately, the wonderful fresh summer veg wont be available for much longer, so we are making good use of it while we can. This week we picked up a beautiful assortment of winter squashes, two of which I have never tried before. I made a delightful (and delicious!) Roasted veg and kale soup, I will be making it again and will post about it when I do! Today's recipe though, is a good way to enjoy the last of the summer squash,

     Grilled summer squash salad, YUM! I had a couple of squashes that needed using up, and I was bored with the usual sauteing of them. So I had Hubby get the Foreman grill out (one of his most favorite Christmas gifts of all time!) and heat it up. I Brushed slices of squash and green pepper with a little EVOO, then sprinkled with garlic powder and s&p. Grilled until seared and served up on a bed of fresh greens and cherry tomatoes, healthy eating can be soooo good!       Today is a very "fall" day though,,, cloudy, cool, with a thunderstorm moving in. I think I will take a nice hot bath then roast a chicken for dinner, and work on some granny squares,,,, I am almost done enough granny squares for the bedspread I am making of Irish roses, I can't wait to see how it turns out and show you! Have a good night, and God bless~

Frijoles Refritos,,,, yum yum!

     Refried Beans! A yummy and nutritious food. It can be expensive to buy them ready made though,  with the ever increasing rise in food prices, especially canned food. Around these parts a can of refried beans can cost up to $2!!! I think that's a bit outrageous, considering how inexpensive the ingredients are. I tried over and over to make them at home, and they never tasted quite right,,,, until I looked in one of my vintage 70's cookbooks and found the simplest, and most delicious refried bean recipe yet! After all, this shouldn't be complicated, that's one of the things I love most about Mexican food, its fresh and flavorful simplicity!
      So, if you want something that "hits the spot", then try making some Frijoles Refritos, you (and your family) wont be sorry!

     Now hows this for easy, you don't even have to soak the beans!
    
     1lb bag of pintos, picked over and rinsed
     6c water
       Put the beans and the water in a medium to large sauce pan and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 +1/2 to 3 hours, until the beans are very tender. (to test, cool a bean then place on your tongue, if you can "mash" it against the roof of your mouth they are ready) During the cooking time, if the beans start to dry out add just a tad bit of water, but not to much, I don't like to drain them after cooking, no sense losing any minerals!

    
     Now let them cool for a while, just set them on the back of the stove and get on with your other chores or cooking, maybe even try your hand at making your own flout tortilla's!
     After they have cooled, if you like extra creamy beans like I do, place the beans and their liquid in a food processor, and season to your taste. Purist's can put in only a teaspoon or two of minced garlic and a couple of teaspoons of salt. I like to add a tablespoon or so of chili powder, a liberal sprinkling of garlic powder and salt. Its totally up to you and your taste buds! Now after they have gone for a nice long wizz through the processor with the spices, you can either "re-fry" them immediately, or put them in a covered dish and store in the fridge for quick lunches and snacks. I havent tried freezing them, but I'm sure they would freeze well in a covered plastic container. We use them up within a few days, we are both bean lovers!

     I know, I know, not the most appetizing looking of foods, but my oh my! they are so goooood! Not to mention, they are great way to slip meatless meals into your week. Beans are a good source of fat free protein, and also have a ton of fiber and some minerals to boot. I do not add fat to my beans, as I can't tell the difference in flavor, so I save my "fat" calories for something else. These are rich and creamy without any added fat anyway, so be sure to try them before adding the tradition 1/4 cup of lard or butter.

     Bean and cheese burritos make a great late-night dinner or snack for hungry Hubby, and they are very quick and easy to make. Just slap a couple big spoons of beans onto the center of a tortilla, top with cheese and bake at 350' for 10 min, flip and bake 5 more min, serve as is or with sour cream and salsa, YUM!
     Enjoy!
    

What to do with leftover boiled dinner!

     Other than making a soup, as I mentioned in my last post, you can do something else that's super easy and very tasty with your leftover boiled dinner meat and veg. You can make what is known 'round here as red flannel hash! I'm assuming its called that for the simple reason that loggers often made boiled dinners (after all, you don't need to be an experienced cook to make an excellent boiled dinner) and would then eat the leftovers the next day in this tasty "hash", more often than not for breakfast with fried eggs and piping hot biscuits. Seeing as how the traditional loggers garb included an almost mandatory sturdy red and black flannel shirt, this is one way it got its name. (BTW, here in Maine, most real Maine men still proudly sport their flannel shirts, especially during hunting season, along with the obligatory scruffy beard!) Another reason for the name is the color the dish takes with the shredded red corned beef mixed in.

     Its a bit too rich and heavy for our modern tummies to take first thing in the morning for breakfast.After all, we will not be headed into the cold damp woods to fell mighty pine and cedar! Instead we'll be having this hearty hash for dinner! I like making it, I feel connected to my roots seeing as my paternal relatives of old were stout Scottish loggers who were some of the first to brave the wild Maine woods and clear land for the more delicate colonists to settle! *why yes, that would be pride you here in my voice*
     OK, so lets get to cooking,

   First, preheat your trusty, giant and super heavy cast iron skillet with a good gob of butter in it,
   Meanwhile, chop all your cooked veggies and meat to bite size-ish pieces,

   Now dump your stuff in the sizzling pan, level out and cook on medium heat, stirring and turning occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, season to taste with salt and LOTS of pepper,
   Now feed it to your husband (maybe even with some homemade biscuits), and don't forget to compliment his manliness, 'cause all men are mighty loggers, even if they don't all cut down trees:)

New England Boiled Dinner

     We have been visiting local farm stands lately, in our quest to eat fresher and local. We are also trying to eat as many fruit and veg as we can, as its a key to healthy living. So this weeks menu so far has been -Monday, steamed broccoli, baked sweet potato and minute steaks. Tuesday, a DELICIOUS Greek green bean salad, the recipe found here, Last night's dinner was fresh corn on the cob, and tonight, new england boiled dinner!

     All local vegetables! In Maine, we don't have a long growing season, so the local veg are limited to plain and ordinary "peasant" foods. Potato's, carrots, cabbage, turnip, beans, broccoli,,,,,, So when looking for recipes for these types of foods, its best to look for classic, traditional recipes. In days gone by, farm wives used what they had and could grow. In today's world, most of what they ate would be considered boring, but that is far from the truth, it is delicious, and often most importantly nutritious! Women didn't have the time to fluff about with extra culinary foolery. They had TOO much else to do since everything was done by hand. The tried and true one pot stews, soups, and casseroles have hung around for so long because they are not only EASY "from scratch" cooking, but also some of the most comforting of home cooked meals. Meals Grandma and Mom made.
     So tonight I'm scrubbing up a bunch of veg and tossing it into a pot with some lightly salted water. If you have never made a boiled dinner, you don't know what you are missing! If you can boil water, you can make this!
     Ingredients,
                  Veg,(some or all of these can be used)
                        Potatoes (leave peels on for extra nutrition) carrots, turnips, rutabaga, onion,
               parsnips, cabbage.
                   Meat : You can use the traditional corned beef or large bone in ham, or you can use smoked sausage, polish sausage, or, like I am using tonight, all beef hot dogs.
     If you are using ham or corned beef, you don't need to add salt to the water, as the meat will add plenty of flavor to the broth and veg.

     If using ham or corned beef, place in the bottom of the pot, add water and simmer according to directions for weight,,,, about an hour before the meat will be done add all the veg except the cabbage and cover with more hot water, bring to boil and simmer for about an hour more, until veg are tender. Add quartered (or eighths if large) cabbage and cook until tender, about 15 more min. If you decide to use sausage, add it with the cabbage so that it gets heated through but not over cooked.
     To serve, scoop out meat and veg onto a platter, serve with plenty of butter and pepper and some mustard for the meat. SAVE the broth, you can use it the next day to make a wicked good soup with the leftovers. Don't worry if you don't have leftover meat, just add some beans (canned or pre-cooked) of any variety and serve with crusty bread. Them theres some good eats!
                

I love fresh and FREE food!

     My husband came home last night with a big bag of garden fresh English peas.

A friends of his at work grew a bunch this year, and was kind enough to share with us. What a treat! Fresh peas are a bit expensive to buy, as you end up throwing away half of your money, but they are REALLY yummy.
     I ended up making a chilled pea soup out of them. It was soooo easy. Just a minced onion or a shallot if you have it, sauteed with a little EVOO or butter and a clove or two of minced garlic. Toss in a couple of cups of fresh peas (or frozen) and cover with chicken broth, stock, or even water. Simmer until the peas are nice and tender then let cool. Zip through a blender or processor for at least a minute until creamy and smooth, chill and serve with a dollop of sour cream, YUMMO
     Ps,,, you would have snickered if you could have seen how I took that picture,,,, with NO HANDS, lol,,,,, I'm not telling!

Spaghetti (squash) and veggie sauce for dinner!

Photo: © Ann Stratton
Woman's Day. com

      After watching Food Matters, a documentary about how vitamin deficiency might be the cause of all sorts diseases and sicknesses, we have decided to up our veggie intake, especially raw fruit and veg. I believe that the lackluster American diet that is so filled with refined carbs, corn syrup, battery raised meats and cheeses and oh so few fresh fruit and veg is very much responsible for a whole host of ailments that plague this world. I mean, honestly, how many people these days eat plant based diets?. I can't tell you how many of my friends and family eat less than 2 servings of fruit or veg a day, and THOSE are canned, or processed. Even if people try and make the right choices and buy fresh fruit and veg from the produce section, these items are probably weeks old, very low in flavor and much lower in vitamins than they should/could be. It is a HIGHLY interesting documentary, and has inspired my husband and I into really putting more effort into our health.
     So this week we have been consuming vast amounts of fruit and veg from a farm stand and local grocery. Mmmm, sweet corn, fresh green beans, big bowls of cantaloupe and watermelon for breakfast, lovely! I also picked up a spaghetti squash, which I haven't had since I was a child. I steamed it in a little simmering water for about 30 min and had it with some simple Hunts (its too hot for complicated cooking this month) sauce and lots of parmesan! Oh so good!
     So, NOW is the time, if you don't have a garden like me then get out and find a local farm stand or market and get your five a day! Or better yet, get TEN a day! Here's to health!

Ratatouille, a summer favorite!

     In the summer, when fresh veg are in abundance, and EVERYONE is trying to get rid of their extra zucchini and tomato's, one of our very favorite dinners to make of this bounty if Ratatouille. A simple, one pot, vegetable stew that can be made entirely from stuff that is probably growing in your garden, if you are lucky enough to have one that is:)
     Made with summer squash, zucchini, tomato, eggplant and onion, it is colourful and relatively low calorie, depending on how much extra virgin olive oil you want to use. I seem to have a different recipe than most found on the web, mine uses oregano, while most other use basil or thyme. I think you can use any or all of the Herbs du Province, and end up with fantastic results. I add a half pound of sweet Italian sausage to the onions to brown up, that way we stay full longer, but this is traditionally a vegetarian meal.
    
                                                              Ratatouille
     1 Small eggplant, cubed or sliced thick,
     1 med onion, diced
     2 small zucchini sliced thick
     2 small summer squash, sliced thick
     3 Roma tomato's, cut in half then quartered
     2 cloves garlic, minced
     1 teaspoons dried oregano
     1 teaspoon dried thyme
     2 teaspoons salt (or more or less to taste)
     1/2 c water
     2 or 3 Tablespoons of EVOO
     3 or 4 sweet Italian sausages cut up to make "meatballs"


    In a large saucepan heat oil over medium heat, saute onions, sausage and garlic, cook until sausage is browned and onions are translucent. Add eggplant, cook a few min, stirring occasionally while chopping the squashes,  add squashes and stir, cut up tomato's, toss in the pot and stir, add water, herbs and salt, bring to boil, reduce heat and cover, simmer about 20 min, just until eggplant is done and veggies are tender. Can you find me a simpler dinner anywhere? I bet not! This can be served hot, room temp, or cold. In the summer, its nice to have something that's easy, doesn't require a lot of washing up, or cooking over a sweltering hot stove. Yum! Enjoy:)

Frugal Cooking, what to do with 20lbs of Turkey!

     I don't know about you, but I like to buy meat when its on sale. We just can't afford  it otherwise! At Thanksgiving every year, when turkeys go on sale at a loss (which was harder to find this past year, and might not happen at all next year!) we always buy two turkeys. One for Christmas, and one to keep in the freezer for later. Well, its later! Winter is almost over, and spring is in the air. Pretty soon it will be too hot to be roasting ANYTHING for five hours in the oven, so I though I would cook up the massive 20lb bird, freeing up some much missed freezer space and making future meals a snap.

I let him defrost for a week in my fridge, best do this in the roasting pan, or you WILL have a mess on your hands!

@  $.49 a lb, you can't go wrong.

     I roasted the bird at 325', plain (unseasoned) unstuffed and untrussed for about five hours, until the meat thermometers little arrow pointed to poultry. I covered it with foil for the first 3 -1/2 to 4 hours, then uncovered for the rest of the roasting so it would golden up. This isn't necessary though, unless your planning on serving the bird right away, because your just going to pull it to bits anyway. I let it rest and cool about 30 min, then removed all the meat from the carcass.

     I then put all the bones into the crock pot with a sliced onion and some wrinkled carrots from the root veg drawer in the bottom of the fridge. Throw in some celery too, especially the tops, if you have some. I didnt, but no bother, I can add some to any soup I make with the stock later on. Also, celery seed is a great (and cheep) way of adding celery flavor when no fresh celery is on hand. You can also add any number of herbs, I like bay and rosemary and parsley. I didn't add them this time though, as I wanted to keep it simple so I could use this stock in multiple ways.
    Add water to cover and set on high, and then I (literally) forgot about it for about 10 hours.

     I'm glad I forgot about it, as I now have some of the richest turkey stock I have ever made! I don't put skin into my stock, in fact, skin and globs of fatty gristle are the only parts of the bird I discard outright. The rest I use! I had a LOT of pan juices left in the roasting pan. I poured them through a fine sieve into a clear jug and popped it into the fridge to separate and firm up. Once its cool you will have a layer of creamy fat and a jelly layer of protein rich broth. I scooped off and saved the layer of fat to use for making rue balls for future gravies and white sauces, (mix equal parts *1c+1c* of fat and flour together, then freeze in ice cube tray, convenient ready to go gravy and sauce starter!) I am also going to try freezing this fat in ice cube trays, and using the cubes instead of marge or butter for sauteing veg and other things. Its funny, how our culture shuns natural fats, and does everything they can to avoid and discard them, then buys tons and tons of highly processed (and highly unhealthy) fats like margarine and vegetable shortening. Our great grandmothers would have told us its foolish to throw away "free" fat then go and pay for some other kind of fat!
     Now, by the time you have the stock started your plate of meat should have cooled enough to start further processing. I go through, pull off skin and slimy membranes, and weed out the rest of the bones (adding them to the pot) then I separate the white meat from the dark and bag in sandwich baggies, then wrap in foil and mark the outside with W Turkey of D Turkey accordingly.

     I wraped up nine packages of about one pound each boneless -ready to go into a recipe- meat. I also got a little more then 4c pan juices (shown before cooled and separated) and about 5 quarts of rich stock, not to mention about a cup or so of nice turkey drippings. I can make at LEAST a dozen meals from the meat, with about four servings each meal. Not too shabby for less than $10 and an afternoon of easy work! Not to mention a home that smelled like Christmas all day!
     Meal Ideas;
       turkey enchiladas
       creamed turkey over noodles
       turkey curry (many variations of this!)
       turkey salad sandwiches
       pulled BBQ turkey sandwiches
       turkey and ham (or bacon) casserole
       turkey pot pie
       turkey shepherds pie
       turkey Alfredo
       turkey and stuffing *cakes*
       cream of turkey soup
       turkey a la king on biscuits
     and many, many more. Turkey is interchangeable in any recipe that calls for chicken, and even in some that call for canned tuna, so get creative! Don't let small household size put you off getting the biggest bird you can find, once cooked you can freeze the meat in manageable sized packages like I have done, OR, if your mare ambitious you can even make yourself up a dozen meals to pop in your freazer, ready to reheat any time you want a quick dinner:) Use your imagination!
 Now I am signing off, I'm going to go turn some of that lovely stock into some turkey and dumpling soup to fight off this dratted cold! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday:)

A pretty productive day, if I do say so myself!

     I had a pretty productive day today, which makes me happy. I feel like I have not been "creating" enough lately. I am in a valley, crafting wise, where I am not in the mood to sew, or knit, or stitch, or crochet,,,, sigh,,, nope, none of it. When I get like that, I end up boring myself to tears, at least until my next "inspiration" or ambition comes along. If I am honest, I really should be working on finishing up a half a dozen or so projects I have in limbo at the moment. Uggg, I think I may have to force myself, then, once I get going on it again I will have the desire to see it complete. Do any of you crafting ladies ever have that problem? I hope not!
     Anyway, I had to make some bread today, as we are out. (ahem, and have been for a week or two, I'm SO bad!) I decided to try something new,,,, or old in fact. My mothers recipe. She made it all the time when  my two sisters and I were growing up. In fact, we ate a lot more of it that store bought bread. We were kinda spoiled that way I guess, I have never been fond of store bread, so that must be why! Its Oatmeal Molasses bread, and my my my, I forgot how yummy it was! Its rich, and chewy, while not being dense. It has all the wonderful tummy soothing benefits of oatmeal, and a light sweetness from the molasses. I think we have a new favorite in our house!
     So, lets get baking!
Apron?

CHECK!
Moms recipe, in her own hand writing?

CHECK!
OK, lets begin!

    Mom's Oatmeal Molasses Bread

2c boiling water, poured over 1c uncooked oats (I used quick, but rolled would be YUMMY!)
               stir, and let set 2 min, then add,
2T fat (the recipe calls for shortening, but I used oil, and it came out fab, so use what you got:)
1/3c molasses ( it called for 1/2 cup, but I thought that would be too sweet, my bread was just right)
1t salt
               stir all this well, then, when warm, but not HOT, add
1c flour
1 pkg yeast (or 2 heaping teaspoons)
               stir, then add more flour a cup at a time, when a dough form in the bowl, plunk it our onto a floured surface and knead about 10 min, working in up to 5c more of flour. I found I needed around 5 cups in all, not 6, but humidity can be a factor.
     Roll dough in a oiled bowl, to grease the top, then cover with clean tea towel and let rest for 1-2 hours, until doubled.
     Punch down, cut in half, and shape into loaves. Place in greased loaf plans and let rise about an hour, until doubled. (I lightly basted the tops of my loaves with oil and sprinkled them with oatmeal, for a decorative touch:)
  Place in cold oven, turn heat to 450' and bake 10 min, then turn heat to 350' and bake another 25-35 min, until golden brown and sounds hollow when bottom of loaf is thumped. Cool on wire racks, and enjoy!

   And tonight, I made one of Poots favorite dinners, Spaghetti Pie. It is pretty much poor mans lasagna! (Not to mention LAZY wives lasagna, it SO easy, and virtually fool proof, unlike lasagna, which I just can't seem to get right!) We had some salad to go with it, gotta have those veggies! We will have having the rest of the pie for dinner tomorrow night, probably with some green beans.

      So, we are now both full, Poots watching the Celtics, and I am pretty much done this blog, so it must be time to be getting ready for bed! I hope you have a blessed evening, Take care!
                                                                        ~Shannon

No Knead Bread

     After reading a post on one of my favorite sites, Chickens in the Road, I decided to try making "no knead bread". I have no problem kneading bread, in fact I enjoy it. I have wanted to find a good recipe for the no knead kind though, for my Mom, who has achy joints and also a tetchy tummy. Homemade bread is SO much more agreeable on the tummy than store bought. I am pretty sure its because there is no "junk" in it.

  
     So this is my first attempt at it, I was a little skeptical, and it didn't work the way I thought it would, so I am going to tweak the recipe a bit. It did LOOK delicious, and it was crusty, and chewy, and very good. But it was a bit denser than I would like, so I will try again and add a little more yeast and either more water or less flour, as the dough was just way to dry. I will probably add a couple teaspoons of sugar too, as that will help the yeast to spread through the dough better.
     I have been having a busy week, especially intellectually, and its only Tuesday night! I think I may take a day off from using the computer tomorrow, to give my brain a little rest. I have been striving very hard, to dig through the truth of the Word, and to share those thoughts with a couple of loved ones. One, I have some very high hopes of winning with the Lord's help. The other, I don't think it looks good, but I don't have the Lords eyes. Hopefully, some seeds I plant (with the help of the Spirit) will take route in their heart. That's my prayer anyway.
     I did get to have a wonderful conversation with Poot yesterday, about the Divinity of Christ. I am SOOOOO thankful that we were both won to the Lord at the same time! I just can't imagine being alone in my faith, and not being able to talk about God with my spouse. So many blessings to be thankful for!

  
     He came home just after I had put the kettle on, so we were able to have tea while we talked. That was so nice, and impromptu "tea" with my Love:) I even convinced him to use a "pretty" cup. He doesn't like using them as a general rule, as they only hold about 6oz, but since we were sitting at the table, he could refill his cup as many times as he wanted, so he agreed. He had the blue, I had the yellow. We also had some Cadbury chocolate digestive biscuits, which are a great treat (and a great find here in the US!) from the Christmas Tree Shop.
     I am looking forward to doing a little shopping this weekend, to pick out a new camera. Just a basic one,  the one I have has something wrong with it. It won't take pictures if the light is too bright, and it definitely won't sake pictures outside in the sunshine. I want to be able to have picture memories from our camping trips and adventures, so I am very excited:)
     Speaking of adventures, we are very excited, in a couple of weeks we will be going on our yearly weekend "stay-cation" with my older sister and her family. We are hoping that this year my Little sis and her new hubby will be able to go too. Every year (or at least the past two) in February we go down to Freeport, and stay in a hotel for a couple of nights. This years trip was a little delayed, due to my big Sis, in her capacity as a professional photographer, having to wait for this new little arrival,

     Baby B, at a whopping 9.9, born today to our cousin and his girlfriend. Such a beautiful baby! Who I can't wait to snooogle, by the way:)
     (ah hem, back to vacation talk,,,) We get to use the indoor pool and hot tub, eat the complimentary all you can eat breakfast, and troup around the downtown shops and the Maine Mall without having to fight through tourists. Its a nice (affordable) midwinter break, and during a Maine winter, you NEED a break!
     So, I should really sign off for the night. I hope you are having a pleasant night, cozy and comfortable with someone you love! God Bless:)

Yummy Rice!

     I hope you all have had a restful weekend, and I am sorry I haven't posted more this week. I came down with the flu, it really hit me yesterday. Icky:( But I felt better when I woke this morning, which was really a good thing, as we had to take Sundays School this morning at church. The kids (all girls ages 5-7) were a bit,,,, wild, I think would be the word I am looking for. Next week we will be going back the the old trick, bribery  reward. We'll have to take a brief trip to the donut shop pre-church.
     Anyway, I had a request to share my rice recipe. I'm pleased, as I think this is one of my best "inventions" so far! I started out with just an idea, and tried finding a recipe for it online, but the closest I could come to was a recipe for risotto. I don't usually buy "special" rice. (even though I LOVE basmati, unfortunately its beyond our budget) We stick to plain, long grain white rice. We have tried many different kinds, but our favorite is Hannafords store brand. We buy it in bulk 8lb bags. That's the largest bags that they sell, or we would probably buy more. Once opened I just use an airtight food service bucket. They come in many different sizes, the ones I have used to have frosting in them.
     Anyway, as rice is a "cheep" food that stores well I have been trying to incorporate it more into our meals. Poot is pleased, he LOVES rice. I am more of a pasta girl myself:) So, here is my invention,

     Parmesan, Garlic and Herb Rice
1c uncooked long grain rice
2T butter or marge
2c water
2 Chicken flavored bullion cubes
2 cloves minced garlic (or, if like me you buy it jarred, about 1 dessert spoon full)
1/4c grated parmesan
1t Italian seasoning
1t dried parsley

Melt the butter in a med sized saucepan over med high heat, add the rice and toast for a min or two. Add the garlic and stir and saute for another min. Add watter and bullion cubes and stir until the cubes are mostly dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 15-20 min or until rice is done. ( check your brand of rice's directions, brown rice can take up to 40 min) Remove from heat and gently stir in the cheese and herbs, cover and let sit for a couple of min. Serves 2 or 3 people with big appetites as a side dish.

  This is very good, kind of reminds us of rice-a-roni, only with cheese. Enjoy!
  

Snowed in for the day

     Well, there is yet another blizzard blowing outside. I am beginning to feel like I am trapped in The Long Winter. There is already about a foot of snow out there, and its only half way done! Luckily the Hubby got the day off today (which is unusual, as they usually have him driving through this stuff) and we are nice and safe at home. He cooked breakfast for us this morning. Waffles, blueberry pancakes, sausages and bacon, yum yum!

     I set the table with a cheerful snowflake tablecloth and a candle,

     I sliced up some oranges and added some fresh blue berries, it was all so yummy! We invited our friend and neighbor who lives upstairs down to join us, and it was a lovely morning.

     He even washed the dishes! What a wonderful Hubby! Now I am settling down and going to watch Stephen King's Storm of the Century, which is somewhat of a tradition every winter, during a big storm:) I  will be finishing up a pair of light blue mittens I am knitting,

     I haven't decided if they will be going to a charity, or if I will add them to my collection for a craft fair next winter, we'll see:) Have a wonderful day, no matter what the weather, God Bless!

A knitted bunny and wedding cakes!

    My sister managed to snap a picture of the bunny I knitted for a baby shower gift this past weekend,

    Isn't he cute? It took a few tries, knitting and re-knitting, but he came out pretty adorable in the end. I love knitting toys, and I hope to make a few more in the coming months, to add to our "nursery" room for our future child.
     We also ran out of raisin filled cookies today, so I baked up a batch of Mexican Wedding Cakes, which are sugar covered walnut shortbread perfection!

Don't they look yummy!



                                                                              
                                                                          

Mom's Raisin Filled Cookies

                                                                                                                                                 
    Growing up, my Mom did a whole lot of cooking and baking. Breads were almost always homemade, so were cookies and pies by the dozens. We were quite poor, so it wasn't fancy, but it was always tasty. Maine has a lot of regional dishes, and I am pretty sure raisin filled cookies are one of them. My mother got the recipe from her mother in law after she married my Dad. They have always been a favorite in our family. Sometimes I have come across these same cookies, only with date filling instead, and I suppose you could even used dried figs or prunes. But Mom always made them with raisins, and that's the way I make them, since I am a stickler for tradition :) Now this recipe didnt have a whole lot of instructions, so I will write it as is, then I will tell you how I made them. These are nice big and thick cookies, with the doughy part quite similar to your standard sugar cookie in flavor. They are scrumptious! Especially while still warm, and served with a cold glass of milk.

           Raisin Filled Cookies
 
for the dough;
     1c sugar
     1/2c shortening
     1/2c sour milk (I put 1/2t of lemon juice into a 1/2c measuring cup, then fill with milk)
     2 & 1/2c flour
     1 egg, lightly beaten
     1t baking powder
     1/4t baking soda
     1t vanilla
for the filling;
     1c raisins
     1/2c sugar
     1/2c water
     1T flour
     pinch of salt

     Boil filling until smooth. Roll out cookies, put spoonful of filling on 1/2 of the cookies and top with the other 1/2 of the cookies, press together and bake in 350' oven for 10-12 min

  OK, here are my tips,
      It didnt say how long to cook filling, so I boiled/ simmered it for about 5 min, until it thickened up, then let it cool while I made the dough.
     Cream fat and sugar together, add egg and vanilla, then add flour and milk. Knead and work dough until well combined. This makes quite a soft dough, but I found it was very workable. 
     Roll out on floured work surface, sprinkling dough with more flour if needed.
     Cut with a round cutter, I used a drinking glass and place rounds well spaced on a lightly greased cookie sheet. I didnt grease my sheet, but I made sure that the bottoms of my cookies were floured dry. They stuck a tiny bit, but not so much that it did any damage to the cookies.
     I brushed a little water around the edges of both mu cover, and bottom cookies, to make sure of a good seal, and I sealed by pressing them with my finger tips.
     Bake until ever so lightly golden at the edges, about 12 min, and remove immediately from the pans to cool n a rack.
 Yum!

Drizzly Sunday

     It's been dripping rain on and off all day today. I had a late night last night, we went to some friends' birthday party, funfunfun! Unfortunately/fortunately I was not permitted to make as early an exit as Mr Evans, peer pressure, grrrrrrr. So, while I did have a thoroughly enjoyable time singing with friends and chatting, I did not get nearly enough sleep last night. I do so LOOOOOOVE sleep!
      Oh well. It was lucky I guess that we had the duty of Sunday school this morning to force me out of bed or I may have had the temptation to just sleep through church. With the help of some munchkins for the munchkins (I never said I was above bribing children,,,) we got through reasonably well. The children learned some more about Joseph, and then got to draw some of the good and bad things that have happened in their lives. (we had the pre-school children this week, and they are too young to write)  I do adore little children though. Yes, being out numbered can be a bit overwhelming, but nothing can take away some of the dirtiness of the world like the fresh young face of a smiling child!
       We (OK,,,,really it's "I") have decided that we are to start up again with the healthy eating this week. As a farewell to tasty greasiness we had McDonald's for lunch, good bye grease! It's really not that sad though. I have the worlds testiest tummy and it will not miss cheese burgers in any way! So dinner tonight was a lovely spinach salad with grilled chicken, oranges and very thinly sliced onion.

     To dress it I made (my first ever!!!) homemade salad dressing, orange vinaigrette. It turned out quite tasty! A very fresh, gentle flavor, will definitely whip it up again. I based my vinaigrette on a fat free orange vinaigrette recipe from all recipes, my favorite recipe site by the way!
         So our diet will mostly consist of fruits, vegetables, beans and other bean type things, whole grains, fish and chicken. There will be very little or no red meat, sugar (except some occasional honey) refined grains, and refined fat. We dont eat a lot of meat anyway, so that wont be too much trouble to give up. But oh dear oh dear, am I going to miss sugar!!!! I HAVE to give it up though. My Dad, who is only in his 50's, was diagnosed this year with diabetes, also my maternal grandmother has it. So with both teams in the running I don't like my odds, and after all, an ounce of prevention!
         So, as its getting late, I guess I had better get back to mending our neighbors work overalls that he needs for tomorrow morning. A woman's work is TRULY never done! Especially if that woman knows how to sew, and iron, and you neighbor is a bachelor who doesn't! Well, at least he says he doesnt,,,