Come Have a Ball with Us!

We're always so fun here.
Hah.
Actually, I just saw this picture I took the other day and decided to post it.
I love the old blue jars, don't you?  I keep my baking soda, baking powder and salt in them and keep them out handy for baking.  So much cuter than the boxes or tins they come in, don't you think?  As you can see, I written what's in each jar on the lids so I don't mix them up.  Scones with one tablespoon of baking powder are delightful.  Scones with one tablespoon of baking soda are not so much.  Or so I've heard.  ;)
Oh, and the title of this post is the theme for our fair this year based on a picture I did for their art contest.  I actually won.  Who knew?  Of course, I gave them the only copy I had so I'll have to wait to post it.
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And here is a link to the BEST picture on the Internet:  Joanne cooking!!!!  Well done, my friend.  Well done.  And in case you missed her latest post click here.  I can't imagine the pain of it all, but I dearly love the sound of hope in her voice.

Solo

 

Sweetheart and my Mom left while I was out milking Buttercup to head back to Denver.  That leaves me in charge again of three kids, one cow and 18 chickens.  Hopefully, this trip will be faster for Sweetheart for all our sakes.  We will miss my Mom though.  We have enjoyed this time with her and her help was invaluable when Sweetheart was gone and I had to hand milk.

I am still hand milking, but hope to try the machine out again tomorrow.  Timing the milkings to be done while all the kids are sleeping is fine when it only takes a half hour.  The hour and a half to two hour thing, not so easy.  Essentially, when I add in all the prep work and clean up, Buttercup is a part time job seven days a week.  Plus, there is the added time of simply making all the butter, cheeses, and yogurts.  No wonder I am struggling with my time.

Yesterday I made some more coffee creamer.  I love flavored coffee, but when I actually started reading the labels in the grocery store a few years ago (!) I had to stop buying them.  I really try to eat anything containing ingredients I cannot pronounce.  It is a simply rule really, but makes for a lot more cooking from scratch.
I was inspired by her posts on creamers a few weeks ago and pinned them.  Since I have an unlimited source of fresh milk and creamer I decided to try some.

Now, I have altered the recipes to fit what I have on hand and doubled the recipes (see unlimited source of milk note).  Essentially, I heat up one cup of milk and one cup of cream until they steam.  Then add a variety of ingredients.  The link's recipes call for maple syrup for sweetener and cacao beans.  Not having these on hand, I just used sugar or sucanat and unsweetened cocoa powder.  Not as natural, but I don't get out much and try to use what is on hand.  I did equal amounts of sugar for syrup, but it was pretty sweet the first time.  Now I just use less.

I don't seem to have almond extract on hand, but I have all sorts of other yummy extracts I had bought at my favorite spice store before we moved.  Last night's batch was one cup milk, one cup cream, 4 Tbl cocoa, 3 Tbl sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp orange extract.  I have made it with coconut extract and plan to try out my caramel extract next time.  (I just on their website they have a Butterscotch Extract.  Yum!  Maybe I can get Sweetheart to drop in before he comes home!)  I poured it all into a quart-sized milk bottle and chilled it.  Shake well before pouring!  And try not to just drink it out of the bottle.  I have heard that some people do that.  :)

So now after freezing out in the barn this morning, I turned on the coffee percolator as soon as I got back inside.  I let the coffee brew while I skimmed and chilled the milk.  Then I poured my huge mug full of strong coffee and added the creamer.  A little bit of bliss goes a long way!  And there is no weird film left on your tongue.  What is that from?  Sorry.

Ok, so today we are planning on just relaxing and having some fun.  I do need to churn butter and steam juice the elderberries I picked the other day.  There will probably be some cookies or scones made as well.  I will need to check on the apples on the trees and maybe pick some more pears.

Last Sunday, I made cookies after breakfast and surprised the boys with a reading and eating cookie time just all snuggled together.  It was such a nice break after all the turmoil of the week.  And seriously, those cookies are just perfect this time of year and gingery and spicey and soft.  Go make some.  And sub in some coconut oil for the shortening, if you want.  It is an old recipe.  ;)  Also, you don't have to make them in bear shapes.  I just use my mini cookie scoop thing and bake them for 10-12 minutes.

Well, I just heard the boys wake up, so it is time to go.  Have a wonderful weekend!  What kinds of fun do you have planned?

Prayer Updates

Wendy is home from surgery and the path reports are totally clear- all cancer is gone. She still has a long road to total recovery.

Bonnie's baby was turned this morning and they have induced labor. Just a matter of time. UPDATE: SHE HAS A BIG HEALTHY BOY!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Please prayer for Eleanor Grace-they had a scare with her and had to return to the hospital.

And I am still pregnant. :) I did get a decent night sleep after three really rough nights so I am thankful and back to baking and freezing.

Funny

Last Day of August

I had gone to lay down and rest one evening early. That lasted about two minutes before I had company.

I thought August would drag by, but I am sitting here amazed that it is the last day of the month already.

We've kept busy trying to see friends, run errands, start homepreschool and generally get ready for the new family member. I've been cooking up a storm so that we have food to eat after the baby arrives. Sweetheart really doesn't cook unless fire is involved. So I've made up a bunch of stuff that just needs to be baked/reheated and bought a bunch of meat for him to grill.

I've been doing some of the work over several days unlike last time when I had my Mom over and we did a cooking frenzy all in one day. I just don't have the energy for that right now. Plus, this house isn't as conducive to that sort of thing. Making dinner for the eight of us in my Bunco group that met here last week was enough for one day! This week my focus is on trying to bake as much as I can to freeze. I want to have enough bread and other stuff like muffins and banana bread to make meals easy.

I am planning on making and freezing a bunch of my easy quiches, but am struggling to find eggs. All the local ladies that sell them are swamped because of the salmonella scare. Even the stores around here are out. I am on three waiting lists, so I will probably have more eggs than I can cook at the end of the week!

In other news: I am excited to announce that my cousin had her baby yesterday- a little girl--Eleanor Grace, named for our Grandmother. I am so happy for her and glad to hear all is well! (Must admit to wishing I had had our baby yesterday. I would really like to have this baby.)

I am also asking for prayer for two friends. Bonnie, a virtual friend and loooong time reader, is due soon , but the baby is footling breech. I am praying that baby will turn asap. Also, I have mentioned before my friend Wendy who has been battling breast cancer. She finished her chemo two weeks ago and is scheduled for a double mastectomy today. Please pray for her and her family.

BTW-The baby's due date is September 11th so we are down to the final weeks. Here's to hoping this one is closer to being born on time.

Happy Friday!

After several wonderful days of sunshine and warmth we are expecting rain and fog today. That's okay as those few days have made me feel like I have absorbed the sunshine in my soul and can carry it with me through the cloudy days. I am glad that we spent as much time out as we could this week.

Today will be spent at home. I have some baking to catch up on. On the list for today are whole wheat tortillas, a variety of crackers, and a batch of meatballs. I'll make pitas if I have time and energy.

The picture above shows one of our little rituals around here. We are sharing a green smoothie. I usually make them with several (3) cups of spinach, frozen berries, and water. I just run it in the blender for awhile adding more water if needed to keep it all smooth. Depending on the day, I may add vanilla yogurt and bananas. I just load up whatever is on hand.

Then, I pour it in the glass and grab three straws. Yes, we each have our own color for the straws. Less arguing. It is a race to the bottom of the glass! Lots of kisses happen at the same time as well.

Yesterday I whipped up a blenderful and poured it into a quart-size canning jar. I tucked in our straws and put the lid on the jar and tossed it in my ever-present basket. We enjoyed it next to a fish pond at the gardening center we went to. I think next time I will wait to add the straws until we are ready to drink it as it did make it a bit messier!

It is an easy way to load up a few more servings of fruits and veggies and we all love it. Speaking of fruits and veggies, I picked up some seed packets for this year's garden. I ordered most of my seeds last year from catalogs, but found in mid summer the best gardening place in Denver. Paulino's is amazing. I got my batch of tomato plants there and planted them fourth of July weekend and still ended up with close to 100 lbs of tomatoes.

What else? Feel free to comment on the Jane Austen discussion from yesterday's post. Also, this list of substitutions in cooking from Aspiring Homemaker looks really helpful. I had no idea about some of these! Loved this post from Muthering Heights. I think we'd be friends in real life. Also, I am wishing one of my real friends-who I met through blogging, Janna, a very Happy birthday today!

Hope you all have a wonderful end to the week! Thank you to the other Company Girls for stopping by!

Peppermint Mocha Shortbread

This is the Starbucks treat in a cookie. Yum.

Peppermint Mocha Shortbread

Mix:

1 cup of powdered sugar

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

Cut in:

1 stick of butter

Blend it all together well and press it into a greased 13x9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about twenty minutes.

Meanwhile...

Melt and Mix:

1/2 package of chocolate chips

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

2 tsp instant espresso powder

Spread the chocolate mixture onto the shortbread after it's baked. Then top with about a 1/2 cup of smashed candy canes. Let cool and slice into pieces.

***

I made this recipe up for one of my Christmas Teas. I won't be having a big Christmas Tea this year, but these still must be made! :)

Warning: These should not be eaten in the evening--unless you need to stay up late sewing, or wrapping presents! That caffeine will get you!

Puffy Pancakes

Last week the boys wanted Stacked Pancakes. We've been listening to Farmer Boy in the van. This week I surprised them with a Puffy Pancake. It's actually called a German Pancake and it is gooood. The recipe is from Susan Branch's Heart of the Home, a truly delightful cookbook.

It took just a few minutes to mix up the four eggs, add the 2/3 cup of flour, the 1 tsp salt and the 2/3 cup of milk. I poured the batter into an oven safe buttered skillet and dotted the top with bits of butter (about 2 tablespoons worth) scattered around. I did this while the oven was heating up to 450 degrees. I baked it for 15 minutes then reduced the temperature to 350 degrees and let it cook for another 10 minutes.

While it baked, I sliced up some fresh bananas and some peaches I canned last summer. Fresh peaches would probably be even yummier, but I don't have any. Really, any fruit you like would work. When it was done baking I spread on the fruit and sprinkled powdered sugar on top. You may also add syrup, but it's up to you. It's so pretty and summery and delightful! Pair it with a pot of tea and savor every bit. I'm picturing this in the fall with baked apple slices and cinnamon.

I love breakfast.

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.

Afternoon Tea Cake

I made this earlier with a jar of wild plum jam I canned this summer.
Oh my.
Hope there's some left by the time Sweetheart comes home! :)
Here's the recipe. It's simple and tastes sublime with a cup of Earl Grey.

Going Crackers!

Ok, in my search for recipes that can replace the stuff I used to buy, I've found some wonderful recipes for crackers. I thought I'd share the recipes with all of you! I was surprised at how easy and quick these are all to make and they don't require any weird ingredients. They are also preservative-free, so no weird film on your tongue.

Here's what's in the oven now:

Cheddar Cheese Crackers
My guys would eat Goldfish all day long if they could. These taste great! You could make them in the little fishy shape, or any other with cookie cutters, but I find my way easier and the guys will still eat them. These taste just like Cheezits.
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup flour (I used white the first time I made these, but today I used my regular wheat flour I mill.)
4 Tbl butter or margarine
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to sprinkle on top
dash of paprika and cayenne pepper, to taste
1/4 c water

I grated/chopped my cheese in the food processor first, keeping one cup in the food processor and removing the rest. I then added the rest of the ingredients except the water. I ran the processor for a few seconds to mix everything up. Then, I added the water and blended again. Once it stuck together in pieces I dumped it out onto a cookie sheet that I had lightly greased with butter.

I then pressed the dough together and smoothed it out around the pan.
Next, I used my rolling pin to make it all level and smooth. This batch filled my entire (large) cookie sheet. Then sprinkle some salt on the top and lightly press it into the dough with the rolling pin. Finally, cut the crackers into whatever shapes you desire.
I use my pastry wheel because it is easy and I like the waves. A pizza cutter, or a knife would work as well, or cookie cutters if you're really wanting shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees until lightly browned and crisp. Just check them every few minutes until they look done to you. I probably cooked these about 10-15 minutes, checking every two minutes. I don't know how long it took altogether as I was typing this at the same time and refereeing the boys.

Let cool and remove from the sheet carefully with a spatula. Wait until they are completely cooled before storing them in an air-tight container. I must not have waited long enough last time as they were soft the next day. I simply put them back in the oven for a few more minutes and they crisped right up!

*** We're munching on these now as I type this. I think next time I'll use the white flour. They are good, but they don't taste as cheesey as the other batch did. They still good, but more wheaty, if you know what I mean. I also think I baked them a bit too long. I shouldn't try to bake and blog at the same time! The boys just keep asking for more, so they don't mind!***********

I've also made these Rosemary Garlic Crackers several times. The third recipe is for some crackers that are like Wheat Thins.

Well, I hope you try one or all of these recipes! They are really good and a lot easier to make than I would have thought. Let me know if you have a cracker recipe you like, or if you try these.

***********Crackers Revisited 12/09/10***********************
Mmm... Just made double batches of the Wheat Crackers and the Cheese Crackers. Yummy! I used all wheat flour and they taste great. Guess we've just adjusted to all wheat. :) I am storing them in glass jars when they are cool. They stay crisp for quite awhile.
I had a friend (Hi Kaela!) ask the other night about the crackers. She said her rolling pin didn't fit into her cookie sheet. I started to wonder if anyone else had this problem. I guess turning the pan around still might not let you fill all the corners. So, today I rolled the dough onto sheets of parchment paper cut to fit my pans. Then placed the paper into the pan for baking. Worked great and they pop right off the paper after baking. Hope this helps!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions. I'd love to hear how yours turn out as well. ~Kimberly

What I've Been Whipping Up This Week in the Kitchen

Truffles:

This is a recipe from "Bon Appetit" Magazine/January 1987. Um, yes, I start receiving a subscription to "Bon Appetit" when I was in 8th or 9th grade. No, I've not kept them all. I have a book that has all my random recipes cut out and glued into it. It's just a binder stuffed with recipes in plastic pages, but it's a big binder!

Anyhow...

"Rich Dark Truffles"
Makes 8
(I double it when I make them. If I'm going to the trouble, I want it to be worth it!)
1/4 c whipping cream
2 TBL butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (I just use chocolate chips.)
1/4 tsp vanilla
sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Bring the butter and cream to simmer in a small pan over medium heat. Then add the chocolate, melt and whisk on low heat until the mix is smooth. Pour into a small bowl and whisk in the vanilla. (You can add other extracts like orange or mint instead of the vanilla for flavored truffles. I thought about adding instant espresso powder for Mocha Truffles, but didn't.) Put the bowl in the freezer until it can hold its shape, but NOT frozen solid. The recipe says 20 minutes, but mine took more like 35 minutes and was still really soft in the center of the bowl. Just set a timer and keep checking on it.

Line a baking sheet with wax paper and dust it with the cocoa powder. Spoon 8 mounds onto the prepared sheet, using about 2 tablespoons chocolate mixture for each. (I used my mini scooper and it was sooo easy! It must be less than 2 tablespoons as I ended up with more mounds, but it was easy and a lot less messy.) Freeze until centers are almost firm, about 8 minutes.

(Ok, I didn't set the timer here and got distracted making lunch. When I took mine out, they were too firm to roll. So now they're just sitting on the counter hopefully softening up.)

Roll each mound in the cocoa powder on the sheet, then roll between palms of hands into smooth round. Set on another waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap. Freeze until ready to dip, up to one month. (**Be sure to put them back in the freezer. I left mine out after rolling them because I was typing. I moved onto dipping, but had to stop as they were too warm and just melting in the dipping chocolate.)

Melt 1 pound of chocolate in the double boiler. Remove from heat. Let chocolate stand until melted, stirring occasionally, and candy thermometer registers between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, remove truffles from the freezer, rerolling them to remove excess cocoa. (By the way-you could roll them in instant espresso powder if you like.)

For a simple assembly line, set the tray of truffles to your left. Set the dipping chocolate in front of you. Place the empty waxed paper-lined baking sheet immediately to your right.

Submerge one truffle in melted chocolate, tilting pan. Lifting truffle up with index finger and thumb, remove from chocolate. Move had side to side, shaking excess chocolate back into pan. Turn hand over and drop truffle onto prepared sheet. Dip index finger into chocolate to dab truffle where not completely coated. Truffles may also be dipped with a fork or toothpick.

Repeat with remaining truffles. Check the melted chocolate's temperature half way through dipping. If it has fallen below 115 degrees, reheat it by setting it back over the hot water of the double boiler. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, 30 minutes to an hour.

After the truffles are set, peel from waxed paper using gloves or plastic wrap if you like to prevent fingerprints. You may place them in paper candy cups (little muffin papers) if you want. Arrange cups in an airtight container and transfer to the refrigerator. They are best eaten within four days, but remain fresh up to two weeks. You may freeze them for up to one month. Let truffles stand at room temperature for one hour before serving.

I rolled some in cocoa, some in powdered sugar, and dipped some in chocolate. Pumpkin suggested I dip the heart cookies in chocolate and so I did. This is a chocolate box Joanne brought with her last weekend to the little Cupid's Tea I did. We all had our tea and then made valentines, if we wished. Six bloggers, and no one managed to get pictures, including me! This was one of the boxes she brought in case anyone wanted to decorate one. I did. Sweetheart did the gold foiling on the ribbon. Isn't he the best?!

***********
Butter

Kate--- I'll do a post on butter-making this weekend. The whipping cream needs to sit out for 24 hours before I churn it. It's on the counter now.

***********

As Sweetheart and I are using more natural products and foods, we are discovering all sorts of things you can make yourself. On the list to start making, hopefully Sunday after the boys go to bed, is soap. Sweetheart is more into the chemistry of everything than I am. (Understatement!!)

While we've been gathering up the various ingredients and waiting for everything to be ready, I've started making a few cosmetic type things myself that are simple and ready to go the same day. (Homemade soaps need weeks to set up, so it will be awhile before I have any posts on that.)

On Tuesday I made Lip Balm. Using this recipe, I made a lovely Burt's Bees-type lip balm. I added a bit more beeswax as it suggested to make it firmer and I added three drops of lavender oil in with the peppermint oil. I love the Burt's Bees stuff, but three dollars a tube is ridiculous!

Sweetheart bought a bag of 50 (!) empty tubes and this recipe filled six regular Chapstick sized tubes. I love it! I used a plastic syringe (no needle) to fill the tubes. The only change I'll make is to add even more beeswax, probably another whole teaspoon, because I like it to be firm. I'll also need to work faster filling the tubes, or wait for a warmer day, as the solution began setting up while still in the syringe, making the final product not quite as smooth all over in the tube as I would have liked. It totally usable and probably fine for gifts, but I'd like to keep improving it in the hopes that I might be able to sell some later with the soaps and other things I'm making.

On Wednesday, I made Lavender Body Butter with this recipe. On Thursday, I used the same recipe creating a Peppermint Body Butter using peppermint oil instead of the lavender, as I had used up all the lavender oil I had! This stuff is soooo wonderful! It goes on so smooth and lasts a lot longer than regular lotion. Like most of you, I'm washing my hands all day long. I put the Peppermint Body Butter on this morning. It's midafternoon now, and my hands still feel soft. In our dry Colorado climate and with how much I wash my hands, it's amazing that my skin still feels smooth. (The boys love it, too!)

I think I'll be using the Lavender at night and the Pepermint in the day. Lavender is so relaxing while the Peppermint is energizing to me. Both smell so clean, even Sweetheart is using them, and we don't have to worry about him going to work smelling like a girl. ;) I also like this recipe because it is neither sticky, or greasy.

Since these were my first attempts, I was concentrating hard on just doing it all right, so I didn't take any pictures of the processes. Is anyone interested that I should do a step-by-step blog on lipbalm or body butters, or are the links enough?

What's Baking Now?

Peppermint Mocha Shortbread

Mix:

1 cup of powdered sugar

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

Cut in:

1 stick of butter

Blend it all together well and press it into a greased 13x9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about twenty minutes.

Meanwhile...

Melt and Mix:

1/2 package of chocolate chips

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

2 tsp instant espresso powder

Spread the chocolate mixture onto the shortbread after it's baked. Then top with about a 1/2 cup of smashed candy canes. Let cool and slice into pieces.

***

I made this recipe up last year for my Christmas Tea. I'm baking a pan right now for gifts and just enjoying.

Warning: These should not be eaten in the evening--unless you need to stay up late sewing, or wrapping presents! That caffeine will get you!

What I've Been Up To...

Only about 10 more pounds to get through. 80 pounds of apples makes a lot of applesauce, spiced apples, apple butter, apple chips, an apple cake, apple pie, apple tart and just apples to eat.

In between apples I've played with these guys.

I cooked more than apples. I had my Bunco group over the other night for dinner. I made Janna's Curry Chicken. Dinner for 12 (plus my family) is a lot to pull together.

The apple desserts were for that. The cake was a dismal failure. It was delicious, but fell completely apart when I tried to get it out of the pan. Glad I made it the night before Bunco. That way I had time to make the tart and the pie.

Somebody started walking on his own.


We made what will be one of the last trips to the farm today.

Pumpkin played in the straw bale maze.

*****

Look closely in the bucket.

Last weekend we went on a family adventure.

Daddy had fun, too.

Pumpkin loves throwing rocks in water.

Here's me and my little guy.

*******

I've started probably 10 different posts in this week off.

Hopefully, I'll get them finished and polished up to post soon.

Figured I'd better post something now though, or everyone might give up on me and never return.

Bagels!

Get your helpers ready!

Bagels

8 cups of bread flour, or flour with ¼ cup wheat gluten
2 Tbl sugar
1 Tbl salt
2 Tbl oil
4 tsp yeast
2 ½ -3 ¼ cups warm water (depends on gluten)

*Mix and knead until dough is uniform and smooth.

*Divide into 16 equal balls and let rise for 15 minutes.

I made half the batch plain.

In the other half I mixed a few tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice for cinnamony bagels.

*Shape bagels.

You may either roll the dough into a log and wrap it into a circles like Pumpkin does,

or you can just take a puff of dough, stick your thumbs into the middles and widen the hole, smoothing it into the bagel shape.

*Let rise for about 20 minutes.

*Meanwhile, set large pan of water to boil and preheat the oven to 425*


*Boil bagels for one minute on each side.

* Dip bagels when wet into toppings if desired, or let them dry for one minute if plain.



This is a mix of sesame seeds, poppy seeds and freeze-dried chives.

This is a mix of pumpkin pie spice and sugar. It's like cinnamon sugar, but with more flavor.

*Place on greased cookie sheet. Repeat as needed.

*Bake bagels for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for ten minutes more.

*Let cool a few minutes and serve.

I found the original Bagel Recipe here. I doubled and simplified the directions for my own use.

Why make only eight bagels at a time? I make sixteen at a go now. Once they're cool, I slice them most of the way through and then toss them into the freezer. When I need a few I just pull them out of the freezer and toss them into the toaster quick as a wink!

Works great and it's a lot cheaper and easier than running to Einstein's.

A Day in My Life

Morning came early, in fact too early. Cries from a little boy's room awakened this Mommy. After changing diaper, bedding and pajamas, he drifts back to sleep. Eventually, I do as well.

When it is time to rise, we do. It's a cloudy, cool morning. Just perfect for oatmeal!

Littlest boy is still sleeping, so just Pumpkin and I eat our breakfast together. It is also time to read devotions and journal a bit.

While I'm doing that, the seeds from yesterday's squash are roasting and the parsley cut from the garden set out to dry and will go into the warm oven to dry faster.

Dumpling awakens and joins us for his oatmeal. It's quite a hit, even if you have to wait for it.

We have no plans to leave for the day, so I continue with yesterday's baking.

After the squash had baked and cooled yesterday, I ran in through the food processor with some water to puree it. A nine and a half pound squash made eight cups of puree. I used three cups to make pumpkin bread, just substituting the squash puree for canned pumpkin. That made three WONDERFUL loaves!

The giant zucchini I had from the garden followed the squash and went into the grater, making eight cups of grated zucchini. That became four loaves of zucchini bread, with four more waiting to be made. I am however, out of bread pans and time.

See my helpers? This is the view from the top while I'm working on the breads. The gray blur is Dumpling. It's not always easy to work in my kitchen, but I wouldn't change a thing. Except...I am considering strapping some sponges to Dumpling and letting him wash the floor, since he's down there and all. :)

This is the treasure I found this weekend during our family day. I've always wanted one of these plates, but found them too expensive. This one wasn't! Aren't the colors wonderfully autumnish?

He has so richly blessed us! Beyond our daily bread--even to seven loaves of sweet breads for the days to come. This on top of the regular bread baked yesterday and the bagels. Blessings upon blessings!

Lunch arrives amidst baking. Sandwiches on yesterday's bread with cheese and fruit. No pictures as I was doing too much to try and take them.

After lunch, the boys take their naps. Theoretically. They are put to bed, what happens from there seems to depend on the day. Luckily, this is a quiet day and all rest. Even me.

After nap time we have a snack--bread and milk. I cut and wrap the breads for the freezer, except the snack loaf. It is time for me to wash the mountain of pans and dishes from all the baking. No pictures of that!

While I'm cleaning up the boys eat their snack and then go off to play together in the family room. As our home has a very open floor plan, there are no walls between rooms on the first floor so I am able to see everything from the kitchen. I took pictures of them playing, but they all turned out a blur as they aren't still enough for pictures.

Dinner goes in the oven to bake and I join the boys in the family room. We build with blocks, race cars, and read books together until Daddy comes home. We eat when Sweetheart arrives home. Dinner is baked fish, baked squash and steamed brown rice.

After dinner the boys play for a few minutes with Daddy until bath time. Dumpling loves to take baths and enjoys seeing how much water he can relocate. He also plays with the rubber duckies and quacks and laughs. We have bath time and then it's off to get ready for bed. Songs and prayers fill our hearts. Tickles and kisses are important, too. Sweet dreams, little ones.

I then head out for a bit to run some errands that are easier to manage alone. Nothing too exciting- Target, World Market and Barnes & Noble. As I wander through the aisles at B&N I am struck by the contrasts presented by the books at hand. Some wonderful, some dreadful. A thought, often at the back of my mind~what could I do?

As I pass the teen section all I see is book on the supernatural, vampires, and well--trashy books like Gossip Girls and the like. Poor girls. I remember those years. I read a lot of junk I regret.

I think that's why I'd like to someday write for these kids. But I want to write something worth reading. I want to write in a way that is real. Not like an adult writing down to kids, writing things they would never say. I don't know. There are great children's books and great books for adults. There used to be at least decent books for the teens and tweens. Even the award winning books of the last few years seem to be...lacking. Just my thoughts. Suggestions welcome.

I left the store, glad to be heading home. Admiring the lovely full moon as it plays peek-a-boo in the clouds. At home, Sweetheart and I visit for a bit, sharing our hearts and days. Then it is time to sleep.

A day in my life, not exciting, but wonderful in its own way.

Thanks Little Jenny Wren for putting this together. Sorry I'm late on this. Sweetheart had the camera with all my pictures and now is the first chance I've had to post.

BTW-Tomorrow I'll post about our bagel making adventures. It's easy and fun. Pumpkin loves to help!