Easter-Baking-Canning

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with family at our home after church.

My dad was able to make it for dinner.

It had been a while since all of the family came here for Easter, the only one who wasn't able to make it was my nephew and his family.

My sister~in~law doing the dishes for me. My daughter and niece helped also, they just managed to stay out of the pictures. 

Grandsons getting ready to take a walk with dad and their new bikes.

For Easter I made Challah Bread

A neighbor of ours years ago from Greece use to make a bread a lot like this one, she would bake the hard boiled eggs right in the bread.  Mine were set on top after baking.

Challah Bread

(makes 2 large or 4 small loaves)

2~1/4 c. lukewarm water

1~1/2 T. instant yeast

8 to 10 egg yolks (6 oz.)

5 T. vegetable oil

4~1/2 T. honey

7~1/2 c. unbleached bread flour

2~12 tsp. salt

1 egg white or whole egg, for egg wash

2 T. water for egg wash

2 T. poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or a combination, for garnish (optional)

• Combine the water and yeast in a mixing bowl and stir to dissolve.
• Add egg yolks, oil, sugar, whisk lightly to break up the egg yolks
• Add flour and salt, mix with paddle attachment on lowest speed for 2 minutes (if by hand use a large spoon and mix for same time.
• Let dough rest 5 minutes
• Switch to dough hook and mix on medium-low speed,  or continue by hand for 4 minutes.
• Place on lightly floured work surface, knead for 1 to 2 minutes, adding more flour as needed to prevent sticking.  The dough should be soft and tacky but not sticky.
• Let rise until doubled in a greased bowl.
• Remove to a lightly floured work surface and cut it into the desired number of pieces to make strands for braiding, make sure all of the pieces are the same weight.
• Flatten each piece with your hand, then roll it into rope 10 to 14 inches long (The bigger the piece of dough the longer the rope)
• Braid the ropes to form 2 large loaves or 4 small
• Put on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• Make egg wash, brush entire visible surface of the loaves with the wash, let loaves rise uncovered, at room temperature for about 1 hour; they won't rise much at this time.
• Brush loaves again with egg wash, then sprinkle on the optional seeds.  Let rise again for about 1 hour, or until increased to about 1~1/2 times original size.
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate pans and bake for another 15 to 30 minutes, internal temp. is about 190F
• If you used a whole egg for the wash the loaf will get darker faster, the crust will seem hard when it is first comes out of the oven, but will soften as it cools.

• Cool on wire rack for at least 45 minutes before slicing.  

I have been reading  about the Tattler Canning Lids and contacted the company a while back and they sent me a sample of their lids.  Finally got around to giving them a try a few weeks ago.

Had some tomatoes in the freezer that I wanted to make into spaghetti sauce.  The lids were very easy to use and all four of them sealed for me.  Will be placing an order for a pack of regular lids and wide mouth (you get three dozen in each pack) to start with.  You can get information here on the lids.

Snow is gone, grass is green, temps in the upper 60's tomorrow!  Today it's rainy and cold.

Have a wonderful day!
~Cheryl~

LOOKING FOR SPRING

Still waiting for Spring to come and stay!

 

It snowed huge flakes yesterday afternoon that would have been very beautiful if it was Christmas!

  Thankful we did not get as much as they were predicting for our area. 

View of part of my garden, won't be doing much gardening for a while.

These little flowers are bravely trying to announce spring.

They are saying that by the weekend we should be in the upper 50's.  Hopefully by Easter the snow will be gone again!!!!!

Spending my day inside and doing some washing, cleaning, and baking.

Chocolate Chip Cookies 
with Easter M&M's

Crescent Rolls
(get recipe here)

First time making this recipe, it turned out very light and fluffy.  Next time will try it with half whole wheat flour.

The snow is starting to melt some, a little green grass is trying to peek through.  We may be tired of snow around here, but would much rather have this than the tornadoes some towns in WI and other states have been having.  My heart goes out to these people who have lost so much.

This & That

This past week we have had some spring like weather for a change.  Last Sunday was beautiful temps in the 70's.   So the first couple of days this week I have been out cleaning out the flower beds.  Good job to have done.  The garden is ready when the weather warms up and it dries out.   Today we are back in the 30's around here and very windy.  One of these days it will warm up and stay warm, I think!  It has been a long winter and am getting anxious to be out in the garden.

I have started some of my plants, the bell peppers that I started did not come up so will buy them.  Started four different kinds of tomatoes, Red Oxford, Mortgage Lifter, Amish Paste and Mountain Pride. They are all coming nicely along with the broccoli, jalapeno peppers and a few cabbage. 

 

I have a small green house that sits in front of the patio door in the dinning room until it is warm enough to put it out side the door.  This weekend need to start some lettuce seed and a few flowers.  

On Tuesday night got a call that our grandson wanted to talk to me, he was at the ER waiting to get stitches in his hand.   He kind of wanted grandma to come up to the ER, so that was my first time with someone getting stitches.  Neither one of our children had stitches when they were young and this is the first for the grandkids.  He did much better than grandma!  I stayed in with him and mom while they were freezing  his hand, he was so brave, you could tell how much it hurt but he never flinched (mom's hand may be a little sore from the squeezing).  When they started to put in the stitches I have to leave.  Did go back in when they were finished.  His hand is doing nicely, still sore.  Took a picture of him in ER waiting for the doctor to come and put in the stitches, but can't get it off my phone.  I think it's sweet how he wants grandma to be with him when something happens.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Baking & Grilling Out

Yesterday we cooked out on the grill for the first time this season.

Made Top Sirloin steaks on the grill along with potato wedges on the stove.

Potato Wedges

To make, scrub the potatoes and cut them into wedges.

In my cast iron fry pan I placed some olive oil and coconut oil.  Added the wedges, salt and pepper to taste and 

fry until done, being careful when you turn them so they don't break.  

When done grate some fresh Parmesan cheese over them.

While waiting for the bread to go into the oven.
Made one of Bob's favorite pies.

 

The recipe is from Gina over at Home Joys.  It is 100% whole wheat and turns out beautiful.

Lemon Meringue Pie

1~1/2 c. sugar

6 T. corn starch

1/4 tsp. salt

2 c. cold water

In large sauce pan combine the sugar, corn starch, and salt.  Stir in water until smooth.  Cook on medium heat until mixture is thick and bubbly, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat cook and stir 2 minutes longer.

Remove from heat.

3 egg yolks~beaten (save whites for Meringue)

Stir small amount of the above mixture into the egg yolks.  Add to the rest of the mixture in the sauce pan.  Stirring constantly bring mixture to a gentle boil, cook for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and gently stir in the following:

1/3 c. real lemon juice

1/4 c. butter cubed

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

1 tsp. lemon extract

1 tsp. yellow food coloring (optional) I did not add

Let cool to room temperature with out stirring.

Poor into a baked pie shell.

Beat the egg whites with 3 tsp. sugar until stiff peaks form.  Spread meringue on top of pie, place in 350F oven until lightly browned.

Cool 30 minutes and enjoy!

My dh was happy to see the pie!

Finished loaves!

{I DO}

Thirty-six years ago today a young couple stood before

God, family, and friends to pledge their love to each other.

I am so thankful for the man that God allowed me to marry.   He has been a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, and my best friend.  I am so thankful for a man that loves the Lord and has always let me know how special I am to him.  Our love grows deeper with each passing year.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:  and they

shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:25 (KJV)

The following verses have always been very special to me, and when followed make such a difference in a marriage.  They go against what the world wants us to believe is right in a marriage but Gods Word will never lead you down the wrong path for your life.

Ephesians 5: 21~25(KJV)

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

PLEASE PRAY

God is so good!  Just received a report on Gideon, his oxygen level is down to 48% and he is stable at this time.  His mom was able to touch him for the first time yesterday.  To give you an idea of how small he is they put her wedding ring on his wrist, it was a big on him.  We give God all the glory. 


 Last report that I had late yesterday afternoon, Gideon's oxygen level was reduced from 100% to 76% .  Thank you for your prayers.





We are asking for prayer for our neighbors little grandson Gideon.  He is not doing well, his lungs are failing.
This was his moms post last night on Caring Bridge.

Saturday, April 2, 2011 10:33 PM, CDT

Gideon is reaching the end of what the doctors can do for him. His lungs are failing. God reduced Gideon's men to 300 so that no one would question who saved Israel. Our Gideon is at the point where only God can heal his lungs. "For the Lord and for Gideon." Judges 7:18b 

This morning she posted that he is hanging in there.  Please pray for God's healing of little Gideon.  

Friday Thoughts

We had a good time last Sunday celebrating birthdays.

Our son's birthday was in the beginning of March 

and our daughter's will be next week.

 

Enjoying the cake with icecream.

Our daughter has not been eating sweets for over a year now and asked

for Broccoli Ham Ring.  

Oldest grandson was trying not to smile to much when his dad asked him to go out and

start the Wrecker for him.

This past week have been doing some extra cleaning while waiting for spring to arrive.  As I write this post it is snowing lightly again.  We are finally starting to see a little grass hopefully we won't get much snow. 

The poor Robins!  Not much for them to eat!

Also made a Preemie Quilt this week for our neighbors daughter, who's son was born premature.

Gideon was born two weeks ago tomorrow, he was 1 lb. 7 oz.

Please pray for Gideon and his family.

Yesterday a good friend came to visit and we spent the day going to the local quilt shops and a lot of visiting.  She also brought me some goodies, how fun!

Christmas apron panel that has cookies all over it.  When we go to the quilt shops she is always drawn to the fall material and I go to the Christmas section.

Along with the matching material to back the apron and two ornaments.

This sweet panel, it has six different pictures, two of each one.  Will be looking for material to go with it and deciding how I want to put it together.

Have a great weekend!