Summer in a Jar

You all know I love hot tea and I do drink it even when it is hot outside, but I also love iced tea. If I know I'm going to be out and about I usually just toss a big tea bag into a quart mason jar and add a few springs of mint or lemon balm and water. I twist on one of the plastic lids and am ready to roll. I've brewed it in the fridge overnight so it's cold and ready to go the next morning. I've also taken a just assembled jar and left it in the van to steep on the dash. Not as cold, but still refreshing.

Today we're headed to the library. I'll be sure to grab my jar to take with us. I'd brewed a bunch of herbal iced teas for dinner last night, so I'm all set.

I had my Bunco group over and had such a wonderful time with everyone! We had supper together and dessert and then just kept talking. We never ended up playing.

They were asking me questions about how we've changed things here at home. I ended up passing around jars of all the stuff I make now and sharing what everything was. The deodorant was a big hit!

It was such a neat time to share with the ladies I love in real life. I figured they thought I was just crazy, but they were really curious and even want to learn how to make things, too! I'll share more in another post soon.

Have a great day!

Tea Time in No Time At All!

A few weeks ago when I had so many wonderful friends and family in town I made scones four times. Some were plain and used for strawberry shortcakes, some were sprinkled with Vanilla Sugar and some had chocolate chips. All were yummy. Too yummy!

I did a quick tea time with my darling niece to enjoy one afternoon after we made lipbalm and while we watched "Anne of Green Gables". She thought the lipbalm smelled like tea as we were blending it. Too cute! It had peppermint, lavender, and clove oils so it did smell like tea.

I asked if she'd like some tea like it. She agreed so I blended plain black tea with lavender and mint from the garden and added a few whole cloves. It turned out great! I whipped up a batch of scones and we watched our movie together.

The second batch was made a few days later when a dear, sweet friend from high school came over for a visit while she was in town. I made us a salad with grilled chicken. I had mixed up the scones and just asked if she wanted currants or chocolate chips. Chocolate chips it was! We sat with our scones and a pot of Earl Grey and visited while the boys napped.

The third batch were turned into strawberry shortcakes for all the family gathered together for dinner at my Mom's. Whipped cream and strawberries and scones are wonderful.

The fourth batch came the next day when I had a last minute teatime with a friend who I used to teach with that was just in town for the summer. The picture above is one I snapped before they arrived. (She brought a former student of mine as well.)

How does this all relate to the post title? Several ways! By having basic tea things on hand, I am able to just spend a few minutes assembling things and serving others. Using tried and true recipes helps, too. The scone recipe is one I've used for years with excellent results. I know I've posted it before, but just wanted to share it again. It's from If Teacups Could Talk by Emilie
Barnes, one of my favorite tea books.

Not letting perfectionism ruin things is another way I can put a tea time together in a hurry, but not feel rushed. Believe me, I wrecked too many times for myself worrying and fretting about every little detail. Besides, fresh flowers and herbs make anything look and taste better!

When I left the house on Sunday morning, I didn't know what to expect with my friend for that afternoon. I made sure the house was picked up and brewed some iced tea to have on hand. I also cut some fresh herbs from the garden and defrosted a loaf of squash bread. We then spent the morning at my Mom's and with my sister's family before they had to leave town. While I was there, I got the message finalizing the details with my friend.

When we got home, I put the boys down for their naps and went into the kitchen. I put the scones together first. While they were baking, I took out a beautiful tray and sliced the squash bread onto it. I assembled two kinds of sandwiches from things I had on hand--tomato and chicken with herb cream cheese and topped with fresh herbs. I arranged everything on the tray and tucked in sprigs of herbs and edible flowers.

I then filled the kettle with water and the teapot with tea leaves. I got out plates and napkins and even had a few minutes to spare before they arrived. All told, I had everything ready to go in about thirty minutes. It was so nice to just then sit and visit.

How I wish I could have each one of you over for tea! Until then, I will just write to encourage you to let tea and hospitality enrich your life. Just use what you have, served with love it'll be better than you can imagine and will bless you and your friends.


Scones-

Mix together:
2 cups Flour (I usually use whole wheat bc we buy wheat in bulk & mill it ourselves. All-purpose works great, too.)
1 TBL Baking Powder 2 TBL Sugar 1/2 tsp Salt
Add:
6 TBL Butter, cut into small pieces.
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse cornmeal.
Add any other things you want. I've done these plain, with fresh berries, with dried fruit, and my favorite--chocolate chips. I usually add about 1/4 cup of whatever. Sometimes I add herbs and spices to taste. Gentle mix everything together.
Add:
1/2 milk or buttermilk
Stir the milk in gently and form the dough together. The less you mess with the dough the better. Gather the dough into a round shape about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Cut the scones into wedges or with cookie cutters. I like hearts.
You can brush the tops with beaten egg and even sprinkle them with a little sugar, if desired. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden.

Friday Food Fun!

I just picked up a bushel of pickling cucumbers and a bushel of zucchini and Italian squash. Last year I put up a bushel of pickles and we've had to ration them out. We're down to one unopened jar left. I did give quite a few years away, something that did not thrill Sweetheart once he had eaten them and loved them. I'm planning on making at least two bushels this year. This way we'll have enough and I'll still have plenty to share.

I love zucchini. We'll eat some fresh, some stuffed and I may even fry some this weekend on my free day. I make zucchini bread, too. This year though I'm trying something new: zucchini chips. Inspired by Prairie Girl I've got two huge bowls worth soaking as I type. I picked up a second dehydrator this winter at the thrift store, so I'll be filling those trays right up. I bought it after stretching out making apple chips over too many days last Autumn. I'd rather do all my prep work at once in huge quantities. This way I can do twice as much in the same amount of time overall.

The half bushel of Italian squash was an impulse buy. I'll add it to dinners and searched for some new recipes. I also sliced one up to try it in chips as well. For $2.50 for a half bushel, I couldn't resist!

I'm hoping the chips work well. Since I make most of our meals and snacks from scratch, I'd like to have some new ideas and flavors. We like chips and I'd rather make them than buy them. I do have some ranch seasoning left over from life before and I have some bbq rub seasoning that I think will work well. I'll leave some plain and some just salted. I'll let you know how it goes.

Since last year was my first attempt at preserving food, I've learned a lot! I am amazed at how many things one can make for oneself. The cost is usually less and the end product so much better. It might not all be uniform and perfect looking, but I've moved beyond perfection as a life goal. It's made life a lot easier for me and everyone who is near me. :)

Well, Sweetheart is back in town after being gone for too long. So, hopefully, I'll be able to post new pictures soon and get my computer back to normal. Where was he, you ask? Why, at a tech conference of course. Isn't that the way it always goes?

Blissful Day

*sigh*
It's a much needed day at home, just the boys and I.
Laundry is going, bread is rising, boys are reading.
And I am taking a quiet moment with my cup of tea next to me.

Just savoring the moment.

The deepest thoughts of the moment are what I should turn the bread dough into.

Shall I make one cinnamon raisin swirl?
Shall I add some of the rosemary I picked this morning to another?
Loaves?
Braids?
Rolls?
Some of each, maybe?

I am sitting in the kitchen. From here I can look out back and see the grass and gardens. What a thrill! I am also surrounded by the flowers I picked this morning-cosmos and a happy sunflower.

I spent a few minutes in the garden this morning before the boys were up. I had seen some frogs in the window well of the basement when I was exercising this morning. I caught them up and released them in the garden. I hope they stick around! So little and perfect and as an added bonus they eat bugs, of which we have plenty.

Jimmy's garden is such a place of delight now. I filled the space with flowers and herbs. The sunflowers just started blooming yesterday, something my neighbor on that side has been looking forward to. She told me she looks out every morning to see how they are doing. Now she has something to see! (And something to watch besides me. Ahem.)

Our home feels so peaceful today. What a blessing.

I'm off now to built a train track. Hope you are having a loverly day as well.


***By the way, I added a new feature and a poll, so if you are visiting via a reader or Facebook, you may want to click on over to the main page to see the changes and give your opinion. Also, I changed and changed again my template this week. Are you seeing the right side bar? It shows up for me.

Hello Friends

My, but it has been a busy week!

We had family in town and had such a wonderful time with them all. The boys got to play with their cousins and I even got some special time with just my sister. (Thanks, Mom!)

I also got to have two friends over for visits in between all the family time. One is a dear friend from high school that I had not seen since part way through college. The other friend and I used to teach kindergarten together before I had Pumpkin. She brought a former student from that year with her. Hard to believe those little kindergartners are now heading into the fifth grade.

In the midst of it all, I've had computer issues going on. The set up I have now works fine, but isn't comfortable to use at all. So, until it can all be fixed next week, I'll probably be off the computer most of the time. I am also unable to upload pictures until then which is a real bummer.

I just wanted to check in and say hello to everyone. Hope your summer is as delightful as mine!

I have had so much fun this last week, but I am also glad to have life return to our slower pace this week. I'm hoping to do more canning and work on things inside around the house as the schedule is so much lighter.

I was able to put up Red Currant Jam this week from the five pounds of currants we picked at the farm. This week I'm hoping to pick cucumbers for pickles. We've only one jar unopened from last year left, and we've been rationing them. I plan to do more this year. My guys all love pickled things!

Have a blessed week.

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In a Pickle?

It's summer, so it must be time to can! Too bad it doesn't happen in the dead of winter when I want to heat up the kitchen, but you've gotta work with what you've got. And what I've got right now is a bunch of watermelon rind soaking in brine for pickles.

I just started canning last year and loved it, so this year I'm branching out planning to try all sorts of new things. Since our weather has been so crazy, a lot of the veggies and fruit that are normally ripening now are still running behind. I've done the two batches of Strawberry Jam, but that's it so far.

The reason I'm posting this though is because I've been asked a lot about canning since I started last year. I found this site and just had to share it! Wow. It's got tutorials, videos and all sorts of recipes and fun ideas. It's by the Ball/Kerr Company which has been around forever and seems to be the source for all things canning. I've loved their Ball Blue Book of Canning. It's where I got all my recipes from last year and I was happy with every one. (It's also only $5.95 at Walmart/Target stores this time of year.)

Snag some of these lids, too if you can. You don't process the food with them because they are just plastic, but they allow you to store all sorts of other things and foods in your jars and are easier than the two-piece lids. I use mine all the time.

Remember~If I can, anyone can. :)

Wonderful Weekend

We were finally able to get grass! It's been a really long process. We moved out all the rock edges and turned the space into gardens. We ripped out the old seeded grass/weeds/yuck and sodded. Sweetheart tore out all the old/never worked well sprinkler system and built and entirely new one that works great.

January:Pumpkin starts the excavating.

Dumpling surveys the yard.

Our biggest problem this year has simply been the weather. It's been too wet. We've had rain almost every single weekend since March. Even on the dry weekends, the ground has still needed to dry out from the rains during the week. I've never seen anything like it! We've spent a lot of time working in the rain and mud. We worked every night last week to so that it could all get done. I love digging by the light of a headlamp until ten p.m. Really.

Here's what it looked like after the rock was out and Rick made the holes for the fruit trees. Too bad the trees we pre-ordered arrived and had to be planted way before everything else was ready. It made it a lot hard to work around the trees.

Today:

These rows are seeded with all sorts of veggies. Looking forward to some yummy meals, if the rain doesn't wash everything away.

Here is the corner before the sandbox and Jimmy's Garden went in.

Here's what it looks like today. I think it's a bit much with all the sunflowers, but they needed to be moved and I didn't know they'd grow quite so big when I transplanted them. The sandbox is under the lattice panels. It's our way of keeping the neighborhood cats out. It's a nice big place for the boys to play. Eventually we'll put a little bench in there. It's been a nice spot to just be still. Hard to believe it's been exactly a year since we held him in our hands for the only time. Now that I've typed that, I think I'm out of stuff to say. Hope you all have a lovely day.

Happy Independence Day!