Flowering

I got a lovely Christmas gift from my brother.  A set of verses written for me and about me.  Furthermore, I see he has really been listening to me.  Nothing affirms us like being listened to.  Here it is:



                                          My sister
First of all, I respect your empathy and compassion for 
                                            others, 
Not just for me but for your family, your husband, your
                                                                        friends.
You are the patient Robin with the ever present worm for 
                                           the nest,.

Though you long to be the Jay screeching vociferously at the

                                               cat.

I envy your incisive honesty that you fear too persistent foe

                                               some.

Your joie d' vivri causes a smile from me and my desire for

                                           emulation.

Seeing the Past as past, you enjoy life here in your nick of 

                                               time.

Always dream for tomorrow with your wisdom, courage and                                                 Hope.  

                                                                                                                             Your Brother, Ernie  


This seems like a good place to put the flowering of my Amaryllis:

One flower. . .

Two flowers . . .

Four flowers . . .  Wow!
This has really been a pleasure to watch.  Thanks John and Jenny




The vegetable beef soup was a resounding success, though I cannot say the same for the home-made clam chowder!

A Christmas Present

I told you that there was a present I have become deeply involved with.  It is a children's book, "Miss Hickory".  You know I collect nut-head dolls.  So far I have never made any though.  That is about to change.

Here is the book.

Here is Miss Hickory in her little corncob house, with her own little stove and bed and tea kettle.  I am smitten!

Here is a little handmade stove Bill found at the Seventh Street Mall.  The miniature bucket and basket came from the Miniatures shop in Nashville which is now gone.  The hickory nut is one I selected from a bunch Eliyah and I picked up on the road.  The little broom I made myself.  I am searching the yard for suitable twigs for Miss Hickory's arms and legs.  I can hardly wait!


Another present is a biography about Tasha Tudor.  I am confused about her.  She seemed implacable with her family but I so admire her dedication to doing exactly what she wanted.  No matter the consequences.  She wanted to live in 1830.  So she did.  She lived without plumbing, central heating, shopping malls, even the telephone, at least for a while.  She raised the food they ate, made fabric and clothing, cared for animals and children under these circumstances and illustrated and even wrote numerous books while doing so.  
I too was fascinated by a time period, and by Pioneers.  When I was 4 or 5, my Mother remarried and we moved to rural south-central Kentucky.  They bought 8 acres of land.  The neighbors came and put up a log cabin for us.  I remember the day very well.  It was a nifty cabin. I helped to chink the logs with cement.  Then Lloyd Floyd came and put in a brick fireplace  sidewise in the middle of the single room.  Near the back.  Now the room was divided into two.  On the back of the chimney was a hole in which the stove pipe from the cooking stove was inserted.  A rough counter made of 2x4s at the front window on the left was for washing dishes on.  A table attached to the wall under the right window.  There were three chairs and an Army cot.  My bed was a pallet in the loft.  Eventually we got an icebox and the iceman came twice a week.  Though I have lived in expensive houses and cheap ones, in big cities and small towns and in the country, no place has matched the perfection I found in that small cabin when I was a child!

Beee-utiful soup

One day last week I watched Dr. Oz.  He had 28 recommendations, one for every day in February, I guess, and one of them was "No canned soup"!  I kept thinking about that.  Why ever not?  Too much salt?  Well, there are reduced salt versions.  I looked on the back of a can in my own pantry.  Hmmmm, not too many vitamins.  I thought about soup.  My Mother-in-law, Mary William (her father had hoped for a boy)  also known as Dot because when she was born, prematurely, she fit into a cigar box,  always said that beef vegetable soup was not so much flavored by the beef, but by the variety of vegetables put in, and she recommended at least 10.  I see clearly that the canned soup doesn't have such a lot of vegetables.  In fact, when we ate it that night for supper, it seemed to consist mostly of flavored slightly thickened water.  Not offensive,  but I remember Mary Bill's soup  . . .but of course we can do that again!

Here is what I put in:
1 pound of stew beef, cut small
1/2 onion, minced
1 or 2 stalks celery, leafy tops included, minced
1 or 2 carrots, minced
1 medium potato, minced
1/4 small head of cabbage, finely shredded
1/2 cup frozen or leftover peas
1/2 cup frozen or leftover corn
!/2 cup frozen or leftover lima beans
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup barley
6 cups, about, water or beef broth
6 teaspoons beef boullion if you used water
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 or 2 shakes of Worchestershire sauce
1 teaspoon parsley
I started this soup in my crockpot at 11 am, to be eaten at 7 pm.  I'll be posting here at noon so you'll have to read my next post to find out how it tastes but I'm pretty confident it'll beat the canned soup all hollow.  I've left some room to add water if it's too salty, at 5 o'clock and I'll taste for seasonings.  I've made about a gallon so it will serve for 4 meals, at least.  I'll freeze it in canning jars with only the rings screwed on with a piece of waxed paper or plastic bread wrapper under them.  Otherwise the glass will break.
As to the expense, I don't think it is appreciably cheaper than canned soup on sale is, but that's not the point here, quality is.


On New Years' Day I made the house and kitchen tidy, filled all the salt containers and watered and arranged the plants.  My Son and Daughter-in-law had given me an Amaryllis to force so I got that out.  One should always have something to look forward to in the winter.  I was surprised to find the bulb already sprouting.

I made a mess soaking the peat and getting it in the pot and planting the bulb.  "Put it in a warm place" it said so I put it on a stool near the stove.  Here it is 24 hours later!

Look how it has stood up and is leaning towards the heat.  Today it is noticeably greener and taller.  Amazing!


I've been thinking too, about Resolutions.  Not necessarily New Years' because you can make them any time.  But my Buying diet has only just gotten started.  I took a year to really get used to it.  I have learned a lot more strategies for not spending money unnecessarily this year.  So I have decided to renew my resolution for another year.  I will be dieting foodwise as well, in earnest now because I am being treated for Diabetes.  No more room for cheating now.  Not if I want a long life.  It is very motivating.

It wasn't all perfect!

Here's the Mince pie.  Most of it is still in the fridge.  I think it's just too sweet!  Another quart is still in the jar in the fridge.  Maybe I can turn it into plum pudding or some kind of cake?
We had a hitch in the Holiday plans.  My Daughter, who would come and help cook and eat the best dinner on Christmas Eve, got a migraine and had to stay in bed.  I was a little rushed to get the dinner cooked, then we ate hastily and took dinner to my Daughter's house.  Not how it was planned.  And I was so sorry she felt so bad.
My Husband and I went on to Spring Mill Inn as planned and that went very well indeed.  We opened our presents and there were very satisfying surprises on both sides.  I'll do a post on my gifts soon as they have sparked some activity here at home!  We walked in the village early in the cold morning, ate of their lovely breakfast buffet (which is ridiculously cheap), sat in front of the fire and then went home.  Christmas dinner was easy as everything was cooked already.  Our company came, we talked, we ate and finally we opened presents.  I think everyone got things they needed or  even loved.  The last bit of Christmas cheer was watching Downton Abby before bedtime.

We missed having a white Christmas by two days!  Tuesday morning it looked like this!  Just beautiful.  But short-lived.  By afternoon it had mostly melted.

I am afraid Mary Lincoln didn't make it home in time for Christmas.  When I undressed her I found she had no skin!  She needed more underwear too.

Now here she is with new skin, new petticoats and a tiny corset!  The dress is under construction and full of problems.  More on that later.


The menus for the week were all about left-overs.  
Monday we ate cold sliced ham and cheese, salad, potato casserole heated in the oven and Christmas cookies.
Tuesday, Chicken and dressing, also left-over
Wed Quiche and home-canned green beans
Thursday Canned beef stew and chicken sandwiches with Swiss cheese, broiled
Today:  Left-over Quiche, last of the asparagus, dark chocolate for dessert.
Saturday, Hamburgers and roasted garlic potatoes and the last of the cookies.
Sunday:  Large Shrimp cocktails, baked potatoes with sour cream, tossed Chef's salad, white wine.


Quiche recipe:
Crust:  
3 cups plain flour
scant 1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter or 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup oil
!/2 cup ice water
Mix sugar and flour and cut in solid shortening until mealy.
Mix oil and water and pour into flour mixture all at once.  Stir gently until mixture makes a ball.  Divide into 2 or 3 portions.  1/2 makes a bottom crust and some lattice strips for the top.  Or make 3 thin bottom crusts.  Keeps well for several days in the fridge.
Filling:  
2 eggs
1 clove garlic
several slices of onion  
4 ounces or more sharp Cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Put these ingredients in the blender and pour in milk to the 2 cup line.  Blend until cheese is just little chunks.
Arrange in the raw crust bottom 1 1/2 cups just barely cooked crispy  broccoli and chunks of ham, about 1 cup.
Pour liquid filling over.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until center is mostly set or a knife comes out clean.  I left out the onion this time and sliced some green onions over the top when I took it out of the oven.
I am thinking about New Year's resolutions and how I might improve on last year's performance.  More on that later.

Holiday baking

I have been reading a new blog - Semiswede, she e-mails me whenever she posts. Last week she had lovely pictures of her Saffron buns and a description that had me setting the saffron to soak in milk that very night.  Next day I made them and they were very popular and now I have requests for the recipe.  
Here is the address of that post (with permission) http://semiswede.com/2011/12/13/lucia-and-lussekatter/
She gives her recipe.
I am sorry that I did not take pictures of mine before they were all eaten up but she has lovely pictures.  I did take pictures of the cookie making here this week.

These are just sugar cookies flavored with oil of peppermint, spread with Hershey's dark chocolate and dipped in crushed candy cane.  They are a bit labor intensive but the tiny stars are flavorful enough to satisfy your sweet tooth!

This is the caramel popcorn baking in the oven.  This amounted to about 10 quarts of not-too-sweet confection.  The honey-roasted peanuts were added at the end.  This is a favorite recipe given to me by a dear Friend.

While the popcorn was cooking I made French Bread Pizza.  Here the loaf of whole grain bread is cut into three layers.

Left-over meaty spaghetti sauce was slathered on, then pizza cheese, then mushrooms and green peppers (yes, the ones I had frozen).  It was ready to put in the oven when the caramel corn came out.  It was more than we could eat at one sitting but left-over pizza never goes begging at our house.

Two and a half gallons of caramel corn, ready for munching by the fire.

Here is a new Christmas decoration this year.  It cost $1.50 at an Antique Mall here in Bloomington.  I actually love it!  
All the Christmas presents are wrapped.  One last present is eagerly hoped for in the mail this afternoon.  Tonight is the first family get-together.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!  The getting ready is all a part of the celebration.  Tomorrow I'll bake the Mince pie, make the Aoli, and put the ham in the oven.  When my daughter comes, she will whip mounds of potatoes, make cream biscuits and chop for the salad.  At the last minute we'll simmer the asparagus a little.  Not too strenuous at all.  I am so looking forward to it.  Happy Christmas to you all!

Dolls at Christmas

     Katrina is sitting on Bill's new child's chair.  Notice the lovely tiny vines and leaves hand-painted on the back.  The colors are mustard and dark green.  It is all original and signed on the bottom of the seat.  The cost was nominal.  Since we have displayed it on the doll's chest, the other dolls have changed their positions too, and a couple have been added.

     I have my feather tree up and all the tiny decorations, the teddy bear for Bill, the black cat in memory of Katie, various instruments and objects connected with my kids, and just things that caught my eye.

      Beatrice has decided to demonstrate the making of Mince pies during the Holiday season.  Yes, in her Wedding gown.  She feels it enhances her role of new wife.  (Don't mention this to her but there has never been a groom)

     Abe is kicking up his heels while Mary is having her new dress made.  He did put up the tree.  Bill has been requesting gingerbread for Abe but I think he really just wants some for himself!

      I love this "wall hanging"  which is really a nicely hand-made skirt.  I like the kind of "art-deco" design of his beard.

     We are having very simple meals this week, followed in the evenings by Christmas goodies in front of the tv, fruitcake, cookies, stuffed dates, stollen and etc.  But our menu for Christmas Eve dinner is:
Relish tray with cream cheese stuffed ripe olives
Baked Ham
Whipped potatoes
Asparagus with Aoli
Tossed salad with home-made Oriental dressing
Hot cream biscuits
Mince pie, cookies

And for Christmas Day dinner in late afternoon:
Cold sliced ham, sliced home-made bread, mustard and aoli
hot whipped potato and cream cheese casserole
Chef's salad
Cordial Cherries and other goodies.

Cozy during the Christmas preparations

A well laid fire is no trouble to light and doesn't need to be fussed with to keep it lit.

Just shut the door but be sure the drafts are open.

Mine even has a thermometer to let us know if it is getting too hot!  Very handy it is too.

I do love to start up the stove.  It's not just that the house is 70 degrees again, the very heat of the stove calls to us when we are getting tired in the afternoon or watching tv in the evening or just reading.  Then we snuggle up at the stone hearth and take comfort in the palpable warmth.  No furnace provides that.  But we've not had many really cold days.  And a wood fire warms the house too much if it's not cold outside.  The cold is coming though!
This year I wanted to have some real mincemeat for the holidays.  So I got out some of the stew beef we bought from the Butcher's Block and cooked it in my small crock pot.  Then I added apples, raisins, brown sugar and spices.

It cooked in the crock pot some more and finally filled 2 quart jars to make 2 pies for Christmas parties and for Christmas day feast.  Beside it are 5 jars of rose hip jam made from dried rose hips from Blooming Foods.

I made fruit cake the same day.  Owing to having so many projects going at the same time, I forgot to put the oranges in the mincemeat.  It tastes great anyway, though.
Today I got out the feather tree and the ornaments.  And there was a little note in the box to myself.  It said:

                                                   For Christmas 2011
Walnuts
Orange slices, 2 bags please.
Cordial Cherries, 2 boxes
Plain or iced gingerbread
Salted peanuts or cashews
Sugar Cookie "trees"  (stacked)
Fruit cake, double fruit Please,
Peppermints


I wished I had read it before I went to the store, but I can stop in again.  It's too late for the double fruit in the fruitcake but I do agree it would have been better.  I did get the peanuts but only one box of Cordial Cherries and one bag of Orange slices.  And I got pecans instead of walnuts.  Apparently I felt very strongly about the Christmas refreshments last year.  But you know what, I loved getting a note from myself!


Here are the menus for this week:
Hoppin' John, Green salad, Cream biscuits, Fruit cocktail
Thin Steaks, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, Fruit cocktail
Chicken fingers with bar-be-que sauce, roasted garlic potatoes, Asian vegetables, fruitcake
Hoppin' John soup, Chef's salad, fresh hot bread from the oven
Hamburgers, baked sweet potatoes, left-over salad, Butterscotch pudding
Hearty meat canned soup, toasted cheese sandwiches, pudding
Frozen Pizza, salad, pudding


The cream biscuits were a big success.  My daughter Rose came over to experiment with it.  The recipe came from my 'new' 1924 cook book It's just 2 cups self-rising flour and 1 1/3 cup whipping cream.  Mix gently.   Roll out about 1" thick, cut with small cutter, bake at 425 about12 to 15 minutes.  Some recipes call for a tablespoon of sugar.  Yummy either way!