Saturday, February 22, 2014

February Days


February has been busy and going by fast this year.  We had one day that reached 41F all of the rest have been below normal.  This weekend we had another storm move through high winds and snow, school was let out early on Thursday and closed on Friday.  Not looking forward to getting out later in the spring.

I have been canning with a pressure caner for a number of years, but have never cooked with one.  My mom had a pressure cooker I always thought they would be difficult to use.  After seeing a blog where she was using a pressure cooker decided it was time to give it a try.  After doing some looking for a while found a stainless steel 6 quart cooker on sale.


I love it!!
The first thing that I made in it was a pork roast after church one Sunday.  In less then an hour had a complete meal on the table.  I browned the roast in a pan first.


Then put it into the pressure cooker on the rack and added 2 cups of water, onion and bay leaf.


The roast took about 45 minutes to cook.


It was fall apart tender and very good.

Also cooked an old stewing hen that I had in the freezer for chicken stock, I added onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. It cooked for about one hour.  The stock was so nice and dark and made the best chicken soup with out adding anything else to the stock.

Have loved it for making roasts and soups so far and looking forward to trying other recipes.

 Strawberry Cupcakes in a jar.
~Valentine treats for co-workers and friends~
They were easy and fun to do, first you bake strawberry cupcakes ( used a cake mix for this).


 Cut the cupcakes in half through the middle. Put bottom of cupcake in a jelly jar, then add some cool whip, another piece of cupcake, more cool whip, last add the top of a cupcake and more cool whip.  Decorated with Valentine M & M's.



~Also made one for my Valentine~

Waiting for the weather to warm up, our forecast shows below temps into March.


The snow is higher than the garden fence.


Our bench swing is buried under the snow by the thermometer.  One of these days spring will be making an appearance again.  Until then I will enjoy looking at seed catalogs and dreaming of warmer weather to come.

On Friday I was finally able to finish both of the quilts that I have been working on for our son and daughter.  A late Christmas gift!


Now I can start on a baby quilt for a close friend of our daughters.  Have the material, but told myself  I could not start on it until these two quilts were done. 

To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose
under the heaven...
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up
that which is planted;
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 2b

~Cheryl~