We celebrated Thanksgiving

On Thursday we celebrated our Thanksgiving with our grandchildren.  Because of work schedules we had to celebrate early this year.  We have so much to be thankful for the Lord has been so good.     

  For the first time that I can remember we are putting up our tree before Thanksgiving.  Tomorrow after church during the Packer/Viking game we will put up the tree.  Our grandsons want to help put up the tree while they are here.  I will wait and put up the rest of the decorations after Thanksgiving. 

This week I will be busy subbing at the school, they aide that I am subbing for has to go over to the special ed room at the high school in the afternoons.  I get to take notes in two different classes.  It has been many years since I have had to do that.  

Have a good week!

I am finally getting a chance to update my blog.  It seems time has just slipped away from me.  Here are a few of the things we have been up to.

Getting the garden ready for winter.  The little part that  jogs out in the front is my new strawberry patch.  Not looking to good at this time.  Quite a few of the plants didn't make it after the heavy rain we had earlier.  Hopefully enough will come through the winter that I can replant some runners next summer.

Finished a couple of projects that have been around for a while, this one is a fall piece that I made for the back of the rocking chair. 

This is a flannel lap quilt that I have had the material for a long time.  It has been a slow work in progress.  The material was bought from a quilt shop when we lived up north, that has been 4~ 1/2 years  ago.  Finally cut it out two years ago, sewed it together last winter and finished it a couple of weeks ago.  This wouldn't seem so bad if it was something complicated! 

Had a surprise birthday party for my husband.  His birthday is really the day after Christmas.  It seems that we always end up celebrating Christmas with part of the family on his b-day. So this year though we would change things up a little.

So this year we planned a little party on a night the grandsons were staying over.  They thought it was great celebrating early like this.  Grandpa enjoyed the surprise too. 

Then there was the Packers verses the Vikings game!  As you can see we have fans of both teams.  One grandson and his dad are Viking fans (really a fan of who ever is playing against the Packers) the other one along with the rest of us are Packer fans.  Things can get quite lively at times during these games ;o)           That is a little bit of what has been going on around here lately.  

We are having our Thanksgiving next week so I have been doing some baking and shopping to get ready.  Also working on a few more sewing projects that I can't show, they are Christmas gifts.  The past two weeks have also done a lot of subbing.  

The weather man is saying we may have some snow flurries this weekend!  I am hoping!!!!  

Found a use for the yolks!

The smells from the kitchen were good yesterday.  Along with getting the cider ready to can and baking cakes, there was also a roast, squash, and potatoes in the oven for supper.  These smells just say fall to me.

One of the Angel Food Cakes ready for the oven.

Ready to eat with strawberries or layers of Neapolitan  ice cream, maybe both!

Champion Angel Food Cake

1~1/4 c. sifted cake flour

1~3/4 c. sifted sugar

1~1/2 c. egg whites 

1~1/2 tsp. cream of tarter

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

• Sift together flour and 3/4 c. sugar
• In large mixer bowl beat egg whites, cream of tarter, salt and vanilla until foamy.  Beat in remaining 1 c. sugar, 2 tblsp. at a time.
• Beat until meringue holds stiff peaks that still are glossy and moist.
• Divide flour-sugar mixture into 4 parts.  With rubber spatula, gently fold each portion into meringue until flour-sugar mixture disappears.
• Push batter into ungreased 10" tube pan. Gently cut through batter once with spatula to remove air bubbles.
• Bake at 375F 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.
• Invert pan and let cake cool before removing.
   

I found this recipe for some of my egg yolks.

Butter Sponge Cake

11 egg yolks

2 c. siffted sugar

1c. milk scalded

1 tsp. vanilla

2~1/4 c. sifted cake flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. melted butter

• Beat together egg yolks and sugar until light-colored and fluffy.
• Add milk and vanilla.
• Sift together flour and baking powder.  Add to egg yolk mixture. 
• Fold in butter
• Bake in 2 greased 8" square pans in 350F oven, 30 - 40 minutes.  Cool on racks.  You can put the layers together and frost.

Both of these recipes are from my Farm Journal's Country Cookbook.  I bought this cookbook along with Farm Journal Freezing and Canning Cookbook right out of high school.  These two books have been used many times over the past thirty-five years.  

Finished projects & baking

This past week I have been working on some projects, and actually finished a couple of them.  Also have a couple more that I am still working on.  The first project that was finished is a wall hanging that was started last Christmas for my daughter.  Thought it was about time to get it done so she can use it this year.  It wasn't even anything difficult, just kept putting it off.

Tammy saw this panel in the quilt shop in town and like it.  

At the Shop Hop I bought the Lil' Twister and finally got around to making something with it.

  On Saturday we were going to visit some friends and wanted to take her a little something.  She also quilts, so I took along the Lil' Twister so she could give it a try.  She had fun and wanted to get one, so we went to her local quilt shop and they were out.  

The Christmas runner I made to take to my friend.

Working on a fall one for myself.  Having fun with this little template.  It looks like so much piecing, but all you are doing is sewing together squares, cutting them apart, and resewing them.

The egg whites are at room temperature so it is time to get going on a couple of Angel Food Cakes.  One of my husbands favorite cakes.  Now I need to find a recipe for all those egg yolks!
Canned up the apple cider this morning ended up with 17~1/2 quarts.

Apple Cider

On Tuesday I went to Mary's, she is an Amish lady that I have gotten to know since moving here.  It has been fun getting to know them and spending some time with her family. 

This is the Amish farm, took the picture from my vehicle before anyone came outside.

 

They had just come in with a load of corn for the silo.

Her daughter was doing the wash.  Normally they wash on Monday, but went to pick up their daughter that had been at her brothers to help for a week.

  Here are the apples that were left from our tree after making applesauce and freezing for pies.

They will be turned into cider.

 Before going to make the cider, I washed and cut the apples in the morning so everything would be ready.

The cider press.  I put the apples in the hopper and one of Mary's boys turned the handle to chop up the apples.  It was hard to keep up with him.  It didn't take to long and you could start to smell the apples and for the bees to show up.  

Pressing the first batch of apples.  I got a five gallon pail and this soup pot about one third full.  It only took us abut 45 minutes to press the apples.

My finished cider.  The cider still needs to be strained when I get home.  Strained a small amount and had a glass of cider, it was so good.  Will definitely be making cider again.  Hot apple cider will be good this winter.  

Now I am trying to decide do I freeze it or can it?  Not sure which way is best, doing a little research and talking to a few people.  If you have made cider would love to hear how you stored it.  

Enjoying another wonderful fall day here.   

Soup & Cookies

We are still enjoying beautiful fall weather.  At times the weather seems a little more like summer around here.  A week ago we went up north to list our house, the renters are moving the end of this month.  It was such a pretty drive even with the occasional rain shower.  I had my daughters camera with us so took a few pictures from the car.

Some places where just starting to change.

There were trees from full color, to just starting, to being done already.

 

 

The colors across the lake didn't show up in the picture, it was so pretty.

A little Baptist church that we go by.  Someday I want to attend a service here.

We are praying for a quick sell for our house.  This was an unexpected turn in events for us.  I am so thankful that our Lord holds all of the details in his hands.

My daughter gave me this cookbook, it has so many fun recipes in it.  Made a batch of cookies yesterday from this book.  Only 622 more recipes to try!

Oatmeal s'mores Cookies

1/2 c. soft butter

1/2c. shortening

1 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

2 eggs

1~ 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1~1/2 c. quick cooking oatmeal

1c. chocolate chips

1c. miniature marshmallows

1. Cream the butter, shortening and sugars.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.
3. Beat in vanilla.
4. Combine flour, baking soda and salt: gradually add to creamed mixture, mix well.
5. Stir in oats, chips and marshmallows.
6. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.
7. Bake at 350F for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Remove from pans and cool. (they can be a little hard to get off the pans, marshmallows tend to stick)
9. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk.

Turkey Barley Soup

adapted from Simply in Season

8 c. chicken or turkey broth

1~1/2 c. carrots chopped

1c. celery chopped

1/2 c. barley

1 small onion

1tsp. salt

pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. each poultry seasoning, ground sage

1/8 tsp.  dried thyme

2c. chopped cooked turkey

Combine in a large pot.  Cover and simmer 1 hour.

Was very good.  Forgot to take a picture.

Will be going to make my apple cider at the Amish farm this afternoon.  Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures. 

Apple Time

Along with subbing at the school I have been making apples sauce and freezing apple slices for pies.  On Wednesday morning I picked apples and made one caner of apples sauce and froze some for pies.

 
Our tree did very well this year.  The apples where the largest that they have been for us and hardly any bad ones.  The apples are not sprayed, there is mint growing under the tree.  I read somewhere that mint or chives growing under the tree was suppose to help with worms.  Needed a place for some mint, thought it was worth a try.  I also hang a couple of jugs of "banana smoothies" in the tree.  This came from an article in Country Side magazine.  Insects love the smoothie.  You mix one banana, one cup of sugar and one cup of vinegar in a gallon milk jug filled two-thirds full with water and place in the tree to attract insects. This needs to be in the tree before the tree blooms in the spring.  One jug for small trees and two for a larger tree.

Today I am cooking the rest of the apples for sauce.  Next week the rest of the apples will be made into cider.  An Amish family by us is going to help me with making cider, they have a press.  I am excited about making cider, will be a first for me.

Have also tried a couple of apple recipes this week.

Cranberry Apple Crisp

adapted from Simply in Season 

4 c. apples peeled and sliced

1 c. cranberries

1/2 c. brown sugar

Combine in a bowl and toss until fruit is coated.  Place in a greased 8x8 baking dish.

3/4 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. rolled oats

1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine in a bowl.

5 Tlbsp. butter

1/3 c. nuts

Cut into flour mixture until crumbly.  Sprinkle over apple mixture.  Bake at 350F until fruit is soft and topping crisp, 45-50 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream.

Baked Squash and Apples

adapted from Simply in Season

one butternut or buttercup squash (I used butternut)

peeled, seeded and fibers removed, cut into 1/2-inch slices

Put in a greased baking dish.

2-3 apples (cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices-peeled or unpeeled)

Arrange on top of squash.

1/3 c. brown sugar

3 Tblsp. butter ~ melted

1 Tblsp. flour

Combine and sprinkle over top of apples and squash.  Cover and bake at 350F until squash is tender,

40-50 minutes.

Served this with meat loaf and baked potatoes.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.  Had to use my camera this time and it just doesn't take good pictures.  Would love to hear what kind of camera some of you ladies use.  Looking to get a new one.

We are enjoying another beautiful fall day here in Wisconsin.