Unpredictable Weather...Got to love it!

I love Spring!  I have said it before, and I will say it again...I love Spring!  This time of year, we see that God is ultimately in control.  Out of the bleak days of winter, flowers and trees begin to bloom with the colors and beauty that are divine.  I am amazed at how each plant, seed, tree and shrub knows just when to show its colors or send up a new sprout.  Last week in Sunday School, my class learned about casting our cares on God, and that he will never allow us to go without.  Just like the birds of the air that are always looking for their next meal, or the lilies of the field that are never without clothes, so we too are not to worry.




Daffidols blooming...must be spring!




Knocked down by the rain, they will spring back up shortly!


God also shows us that he is in control of weather and weather patterns.  Yesterday, we enjoyed a balmy day where the temperatures climbed up to nearly 80 degrees. The weather man predicted that we would have storms around dark, and that they might be severe. Well, guess what, the storms didn't make it here until early this morning, and other than a few rumbles of thunder, we just had heavy showers. We have already reached the high today, and it is predicted to get colder as the day goes on.  I love a good thunderstorm, and am amazed at the power of the wind.  I know that this sounds crazy, but even in the midst of weather events, we see the love of God in the aftermath.  In times like these, everyone is helping out their neighbor, trying to piece back their lives.  Many times it takes a dramatic situation to bring people closer together.

Just as quick as the sky darkens and the clouds roll in, they roll back out, and give way to the sun.  So today, as you see the sun shining down on your path, remember that God is ultimately in control of all things, and if we cast our worries on him, he will bear the burden for us.

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the little details of life!

Sarah

A Birthday Celebration...

It seems that each year you celebrate a birthday, they are less important than the last.  Not that each day of your life shouldn't be celebrated, but the celebrations seem have less impact after your childhood years.  I know the Little Man has a birthday next month, and I have planned a theme, and ordered items to help with this theme. Scott celebrated a birthday yesterday.  He was not at all happy that he was a year older.  I am not sure why, as I didn't try and rub in that he is now much older than I!  However, Pickles was going to make sure that he knew every second of the day was his day to celebrate.  We really don't need an occasion for her to celebrate, but give her any excuse, and she loves to make sure the celebration is fitting. 

Yesterday, she made her Daddy breakfast, but since he was in such a mood, she ate it for her breakfast.  I am not sure where she saw the idea, but I had to try and find an idea on the Internet that was similar. We cut an apple into quarters and made it look like a frog.  She added eyes of bananas, peanut butter and raisins.  Then, she had to make a tongue out of a fruit roll up.  I am not sure that was not more than a way to eat these for breakfast, but I played along since we were celebrating!  She even put a raisin on the tongue, because don't you know that frogs eat flies for breakfast!




Our red apple frog...




Pickles was so proud of her creation.


Moving on throughout the day was pretty uneventful. I did bake Scott a cake, and Pickles insisted on it being topped with chocolate covered strawberries.  Little did she know that it was a white cake with white icing.  So, I fulfilled her request and made white chocolate covered strawberries.  I think that he has had one and she left him one for later.  I didn't even get a strawberry!




The strawberries are dipped...

The cake is baked...

 

The finished cake...Too  pretty for a boy!



To this day, we have yet to have a purchased birthday cake. I know it is silly, but that is the little bit of love I can give on their special day.  I can't wait to share the Little Man's cake in a few weeks!

Here is a basic vanilla cake that Southern Living magazine ran a few years ago. It is a good cake to start with if you have never tried to bake a cake from scratch.  My only advice is to make sure you don't over bake the cake, and to sift your cake flour. I use Swans Down cake flour and I find it with the other flours on the baking isle.  It is in a box, not a bag.

Basic Vanilla Cake Batter (from Southern Living)

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups cake flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

1.  Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy and fluffy (about 5 minutes).  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition.  Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.

2.  Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl;  add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.  Beat at medium-low speed just until blended after each addition. (Batter will be thick.)  Use immediately.

3.  Bake at 350 degrees in 2 greased and floured (9-inch) round cake pans for 32 to 36 minutes.  Test with a toothpick in the center.  If cake is done, it will come out clean.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Remove from pans to wire racks and allow to cool completely. 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (16 oz. ) package powdered sugar
3 to 5 tablespoons milk.

1. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. 

2.  Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.  Beat in up to 2 tablespoons additional milk for desired consistency.

Chicken Stock...What did I do?

On Wednesday, I made a huge batch of chicken stock.  Well, what to do with all the stock once it is made? I froze five ice trays full of stock...and the remainder is in my refrigerator.  Like I mentioned before, I use stock on a daily basis.  On Wednesday, I made a quick soup for me with stock and some leftovers that were in the refrigerator.  It was pretty tasty, and an interesting combination.  Yesterday, I made cabbage and finished steaming the cabbage with stock.  Today, it was chicken and rice, and you guessed it...I replaced the water in the rice with stock. The children loved the chicken and rice, and it was so easy!

So, for the short version of chicken and rice...

I browned 1 cubed chicken breast in a medium saucepan with a lid.  Added 3/4 of a cup of brown rice and 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock along with 1 clove of garlic that was pressed. Seasoned with salt and pepper, and simmered over low heat about 45 minutes until the rice was tender.  That is all folks. That easy, and when homemade stock is used, it has tremendous flavor.  I guess I could have added some veggies, but tonight it was just plain.

My chicken has some fat on it, so after the stock cooled and was refrigerated, it had a layer of fat that rose to the top.  I just skimmed this off, and now we have healthier stock! 

Sorry it has taken me so long to post what I did with chicken stock.  It has been a crazy few days around here.  Tomorrow is Scott's birthday, so I am sure Pickles and I will make a cake, and dip some strawberries!  I will post pictures as soon as we get our creation made!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Chicken Soup, or rather Chicken Stock is Always Good for the Soul!

 The chill in the air coupled with little drops of rain falling from the sky make me instantly in the mood for soup.  Not the kind that you find in the can, but the slow simmered variety of years gone by.  My Mom was a pro at making all types of soup.  She loved soup and would order soup at a restaurant even when the mercury on the thermometer was exploding out of the top.  Mom would make a big pot of soup at least once a week, and it was usually all of the leftovers in the refrigerator mixed with a few cans of tomatoes, or possibly V-8 juice, or maybe even a combination of frozen vegetables. She would always finish this soup off with a chunk of Velveeta cheese.  It is amazing how great this leftover soup can be.

I guess my love of soup is an honest one, but I prefer it on cold rainy days.  Soup is a versatile type of meal that can be made from numerous ingredients.  I love to make soup that uses ingredients that otherwise would be thrown away. 

Last week, I stocked up on chicken leg quarters at our local grocery store.  For $0.39, I will do what it takes to remove the fat, backbone and separate the legs and thighs.  At first I thought I would throw the backbone away, but then realized this is the perfect ingredient to make chicken stock! Throw in the chicken gizzards my friend Beth brought over, and I am sure we will have a fabulous stock.  I just put all the chicken parts in the pressure cooker, add an onion, garlic, celery and a few carrots and water, and in about 30 minutes we will have stock!

The makings of a great stock!

Not too sure what type of soup I will end up with, but it will be chicken something.  I find myself constantly buying chicken stock.  I use it daily.  Maybe I should just make up a great big batch of stock and put it in the freezer. I have a friend who freezes stock in ice cube trays and then stores them in a large zipper freezer bag in the freezer.  When she needs stock, she pulls out a few cubes.  No waste, and an easy and convenient way to use up leftover stock.

Regardless of the type of soup I end up with, I know it will be flavorful and delicious. I will share the recipe in a while.  I might even be overly ambitious and and make homemade egg noodles for our soup.  I guess you will have to check back and see what type of concoction I come up with.

Have a fabulous day, and keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Good Morning Lord!...it's Me...Sarah

Prayer.  One word that helps me through each and every day.  Today has been one of those morning where I have prayed a lot!  I have tried to blog about a fabulous breakfast recipe I made this morning, and The Little Man has been more than his share of mischevious.  I heard something crash to the ground as I was making up the beds, and as I run into the living room to see what has happened, I prayed that everyone would be fine. To my surprise, I find my not quite two year old standing on top of the built in bookcase!  He used the shelves as a ladder and threw the flower arrangement in the corner to the ground.  With a big, proud of himself smile, he says, "Clean, Mommy, Clean!"  Yes, you cleaned the shelf off, but why are you standing on top of the bookcase? I promptly removed him from the shelf, and gave him a stern talking to and gentle nudge to his bottom.  You would have thought I was commiting Chinese Water Torture.  I am sure the neighbors are still wondering what all the commotion was about.  He was so proud, an I burst his happy little bubble.

Toddlers that climb are a challenge for all mothers.  Toddlers that climb and are fearless, thats a whole different story.  I have never seen a child so fearless and quick. He can climb faster than you can say his name!  Over the weekend, Pickles was riding her four-wheeler.  She stopped for a moment, and the Little Man was climbing on to ride.  Before I could get to him, he was standing on the seat, and fell off backward. Thankfully the ground was soft, and he didn't hit anything.  In panic mode, I run over, pick him up, just as the tears start to flow.  Wouldn't you know, as soon as the excitement was over and the tears stopped, he was right back to climbing on it again!  I removed him and we again had a stern talk.  I don't know what else to do, as this Mommy is tired!  I keep reminding myself that this is the joys of motherhood, and the love of boys!  I am so thankful for his unending energy, but I welcome 7:00 on a nightly basis. 

I will try and post my recipe during nap time, and I leave you with a picture of him climbing to see who is outside the window.  Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Until Next Time, I will be praying and continuing the adventure that we call Life!

Sarah

Spring is in the Air!

Each spring, anticipation overcomes me.  I am ready for the temperatures to warm up, the birds to sing, and the flowers to bloom.  I love spring!  It has to be the best season of the year. New life springs up all around us and reminds us that God is ultimately in control. Over the weekend, I observed the first signs of spring.  The daffodils field is sprinkled with splashes of yellow.  Soon, it will be a solid mass of beautiful daffodils.  I guess I better get sewing on my children's Easter outfits so we can have our annual picture taken in the daffodils!

Last week, I started our tomato seeds, in hopes that they will sprout soon.  Well, that day arrived!  All of the little seeds burst through the soil and tiny new plants have emerged!  I am still fascinated that our God can program a little seed, and it knows when the moisture, temperature and conditions are right for life! These seeds were from last year, so I was afraid they would not sprout, but they did!  We will have a tremendous amount of tomatoes if all of these plants make it to maturity.




New life has emerged!


What a great weekend we enjoyed!  The gift of great weather was enjoyed by all!  We played outside, and my children were so tired they dozed off during supper.  In my book, that equals a very successful day!  This morning, the Little Man slept until 7:30!  That is an awesome feat since he is usually up by 6:00. He was so exhausted last night, he fell asleep in his high chair, and it was only 7:00. 

Today, Pickles is out of school for a teacher's meeting.  I am contemplating an adventure with just the two children in tow.  I will let you know how it turns out!

Until next time,  keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Lunch...Decisions, Decisions

Every day, it seems that lunch is the hardest meal of the day.  Rarely does anything jump out at me, and say, "you need to eat me!"  I am so tired of canned soup and sandwiches.  I have been eating my fair share of sandwiches, and they are great on homemade bread, but lacking if I must have it on store bought bread.  I know, kinda spoiled.  So today, I was making a batch of bread, and it hit me...Pizza!

I love a great pizza.  Not the type that you find at Pizza Hut, but the kind at little local shops that are rustic and unique.  My favorite right now is at a local cafe called Tribecca Allie.  They have the best wood oven pizza around!  One of their special pizzas is the Rosa Magnolia, and it has olive oil, pecans, onion and feta cheese.  This pizza is a very unique combination that is fabulous!  Today, I decided to make a thin crust pizza with some of my bread dough. This pizza was great.  It only took about 15 minutes in a 375 degree oven, and I put on my favorite toppings. Since I didn't have any sauce, I opened a can of tomato paste, and mixed in some sea salt and pesto.  The sauce was amazing, just like the pizza.

I hope everyone is having a great day!  Keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Until next time,

Sarah

Asian Inspired Pork Chops

I promised yesterday I would share when I decided what we were going to have for dinner.  We ended up with grilled pork chops.  Scott is so plain, he had just a normal grilled pork chop.  Pickles and I walked on the Asian side and had our pork chops marinated in a apricot, ginger and garlic concoction. I must say, they were fabulous! Pickles loved them, and wanted more.  I used center cut bone-in chops.  We love grilled chops with the bone-in.  They seem to be much moister after they are grilled. These were in the freezer, and I lucked out finding them in the reduced bin at Kroger a few weeks ago.  I love when I can score on cheap meat!   I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

Asian Grilled Pork Chops

1 tablespoon spicy mustard
1 tablespoon apricot preserves
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
4 to 5 bone in pork chops

Whisk all ingredients in a medium bowl until combined. Place chops in a zip top bag.  Pour marinate over chops, and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes or longer.  Remove chops from marinate, and place on a warm grill. Discard marinate. Grill until desired degree of doneness. We like ours medium well, but don't overcook, as they will be tough. Enjoy with your favorite sides.

Amazing Days for February!

I am loving the springlike weather we have enjoyed this week.  It is amazing how a little fresh air and sunshine can lift your spirits!  I love spring, and can't wait until it is here! Yesterday I noticed the daffodils peaking through the soil.  Not too much longer and they will be in full bloom! On the thought of spring, we are trying to get some spring cleaning accomplished around here.  I need to get into high gear and get closets cleaned out.  Do I really need those t-shirts from college?  I think I am over the sentimental value they might have, but hate to throw them out.  I am ready, so out they go! I might even post before and after photos...maybe.

This afternoon, I need to get my coupons together and make a few stock-up runs.  I am so aggravated with myself, as I can't seem to find the coupons I printed for Blue Bell ice cream. I know they are here somewhere, and I will find them.  Just so happens, it is on sale this week at both Kroger and Kaye's.  Hopefully they will help me and show up soon!

I am curious what you would like to see as far as recipes are concerned.  I am still working on the turkey sausage, and want it to be right before I post.  I am thinking tonight we will be enjoying something grilled. Not sure yet what it will be, but I will share later this evening.  Maybe I will pull something out of the freezer, or possibly a great burger.

Until next time, get outside and enjoy this weather! 

Sarah

Where Does the Time Go?

It has been so crazy around the Binford house, I am just now finding time to blog.  It amazes me when my husband comes home and asks, "What did you do all day?"  I have learned to rattle off exactly all that has happened during the day, much like the minutes of a business meeting.  Today has been one of those days that there are just not enough hours in the day.  I do have a huge sense of accomplishment for today.  I conquered the mountain of laundry that seems to grow if I take my eyes off.  I was even able to get the ironing completed and everything is put away!  Yea me!  I didn't however, get to the baseboards or dusting.  I don't see this as a major priority, but it is to my husband.  So tomorrow, I will try and get that taken care of.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and I meant to post our sugar cookies we made.  I will show you a picture later, but now for the story.  I was the mother in charge of Pickle's school party. Not a big deal, and it is only 30 minutes, and they usually have refreshments and possibly an activity. So, for our activity, we decorated our own cookies.  I know that there are major germs going around school right now, so I put icing in individual freezer bags, and each child had their own. We then walked around and they could put as many sprinkles on their cookies as their little hearts desired.  Every child was on their very best behavior!  They were angels, and enjoyed every moment of decorating their cookies.  The pride each child had in their individual masterpiece was amazing.  Then, as you would have it, they savored each sugary morsel of their cookie!  Many even devoured the icing that remained in their baggie.  Sorry Mom's that we returned your children to you on a sugar high!  What would Valentine's Day be without a mass consumption of sugar?

The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful day!  The temperatures were around 70, and there was not even a breeze.  With such beautiful weather, we had to play outside this afternoon. After Pickles finished her homework, we went for a walk, and played outside until dark.  My children have a magnetic attraction to mud!  Pickles insisted on driving through the mud as many times as she could get away with on her 4-wheeler, and the Little Man ran as fast as he could to chase her. Needless to say, they were both covered in mud!  The Little Man shed his shoes as soon as we went outside, and I have never seen as much mud crammed in a person's toes.  He loved every second of his time in the mud, and was very upset when we had to come back inside.  The sadness only lasted for a moment, and both were in bed earlier than normal!

I hope that you enjoyed a very Happy Valentine's Day.  Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

The Little Man showing off for our neighbor.



Pickles thinks that she is so cool out riding around the yard.




Our sweet neighbor's little angel.  I love those cheeks!!!



Our cute Valentine's Cookies!

What a Beautiful Day!

When I went out this morning, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day. The bitter cold that has overstayed it's welcome has given way to milder temperatures. It is by no means a heat way, but the snow and ice are melting. 

Today was a first in a long time that everyone got a nap at the same time. The Little Man went down before lunch, and Scott and Pickles soon after lunch, so I had some me time. I almost didn't know what to do with myself.  I was contemplating cleaning like a mad woman, but instead sat on the couch with a snuggie, my choice of TV channel, and a seed catalog. I know, I am so boring, but I savored the few minutes I had alone. I never understood those times, until I had children.  It was a beautiful break!

Next project...starting our garden seeds.  I think today is a perfect day to start our tomato plants.  I had great success with this last year, and can't wait to see their little green leaves break through the soil. It is so fulfilling!  They were the best tomatoes ever!  I had a few hybrid varieties and some heirlooms.  They were abundant, so if this year is a repeat of last, we will definitely be glad to share. 

Not too much cooking today. Not sure what we will have for dinner tonight.  I did have a happy reunion earlier today.  My old, faithful Kitchen Aid stand mixer arrived safely back home after visiting the factory for repairs.  I am pleased to report that the price of repairing a mixer is much less than buying a new one.  Since Scott was thinking ahead, he bought me a small one to use while my other one was in the shop.  I am torn as to what to do. I think I will keep both, as they have different personalities and specialities.  The little one is great for most applications, and the big one is great for bread and other heavy duty applications.  Now, they both have to find their comfortable spots in the kitchen. 

I guess I need to get busy covering some strawberries, as that is what Scott wanted for Valentines Day.  Maybe Pickles won't eat all of them this year!

I hope you too are having a great Saturday!  Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Sushi, Target and Maw Maw

Today was an experience, and that is to put it nicely.  Since Pickles had a half day of school, we decided to go and get our Valentine shopping wrapped up. She still had to get her cards for all her classmates. She is so picky, that nothing at Walmart would work, so off to Target we went.  I was feeling way to kind, and asked Maw Maw if she want to go too.  What do you know, she went along for the ride!  Pickles got to choose where we went for lunch, so she picked her favorite Japanese restaurant.  I had no idea Maw Maw has never had Japanese.  She wanted hot and sour soup, and they had no idea. She thought Japanese and Chinese were one in the same.  I got tickled listening to Pickles explain the difference.  They promptly brought us a warm towel and Miso soup. Pickles thinks this is wonderful and explained to Maw Maw that it is only chicken broth, seaweed and tofu.  She said this like quite the little foodie.  Needless to say, she enjoyed both hers and Maw Maw's.  Let's just say that was the easy part of lunch. 

Pickles and I have our ordering down.  She likes California rolls, and I like all other sushi.  We usually order two different lunch meals, and then I take her nigiri sushi, and she gets my California roll.  Maw Maw on the other hand ordered Teriyaki chicken. She was not pleased with the ginger noodles...she said they were cold. Hello...news flash...they are meant to be served cold!  The little Man was happy, because she kept feeding them to him. They are his favorite, along with the chicken fried rice.    After we listened to Maw Maw talk about how the only good thing on her plate was her chicken, we paid our tab and off to Target we went!

When we arrived at Target, we went our way, and Maw Maw when hers.  I guess she was lost, because she found us as we were headed back to the front.  We waited in Starbucks at the front for another hour. She finally made her way to the check out line. She was so delighted to shop out of town for the first time in quite a while.  Maybe the key to her getting better, is to force her out of the house! 

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the little details of life!

Sarah

I made Liquid Laundry Detergent!!!

So, I am going through my homemade laundry detergent like crazy!  At first I was not totally convinced our clothes were clean. I tracked down a few bars of Fels Naptha laundry soap, and then I was in love.  Our clothes are spotless!  I am a girl that truly likes the liquid type of detergent.  I use it to pretreat, so I was looking for something liquid.  I finally found one.  The same ingredients in a batch of powder make 5 gallons of liquid concentrate, and 10 gallons of usable detergent!  That is a few weeks worth, I would say.  You only use 5/8 of a cup for a top load washer and 1/4 of a cup for a front load.  I am super excited to share this with you.  I really like the way the Fels Naptha soap smells, so I didn't add any fragrance.  It has a clean scent, not a perfumed scent.

On a different note, Most of you know I have struggled with a rash on my face the looks like a type of acne.  This has driven me crazy!  Any type of make-up will make a hot rash, so I have stopped wearing it. I know, shocking.  So even with prescription medication, still no end to the rash.  A few years ago, I was convinced to see what was causing the rash, and had an allergy skin patch test.  It was miserable.  I reacted to most of the irritants, as well as the adhesive!  As I have removed these items from my environment, I still had the rash.  Finally, the homemade laundry detergent has taken the rash away.  I guess the irritant was in our laundry and now it is gone!  Hurray!!!  I am so excited, I don't look like I am not in high school anymore! 

So, until next time, keep adventuring, and looking for joy in life's little details!

Sarah

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 bar of Fels Naptha laundry soap, grated
1 cup washing soda
1 cup Borax 20 mule team

Place grated soap in a medium saucepan and fill with water. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until soap dissolves.  Remove from heat.  Fill a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full of hot water. Add dissolved soap mixture. Add washing soda and Borax.  Stir well until powder is dissolved.  Fill bucket to the top.  Allow to sit overnight. It should form a soft gel.  To use, mix 1 part detergent and 1 part water in a clean laundry container.  Shake well. Use 5/8 cup for top load machines and 1/4 cup for front load machines.

FYI, Washing soda and baking soda are not interchangeable.  Washing soda is found in the laundry isle of some grocery stores.  It is sodium carbonate, and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. 



The final product will gel, almost like Jello! You then stir and mix with water to use.



Snow, Snow and More Snow...

North Mississippi is known for unpredictable weather.  Freezing today, burning up tomorrow.  I am so thankful for the moisture of the recent snow, but I am ready for it to melt away!  Yesterday afternoon we received about 6 to 8 inches of snow.  This was the second big snow of the winter.  The snow was big, fluffy flakes that instantly ignite your inner child to go out and build a snow man, or go for a ride on a sled, a piece of cardboard, or a feed trough liner.  Around here, you must be resourceful with you mode of snow transportation. 

Our Little Pickle has had her fill of snow.  She was so disappointed that she does not have school today.  She has something to prove, and was ready for her turn.  I looked out last evening, and she was happily playing in the snow, blowing bubbles and dancing with joy.  Not sure I have ever seen anyone play with bubbles in the snow, but she was having a ball. When I went to take a picture, she said she was using the bubbles to pray for all of the people driving in this weather.  We learned about using bubbles as a prayer tool in Sunday School a few weeks ago, and she took it to heart.  This Mommy's heart was melted.  What a sweet and thoughtful child, she was truly worried about the road conditions an knew her Daddy had yet to make it home.

The cold made me hungry for comfort food.  Last night we had the ultimate in comfort food. Chicken and Dressing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, green beans and rolls.  Then for dessert we had a remake of  the Garden Club Citrus Chiffon Cake with Blueberry sauce.  This hit the spot for a cold and nasty night's dinner.  This is basically Thanksgiving dinner on a weeknight scale.

Chicken and Dressing

1 Pan of Cornbread (if using a mix make 2 and bake in a 10 in round cast iron skillet)

4 chicken breast, boiled with carrots and celery.  Reserve broth for later

1 onion, finely chopped

2 stalks of celery, finely chopped

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

Salt and Pepper

6 to 8 cups of chicken broth

Crumble cornbread in a large bowl.  Dice chicken into 1 inch cubes.  Add to cornbread.  Add onion and celery, eggs, seasoning and 4 cups of broth.  Continue adding broth until very moist, and almost "soupy."

Pour mixture into a lightly greased casserole dish. Bake at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes until edges are golden brown.  Serve with gravy.

Chicken Gravy

3 cups of chicken broth
1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon granulated chicken bullion
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 cup cold water

Bring chicken broth and seasoning to a boil.  Mix together water and corn starch and stir until smooth.  Add slurry to broth and whisk. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until mixture thickens.



Thanksgiving revisited...A little wine for heart health.



One Hour till the Snow is Forecast to Start

It is 11:00, and according to the master weather man, we are supposed to start seeing snow in one hour.  I know the Little Man and I have been running like crazy this morning to make sure we have everything in order.  Thank goodness I checked the wipe warmer, and the diaper stash, as we were completly out of wipes. How would we have made it without wipes?  I am not sure how they made it before wipes were thick, soft, and warmed for each diaper change! Thanks to Walgreens, we are completly stocked up and ready to stay home for as long as necessary.

I love to take the Little Man shopping, but he can be quite the handful. Today, he attempted to climb out of the cart at Walgreens, just so that I would pick him up and he could give me a hug. He said, Mama, I wuv you!  How can I be mad at him when he is so sweet! 

Still no word on whether Pickles school will dismiss early or they will go all day.  Every other school in the area has already cancelled class, or has determined they are dismissing early.  Not us.  I guess if you are a working parent or live outside of Senatobia, you must be on your toes, beacause they will dismiss and give very little notice.  I am not worried, as we live 8 minutes from the school, but there are some, whose parents work in Memphis, and might be at least an hour away.  That is if they are able to leave work the moment they find out.  

The Rachael Ray show has inspired me today.  She has been using her waffle iron for things other than waffles.  One of my favorite childhood cookies was made on a waffle iron. They were called turtle cookies, and Mrs. Wilma Reed would make these brownie inspired cookies with a chocolate frosting.  I found the recipe in the Old Faxon School cookbook a few years ago, and Pickles though they were just as great as I remembered.  Mrs. Reed has to be one of the sweetest teachers I ever had. She was so patient and kind, but stern and made sure you were learning.  She and her family attended church with us, and I still love to see her bright smile when I go back to the little church I grew up in for a visit.

So, if you are snowed in, break out your waffle iron and enjoy the little turtles!

Until next time,  keep adventuring and finding the joy in the little details of life!

Sarah


Mrs. Reed's Turtle Cookies

Cookies:
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup vegetable oil
8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

Beat eggs well. Add sugar; mix well. Add salt and vanilla; mix.  Add flour; mix.  Add oil; mix.  Add cocoa; mix.  Bake in a waffle baker set to medium hot.  Put 1 teaspoonfull of batter in each waffle secion.  Close lid, and bake 3-5 minutes until cookie is set. Remove from waffle iron and allow to cool.  Repeat with remaining batter. Spread with frosting once cool. 

Frosting:
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup hot water
3 cups powdered sugar

Melt chocolate chips and butter in hot water over low heat, or in the microwave.  Cool. Add powdered sugar; beat well. Frosting can be spread thinly over 1 1/2 to 2 batches.

Garden Club Today...No Cook Pasta Sauces

Oh how I love Garden Club! I know, it sounds like a group of ladies that are much older than I who learn about selecting the perfect iris to enter in the county fair. This was the idea that came to my mind when I was first asked to join a few years ago. Had it not been for a few friends that encouraged me to attend, I might have declined the invitation. I really enjoy this fun group of Ladies. Not one in the group sports “blue hair,” and it is such a fun and lively group. We always have a great time and learn more than is on the program. We not only learn about gardening, but all things domestic. We have had programs on everything from planting gardens for Butterflies and Birds, to Making No Cook Pasta Sauces. The No Cook Pasta Sauces was on the agenda for today, and you guessed it, I was in charge of the program.

Preparing for this program was fun and adventurous for me. As we all know, I couldn’t just go out and buy the pre-made things for today’s meal. I baked Sourdough French Bread, a Citrus Chiffon Cake with blueberry topping, Caesar salad and demonstrated how to make two pastas that we love. I will share the recipes with you below. Every time I have done a program for the club, the response is tremendous. It reminds me of preparing for a 4-H demonstration, only minus the display board.

I failed to buy fresh basil while in a metropolitan city last week, so I was forced to resort to store bought pesto as a substitute. I really missed the fresh basil taste on our Bruchetta Pasta. Everyone said it was great, but I somehow think they were only being nice. I have mentioned before that I love fresh tomatoes, straight out of the garden, but the ones in the grocery store are lacking flavor and a long way from a favorite. This along with the absence of fresh basil made me pretend that I was enjoying this in the middle of summer. This pasta is great for a quick week night meal. It is light, filling, and if you use whole grain pasta, can be healthy. This is a great way to use locally grown produce, and support local farmers. I will again plug the various farmer’s markets, as they are a great place to buy everything from fruits and vegetables, to locally grown meat. I personally feel great pride knowing I am buying from the person who grew my food. My children love to go to the farmer's market, and you will too! 

Until next time, keep adventuring and finding the joy in the little details of life!

Sarah
　
Bruschetta Pasta
4 to 5 Fresh Tomatoes, finely diced
3 cloves of garlic, pressed
½ cup Olive Oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 to 3 cups of cooked chicken, diced
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 pound Thin Spaghetti

Bring 8 to 10 cups of water to a boil in a large stock pot. Season with salt and add pasta. Stir after adding pasta and return to a boil. Cook until pasta is al dente about 7 to 8 minutes. Drain pasta reserving some of the pasta water.
In a large bowl, add oil, vinegar, garlic and cheese. Stir until well combined. Add tomatoes, chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Add hot pasta and basil and toss well to coat. Allow so sit for a moment before serving.

Pickles Parmesan Pasta
1 pound mini bowtie pasta
¼ cup butter
2 cloves garlic, pressed
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly Cracked Pepper

Bring 8 to 10 cups of water to a boil in a large stock pot. Season with salt and add pasta. Stir after adding pasta and return to a boil. Cook until pasta is al dente about 7 to 8 minutes. Drain pasta reserving some of the pasta water.
In a large bowl, place hot pasta, butter, cheese, garlic and pepper. Stir until well combined. Serve immediately.


Caesar Salad
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon anchovy paste
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Romaine Lettuce, chopped
Garlic croutons

Stir together first 5 ingredients. Place lettuce, croutons and cheese in a large bowl. Pour dressing over the lettuce mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately.


Citrus Chiffon Cake with Blueberry Sauce
For the cake:
6 eggs
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
½ cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ cup sugar

Separate eggs. Allow egg yolks and whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325° F. In a medium mixing bowl beat egg yolks with an electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add lemon peel, orange juice and vanilla; beat on low speed until combined. Gradually beat in the 1 cup sugar at low speed. Increase to medium speed; beat until mixture thickens slightly and doubles in volume (about 5 minutes total.)

Sprinkle `1/3 cup flour over egg yolk mixture; fold in until combined. Repeat with remaining flour 1/3 cup at a time. Set egg yolk mixture aside.

Thoroughly wash beaters. In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the ½ cup of sugar, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold 1 cup of the beaten egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture; fold egg yolk mixture into remaining egg white mixture. Pour into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan. I use one with a removable bottom.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert cake on a bottle; cool thoroughly in inverted pan. Loosen sides of cake from pan; remove from pan.

Slice using an angel food cutter, or two forks and pull cake to cut into slices. Top with blueberry sauce. Serve immediately.

For the blueberry sauce:
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
¾ cup of sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until berries break down, about 4 minutes. Let cool then refrigerate. Will keep up to 3 days.

Our beautiful, rustic bread.

Sourdough French Bread
5 ½ to 6 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup sourdough starter
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups warm water
Cornmeal
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon water

Mix together 2 cups of flour, yeast, starter and salt. Add water and beat with an electric mixer on low 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Use a wooden spoon and stir in as much remaining flour as you can.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes total.) Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease dough surface. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size. About 2 to 3 hours, depending on strength of starter.

Punch down dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Lightly grease a baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal.

Roll each dough half into a 15 x 10-inch rectangle. Tightly roll up, starting from a long side; seal well. If desired, pinch and slightly pull ends to taper them. Place shaped dough, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl stir together egg white and 1 tablespoon water. Brush some of the egg white mixture over loaf tops. Let rise until nearly double in size (about 1 hour.)

Preheat oven to 375° . Using a sharp knife, make three to four diagonal cuts about ¼ inch deep across each loaf top. Bake for 20 minutes. Brush again with the egg white mixture and continue baking 15 to 20 minutes more or until bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove loaves from baking sheet. Cool on wire racks.

Superbowl was Fun, but Snow Again!

What a beautiful day we had yesterday!  Our sweet little Pickle played with bubbles all afternoon!  She refused to come inside for any length of time.  She even begged me to eat lunch outside so that she could "soak up the sun!"  It is am azing how the weather can change from on moment to next.

While out feeding our sweet little Rosy this morning, the wind changed, and was suddenly speckled with white.  Snowflakes mixed with rain for a moment, and then just snow.  Who knew that snowflakes could be the size of golf balls?  I don't think I have ever seen such large snowflakes! I knew that it was on the way, but didn't expect the large flakes, and thankfully it is already on the way out!  Now if only the weather pattern will changed before the next wave of winter weather decides to come our way on Wednesday.

Last night we had a very intimate Super Bowl gathering.   Of course it was spur of the moment, and thrown together.  We have a ton of food left over.  Not the best thing when you are hoping to stick to a diet plan. I think that the Gooey Butter Cakes will have to find a place to live out of my house.  The rest of the stuff, I can resist, or eat in moderation.  I made our wings a little healthier last night. I baked them at 500 for 20 - 25 minutes.  Then just spin in your favorite sauce. A little trick I learned is to mix the sauce with melted butter and it won't be a hot.  I usually use a tablespoon of butter to 1/2 cup of sauce. 

So for the rest of the evening, we were pretty simple. Chips, dips, marinated shrimp, and sausage and cheese plate.  So today, I leave you with a few simple ideas for the next time you entertain. Our house will most likely be a NACAR race.  Maybe even Daytona.



Gooey Butter Cakes


Gooey Butter Cakes

This recipe is courtesy of Paula Deen. These are super easy, and always a hit.  Try not to think about the fact that they have 2 sticks of butter!

Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cakes



Kelly's Corn Dip

This super simple dip is from a great friend, Kelly Lipscomb. We all love the dip and everyone is so surprised it only has three ingredients!

1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 can Shoepeg Corn
1 tablespoon Jalepeno peppers, chopped (more if you like it spicer)

Mix all ingredients until well combined and cream cheese is not lumpy.  Serve with corn chips or Frito's.

Dill Dip

This creamy dip has been around for years.  I received this recipe when I worked in Fort Worth, right after college.  It is much like a  "ranch" dip.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon Beau Monde
1 teaspoon Parsley
1 teaspoon Dill Weed
1 teaspoon Minced Onions

Mix together and chill for at least 1 hour.  Serve with vegetable, or potato chips.

Mr. Groundhog, I thought you didn't see your Shadow?

It had been a cold winter here in Mississippi. A few weeks ago we had 10 inches of snow.  Just as that melted, another couple inches fell.  Now tonight, they are saying we could see snow again before morning, and again next Thursday.  Can I say I am ready for spring!  I love the snow, when it is on the ski slopes, but not to fond of the white stuff when it sticks around and makes an icy mess!  I know my family in Oklahoma is ready for the snow and ice to melt as well.

Today has been a day to try and catch up.  The Little Man and I went grocery shopping this morning.  I learned it is easier to shop with him when he has food.  I stopped by McDonald's and got him a sausage biscuit and hasbrown, and he was a happy little shopper. Everyone kept looking at me like I was crazy feeding my son breakfast while we were shopping. I have to say, it is better than them looking at because he is throwing an all out temper tantrum!  I still am tackling the never ending laundry mountain, but it is down to just one load left.  It will be conquered soon!

With all the hype of the Super Bowl, I am beginning to think about what to make. Will it be wings, BBQ, a traditional Sunday Supper, or just snacks.  Let me know what type of recipes you would like to see, and I will be glad to share. 

Until next time,

Sarah

Caramel Dumplings

So in my quest find fabulous lost family recipes, I came across this delightful dessert.  I have never tried caramel dumplings, but how could they be bad?  I mean sweet, tasty caramel mixed with a fluffy, tender dumpling.  Sounds like love before the first bite!  I was so excited when I realized this recipe was all things we have in our cabinets.  Now strange or mysterious ingredients here.

This recipe card looks like it has been well loved. It has written on the corner, "Good."  and Grandmother Waddill's.  As I understand, she was Grammy's grandmother who took great care of her as a child. Grammy had much admiration for her Mamaw.  She was also a great cook.  I am so excited to share this recipe with you.  I made this in a cast iron skillet and baked it in the oven.  I am pretty sure you could put a lid on this and continue to cook this over low heat on the stove top.  (Karen, this is for you!) 

I am curious to see how you like this old fashioned dessert. I had this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it was fabulous!  I hope you enjoy!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for the joy in the little details of life!

Sarah

Caramel dumplings with ice cream.  Yummy!



The original recipe.


Grandmother Waddill’s Caramel Dumplings

Sauce

½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup sugar
1//8 teaspoon salt
2 cups hot water
Place ½ cup sugar in a pan to caramelize. I used a large cast iron skillet. Cook sugar over medium heat until sugar is melted and caramelized. About 10 minutes. Carefully add butter, water and additional cup of sugar and salt. Mine was a stringy-sugar mixture at this point. Cook over medium heat until all sugar re-incorporates and all lumps are gone. About 10 minutes. Keep warm.

Dumplings

2 tablespoons butter
½ cup sugar
1 ½ cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla
Cream together butter and sugar. Sift baking powder and flower, and add with milk and vanilla. Mix well until a soft dough forms. Drop by a teaspoon in hot sauce. Bake in a moderate (350° ) oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown.
You may top with chopped nuts or whipped cream. This was delicious with vanilla ice cream!

Treasures, Treasures and More Treasures

I am so excited with the treasures I found in Grammy's old recipe box.  Between the broken rubber bands, and the lid that won't go on because there are so many recipes, I found some real gems.  Dandelion Wine, Carmel Dumplings, Fog, report cards and even a diet plan from the 1950's. I can't wait to make some of the recipes and think that I will give the Carmel dumplings a trial run today.  My family said that they can't imagine they would be good, so if you are up for a taste test, let me know. I will be glad to have you be my Guinea pig...

Inside the canvas bound cookbook, I found more treasures...Here are a few that I took a picture of.  Who knew that a Crock Pot was first marketed as a Bean Pot.  Amazing how far things have come.

Anyway, yesterday I experience a  first. I sewed some sponsor patches on a NASCAR fire suit. I am excited to say our friend's son is racing in the ARCA race at Daytona.  Please watch, even if you are not a racing fan, and cheer on Tommy Joe Martins.  Not sure what is number is, but the Binford house will be cheering and rooting him on! Hopefully my sewing skills will give him good luck!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for the joy in the little details of life!

Sarah

Strawberry Freezer Jam

My cousin Greg, who lives in Spain had a request for Grammy's recipe of Strawberry Freezer Jam. This delicacy was enjoyed by everyone who had the pleasure of being at Grammy and Paw Paw's for breakfast. She would keep biscuits in the freezer, along with cooked sausage patty's and gravy so that she could sleep in and you could warm your own breakfast in the microwave. If you were up early enough, Paw Paw would do it for you, but if you were like me, you had to do it yourself because he was already out piddling for the day.  If you have never had the pleasure to experience Strawberry Freezer Jam, you are in for a treat!  It is just like fresh strawberries spread on your biscuit.  This recipe was in the file folded up. Not sure it is the right one, but there was not one handwritten.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

2 cups crushed strawberries (about 2 1-lb. containers)
4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 3 ounce pouch Liquid Fruit Pectin

Combine crushed strawberries with sugar in a large bowl. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. 

Add entire contents of Pectin and lemon juice. Stir for 3 minutes.

Ladle freezer jam into clean freezer containers leaving 1/2 inch of head space. Apply lids and let jam stand in refrigerator until set, but not longer than 24 hours.  Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to 1 year.

Discovering Old Recipes...

Before my Grammy passed away, she gave me her recipe files.  These files include every recipe you can imagine: those she was given, she clipped out of magazines, and others she was going to save for a rainy day. Let me just give you a picture. I have six accordion files full of clippings, a recipe box that is held together with rubber bands, and her trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, that was her mother's, and too is held together with a rubber band, as she has every additional recipe that ran in the magazine for the next 50 years!  Let's just say she was a collector, and recipes was one thing that she loved to collect!

I love to cook, and come by it honestly.  Grammy loved to cook, and try new things. I can remember as a little girl, her telling me that she had to learn to cook out of starvation.  She married at 16, and only knew how to make fudge and chocolate cake. These were the two things she learned to cook  in Home Economics class.  My Paw Paw was able to eat on the military base, so she was left to fend for herself. She said the lady they rented from felt sorry for her and taught her how to cook.  Once she learned to read a recipe, she was off to the races.  Some of the greatest memories I have are standing in the kitchen talking with her while she cooked. She was an environmentalist before the term "green."  She save every kitchen scrap and put it into a compost bowl to keep it out of the trash.  Paw Paw would take these to the compost pile, and it was spread on their garden.  I loved to go to their house and spend time with them!

Today, I pulled out her recipe box, and will begin to sort through the treasures held between the rubber bands. I am so excited to see what is there, and will share with you as I test them.  I can assure you there is more than congealed salad to this box.  I am hoping her recipe for Leg of Lamb just might be inside.

Until next time, I will be adventuring through the recipe box...

Sarah

Two Experimental Recipes...Successful

Yesterday, I played in the kitchen since it was so nasty outside.  Today, we have sunshine, but it is Cold!!!  While inside yesterday, I experimented with a new recipe I want to share with my garden club next week. I learned the hard way to try it first, so I made it for lunch, and made my friend Beth come and taste it for me.  I made a Tuna Pasta Salad. I am so glad I made it my own, because the original recipe was bland and tasted only of mayonnaise. After I was finished, I had a wonderful salad that only needed tomatoes! 

I also tried to make whole wheat bread.  I have been wanting to experiment with whole wheat for some time, but just never remembered to buy the flour.  Last week, Kroger had  white whole wheat on sale, so I grabbed a bag.  I am loving the nutty, whole grain taste, and because I used half bread flour, it was super light and had a fabulous crumb.  I will share the recipe, which used the sourdough starter I have been nursing since this past summer.

I know that many of the kids of my readers are out of school today for snow and ice, I leave you with these recipes today. I challenge you to adventure in the kitchen and try something new.  The kids will love to help, and memories will be made.  I hope everyone is not stir crazy and this will help keep the little ones entertained, for at least a moment.

Until next time,

Sarah

Tuna Pasta Salad

1 pound tri-color, rotini pasta, cooked al dente and cooled

2 5-ounce cans water-packed tuna, drained

2 tomatoes, diced (or use one can petite diced tomatoes drained)

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 can whole, pitted black olives

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons capers

2 tablespoons diced pimentos

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 tablespoon parsley, minced

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

½ teaspoon Cavender’s Greek seasoning

　

In a large bowl, mix together mayonnaise and remainder of ingredients. Gently fold in pasta, tuna and tomatoes. Allow to chill 1 hour for flavors to blend. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread

2 packages active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water (105° to 115° )
1 cup Mild
1 cup Sourdough Starter (at room temperature)
¼ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups bread flour
Additional vegetable oil
Butter, melted

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large nonmetal bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Add 1 cup Sourdough Starter, butter, sugar, salt, eggs and 1 cup of each flour. Mix with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in enough remaining 4cups flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough out onto a well - floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cove and let rise in a warm place (85° ), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down; turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 or 5 times. Divide in half. Roll half of dough to a 14x7 inch rectangle. Roll up dough, starting at short side, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch ends to seal. Place, seam side down, in a well-greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Repeat procedure with remaining dough.

Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Brush top of loaves with additional oil. Bake at 375° for 30 to 35 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove bread from pans, brush with melted butter. Let cool on a wire rack. Yield: 2 loaves.  Remember to feed your starter after use.

Sourdough Starter

1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115)
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups warm water

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water; let stand 5 minutes.  Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a nonmetal bowl. Gradually stir in 2 cups warm water. Stir in yeast mixture. Cover loosely with plastic wrap;  let stand in a warm place (85) for 72 hours, stirring three time daily. Place in refrigerator; stir once a day.  (use starter or fed within 11 days.)

Starter Food

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
1 cup milk 55
Add all ingredients to remaining Sourdough Starter, stirring well.  Return to refrigerator until next time...

Rain, Possibly Ice and Snow...

Like a child wanting to play outside, I feel like singing, "Rain, Rain go away, come again another day!"  I know, how childish to wish the rain away, especially when as a steward to the land, rain can make or break you. Oh how we enjoyed these few days of spring like weather.  I am ready for spring and to spend some time with my hands in the dirt!!!  I have carefully researched each seed that will be planted in my garden and can almost taste the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.  I am not a huge tomato fan, but love the fresh picked ones from the garden.  Nothing says summer like fresh fruits and veggies picked and eaten the same day!

As I am typing this, I am listening to the news, and it seems that my family and friends are experiencing a Blizzard!!!  I was home for Christmas in 2009 when everything stopped for the blizzard. My little Pickle thought it was so much fun to play outside with her cousins, slipping and sliding on the ice and snow. My brother on the other hand was without power, and was not enjoying it so much. Scott had flown in, since the children and I went out a week early, and he was nearly in despair that his flight back to Mississippi was going to be cancelled.  It is amazing how much fun you can have when you are forced to stay home.  I just hope everyone was prepared and stocked up on milk and bread!

I had great plans to go and make a Kroger run this morning, but have almost changed my mind.  The Little Man and I already have made a run to the farm.  We have to get Rosy's pen built in our back yard today, since a friend needs to borrow our trailer, and that has been her temporary home. So, we needed to get the fencing bucket to make her pen.  It is almost funny, but at the time it was not. I unlocked the gate, and noticed the cows were up by the barn.  Interesting...they are usually in the hay pile.  When I pulled up, one barn door was open...not a good thing.  As I went to open the barn door that was closed, I was staring at a black cow inside the barn!  My heart skipped, but thankfully she is mild mannered, and just mosied her way out.  I am making sure things are all accounted for, and all was there.  I called Scott, and he confessed that maybe he forgot to lock the door last night.  All I can say is Praise the Lord it was him, and not me!

So, as I venture out in the rain to build this make shift pen for our little Rosy, remember that farmers and ranchers across the country are out in the nasty weather making sure that their cattle are accounted for, chopping ice so they have fresh water, and putting out hay so they have food. These men and women make sure that we have a safe and reliable food source year round. They make sure that your grocery store has a supply of beef, and McDonald's has hamburgers to serve.

Until next time, Keep adventuring and looking for the little joys of life!

Sarah