tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79457863278849067882024-03-19T03:32:26.456-04:00Yankee-Belle CafeJoin us for Pastries, Coffee and Down Home Hospitality!Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger2723125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-6752749811316249702021-01-29T00:01:00.007-05:002021-01-29T00:01:06.777-05:00The Cafe is Closed but the Porch Light is On<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">Missy Tippens</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, today is our last day of new posts at the Cafe. But we hope you'll enjoy our archived blog to look back, remember, and find your favorite recipes that have been shared for the last decade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to all past regular bloggers and guest bloggers, to all who interacted with us, and to all our readers. You've been such a blessing!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo0AdZEhhgH741eap7mIEAd-1zggTiRben77zQjIG7K4ZewNNdb3hCP-2WKZSxJwbrxbAmg59rLhwAlSnwLl471A5M5bEZ55nwVz1UvgkBziPPtCH4pO38fM_yrJzLfQdreihYW3e0UHT/s2048/Simple+Classy+Valentine%2527s+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo0AdZEhhgH741eap7mIEAd-1zggTiRben77zQjIG7K4ZewNNdb3hCP-2WKZSxJwbrxbAmg59rLhwAlSnwLl471A5M5bEZ55nwVz1UvgkBziPPtCH4pO38fM_yrJzLfQdreihYW3e0UHT/w300-h400/Simple+Classy+Valentine%2527s+Poster.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Please keep in touch at the main <a href="http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seekerville blog</a> (which is for writers and readers) and on social media.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Don't be a stranger!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>With love from Missy, Ruthy, Mindy, Jan and Cate</i></b></span></p>Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-64000437814641311552021-01-28T00:00:00.001-05:002021-01-28T00:00:05.436-05:00Fried Pies and Goodbyes....<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> So this is one of our farm favorites that just wanted to get last day attention.... I first discovered Fried Pies in Deborah Smith's "Sweet Hush" and I thought... I must make those! Well I didn't have time for a lot of years, but then once I was doing daycare at home all day (and working nights/evenings and writing in the middle of the night until I finally convinced an editor to love me enough to pay me!!!) I started playing with them and honestly, if you don't mind making the fruit filling, you can use homemade pie crust or store bought to do these... and they're amazing!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I always use clean oil for these because I don't want a delicate pastry crust to take on an old taste from oil that's seen too much use. And I just bought a new big fryer ... I mean BIG FRYER for the farm because we're adding Fried Dough to the farm booths this summer/fall land I hope folks love it... and I hope we don't kill anyone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Two important wishes, my friends! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And maybe someday we'll add fry pies because folks would love, love, love them but there has to be someone else on hand to make them because I'm balancing a lot to keep up with our current baking schedule.... although Jon is the best kitchen trainee I've had in a long time. He's quick, effective and he doesn't get nervous.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nervous people don't belong in my kitchen. They annoy me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wait.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That's not nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Okay, let's just say that I like calm, joyous people in the kitchen. :) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That sounds better, doesn't it???</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">WHY AM I BEING MEAN ON MY LAST DAY???? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, Jon is learning all the recipes and how to put things together and packaging. I think he's preparing in case I DIE.... so someone knows how to run the bake shop part of the farm in the fall, LOL! Well done, Jon!!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, you can sub in apple filling, blackberry filling, strawberry rhubarb, sour cherry, etc.... it's all about the ratio of tender fried crust to delicious filling, so don't make the crust too thin... and be generous with the glaze.</span></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #f48d1d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/07/sweet-cherry-fry-pies.html" style="color: #f48d1d; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">F</a>RIED PIES!!!!!</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Disclaimer: </b><br /><br />Nothing should taste this good and no one should eat these because I'm willing to bet they're about one jillion and two really bad calories for you.<br /><br /><b>Having said that:</b><br /><br />They're amazing. And you can substitute any fruit filling for the cherry pie filling, just be sure to crimp the edges tightly with a fork.<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKnUUErxnTObetQQu6mkp7xR1Z1NBd71Bebr4X1gF_4ow9KFC0k0Dd0TRnBCB3EIotkQo8BbSG_bNcGz5ozb3gtQxI68d50UMagbR6JTIMxEZQvThNnADBMnD-Bqw6aEVLrGUBCJzn1Ts/s1600/DSC04189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKnUUErxnTObetQQu6mkp7xR1Z1NBd71Bebr4X1gF_4ow9KFC0k0Dd0TRnBCB3EIotkQo8BbSG_bNcGz5ozb3gtQxI68d50UMagbR6JTIMxEZQvThNnADBMnD-Bqw6aEVLrGUBCJzn1Ts/s320/DSC04189.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Sweet cherry pie filling:<br /><br />4 cups pitted frozen dark, sweet cherries (Or sour cherries and double the sugar)<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1/2 cup flour<br />1 cup water<br />3 tablespoons butter<br /><br />Heat frozen cherries and water in 4 quart saucepan on stove over medium heat. I cover them so they defrost and heat more quickly. Once cherries are thawed, mix sugar and flour together in one bowl and add to cherries. Stir, cooking over medium heat until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat. Stir in butter. Cool.<br /><br />Dough: Go <a href="http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2011/10/pie-crust-no-whining-allowed-or-needed.html" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> and follow the directions for my pie crust.<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMp1YDv6-vquqo-0mXdF7TQUGe88U8rbygjzA8qjmgmwawZhju31Aus24QfLqxin7gp-Oi6J3ghmfhmXpyQdL-TP2m9REaOgfJCOdSacmzziWCR1BE7P6tmuBjz3qfchY1KUt-AMwP9GL/s1600/DSC04194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMp1YDv6-vquqo-0mXdF7TQUGe88U8rbygjzA8qjmgmwawZhju31Aus24QfLqxin7gp-Oi6J3ghmfhmXpyQdL-TP2m9REaOgfJCOdSacmzziWCR1BE7P6tmuBjz3qfchY1KUt-AMwP9GL/s320/DSC04194.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is never a bad idea to have little kids help you with pie crust. It may take a little longer, but the memory may last forever. So that's worth it, right? This is Mary Ruthy... How adorable is she????</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"> Cut it into thirds. Roll it out, 1/3 at a time on a floured surface.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejL4zIQ7hDrIeOnQ3m_DfAOVslBJfDHKhtGIoF0MgjaipB7Mv3KZjsmyfSIxIOWYa5Q1_gYwzU8W4S6sEDvVy_Yc5K3HmYY64oBVJRty0fS99ZfKmpelsw1a2EADkoGCmY3eC3sHqPb6t/s1600/DSC04210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejL4zIQ7hDrIeOnQ3m_DfAOVslBJfDHKhtGIoF0MgjaipB7Mv3KZjsmyfSIxIOWYa5Q1_gYwzU8W4S6sEDvVy_Yc5K3HmYY64oBVJRty0fS99ZfKmpelsw1a2EADkoGCmY3eC3sHqPb6t/s320/DSC04210.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I use a 5-6 inch bowl to cut the "rounds" but you can go smaller if you want. I like "hand" pies that are similar to the really bad-tasting ones they sell at the grocery store. It's like holding a folded piece of deliciousness-pie in your hand. How could that ever be wrong, right?<br /><br />So roll out your piece of dough and cut as many circles that will fit:<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku1SdYNL40j1bWwc7-idMiRFy9hxgwR0hc0cHTRr5DydAm_g50gLtwYwnGj9oITeBMLynJtNzVy8i0A4xe4gZQ67IGQMjShGos0HAQ9RnPBoi1YuYeWdl9C8M_e4Jip5zZ3v_aEG69SnX/s1600/DSC04201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku1SdYNL40j1bWwc7-idMiRFy9hxgwR0hc0cHTRr5DydAm_g50gLtwYwnGj9oITeBMLynJtNzVy8i0A4xe4gZQ67IGQMjShGos0HAQ9RnPBoi1YuYeWdl9C8M_e4Jip5zZ3v_aEG69SnX/s320/DSC04201.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Fill the circles about 1/3 full with pie filling. The recipe for my sweet cherry pie filling follows, and it's easy-peasy so DON'T BUY IT.... Those are mostly cornstarch sauce, I mean really, is it worth the ten minutes to buy the can? I submit it is not! ;)<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2Cv70YdTOAFy1DA4Wp7eHR5VIV4vIR5eF2fXOxSiiiK-49mASd5ivhaRoTTcrfLTzjnNephoze6Opb1dMNQpiX3XuomHWhSx6Rmi3KgaUBgilprVEF_JZmqUjLDscO1t6bIppzZwUOlO/s1600/DSC04202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2Cv70YdTOAFy1DA4Wp7eHR5VIV4vIR5eF2fXOxSiiiK-49mASd5ivhaRoTTcrfLTzjnNephoze6Opb1dMNQpiX3XuomHWhSx6Rmi3KgaUBgilprVEF_JZmqUjLDscO1t6bIppzZwUOlO/s320/DSC04202.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Fold the top half of the mini-pie over and crimp edges with a fork. I crimp them twice because I'm paranoid.... Or thorough. Yeah. Let's go with the latter!<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUuDF_HTOTknUYiNdZP0eZ-MeT69m177AQqGAkcY7Hqdn6uaJ86tqXrh9NQuO9ZpIutarWP6kySsubgx3UUo9DHVhJ3yV4FBAmxocK25hqg_nxPouZeine5tebl1-8axXxSfutb3Okxan/s1600/DSC04200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUuDF_HTOTknUYiNdZP0eZ-MeT69m177AQqGAkcY7Hqdn6uaJ86tqXrh9NQuO9ZpIutarWP6kySsubgx3UUo9DHVhJ3yV4FBAmxocK25hqg_nxPouZeine5tebl1-8axXxSfutb3Okxan/s320/DSC04200.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Now slip them into a deep fryer preheated to 375 degrees. My fryer has baskets and you can fry two of these babies in each basket but I usually do one at a time to avoid an all out pastry battle in the fryer. I have a chronic abhorrence to BIG MESSES IN THE FRYER!<br /><br />Remove when golden brown, drain on paper towel, paint glaze on with pastry brush and let cool.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJiep4RuDil9q9YteMzcQt4B08hgSGgomOSSz9KxUvfuNqys0g_ziibxECd2-MdDr6gfKmqYxWm2BaswAVFyRJ35zIQg8ADUUpk8Yz8MDb2Q_F5pgFbx67Q113vMabbGuxmeNF7byb4Hs/s1600/DSC04207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJiep4RuDil9q9YteMzcQt4B08hgSGgomOSSz9KxUvfuNqys0g_ziibxECd2-MdDr6gfKmqYxWm2BaswAVFyRJ35zIQg8ADUUpk8Yz8MDb2Q_F5pgFbx67Q113vMabbGuxmeNF7byb4Hs/s320/DSC04207.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTupaN9tub5luqblTOLFSy4GnqdREY7Vp6QA6JN3SD2gbp7vhTVhpOUcbqKC7ph1U1BxoDopMpFrLa2kI7rdrt_kOExsCYzaCtIz2Jkm7tgHoGCGyOLMFfm1vwvN0QqMl7s5gcTxPsMCJq/s1600/DSC04209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTupaN9tub5luqblTOLFSy4GnqdREY7Vp6QA6JN3SD2gbp7vhTVhpOUcbqKC7ph1U1BxoDopMpFrLa2kI7rdrt_kOExsCYzaCtIz2Jkm7tgHoGCGyOLMFfm1vwvN0QqMl7s5gcTxPsMCJq/s320/DSC04209.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />And here's how they look ready to serve for a luncheon or a party or a shower... and these babies freeze beautifully, they're sealed with glaze, so they stay fresh for days. What an awesome plus that is, right????<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC4aJjO_xT2ztW4epb85TvnH9eT_UpgiXsQ10jjTEPdoBQBUHVZf7GFv8P6rN9hUx4lMrj3xUjCF2T5wYVNEbwRfuoXmgVcygK-2cHlot-WjYutDtU7OTuGWu3qUEkeQ6Yrnbh_6p8FDp/s1600/DSC04212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC4aJjO_xT2ztW4epb85TvnH9eT_UpgiXsQ10jjTEPdoBQBUHVZf7GFv8P6rN9hUx4lMrj3xUjCF2T5wYVNEbwRfuoXmgVcygK-2cHlot-WjYutDtU7OTuGWu3qUEkeQ6Yrnbh_6p8FDp/s320/DSC04212.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Finished product. When I have time I make a bunch of batches and freeze these babies. I double wrap them so they stay fresh, crisp and tender/flaky all at once.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So this is it.... we leave you with a treasure trove of delightful recipes and memories... and we'd all love for you to find us on Facebook or email us or chat with us in Seekerville...</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And I love talking and answering questions, so please don't be a stranger to any of us. We are so blessed and glad to have had these years of you watching our careers bloom and blossom, our families grow, our ups and downs and kitchen fails. Oh how we love the Kitchen Fails! :)</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God bless you... everyone of you... and we are so thankful that He blessed us with this time with you.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God is good!</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the blessing of life is a marvelous thing.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When it comes to goodbyes and farewells, one that I've always loved and treasured is Derek Jeter's farewell to New York in a Gatorade commercial done to Frank Sinatra's "My Way"... this one hits home because I tend to be a "my way" kind of person. I've always been that way, and it's kind of charming in a bossy old lady New Yorker kind of way, right? :) </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxd9W0RVgFY" target="_blank">Here's the link</a>... it's not just about Jeter. Or Baseball. Or New York. It's about how time goes on and things change... but if we live that time to our fullest, doing our best, we can move forward without regret because the Good Lord's always got another chapter waiting... Until we get to The End and He calls us home. And that's not another chapter...</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's a whole other book, my friends.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One worth reading.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s320/Ruthy+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s0/Ruthy+2012.JPG" /></a></div><br />Award-winning, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is sorry to close the cafe doors but glad to have worked with so many wonderful ladies over the years... but especially with our current group of Jan, Mindy, Cate and Missy.... what started as a fun place to talk became a repository of great regional thoughts and recipes. Yay for all of us! Contact Ruthy at <a href="mailto:loganherne@gmail.com">loganherne@gmail.com</a>, follow her on Facebook for the moment unless it gets too crazy for her to handle in which case she'll pop up somewhere else... And you can always stop by her website <a href="http://ruthloganherne.com">ruthloganherne.com</a>. </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SINCERE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.... </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3074229179303328376" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Until we meet again, may the Good Lord hold you in the palm of His hand...</span></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-26629409626696689362021-01-27T00:00:00.007-05:002021-01-27T00:00:04.916-05:00A Fond Farewell with a Traipse Down Memory Lane<p> I felt like I should make some splendid recipe for my final post here at the Cafe, but when you've gone over a year with no oven (thanks, pandemic!), it's kind of hard to continue being creative.</p><p>But then I came up with another idea - I decided to share my favorite memories about each of my cohosts here at the cafe.</p><p><b>Mondays are Jan's days</b>. I loved reading Jan's posts because I got a glimpse of a life that is so very different from my NYC life.</p><p>I'll probably never get to visit the Black Hills, but Jan showed us their glory in all seasons from</p><p><a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2018/05/come-for-hike-with-me.html" target="_blank">Come for a hike with me</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIi2PJ_JrH8/YBDVfKTfKPI/AAAAAAAAEh0/YF_4VHuP7NccQrXgHwH8IIoQ8SDYEttPACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIi2PJ_JrH8/YBDVfKTfKPI/AAAAAAAAEh0/YF_4VHuP7NccQrXgHwH8IIoQ8SDYEttPACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>to <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-best-christmas-tree-hunt-ever-and.html" target="_blank">The Best Christmas Tree Hunt Ever!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5rIVr7BZeA/YBDVlDDOmWI/AAAAAAAAEh4/TCQvDPBAtYIhPKYjbba1YjmY4ixEZ5K7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5rIVr7BZeA/YBDVlDDOmWI/AAAAAAAAEh4/TCQvDPBAtYIhPKYjbba1YjmY4ixEZ5K7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3281.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Thanks, Jan! I'm going to miss my forays into your neck of the woods!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Tuesdays mean Mindy is dishing up about ranch life.</b> What I will remember most about Mindy's posts is that she's the one to blame for my snake cover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrCLMlluwlE/YBDTVenOJrI/AAAAAAAAEho/SCR3NWMJJHI3MkyDm-LfJmpN4YlmYx7pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/517HNraBACL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrCLMlluwlE/YBDTVenOJrI/AAAAAAAAEho/SCR3NWMJJHI3MkyDm-LfJmpN4YlmYx7pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/517HNraBACL.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was writing a scene in Texas Witness Threat and I needed to distract my hero. I thought of Mindy and her rattlesnake posts and decided to use one. Ooops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mindy has shared so many wonderful posts with wonderful recipes like Texas Sheet Cake, but I love this one - <span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2018/05/armadillos-are-not-cute.html" target="_blank">Armadillos are NOT Cute.</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfIhvLfW6IQ/YBDV-nPMh4I/AAAAAAAAEiE/jK4wKftISRkYJrJPXAzJ3bHkSNi1umpzACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfIhvLfW6IQ/YBDV-nPMh4I/AAAAAAAAEiE/jK4wKftISRkYJrJPXAzJ3bHkSNi1umpzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3282.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: center;">*shudder* </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Someday, Mindy, we'll meet up at another RWA.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Wednesdays were mine so we'll pass right over them.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Moving on to Thursdays</b> and hundreds of posts from our Yank, Ruthy in the cozy yellow farmhouse. But honestly, only one word comes to mind - PUMPKINS!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A76fBUclUYU/YBDYnArWpQI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/bJoLW0X-x_Ma6XwcUl7gQ4kY-NHbwwA2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A76fBUclUYU/YBDYnArWpQI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/bJoLW0X-x_Ma6XwcUl7gQ4kY-NHbwwA2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66iET0AlL6Q/YBDYnJPgp4I/AAAAAAAAEiU/YL5P5MpVAGcYVzh0GiT19koMWbOojbAXACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66iET0AlL6Q/YBDYnJPgp4I/AAAAAAAAEiU/YL5P5MpVAGcYVzh0GiT19koMWbOojbAXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3288.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Except not really. When I think of my favorite Ruthy posts, they all center around the children. We watched these little ones grow from teeny babies to real people! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMMIyJ01Aa9qucn4INZtAdUWHsv4OG9cKGPHW3OWXCMkALXUnayjhv2f351tT6oft9R6AHzQBr4QWWtG594WVryBDUkIXi5Hd0quU8MPDXCkUCYeTVlkeQO5_EBXohtYoO4Tex9Gavg/s640/IMG_3286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMMIyJ01Aa9qucn4INZtAdUWHsv4OG9cKGPHW3OWXCMkALXUnayjhv2f351tT6oft9R6AHzQBr4QWWtG594WVryBDUkIXi5Hd0quU8MPDXCkUCYeTVlkeQO5_EBXohtYoO4Tex9Gavg/s320/IMG_3286.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maK9zoYWYZg/YBDY-okh5eI/AAAAAAAAEis/-fF7z4zQtycATD1d5aMHS6NnEHeX1QrPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maK9zoYWYZg/YBDY-okh5eI/AAAAAAAAEis/-fF7z4zQtycATD1d5aMHS6NnEHeX1QrPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3284.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sns2iPS2nvo/YBDYxgq3DbI/AAAAAAAAEic/mlqmohKFt_UzlE54l0JfzhEjUWrTEVnJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sns2iPS2nvo/YBDYxgq3DbI/AAAAAAAAEic/mlqmohKFt_UzlE54l0JfzhEjUWrTEVnJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Thanks for sharing the grandchildren, Ruthy. You've baked some amazing memories in that Yellow Farm House! Someday, if you ever make it back to NYC, coffee is on me.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>And finally we had Fridays with Missy - The Belle.</b></p><p>When I think of Missy's posts a few things come to mind, but primarily: </p><p>Family </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpvhEPIcXJs/YBDcuKPv8hI/AAAAAAAAEjI/wQGiHytSS7cYKu8LOtn-a5Rikl-ONitFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3292%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpvhEPIcXJs/YBDcuKPv8hI/AAAAAAAAEjI/wQGiHytSS7cYKu8LOtn-a5Rikl-ONitFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3292%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Food photography </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoGsZ3x4Ico/YBDc2Zn5MlI/AAAAAAAAEjM/Z5qECfBvYegLvZc8NNpmeEALgRsKoqYswCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoGsZ3x4Ico/YBDc2Zn5MlI/AAAAAAAAEjM/Z5qECfBvYegLvZc8NNpmeEALgRsKoqYswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>and food delivery services like Dinnerly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oe9IyiSIduI/YBDc_7dHedI/AAAAAAAAEjU/0vPXpDMxTXQr62pfZsvsrN4rvR9aG5TRACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oe9IyiSIduI/YBDc_7dHedI/AAAAAAAAEjU/0vPXpDMxTXQr62pfZsvsrN4rvR9aG5TRACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3290.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And I'd never even heard of <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2020/04/chocolate-cobbler-revisited.html">Chocolate Cobbler</a> before Missy!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHWjnv2WHBg/YBDdFoORlJI/AAAAAAAAEjY/uSn9yF5KdTkYtQL-RK7oPKv1trJjMfQHACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHWjnv2WHBg/YBDdFoORlJI/AAAAAAAAEjY/uSn9yF5KdTkYtQL-RK7oPKv1trJjMfQHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3291.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>It's always sad to close the doors, but it will be great to have an archive of fabulous recipes that come with a bonus of sweet memories of time spend with friends.</p><p><br /></p><p>One of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes sums it up quite nicely: Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. </p><p>So very much has happened within the walls of this cafe, so we should all be sporting wide smiles!</p><p><br /></p><p>And Fenway sends fond farewell wishes as well.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9mc_ABvwu4/YBDeCFdfGeI/AAAAAAAAEjs/m3-A540MX-gq3gZYAYQkqIU2Vrqqq7xoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3257%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9mc_ABvwu4/YBDeCFdfGeI/AAAAAAAAEjs/m3-A540MX-gq3gZYAYQkqIU2Vrqqq7xoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3257%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Love, Cate</p></div></div>Cate Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10424872139114718902noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-7700435610875276972021-01-26T01:00:00.168-05:002021-01-26T01:00:00.248-05:00Mindy's Favorite Recipes<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I can't believe this is my final post. When I first joined the café in 2012 I had yet to be published. Now, I'm about the celebrate the release of my eleventh book. My, how time does fly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But while all good things must come to an end, some things live in perpetuity. Like my favorite recipes. Goodness knows I have a lot of them, so narrowing them down was tough. The good news is that while we won't be adding any more recipes to the Yankee-Belle Café, the ones that are here will remain so that you (and our children) can tap into them whenever you like.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So here we go with my top five favorite recipes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Grape Salsa</b> - </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqOm5sgavCu45m5Pw9ZhtFhYGN9xCTQLru_j9EDHu9gYmWus8YjpcbKDm0lnFVhglPjSdNnW6LXEHeMgbm3Xy3D1UlrUOTUaRDkrvcBbvSFyjMWYIoqEloiamitrieJ-kzdQZRNiM90/s2048/IMG_3401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqOm5sgavCu45m5Pw9ZhtFhYGN9xCTQLru_j9EDHu9gYmWus8YjpcbKDm0lnFVhglPjSdNnW6LXEHeMgbm3Xy3D1UlrUOTUaRDkrvcBbvSFyjMWYIoqEloiamitrieJ-kzdQZRNiM90/w400-h300/IMG_3401.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I know it sounds weird, but this sweet and savory concoction is my most requested recipe. It's super simple and perfect for any gathering. You can find the recipe <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/08/party-time-at-ranch.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Coconut Cream Pie</b> - </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Y4MvOH8Z-wv5Ij3eLI8jFnoT9v3PPxNopjsExUSXLtV8ZFO07-FbqFlyZsJbffqi4WLd8kXeVxNkKL_-WXFGCo09-MqvmuY5kPIFuJ_gyXdywZ-sYQzCeLgKqeQE4KuF6qkjhn9yyw/s1200/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1200" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Y4MvOH8Z-wv5Ij3eLI8jFnoT9v3PPxNopjsExUSXLtV8ZFO07-FbqFlyZsJbffqi4WLd8kXeVxNkKL_-WXFGCo09-MqvmuY5kPIFuJ_gyXdywZ-sYQzCeLgKqeQE4KuF6qkjhn9yyw/w400-h288/IMG_3012.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">My girls' grandmother was famous for her cream pies. And when microwave ovens became the norm, she simplified her recipe so you no longer had to stand at the stove, cooking and stirring forever. My kids love the Chocolate Cream version, but hubby usually wins out and get his favorite, Coconut Cream. You can find the recipe <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesdays-with-texan-pie-time.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Pumpkin Bread</b> - </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jQVCwSuLhI8j9lfNv0J9Z8I2I7g7iD9qlL1e2cAgPpeywa1ofP98dBuxRWiOEffp5zA8QLSZH4dfvLwdik3oBvLw0Qfri4_X7dg4p7l1zX2uc5pcVMb0oeimaf2JcZnz5GIBRxsWRVo/s1200/A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jQVCwSuLhI8j9lfNv0J9Z8I2I7g7iD9qlL1e2cAgPpeywa1ofP98dBuxRWiOEffp5zA8QLSZH4dfvLwdik3oBvLw0Qfri4_X7dg4p7l1zX2uc5pcVMb0oeimaf2JcZnz5GIBRxsWRVo/w400-h300/A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm pretty sure I've shared this recipe every year because I make it every fall to give as gifts. At first it was for teachers and other school staff, but since we no longer have any kiddos in school, friends, neighbors and our adult children are now the recipients of this moist, delicious tradition. That recipe is right <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2020/11/tis-season-for-pumpkin-bread.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Macaroni and Cheese</b> - </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DvnwF7H4DhV_mVas5z5jUF6vFhiWRMGMcnpYthHXowmY8P8CXumberdaH9J7KvFHDLvBeS7DaOlxKhdQX1-T-3YtrjcjrbYT59pFd4dVAWciUBGhTKdH53C6JmNZWmIcZCefEVnsLx0/s640/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DvnwF7H4DhV_mVas5z5jUF6vFhiWRMGMcnpYthHXowmY8P8CXumberdaH9J7KvFHDLvBeS7DaOlxKhdQX1-T-3YtrjcjrbYT59pFd4dVAWciUBGhTKdH53C6JmNZWmIcZCefEVnsLx0/w400-h300/7.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Credit for this recipe goes to my oldest daughter, but it's definitely a family favorite. You can serve it straight off of the stove or add a cracker topping and bake it a while. Whichever way you choose to serve it, you won't be disappointed. Find the recipe <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2019/03/macaroni-and-cheese-ultimate-comfort.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last but certainly not least is <b>Sour Cream Blueberry Bundt Cake </b>- </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNFM0tzKoby9Pd7PlpuY4XhlOr0jkCDvXaofr_dGq0opaxhkpB3aOKNvNNgmFSmBzlXOs9tBbQcdZECBKimnbdOlSkKjYkl72VhUeAexdqO6hYReeiY_IiHe42zCGDEAsFleU6syi6S8/s800/IMG_1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNFM0tzKoby9Pd7PlpuY4XhlOr0jkCDvXaofr_dGq0opaxhkpB3aOKNvNNgmFSmBzlXOs9tBbQcdZECBKimnbdOlSkKjYkl72VhUeAexdqO6hYReeiY_IiHe42zCGDEAsFleU6syi6S8/w400-h300/IMG_1094.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My mouth waters just looking at this. It's so moist and bursting with blueberry flavor. Mmm, mmm, mmm... I wish I had a slice right now. You can find the recipe <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2020/04/lets-just-eat-cake-sour-cream-blueberry.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've shared and discovered so many wonderful recipes on this blog these past nine years. And I know I'll be back every now and then to retrieve recipes my counterparts have shared over the years. The Yankee-Belle Café has so many great recipes from all across this great country. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While I won't be posting here anymore, I won't be hard to find. I'll still be cranking out books and hanging out with many of these lovely ladies over at <a href="http://www.Seekerville.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seekerville</a>. So come and visit us and let's keep the party going. We'll bring the food. ;)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Until we meet again... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s1600/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="803" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s200/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="199" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at <a href="http://mindyobenhaus.com/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">mindyobenhaus.com</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Mindy Obenhaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049730175697756032noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-10860231696998282392021-01-25T02:00:00.001-05:002021-01-25T02:00:12.353-05:00The Best of Jan's Best, part two<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we ease into the last week here at the Cafe, I'm sharing a nostalgic post from the past.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Cafe has been around for what - ten years? Eleven? And you have been with us through many changes during those years. The biggest change for most of us is that our nests have gone from full to empty - - to full again - - </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We've celebrated births of grandchildren, weddings, new puppies, new houses, new books...and we've also suffered some losses. And you've been here with us through it all.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today's post is a rerun from before my daughter got married and left the nest. As I read through the recipe, I got a serious craving for Carrie's Monkey Bread. This might mean a trip to the store...</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Monkey Bread to the Max</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>by guest blogger, Carrie Drexler (now Carrie Orr!)</i></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi Everyone!</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpQlLEfbiskyf9mRdCGBFMHUkWmSKArEmnn6UWAHmgW2D_wNwdHrlSF83V0rYtTySE4sFpkvj9HqwuBp-zUJVMuB7paefDPM7MvjasqJiPnMAfF4DUqrPoj3LuZDkL6nDn4dd7qWb04I/s1600/015.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpQlLEfbiskyf9mRdCGBFMHUkWmSKArEmnn6UWAHmgW2D_wNwdHrlSF83V0rYtTySE4sFpkvj9HqwuBp-zUJVMuB7paefDPM7MvjasqJiPnMAfF4DUqrPoj3LuZDkL6nDn4dd7qWb04I/s200/015.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie and her youngest brother.<br />Isn't he every girl's dream?</td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's Carrie again, filling in for my mom. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.2px; line-height: 13.6px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">The problem with having two bakers in the house is that sometimes we want to use the same pan. This happened yesterday morning; I wanted to make this simple monkey bread recipe, and my mom was going to make a sour cream blueberry cake (I think she's still going to make it, check back next week). Both recipes used the bundt pan, but since mine meant getting gooey maple, brown sugar monkey bread for breakfast before church, I won out.</span><br /><br /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would not consider myself a Pinterest addict, but there are some great recipes to be found through that site. This was a recipe that's been pinned on my Pinterest board since I joined the site a couple years ago and I've never found the time to buckle down and make it. It was super simple and looks amazing.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, preheat the oven to 375, and grease your bundt pan.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then gather up your ingredients! </span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 ½ Cans Pillsbury Grands Biscuits</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 TBSP Butter (melted)</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ C. Pancake Syrup</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/3 C. Packed Brown Sugar</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ tsp. Cinnamon</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ C. Pecans (Optional)</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I forgot to clean up behind my ingredients. Don't worry, you can leave out the cat treats and Ritz crackers.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Co8-hZOLw5U2pZGDXu0jHAxs9eiNCNH9Drn5sJl2JBh8-KHS-fa1AiJvDvKTzW0POiNyvwLAqJJKGCvXTS4D7U_I2KLoGIKZJFpVXL_VOFF1gTYnPsQyj2LRLOOXy4QFQ8_urzyc_ck/s1600/1Ingredients.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Co8-hZOLw5U2pZGDXu0jHAxs9eiNCNH9Drn5sJl2JBh8-KHS-fa1AiJvDvKTzW0POiNyvwLAqJJKGCvXTS4D7U_I2KLoGIKZJFpVXL_VOFF1gTYnPsQyj2LRLOOXy4QFQ8_urzyc_ck/s320/1Ingredients.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mix together melted butter and syrup. In another bowl mix together brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts (if using, I left them out).</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMO1DYdhkIbwJHo4a4UUGgZeUaUThk6zmq7_XpuTe_u1eIWHI4VSkRl7JijXL9867gycJUDb052eywI9eLYNlCHWMOnnIgVZ0W8GJfa4Hf9D_r7Ti8ONONR6Js45fIBVkBQVjPANxbm4/s1600/2Measuring+Out.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMO1DYdhkIbwJHo4a4UUGgZeUaUThk6zmq7_XpuTe_u1eIWHI4VSkRl7JijXL9867gycJUDb052eywI9eLYNlCHWMOnnIgVZ0W8GJfa4Hf9D_r7Ti8ONONR6Js45fIBVkBQVjPANxbm4/s320/2Measuring+Out.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pour half the syrup in the bottom of the pan and sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture over the top.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdya_sq2dMJg_a3JL3LKdfmny1ajyLPX2u-bicnYdFyFfAB3pIfEhc9TdHcjFBl3-VRMi5rXJKF1wRu8YXPjPmL9JBhAlN5Tpz-YMa8leM7ml261hJkof0qCPeyD6hmVaRlns8zu4SkZY/s1600/3Step1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdya_sq2dMJg_a3JL3LKdfmny1ajyLPX2u-bicnYdFyFfAB3pIfEhc9TdHcjFBl3-VRMi5rXJKF1wRu8YXPjPmL9JBhAlN5Tpz-YMa8leM7ml261hJkof0qCPeyD6hmVaRlns8zu4SkZY/s320/3Step1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Layer your biscuits on top of that in a circle. The great part about this is that you can use fewer/more biscuits depending on the number of people (you'll just have to watch the bake time).</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rT67i0y1PpgD7Ap6MRBSvLioRUd-G_GExmJQt3km__quBdPz0QmgnnZjqE7CbYdazbIyiEODxdLlas-su6a00TxoPkUbB2ZnQIOcOquAKNdozoySzZ2d6-X-5EirX_GBjB7JueNl2Jk/s1600/4Step2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rT67i0y1PpgD7Ap6MRBSvLioRUd-G_GExmJQt3km__quBdPz0QmgnnZjqE7CbYdazbIyiEODxdLlas-su6a00TxoPkUbB2ZnQIOcOquAKNdozoySzZ2d6-X-5EirX_GBjB7JueNl2Jk/s320/4Step2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pour the rest of the syrup over the top and sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar. It already looks delicious!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GOCCq_j3PXpqR4Ctm5ufpSGnPOsFpZmuP-fyBcBV_qtxm2YIWJvfjBqNAWCc0aVDNUlU7VgaiEskoSKRju5H4-cs1FRwzQi-26XaXpQyNZspQ0oP6RKle329xcOdfUEr6AOnoGXhEVw/s1600/5Step3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GOCCq_j3PXpqR4Ctm5ufpSGnPOsFpZmuP-fyBcBV_qtxm2YIWJvfjBqNAWCc0aVDNUlU7VgaiEskoSKRju5H4-cs1FRwzQi-26XaXpQyNZspQ0oP6RKle329xcOdfUEr6AOnoGXhEVw/s320/5Step3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bake at 375 for 25-30minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown on top.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJPLW700zLY9f3hiGWo5BC66U1x9cupB1KnUZGW6Q-zeS6Suk-ThSxx6W9Sw-U7qjwa2-Uj_TKQj0PL1NW9OiZ0A7oP8elYkGJw2dNuQQ7G9-q1bBPZ4dLSNWWJ483nIN6YL-BC4SHo/s1600/6Baked.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJPLW700zLY9f3hiGWo5BC66U1x9cupB1KnUZGW6Q-zeS6Suk-ThSxx6W9Sw-U7qjwa2-Uj_TKQj0PL1NW9OiZ0A7oP8elYkGJw2dNuQQ7G9-q1bBPZ4dLSNWWJ483nIN6YL-BC4SHo/s320/6Baked.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at that gooey maple goodness. They were definitely delicious and super easy. This is a Sunday morning keeper for sure.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CfoEE458TKyhelbIzw-B8Urqt4TcGUBcHb9c0xmcpTv0ezJe_GUw7Klhmq1sImyuFGY5l6DR6f36oMkBLkF9b024FtkG4jJSvhJTqsGYQ4tblg7tVWuJMy-UQHI0ftjEGg10NITy7t8/s1600/7Eaten.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CfoEE458TKyhelbIzw-B8Urqt4TcGUBcHb9c0xmcpTv0ezJe_GUw7Klhmq1sImyuFGY5l6DR6f36oMkBLkF9b024FtkG4jJSvhJTqsGYQ4tblg7tVWuJMy-UQHI0ftjEGg10NITy7t8/s320/7Eaten.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month and since then came across this picture from my second birthday. As you can see, a love for baked goods was instilled at a very early age.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfqNyxP2zr_Uy5zS01rtiWgNDMnZ0fmXSWjwvTpC7V4lKUk1uoII3pYohJuZDTJRC4nGQHaSeCYvXvfq2JAGyaTfSTGom3nPAGJXPDOsEVk7DJ1GnH6r6g1IHuU3djsMuyXqCkI28Uc/s1600/8BabyCarrie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfqNyxP2zr_Uy5zS01rtiWgNDMnZ0fmXSWjwvTpC7V4lKUk1uoII3pYohJuZDTJRC4nGQHaSeCYvXvfq2JAGyaTfSTGom3nPAGJXPDOsEVk7DJ1GnH6r6g1IHuU3djsMuyXqCkI28Uc/s320/8BabyCarrie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Carrie's 2nd Birthday </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Thank you, Carrie, for sharing your recipe. And yes, it was delicious! And as promised, next week we'll have a Blueberry Sour Cream Cake recipe straight from southwest Michigan.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>And what Monday would be complete without a gratuitous puppy picture?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eqzuyj6oEijYpJ6UtqjQawi8zZJfSAhikKoY8meRiWnBR-bk_sxznLoyiZ6U_-AE6sJSxmgCVch66wou4j8Rv9mmvUgD3mw7Kl51N0SfnYay8VoGCyR99UNkUG7RWNTGKS8HPDPRIlg/s1600/011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eqzuyj6oEijYpJ6UtqjQawi8zZJfSAhikKoY8meRiWnBR-bk_sxznLoyiZ6U_-AE6sJSxmgCVch66wou4j8Rv9mmvUgD3mw7Kl51N0SfnYay8VoGCyR99UNkUG7RWNTGKS8HPDPRIlg/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Thatcher heard that puppy kindergarten starts this evening...does it look like he's ready for it?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>* * * * * * * * * </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Back to 2021 - </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Have a great week, everyone!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jan Drexlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-43498180199417782922021-01-22T09:23:00.002-05:002021-01-22T09:23:30.833-05:00Favorite Friday Reboot<p>Missy Tippens</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm sorry to be posting late! The holiday and a root canal threw off my internal calendar! Back in the day, I used to do Favorite Friday posts. In those, I often shared some of my favorite things and newly discovered favorites. I thought I'd re-post one of those today. Enjoy!</span></p><p>***</p>Missy Tippens, here. And I have a new favorite salad to share. Let me say, first, that it takes a little longer to prepare than Ruthy's cabbage salad (which I've eaten twice this week already!). But I love my new favorite. And it's still pretty quick...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Missy's Wilted Spinach Salad</span></b></div>
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Ahead of time, boil some eggs to keep on hand for when you want this salad. Store in fridge.</div>
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Ingredients for 2 large meal size servings:</div>
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Baby spinach leaves (I buy pre-washed to make life easy)</div>
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Mushrooms (about half a container)</div>
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1 shallot</div>
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4 slices bacon</div>
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2 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar</div>
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2 Tbs. Red Wine Vinegar</div>
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1 Tbs. sugar</div>
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2 Boiled eggs</div>
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(Wheat thins are optional to snack on while cooking and got included in the photo by accident!! LOL)</div>
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Fry bacon on medium heat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0faQ282MU0qeUXq1gfua0_ng9LvbNqmu2ftutbVKJlF6tncJW0pc1cmewtZ8IL2I7kahbpX3trWZe0XDlJ7E67N9wMkHQ0Z2YsimiqOFb8yqxp4QA5fFWpT3lnn59WAkrZ30FBTAaOwl5/s1600/100_1465.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0faQ282MU0qeUXq1gfua0_ng9LvbNqmu2ftutbVKJlF6tncJW0pc1cmewtZ8IL2I7kahbpX3trWZe0XDlJ7E67N9wMkHQ0Z2YsimiqOFb8yqxp4QA5fFWpT3lnn59WAkrZ30FBTAaOwl5/s320/100_1465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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While bacon is cooking, chop the mushrooms and shallot.<br />
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Remove cooked bacon to absorbent paper towels and and SAVE THE DRIPPINGS (a nice way to say grease). (For Kav and other vegetarians, just skip the bacon and heat some olive oil in the pan.)<br />
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Add scallion to the skillet and cook until translucent. Add a pinch of Kosher salt (optional, but something I feel the need to add to any vegetables I'm cooking!)<br />
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Add the vinegars, whisking constantly.<br />
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Lower temp a little and add the sugar, whisking constantly. (Be careful of how hot it is. The second time I made this, the sugar hardened and I made a very strange candy!) :) Cook a couple of minutes until reduced.<br />
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Meanwhile put however much spinach you want into a serving bowl and add the mushrooms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqy6IG_YC83VjOVeOrW9EfybdrYnD881pAsv030qW43u14VSDF9uhSjxg-Zc7NZpnRDf2_ELvBWJ4EV3jtosuBLQjFUHCDXFEQobZYoEtpJ8t7JFQBMoyZFlTSPmn2pbWXw3T5Dyvkntg/s1600/100_1470.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqy6IG_YC83VjOVeOrW9EfybdrYnD881pAsv030qW43u14VSDF9uhSjxg-Zc7NZpnRDf2_ELvBWJ4EV3jtosuBLQjFUHCDXFEQobZYoEtpJ8t7JFQBMoyZFlTSPmn2pbWXw3T5Dyvkntg/s320/100_1470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pour hot dressing over the spinach and toss immediately to slightly wilt the greens.<br />
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Top with crumbled bacon and chopped eggs. Toss.<br />
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Serve and enjoy!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-82134012671650702752021-01-21T00:00:00.002-05:002021-01-21T05:30:20.400-05:00The Care and Feeding of Climbers: A Woman's Guide to Raising Monkey-like Sapiens<p>So this was my third post for Yankee-Belle Cafe... the first was a "Welcome" post... then pie crust because all o' youse and all y'all know what I think about store-bought pie crust so the first thing I had to do-- I WAS COMPELLED-- was show you how easy it is to make pie crust with a great recipe.</p><p>Far easier than keeping climbers alive. :)</p><p>Now, I'm a climber. I was up trees, scaling fences, on roofs... at age four a Flower City Park neighbor called my mother and wanted to know if I was supposed to be on the porch roof... :)</p><p>I still climb although I leave the third story of our heritage farmhouse to others, the first and second stories are fair game... And I did buy a Little Giant ladder last summer, and that thing is the best!!! I love it so much! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />But raising baby climbers can be a dauntless task! Look at these three on the new (then) shed! Taylor, Kyle and Casey, all grown up now, so they SURVIVED!!!!) And yes there were a great many things I did not share with parents... Better that they simply smile and nod. So below is the original post... and then a food post that followed. <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfijMxo2Ni6yVgOvduIAe7dDuv9ixvljDDAqTnYeh6RGweJALl1ScfsvQxFuuxKXg733r6VG2OizOr8VZgBWqri7gOMRQQGIS9ReQLp_c8IdVJu-pvzR0V-GOstU0hY49Nm2MOrzGE4rG/s1600/June+30+2010+026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfijMxo2Ni6yVgOvduIAe7dDuv9ixvljDDAqTnYeh6RGweJALl1ScfsvQxFuuxKXg733r6VG2OizOr8VZgBWqri7gOMRQQGIS9ReQLp_c8IdVJu-pvzR0V-GOstU0hY49Nm2MOrzGE4rG/s320/June+30+2010+026.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is more than food!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here are three of the monsters I've helped raise. Taylor, Kyle and Casey.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">They're brats, yes. I mean WHAT ARE THEY DOING ON THE ROOF???</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHJl46BRW9J7z0FEfCtsdbRd9qi79qCRA0QjdyUq1LPN6VUdyxt1Tp88aF6IpWwRNJ0yGbQGGFz7njZhQqeEXLmEu5fuViz1C3kd8TacQjY1pQqjyaHgUvRVv1sm-F1f2U_nhdHikJDXh/s1600/DSC02800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="180px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHJl46BRW9J7z0FEfCtsdbRd9qi79qCRA0QjdyUq1LPN6VUdyxt1Tp88aF6IpWwRNJ0yGbQGGFz7njZhQqeEXLmEu5fuViz1C3kd8TacQjY1pQqjyaHgUvRVv1sm-F1f2U_nhdHikJDXh/s320/DSC02800.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">It starts here. In the kitchen. On the table.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This is 'Lijah. He is 18 months old.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT IS HE DOING ON THE TABLE????</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Oy vay. Who is watching these children????</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Oops. No one! ;)</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6yJRiTRVVO4Pap-epcABaDPPSYPO3t3_MuVL4iwIFpmOAoEcCQ2SuMi_rr6ef-ZPak_3io8G25Y4YY-N0VfU1VodgOFHs8cHfKgyZ2Gt_90qZLFP34rjml1qb2c0uNzpddHTP8HRX0qq/s1600/DSC02890.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6yJRiTRVVO4Pap-epcABaDPPSYPO3t3_MuVL4iwIFpmOAoEcCQ2SuMi_rr6ef-ZPak_3io8G25Y4YY-N0VfU1VodgOFHs8cHfKgyZ2Gt_90qZLFP34rjml1qb2c0uNzpddHTP8HRX0qq/s320/DSC02890.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Well, when a case of NEW BOOKS COMES IN,</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">WHO DOESN'T WANT TO JUMP ONTO</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">THE KITCHEN TABLE AND CHECK THEM OUT???</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Especially with a cute hero like Matt Cavanaugh...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my stars.</span><span style="font-size: large;">Raising climbers... The best thing to do is teach them how to FALL WITHOUT DYING.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Because they already know how to climb.</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCGBYoYVQRC8vmJ_2wiAUOwzpmH9ABcW6p6vT2lqIKX6-am7u-VtUoH9HTTAZ_H1CssvG5OhkDtAArCW-cEmW6i_8nwu5P_M3axWoIUDTUi8ITnx57pVjQt8X_0pna9fiUpaY7De9WhEs/s1600/DSC03340.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCGBYoYVQRC8vmJ_2wiAUOwzpmH9ABcW6p6vT2lqIKX6-am7u-VtUoH9HTTAZ_H1CssvG5OhkDtAArCW-cEmW6i_8nwu5P_M3axWoIUDTUi8ITnx57pVjQt8X_0pna9fiUpaY7De9WhEs/s320/DSC03340.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">See, they start out like this. Now this looks nice, doesn't it?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa holding baby at a wedding.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Peaceful. Serene.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And then it morphs to THIS:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFbEy1i2P8U6lX6UIaYYOnT5VTiJ8FLBIY2sUzXRqp8XLtLJtXe6I5IIi3zCXOKMz_x5iHjtj3RupxRCxi_lSNz7f78Quh6OAXPNfQOdZCzC7KCSP6WXVGKI0qZFpZvPBWSO89hH7-gFs/s1600/family+pictures+3+2010+045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFbEy1i2P8U6lX6UIaYYOnT5VTiJ8FLBIY2sUzXRqp8XLtLJtXe6I5IIi3zCXOKMz_x5iHjtj3RupxRCxi_lSNz7f78Quh6OAXPNfQOdZCzC7KCSP6WXVGKI0qZFpZvPBWSO89hH7-gFs/s320/family+pictures+3+2010+045.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">On the roof.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In the dark. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Because Emma wanted to be CLOSER to the moon.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So her Daddy took her up there because he's a climber.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And climbers beget climbers.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's quite Biblical, don't you think</span>?</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So really, you can feed climbers anything.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Mostly they like chips and dip.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But who doesn't?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The point here is that it's okay to talk about lots of things in a cafe.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Up to and including dealing with children who are born with a death wish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sigh.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">PAGE BREAK! This is funny because Blogger wasn't cooperating at all as I copied and pasted these... so this is an early post on Rice Pudding because my rice pudding is one of those awesome things that gets requested at pot lucks (remember when we could get together like normal folks?) and there was a great pic of it but it is missing... I'm going to go hunt for it right now! And I found a pic of current climbers! The Mighty Finn (notice the bucket which is how they send up supplies into the tree, quite ingenious!) And Morgan pulling herself up down below. There were two bird nests in this tree, nice and high, and no one got their faces pecked off, so that was good! :) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6bWUu5uzk4O4eMNqHvLTelQcVFP9jUTTYjA_Cmk2fxN-UBj3uytMD7vbc6A4XapeaeXHJ_nJUXqm7cJcyjB8Qm1rj4zK_jDo-mbsfw3AYpkI6jAZ8gQi_P_gl5_KQb9Lrld4H8vgTr0/s320/Finn+climbing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6bWUu5uzk4O4eMNqHvLTelQcVFP9jUTTYjA_Cmk2fxN-UBj3uytMD7vbc6A4XapeaeXHJ_nJUXqm7cJcyjB8Qm1rj4zK_jDo-mbsfw3AYpkI6jAZ8gQi_P_gl5_KQb9Lrld4H8vgTr0/s0/Finn+climbing.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>AND THE RICE PUDDING!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg02YqzXfPeQsXvaPLdN3VQm4PfPnUe4qzHVH2T9JyqGe-MmxSgZUBs5I3enOWupXvgxA0iQVcpxbeioSGqk8gJEUtd_Fb8l4Gvk3RTgBPQlSkXM0dZXRMlNqTtDJMC6HyNpvXbISKsAA/s320/Rice+Pudding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg02YqzXfPeQsXvaPLdN3VQm4PfPnUe4qzHVH2T9JyqGe-MmxSgZUBs5I3enOWupXvgxA0iQVcpxbeioSGqk8gJEUtd_Fb8l4Gvk3RTgBPQlSkXM0dZXRMlNqTtDJMC6HyNpvXbISKsAA/s0/Rice+Pudding.JPG" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>AND HERE IS THE ORIGINAL RICE PUDDING POST FROM 2011.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rice pudding is famous.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Almost every culture has a form of sweet rice.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet rice and custard????</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my stars, better yet!<br /><br />I worked in a Greek Family restaurant for eleven years. They made Greek rice pudding...<br /><br />It was good, but this way is better. I'm going to go out on a limb and say WAY BETTER.<br /><br />But try it. Taste test. You be the judge.<br /><br />Baked rice puddings can get dry. Pithy. <br /><br />YUCK.<br /><br />Greek rice puddings lack depth of flavor. They're tasty and sweet, but it's basically rice and milk and sugar, slow simmered.<br /><br />Ummm.... Not so much. <br /><br />But this????<br /><br />Oh. This is GOOD STUFF!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This recipe is a mix of my old fashioned custard recipe from the Cream Corn Starch box, circa 1970-something. An older neighbor told me about it and I was always looking for great basic recipes. Why re-invent the wheel?</div><div style="text-align: center;">So this basic vanilla pudding rocks. It's done in about 10 minutes (including cooking time)</div><div style="text-align: center;">has no chemical or weird aftertaste and I use it as a filling for fancy cakes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Boston Cream Pie</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cannolis</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cream puffs</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the base for rice pudding:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the original recipe:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 cup Butter (one-half stick)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup Cream Corn Starch</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 Cups Sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Cups Milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Egg Yolks</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 teaspoons vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Melt butter in 3 quart saucepan. Remove from heat for a minute. Just long enough to add the sugar/corn starch mixture and not burn anything. Mix sugar and cornstarch in bowl. Add to butter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Add in milk and egg yolks.<br />(the whites can be used for meringue kisses... or scrambled egg whites... or white cake...)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw__4cFhrivdZY6RxfuWLeEG9A879-LEcRa70abG_5UMrD911eNYr_fx7cPepXN9xXE5chFYEhUbnV6LuSSlEXBaPf3WHXBL4g-woMMO1AdsF-lM0ES-fGrv_izQyDGKRi2aXmfyHcJ0T2/s1600/DSC03063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw__4cFhrivdZY6RxfuWLeEG9A879-LEcRa70abG_5UMrD911eNYr_fx7cPepXN9xXE5chFYEhUbnV6LuSSlEXBaPf3WHXBL4g-woMMO1AdsF-lM0ES-fGrv_izQyDGKRi2aXmfyHcJ0T2/s320/DSC03063.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br /><br />Whisk until combined.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKtkQjDK0Qvy4zN8k3-takRJiEQdVdBoWcPJMrOPPDRl8lT8Fy_O4XY-zZ6gHKC-ZUDC6zphtjKA7cMNVzLxzaw-7tY4j5RtpWgeWX9gLyjkEFIvs0xWU9vCsGboYrEsssvy43ZbZS_Vb/s1600/DSC03064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKtkQjDK0Qvy4zN8k3-takRJiEQdVdBoWcPJMrOPPDRl8lT8Fy_O4XY-zZ6gHKC-ZUDC6zphtjKA7cMNVzLxzaw-7tY4j5RtpWgeWX9gLyjkEFIvs0xWU9vCsGboYrEsssvy43ZbZS_Vb/s320/DSC03064.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br /><br />Cook over medium to medium high heat (only if you STAND THERE AND STIR. Do not do what I do and think you can fold a load of laundry or check e-mails. Trust me. You cannot.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you mess up the above step and burn it, sigh...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I do that often. Then I realize I am not Super Mom or a Magic Fairy and pudding should be stirred.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So then I stand there and stir the next batch while reading a great ROMANCE NOVEL like this one:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYWq5brZ0eQ44DAVwd_sugBNng7gqXBakCNK9DWdiA1pDNMDBx6gbC2ZTi9X1F_iOjAnlV1mhPfNhJHAykOjz0WeNBJeF-4NJBkOlgujSINXAJKOFmprNabZzsb3mYffImw8o16g7-yek/s1600/Her+Unlikely+Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYWq5brZ0eQ44DAVwd_sugBNng7gqXBakCNK9DWdiA1pDNMDBx6gbC2ZTi9X1F_iOjAnlV1mhPfNhJHAykOjz0WeNBJeF-4NJBkOlgujSINXAJKOFmprNabZzsb3mYffImw8o16g7-yek/w126-h200/Her+Unlikely+Family.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See, then the time passes quickly. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We Yanks are a strange breed. Yes. I know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, so stir until thick and mixture just comes to a boil.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Remove from heat, add vanilla.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">DONE!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it, the base, the bottom line, the delicious, creamy custardy goodness.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykoT9Gdj1VkcFTOvAqv1FsW3EDL1mnr2Tv21FgK2Foez6ZspfH6PiTSTkqkGnwjlWhJQR4af2vlwlC6WVhWgdGAjUnxB8e2q7nPQDZuU0wLCBsW3ZBZklaOtRrBcgOyu1DcAciHDfGYEz/s1600/DSC03067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykoT9Gdj1VkcFTOvAqv1FsW3EDL1mnr2Tv21FgK2Foez6ZspfH6PiTSTkqkGnwjlWhJQR4af2vlwlC6WVhWgdGAjUnxB8e2q7nPQDZuU0wLCBsW3ZBZklaOtRrBcgOyu1DcAciHDfGYEz/s320/DSC03067.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Add cooked rice.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Vj0nQL-4oCqrlWfTq5FWKzs8KHvlAu1h7a3Fqfwe0tpuQoURML4BN9DLP_q4zxPDwWfw0J8gldgdQzXEZLjdxS_tsZakv6qVu13VM5L-XdjsS-qMW5mKRD-mfbXpfZjP04Z2B0nxqsc/s1600/DSC03066.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Vj0nQL-4oCqrlWfTq5FWKzs8KHvlAu1h7a3Fqfwe0tpuQoURML4BN9DLP_q4zxPDwWfw0J8gldgdQzXEZLjdxS_tsZakv6qVu13VM5L-XdjsS-qMW5mKRD-mfbXpfZjP04Z2B0nxqsc/s320/DSC03066.JPG" width="180px" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I use Basmati rice because I love the texture, but you can use any normal rice. Typically rice can be cooked like this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4 cups water (I do measure this)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tablespoon salt (No, I don't measure, I just dump)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups rice (this I measure)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Splash of olive oil</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Bring water to a boil. Add in salt, oil and rice. Bring back to a boil. Cover lightly, reduce heat to simmer for twenty minutes. Turn off heat.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now this is how I make rice all the time. And it works great. The hint of salt in the rice is AWESOME in the pudding.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mix rice with custard. Put in bowl. Sprinkle with nutmeg.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s320/Ruthy+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s0/Ruthy+2012.JPG" /></a></div><br />Award-winning, multi-published author Ruth Logan Herne loves God, her country (she bleeds red white and blue... and Yankee blue in particular!)... her family, and she's particularly in love with kids because they keep her-- and her mindset-- young! Email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com. Visit her website ruthloganherne.com and/or visit her on Facebook.</div></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-11319275178793428602021-01-20T00:00:00.001-05:002021-01-20T00:00:07.234-05:00Looking back - A Favorite Guest Post<p> Mindy gave me a wonderful idea with her post yesterday. I went back to see what some of my first posts here were. This is one of my favorites. I made it as a guest post before I was a regular. </p><p><b style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">British Cheese and Onion Potato Pie</b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I know it’s January and we’re supposed to be being good and eating low-carb and all, but potatoes are good for you. Really. They’re a good source of potassium, so think of this recipe as good for your blood pressure. Besides, it’s the perfect warm up your insides food for a cold January day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Whew! Now that I’ve gotten the rationalizing out of the way, let me tell you about this recipe.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My youngest daughter is a vegetarian which is fine most of the year but it makes holiday meals difficult for her. This year I was trying to find a recipe to entice her while everyone else was savoring the Christmas ham.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2021 update - she later became a vegan so no more eating this. :(</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I stumbled across a recipe on BBC for a Cheese and Onion Pie. Since my daughter spent a wonderful month in London this summer and was still longing to go back, I figured this would be a hit.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This is the basic BBC recipe:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For the pastry<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">450g/1lb <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/plain_flour" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">plain flour</span></a>, plus extra for dusting<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2 tsp <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/baking_powder" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">baking powder</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">½ tsp <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/salt" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">salt</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">120g/4½oz unsalted <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/butter" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">butter</span></a>, plus extra for greasing<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1 free-range <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/egg_yolk" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">egg yolk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">50g/2oz <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/parmesan_cheese" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">parmesan</span></a> cheese, grated<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">120ml/4fl oz water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1 free-range <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/egg" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">egg</span></a>, beaten, for glazing<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For the filling<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1 medium <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/potato" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">potato</span></a>, peeled and cut into cubes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2 <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/onion" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">onions</span></a>, finely sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1 tbsp <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/plain_flour" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">plain flour</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">50ml/2oz whole <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/milk" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">milk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">50ml/2oz <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/double_cream" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">double cream</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">150g/5½oz mature <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/cheddar_cheese" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">cheddar</span></a> cheese, grated<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">½ tsp <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/english_mustard" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">English mustard</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">½ tsp <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/cayenne_pepper" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">cayenne pepper</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">salt and freshly ground <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/black_pepper" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">black pepper</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I’m going to be honest with you – I didn’t follow the recipe much at all.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">First, I didn’t make the pastry crust. I used the Oronoco Farms frozen crust I had in the freezer. My daughter loves that crust so why mess with it?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Second, I basically used the ingredient list and then adapted it to what I had on hand. I used about 8 large potatoes, peeled them and set them to boil.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdqewxmaNywaIQc2dlEBMueWD0r4LicN1PYbHkqO-rbEmtAhzYaJmUekhyphenhyphentJO3qqIk6w6-ORKzNd_9__187O5sb_YnldJtM2fVmNyWRvHnKXqPd454WlIgpJhjRRumSAxJ1Z8EqajGY6j/s1600/Mary+curry+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdqewxmaNywaIQc2dlEBMueWD0r4LicN1PYbHkqO-rbEmtAhzYaJmUekhyphenhyphentJO3qqIk6w6-ORKzNd_9__187O5sb_YnldJtM2fVmNyWRvHnKXqPd454WlIgpJhjRRumSAxJ1Z8EqajGY6j/s1600/Mary+curry+1.png" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><o:p> </o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">While the potatoes boiled, I diced 1 sweet onion and 1 red onion and sautéed them in Irish butter until they were translucent.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv6d267TiOfN7DtWS8XBh_4tpC5QDdwUspgwrZQhdqSCj641BgPjlU6t1ejDr8g2WbNUg92ljqRZVYdFeovY3uHqdPI8SkK0AlkmBM6kFmbVoVxEb6EYC-P3XX3XTlSdcOhVTvOfj3KOD/s1600/mary+curry+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv6d267TiOfN7DtWS8XBh_4tpC5QDdwUspgwrZQhdqSCj641BgPjlU6t1ejDr8g2WbNUg92ljqRZVYdFeovY3uHqdPI8SkK0AlkmBM6kFmbVoVxEb6EYC-P3XX3XTlSdcOhVTvOfj3KOD/s1600/mary+curry+2.png" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then I mixed the potatoes, the onion mix, some milk and lots of cheese and layered it into the pre-baked pie crust, topped it with an extra layer of cheese, and set it to bake about half an hour at about 350 degrees.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7yredbtukEc-pFJbrlRuP-T2qRQVB9SJ1fU_VfB94OxcGQ1FmkpP_kxcfLyMc-NMpIwFez4h6qxlYsOLLvhzf-P-wKK3YRaYYbojCKnGvPDCwCwBBizKj2OoFB3FBLnVYtTqlzcdv444/s1600/mary+curry+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7yredbtukEc-pFJbrlRuP-T2qRQVB9SJ1fU_VfB94OxcGQ1FmkpP_kxcfLyMc-NMpIwFez4h6qxlYsOLLvhzf-P-wKK3YRaYYbojCKnGvPDCwCwBBizKj2OoFB3FBLnVYtTqlzcdv444/s1600/mary+curry+3.png" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The result was delicious. Both my daughter and I ate way too much of it and then we enjoyed leftovers for a few days. It was that good!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The BBC pie had a top crust, but I didn’t put the top crust on mine because I liked the bubbling cheese on top. I’m sure either way is delicious. (And the BBC one looks a whole lot prettier.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I did a variation another night with artichoke hearts but that wasn’t as delicious as I’d imagined it would be. The artichokes just got mushy. I’d like to try it with salmon baked in but I’ll have to do that separate from my daughter’s portion. NOTE: I did and it was fabulous.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have you ever made something like this? Do you have any suggestions of things to add in for variety?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And here’s a link to the original recipe. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cheeseandonionpie_89625</div>Cate Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10424872139114718902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-12452606030547367412021-01-19T01:00:00.151-05:002021-01-19T01:00:09.230-05:00Back to the Beginning with Chicken and Dumplings<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I can't believe it was nine years ago this month that I joined the Yankee-Belle Cafe. Ruthy, aka The Yank, and Missy, aka The Belle, decided to add to the menu by offering up Tuesdays with the Texan. And that very first recipe I shared is still one of my favorites. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FMCkndX7Y77RBdhwjY-Cc0zYh3nK0XzaNf0INxJ37zFWX01u8pvgZbRN_Mg-96uPAWwul2SMf4HVQV_AMFPQMLTiXI4gg6cgtZ17ZYZZI4K_K_OpveInGG7FB0Jz33EIBL9MzEnLLFQ/s1200/IMG_1867-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FMCkndX7Y77RBdhwjY-Cc0zYh3nK0XzaNf0INxJ37zFWX01u8pvgZbRN_Mg-96uPAWwul2SMf4HVQV_AMFPQMLTiXI4gg6cgtZ17ZYZZI4K_K_OpveInGG7FB0Jz33EIBL9MzEnLLFQ/w400-h300/IMG_1867-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good old fashioned chicken and dumplings are one of my family's favorites when the weather turns cool. Comfort food to the max. My girls' great-grandmother taught me how to make them, which means I learned from the best. Many of Lois's recipes are forever woven into the fabric of my family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4e2800;">The first thing we need to do is make our chicken stock, which will also provide us with the chicken half of our chicken and dumplings. So, in a large Dutch oven or stock pot, add</span></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"> </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">one </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">chicken</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"> (or whatever type of chicken meat you might have on hand), two or three </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">carrots</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"> cut into thirds, a couple stalks of </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">celery</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">, one </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">onion</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">, quartered, some salt and pepper</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">. I like to skin my chicken so there isn't as much fat in the broth, but that's a personal preference.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxB4IJTX8d9Bl06BsqCj56IWqRV0tWxs0ShJxN0iGRs_vVcQGec_fkQW5XojVEgKtFOdtteV5xKGP_LKe4LcFGd5RozaE31bwk2Qr-g_sr_PFL10m9siktO3V6mMzjX-xbJINNKCufV4/s1600/chicken+pot+before+boiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxB4IJTX8d9Bl06BsqCj56IWqRV0tWxs0ShJxN0iGRs_vVcQGec_fkQW5XojVEgKtFOdtteV5xKGP_LKe4LcFGd5RozaE31bwk2Qr-g_sr_PFL10m9siktO3V6mMzjX-xbJINNKCufV4/w400-h300/chicken+pot+before+boiling.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">Add three quarts of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow to cool for a little while before </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: arial;">removing chicken and vegetables. Strain broth, discarding solids.</span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b5653b; font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KxI-LJhB0y1WS_YZ9L9qcDbMjYKU65T-dDHYBq2rTZR16Zrxdk-Sm0nMDFy2yaUwEEOOVl8gTeiKokZX8WS2HtI2Pq0gT_-vf_D65pkozs68pe3DNvqQNx9tvVn8UDMbaG7MX4ar1_k/s1600/chicken+and+veggies+removed+from+pot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KxI-LJhB0y1WS_YZ9L9qcDbMjYKU65T-dDHYBq2rTZR16Zrxdk-Sm0nMDFy2yaUwEEOOVl8gTeiKokZX8WS2HtI2Pq0gT_-vf_D65pkozs68pe3DNvqQNx9tvVn8UDMbaG7MX4ar1_k/w400-h300/chicken+and+veggies+removed+from+pot.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Once the bird is cool enough to touch, remove the meat from the bone and chop into bite-size pieces. For the most part, the veggies don't make it into the soup, however I like to smash the carrots into tiny pieces and add those.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm74E_JeaNUgFhwyUBBD7soGrQI0vB9FKPMXFeBh0h6XV-2d9zkYT31lCt6Ejinv5mUcWE44EkhQHyIzkMR1G-7BJZRa2ScZKSzYpn8xGrvPttj_2EKlXwwJe9x46QyMhgGKELXKfuqU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm74E_JeaNUgFhwyUBBD7soGrQI0vB9FKPMXFeBh0h6XV-2d9zkYT31lCt6Ejinv5mUcWE44EkhQHyIzkMR1G-7BJZRa2ScZKSzYpn8xGrvPttj_2EKlXwwJe9x46QyMhgGKELXKfuqU/w400-h300/photo.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">Return broth to Dutch oven, along with the chicken, and bring to boiling. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">While you're waiting for the broth to boil, prepare your dumplings.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">Combine:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /></span><ul style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">3/4 cup buttermilk</span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 tsp. vegetable or canola oil </span></li><li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Approx. 1 1/2-1 3/4 cups self-rising flour (if the mixture seems too sticky, add more flour in small amounts)</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">Turn dough onto a floured surface and kneed a handful of times.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;">From here, it's up to your personal preference. Some like their dumplings big, others like them small. I like a bite of dumpling in every spoonful. My sons want as few dumplings as possible. Personally, I think that's just wrong, but they're brats.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;" /></span><div style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can roll out the dough and cut it into pieces. That's too much work for me so I flatten a portion of dough on a cutting board, slice into strips, then cut the dumplings into the <strong>boiling</strong> broth mixture with a scrapper or knife. Remember, you can add as many or as few as you like.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdInuFJzKB_7L6zZI5_Q8EZ4RXuLF6iZlzfCGhJROS9U6BpVgPBq4XpHPeG4vuxGWo7PNX3weGMPzMOjveP9jDqtcetUbrav3fU438dfOR8FYyat_pdy0PnU7x8d08QZiKQt4akFQYYZ4/s1600/dropping+dumplings+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdInuFJzKB_7L6zZI5_Q8EZ4RXuLF6iZlzfCGhJROS9U6BpVgPBq4XpHPeG4vuxGWo7PNX3weGMPzMOjveP9jDqtcetUbrav3fU438dfOR8FYyat_pdy0PnU7x8d08QZiKQt4akFQYYZ4/w400-h300/dropping+dumplings+2.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Once you've added your dumplings, reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes. Then get ready for a bowlful of pleasure. </span></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both;"><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMGWB-rLquwgOgp08zFpefpvLQV9j4vzogp81Tg0fqwilBRf86vL-lPVj6NqzBmhbZs8hVcBWZeqe6wT-18k0naN2oMUOxWepkx6ATx8sxKHKV1PEFwuKaQG2wxcylbhTotD_fiQIvcQ/s1200/IMG_1867-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMGWB-rLquwgOgp08zFpefpvLQV9j4vzogp81Tg0fqwilBRf86vL-lPVj6NqzBmhbZs8hVcBWZeqe6wT-18k0naN2oMUOxWepkx6ATx8sxKHKV1PEFwuKaQG2wxcylbhTotD_fiQIvcQ/w400-h300/IMG_1867-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Now, if you find making the dumplings intimidating, here's a secret shortcut Greatmom sometimes used--canned biscuits. Simply break or cut them into pieces and drop into the boiling broth. Easy-peasy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both;"><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both;"><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">A lot has changed in the last nine years. But one thing that will never change is our love of family and food. Good food that stirs fond memories and continues generation after generation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both;"><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both;"><span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">What's family favorite dish that has been passed down through the generations at your house?</span></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s1600/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="803" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s200/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="199" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at <a href="http://mindyobenhaus.com/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">mindyobenhaus.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Mindy Obenhaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049730175697756032noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-19289989509678527762021-01-18T02:00:00.009-05:002021-01-18T02:00:01.534-05:00The Best of Jan's Best, part one<p> Jan here. I hope you have heard the news by now. If not, go read Missy's post from last week: <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-future-of-our-wonderful-cafe-blog.html" target="_blank">The Future of our Wonderful Cafe Blog.</a></p><p>Yes, it's true.</p><p>To celebrate the winding down of the blog, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite posts. The first one is this week. This post has garnered more visitors for the blog than any other I've written, and I've never done a rerun of it until now.</p><p>The year: 2013. The storm: Atlas.</p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #f48d1d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">October Blizzard: "MacGyver That Sauce" Spaghetti</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">The rain started Thursday evening.<br /><br /><i>"When she was in bed with Mary and Carrie, she stayed awake to keep on being happy. She was so sleepily comfortable and cosy. The rain on the roof was a pleasant sound." (all quotes are from <u>The Long Winter</u> by Laura Ingalls Wilder)</i><br /><i><br /></i>We live with an advantage Laura Ingalls Wilder couldn't have imagined in the winter of 1880-81: weather forecasters. We were expecting rain, and we were planning for snow as colder air was expected to wrap itself around the low pressure system.<br /><br />The forecast on Thursday morning said "potential for significant snow accumulation", "12-14 inches", "20 inches in the Hills."<br /><br />I told my husband he should take his overnight kit with him to work - but he didn't think we'd really get all that snow. "Up in the Hills, maybe..."<br /><br />Around 6:00 am Friday morning, the rain turned to snow. We had already gotten 2 1/2 inches of rain overnight, and before the day was over we were to receive the highest recorded one day snowfall total for our city: 19". (By the time the storm ended, our official total was 31", and up in the Hills they got 48".)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiYanMfsG8vkvovQvtjhQPvzikWvb6phSQ6DPS345L2ISlsZRsjoMh5g5atdLvD56nJsp_OePMifdGZjMDcpl685YU-MAMk9X533PxL9AVni6MJQN1BsJTijUhQE6FOyjCL0Y8lHOixg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiYanMfsG8vkvovQvtjhQPvzikWvb6phSQ6DPS345L2ISlsZRsjoMh5g5atdLvD56nJsp_OePMifdGZjMDcpl685YU-MAMk9X533PxL9AVni6MJQN1BsJTijUhQE6FOyjCL0Y8lHOixg/s320/006.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Thatcher's first snow. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it in the beginning!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The wind picked up around noon, and soon after that the hospital where my husband works called "condition snow", which means no employees leave their job until their replacement can come in. My husband doesn't have a replacement - he would be at the hospital for the duration.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8yEqeKrJb9hKaPniBywJDXl-oYEDB7cc7hPAOvQk_XAQ47KGa_Phaa-onB9xDdhPENcsHVzA_29JlJafteAQ5_BrXRRv2eSFeZc1b8zrvhdfOXvDWtYCdFDPxmPzSMyKFZSrjVJMg3U/s1600/100_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8yEqeKrJb9hKaPniBywJDXl-oYEDB7cc7hPAOvQk_XAQ47KGa_Phaa-onB9xDdhPENcsHVzA_29JlJafteAQ5_BrXRRv2eSFeZc1b8zrvhdfOXvDWtYCdFDPxmPzSMyKFZSrjVJMg3U/s320/100_2593.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />By mid-afternoon, letting the dogs out through the patio door was impossible. The winds, increasing in speed by the hour, swirled the snow around the corners of the house. Drifts climbed higher, blocking doors and windows, and tearing trees apart.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgkOUf7KHzsY5PHd_Tx-QJX_V3WcN26MKfVrTHGO6xIP3-0Qe-VwDqptl7yVw5Ea1VzUanUGojA4490wF6WpXxFlLppITFBad5UL83u1BCILLoT6do5eTWLwVRDjS0htFJHsR0Nf4jkQ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgkOUf7KHzsY5PHd_Tx-QJX_V3WcN26MKfVrTHGO6xIP3-0Qe-VwDqptl7yVw5Ea1VzUanUGojA4490wF6WpXxFlLppITFBad5UL83u1BCILLoT6do5eTWLwVRDjS0htFJHsR0Nf4jkQ/s320/015.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />I took them out the front door, where the garage formed a wind block. The dogs ventured out into what had been our front yard....<br /><br />Wynter, who has always loved the wind, and will often face it with her nose in the air catching every scent, turned her back to this monster.<br /><br />I ventured out of my shelter and gasped for breath. The wind was just as Laura had described so many years ago - a living, angry thing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOGdQJTJrTLru3ii7D1VD_LmY8mAiPm2y7dDjY2XHrezo-qIhSt1l1vvuTkW9LANFa3VLBURlq_-mSqu79P3gpVTMirV6EZ50YwLFIKX2AHwnDc3Ht6gzxVAtutOkHRfqxKIcn_Nn2z8/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOGdQJTJrTLru3ii7D1VD_LmY8mAiPm2y7dDjY2XHrezo-qIhSt1l1vvuTkW9LANFa3VLBURlq_-mSqu79P3gpVTMirV6EZ50YwLFIKX2AHwnDc3Ht6gzxVAtutOkHRfqxKIcn_Nn2z8/s320/019.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />We went back inside the house.<br /><div><br /></div><br />Our middle son works at the mall, just over a mile away from our house. The mall closed at 3:00, and he got home around 4:00, after helping some of the other mall employees who had gotten stuck in the drifts.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-QBYoq9QX5AgNBxL3J4HdarOnXnOtHsEyOS55dYmVzQr3oxtpZXV8stXr5_YyOcQHDdtrd-P8BFl4rnPcrcZioPkXVXLHv-P1zlYadTB_kCp1L71uMrVy-IsWyM336eiBpakrzOSBdg/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-QBYoq9QX5AgNBxL3J4HdarOnXnOtHsEyOS55dYmVzQr3oxtpZXV8stXr5_YyOcQHDdtrd-P8BFl4rnPcrcZioPkXVXLHv-P1zlYadTB_kCp1L71uMrVy-IsWyM336eiBpakrzOSBdg/s320/021.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">The dogs went out to greet him!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Our two other sons and our daughter hadn't gone anywhere - school and work were cancelled - so when Benjamin got home, we were tucked in for the night...all except for my husband, holding down the fort and feeding the employees and patients at the hospital.<br /><br /><i>"The window was a white blur of madly swirling snow. Snow had blown under the door and across the floor and every nail in the walls was white with frost.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Pa had gone to the stable. Laura was glad that they had so many haystacks in a row between the stable and the shanty. Going from haystack to haystack, Pa would not get lost.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>'A b-b-b-b-blizzard!' Ma chattered. 'In Oc-October I n-n-never heard of...'"</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHMc9m2VIIm3_1Db6wfqrS2GWwqUQPf04WC1-i5tHcPBGUAOP1IMPei9Ql0T_c_pBypwYN9MvOLLCXPTZzt47nMkgiM3gIoGfGgxcbUh5LkPca_7hVl5fdiB1CSHQNaPFeCCrG7_fnlo/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHMc9m2VIIm3_1Db6wfqrS2GWwqUQPf04WC1-i5tHcPBGUAOP1IMPei9Ql0T_c_pBypwYN9MvOLLCXPTZzt47nMkgiM3gIoGfGgxcbUh5LkPca_7hVl5fdiB1CSHQNaPFeCCrG7_fnlo/s320/017.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Friday noon</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWTsV8vMg1DmYaY0FVHT5C_ZJoNLpJ6tZM-h1o0JPi8Xs2gplOON3d_KoxADg2GyahJvRmRBgu1FeBuedyRsTX5kG42ucoHfxmLycLt8ghZ70nHct7teO3BDSrBIUGPvrNX6_0DnAGDA/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWTsV8vMg1DmYaY0FVHT5C_ZJoNLpJ6tZM-h1o0JPi8Xs2gplOON3d_KoxADg2GyahJvRmRBgu1FeBuedyRsTX5kG42ucoHfxmLycLt8ghZ70nHct7teO3BDSrBIUGPvrNX6_0DnAGDA/s320/028.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Friday afternoon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosURTsgu-QcPLbrHeOjkHqQI2-gB4xFlySXPkocOtTW8pfh7kO8uleQ3ZPcfzPti8QxAPcf6X0NdrlSoPfYi-RCNBVwZllTHLHqLwUTRwu-EOVEtnycZixg-otKRbk0H_CHUeE2g-nRk/s1600/100_2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosURTsgu-QcPLbrHeOjkHqQI2-gB4xFlySXPkocOtTW8pfh7kO8uleQ3ZPcfzPti8QxAPcf6X0NdrlSoPfYi-RCNBVwZllTHLHqLwUTRwu-EOVEtnycZixg-otKRbk0H_CHUeE2g-nRk/s320/100_2594.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Saturday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /></i>Our power flickered on and off all day on Friday, but daughter Carrie decided to try to make dinner anyway. She and Michael worked together to make us a feast. Not quite Ma Ingalls' beans and salt pork, but it was delicious.<br /><br />So, what do you fix for dinner when the electricity is flickering? Whatever you can find in the pantry...<br /><br />We found some cooked Italian Sausage in the freezer, some of the tomatoes I canned in September, and a can of diced tomatoes...so Carrie and Michael "MacGyvered" some spaghetti sauce.<br /><br /><b>MacGyver That Sauce</b><br /><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JKZqSVvlFkt83RWzfKA-AXPJIQyy4rnY37qYrRbJ9vb8zEOu84rQujZoe8BMZuVhbX0NHTPMqyWAnBL1T0THE5IDNFgD_0hmYqYhh46mU5M5ZRcasmvNIDjhQua6Grgh-dphzClQ0jo/s1600/IMG_20131004_183931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #b5653b; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JKZqSVvlFkt83RWzfKA-AXPJIQyy4rnY37qYrRbJ9vb8zEOu84rQujZoe8BMZuVhbX0NHTPMqyWAnBL1T0THE5IDNFgD_0hmYqYhh46mU5M5ZRcasmvNIDjhQua6Grgh-dphzClQ0jo/s320/IMG_20131004_183931.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><i>Ingredients:</i><br />8 oz tomato sauce<br />1 cup water<br />14.5 oz can diced tomatoes<br />1/2 pound Sweet Italian Sausage (browned)<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 teaspoon oregano<br />1 Bay leaf<br />1/2 teaspoon onion powder<br />1/4 teaspoon Rosemary<br />1/2 teaspoon Parsley flakes<br />1/2 teaspoon Basil<br />1/2 teaspoon Thyme<br />salt and pepper to taste<br /><br />Cook sausage and garlic together. Add tomato sauce, water and diced tomatoes. Stir in all seasonings and let simmer 20-30 minutes, or until desired consistency.<br /><br />Add to cooked pasta and stir to mix.<br /><br />It was delicious! She also made an apple torte with salted caramel topping for dessert - tune in next week for that recipe :)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuLcrazAWCFwdw_ITSDLqvxUeX4Wt8rA7Ro8goVbQOwRFCYcbSXdZAF9QDQyV-ccTdBu8ByvgiBz6zE1A8wrs9AlnHFQd0YTSjJJbFhAPAXE-nBJnaR1ODGHGmlc-oDV2R3AxUzjUIp4/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuLcrazAWCFwdw_ITSDLqvxUeX4Wt8rA7Ro8goVbQOwRFCYcbSXdZAF9QDQyV-ccTdBu8ByvgiBz6zE1A8wrs9AlnHFQd0YTSjJJbFhAPAXE-nBJnaR1ODGHGmlc-oDV2R3AxUzjUIp4/s320/026.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Friday evening</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We had just cleared the dishes when the power went out. And stayed out. We ate our dessert by lantern light.<br /><br /><i>"Then Pa had to bring in more wood. They were thankful that the woodpile was close to the back door. Pa staggered in breathless with the first armful. When he could speak he said, 'This wind takes your breath away. If I'd thought of such a storm as this, I'd have filled this shanty with wood yesterday."</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHhCv0G_PNjZr1iTQ_wJ8UD2yPOusAnIXD62A9YpzWyAZXNBiTJN-eSIpCEkc37s9izT8WGStZduBg8VH5HqiiBGqV0xz_ck2N75eSXelNt6iD9e-Y5vrbbn6w5JoFfnIHip8CxipMAY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHhCv0G_PNjZr1iTQ_wJ8UD2yPOusAnIXD62A9YpzWyAZXNBiTJN-eSIpCEkc37s9izT8WGStZduBg8VH5HqiiBGqV0xz_ck2N75eSXelNt6iD9e-Y5vrbbn6w5JoFfnIHip8CxipMAY/s320/001.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><i><br /></i><i><br /></i>We were so thankful for our wood stove. It kept the house so warm, the boys were sitting around in their undershirts (Boys. Sheesh.) After a few rousing games of Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan, we added wood to the fire, blew out the lantern, and went to bed.<br /><br />As I tried to go to sleep, the wind pounded at the house, driving the snow against the window, searching for a way inside. Thunder roared along with the wind...<br /><br />What? You've never heard of thunder snow? Oh. My. How do I describe that? It was like a battle in the night...the wind howling, the thunder crashing, and the constant hammering of the snow against the house....<br /><br /><i>"But even after Laura was warm she lay awake listening to the wind's wild tune and thinking of each little house, in town, alone in the whirling snow with not even a light from the next house shining through. And the little town was alone on the wide prairie. Town and prairie were lost in the wild storm which was neither earth nor sky, nothing but fierce winds and a blank whiteness.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>For the storm was white. In the night, long after the sun had gone and the last daylight could not possibly be there, the blizzard was whirling white."</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSjZaR1HAy5EoXqp_Hx65W7pzAl4EM7-7VDWgt2j4VdQVRgkwWnCEBiktTypAzwl7w5ijRJU_8tCkgQdMipNNiAzv2UpTU7xTrEfLJbtctBrj17bazO9bpBLrXphypT2t-JX0w1jEjj0/s1600/100_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSjZaR1HAy5EoXqp_Hx65W7pzAl4EM7-7VDWgt2j4VdQVRgkwWnCEBiktTypAzwl7w5ijRJU_8tCkgQdMipNNiAzv2UpTU7xTrEfLJbtctBrj17bazO9bpBLrXphypT2t-JX0w1jEjj0/s320/100_2596.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Saturday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><br />We woke the next morning to a white world. The snow continued to drive in on the north wind. Drifts mounted...we couldn't open the front door anymore. I shoveled an open spot on the patio for the dogs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iQygpYahGx5JDcfTr_QJjLLyLj8Yw98CKaqj3JO55lRF8azL8SnTnWCyUa6p5fMk9HutMZCX1jtncFncb3GnXXE3fAbXMQSunEoWzqkL46aQBDwgaoAnK22sFtHPz18mLIXqfDLVkFI/s1600/100_2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iQygpYahGx5JDcfTr_QJjLLyLj8Yw98CKaqj3JO55lRF8azL8SnTnWCyUa6p5fMk9HutMZCX1jtncFncb3GnXXE3fAbXMQSunEoWzqkL46aQBDwgaoAnK22sFtHPz18mLIXqfDLVkFI/s320/100_2607.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="232" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6mNsOcitl0TJmbdx_PfYXQXeXoQqTErjGLgegTlX9-GX80USROido5hse8MWOczjUx3isSn0PqvBPrIOoB8zGXwatIR_vujaivyw7oGYC17_robN5T70sjFd6nyWugDUiAEO3nUUGV0/s1600/100_2608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6mNsOcitl0TJmbdx_PfYXQXeXoQqTErjGLgegTlX9-GX80USROido5hse8MWOczjUx3isSn0PqvBPrIOoB8zGXwatIR_vujaivyw7oGYC17_robN5T70sjFd6nyWugDUiAEO3nUUGV0/s320/100_2608.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="228" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z5UKv0dw2BzeDcMU0ps-uvQ6jKL7EGwLpsSNaGkzJn_U90aFgowls74nZ5C6OHivD-kU5fao_GgG3PW9DdLHJjfEQgDXaRU90ZdSQ449JoQS2OaXFj37Bzy_MDMJtBW6qyBfZ-cQ8AU/s1600/100_2609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z5UKv0dw2BzeDcMU0ps-uvQ6jKL7EGwLpsSNaGkzJn_U90aFgowls74nZ5C6OHivD-kU5fao_GgG3PW9DdLHJjfEQgDXaRU90ZdSQ449JoQS2OaXFj37Bzy_MDMJtBW6qyBfZ-cQ8AU/s320/100_2609.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />We heated water on the wood stove for hot chocolate, and cooked the boys' favorite Boy Scout camping breakfast: shipwreck (eggs, potatoes, sausage, cheese, all scrambled together).<br /><br />After more than twelve hours without electricity, we filled our cooler and set it in the snow, and ate everything that didn't fit in the cooler. I planned to start eating out of the freezer on Sunday...but we weren't in danger of running out of food, like Laura and her family were....<br /><br /><i>"Slowly they ate the last potatoes, skins and all. The blizzard was beating and scouring at the house, the winds were roaring and shrieking. The window was pale in the twilight and the stove pressed out its feeble heat against the cold."</i><br /><i><br /></i>The wind lessened on Saturday afternoon, and the snow let up enough so we could see out the windows. Three drifts filled our cul-de-sac. Another drift filled the yard on the north side of the house.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo-UhPHSkA1g-IxBvpAdbZD3aZ3sOT-ndAN9Bn7lY8Su_NtPwXLdMPr80u_gHEbnM8tE6JrB_40iBGEY676Cv5OrGOxabmGNVGqsFb53zIdJqapVgEjDW8oXh3fxhxftZJU4fV79bl4w/s1600/100_2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo-UhPHSkA1g-IxBvpAdbZD3aZ3sOT-ndAN9Bn7lY8Su_NtPwXLdMPr80u_gHEbnM8tE6JrB_40iBGEY676Cv5OrGOxabmGNVGqsFb53zIdJqapVgEjDW8oXh3fxhxftZJU4fV79bl4w/s320/100_2622.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">This drift, on the north side of the house. was about eight feet high.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />Our other neighbor had a drift as big and curved as a surf boarder's dream come true in their front yard. The dog's pen was filled to the top of the fence and over - the dogs had a nice romp through the neighborhood!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4whyq9ZxP11YzHn94ETIiUD7m0AleaWmHErpopASn-5LgM_NlpgZDRfu1FtJfcdQdCFBr46oU5rDowv6oclN89OIxWV9edvmpCMG4BfOronQE9eNvSAT7Zlaz3g9zlW-h7yPIV8O1DyY/s1600/100_2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4whyq9ZxP11YzHn94ETIiUD7m0AleaWmHErpopASn-5LgM_NlpgZDRfu1FtJfcdQdCFBr46oU5rDowv6oclN89OIxWV9edvmpCMG4BfOronQE9eNvSAT7Zlaz3g9zlW-h7yPIV8O1DyY/s320/100_2600.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Our wire fence is four feet high. The privacy fence across the creek to the left is six feet high.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />By suppertime, we had emptied the refrigerator of everything that was perishable, so I made chicken and noodles from ingredients in our emergency pantry (canned chicken, canned broth and noodles).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDenQ-6LUWprkTLk2MeoYp9bMbCVjCSqBi5V-ukP_9pzeNWeCcLF7i-heTD3jGTy3BIAHWFASHxjpeCi-WIGzd075yboi6IJmLpVkJqOG83JD4yq2KvmN-DezF10qk7aJB2QEfMgpEwKw/s1600/IMG_20131005_185025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDenQ-6LUWprkTLk2MeoYp9bMbCVjCSqBi5V-ukP_9pzeNWeCcLF7i-heTD3jGTy3BIAHWFASHxjpeCi-WIGzd075yboi6IJmLpVkJqOG83JD4yq2KvmN-DezF10qk7aJB2QEfMgpEwKw/s320/IMG_20131005_185025.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />And then, just as we were going to bed, the power came back on. The storm was over.<br /><br />On Sunday morning, the wind had died down and the temperatures warmed up to the 50's. The neighborhood came alive with folks shoveling the heavy, wet snow. By mid-afternoon, our streets were cleared and my husband was able to get home!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntJgyt3EFkpmSyp8YE6fCL_DssOAftGoLWFCCrIGbqR11Fs1SBA6NB6kNBc0l7dSqQHWIGoAwtsrCL9bwQzH1ILRjVE3n8B7CyrIPqIpKe4D3jRyLe5eB4TufwDjS0TS8BJolOcmQOyM/s1600/100_2624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntJgyt3EFkpmSyp8YE6fCL_DssOAftGoLWFCCrIGbqR11Fs1SBA6NB6kNBc0l7dSqQHWIGoAwtsrCL9bwQzH1ILRjVE3n8B7CyrIPqIpKe4D3jRyLe5eB4TufwDjS0TS8BJolOcmQOyM/s320/100_2624.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">Sunday afternoon - a very welcome sight!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-fUv7BLYvcqcT6_4dX5KRTpP4Q8LPxWKr9OaPh9UBz1kYd9CKKulwO1wdu1K6L87UJlCQwEK6Cm_GE55oKoXHSkzgknHlntZrzGeHGuSex0sTHxBtdHK7NJcMEc-l92R09mUW4B9GDo/s1600/100_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-fUv7BLYvcqcT6_4dX5KRTpP4Q8LPxWKr9OaPh9UBz1kYd9CKKulwO1wdu1K6L87UJlCQwEK6Cm_GE55oKoXHSkzgknHlntZrzGeHGuSex0sTHxBtdHK7NJcMEc-l92R09mUW4B9GDo/s320/100_2629.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;">This is one of four snow piles left in our cul-de-sac!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />But then we started hearing about the aftermath of the storm from beyond our back yard...<br /><br /><i>"When Pa came in Ma asked him, 'What was wrong with the cattle, Charles?'</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>'Their heads were frozen over with ice and snow,' Pa said. 'Their breath froze over their eyes and their noses till they couldn't see nor breathe.'</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Laura stopped sweeping. 'Pa! Their own breath! Smothering them,' she said in horror."</i><br /><i><br /></i>We live in ranching country. These ranches, most of them owned by families for more than a hundred years, are the life blood of western South Dakota. Since this area is semi-arid, the ranches are huge - measured in thousands of acres. Many ranchers own airplanes just so they are able to manage their land.<br /><br />But it's October. The cattle hadn't grown their winter coats yet. They hadn't been moved to winter pastures yet. The fall calves were still little....<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbMhtpA8mIxlO4Xn2tLR0ydEQbcd3a1Z1XgYfcnbNS1NBDZGjRBxzIleqDN_a1ApMs31V2gHI1D-zGDJuS8ZyEjtT1f5GM5NgP8NWojVd1qyX0y_qgi7PI1_hKL9KeiEMa0DxXTv69s/s1600/blackangus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbMhtpA8mIxlO4Xn2tLR0ydEQbcd3a1Z1XgYfcnbNS1NBDZGjRBxzIleqDN_a1ApMs31V2gHI1D-zGDJuS8ZyEjtT1f5GM5NgP8NWojVd1qyX0y_qgi7PI1_hKL9KeiEMa0DxXTv69s/s320/blackangus.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />This storm surpassed all predictions, all of the meteorologist's "computer models". We got twice as much snow as we were expecting, and the winds were at least 20 mph stronger than expected with gusts up to 70 mph and beyond. The prairies east of us weren't supposed to get snow at all...or maybe only a couple inches. And the storm started with rain...the animals were soaking wet when the wind and snow hit them.<br /><br />The cattle, ones who didn't succumb to hypothermia, drifted in front of the wind until they reached a barrier - a fence, a creek, a ditch - and huddled together. They were covered by drifting snow and suffocated.<br /><br />Cattle, horses...the storm wasn't picky.<br /><br />We don't know yet how many animals died in the storm. I've heard estimates ranging from 15,000 to 80,000. Pray for the ranchers in South Dakota. Some of them have lost everything. Everything. You can't start over from that.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaXT2AHiJghG7IYsPG8pb1pkFIJcOsHblxdno3CSqyZclky-f7VjLzwGXv1alPbfwo8H3EhwZsKo9MJynfSROij_fMZTmCjYu7tXMUPX-wlylL1mq5DfPPmydsZqp03EZ2jJDgt8a3Ng/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaXT2AHiJghG7IYsPG8pb1pkFIJcOsHblxdno3CSqyZclky-f7VjLzwGXv1alPbfwo8H3EhwZsKo9MJynfSROij_fMZTmCjYu7tXMUPX-wlylL1mq5DfPPmydsZqp03EZ2jJDgt8a3Ng/s1600/images+(1).jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Since the storm ended, our weather has been beautiful. Warm days, cool nights. The snow is nearly all gone. It's hard to believe that just a week ago we were still struggling to get out of our neighborhood.<br /><br /><i>"Nobody could say, exactly, that anything was wrong with that weather. It was beautiful Indian summer. Frosts came every night and sometimes a light freeze, but all the days were sunny. Every afternoon Laura and Mary took long walks in the warm sunshine, while Carrie played with Grace near the house."</i><br /><i><br /></i>But, like Pa Ingalls, we can't shake the feeling that there's just something wrong with the weather. Call me paranoid, but we're restocking our wood pile and our supply of lamp oil. The pantry is stocked...but I look at a half full bag of dog food and think "I need to get another bag."<br /><br />Are we looking at another Long Winter? I hope not...but I know we'll get through it just fine.<br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">* * * * * * * *</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">2021 update:</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">Most of the ranchers who survived the storm have recovered after more than seven years. But my ranching friends, when they mention that year, still speak in hushed tones. It was a nightmare. No one wants to experience something like that again. T</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">And just like any other disaster we have lived through - 9/11 comes to mind - as the time passes we can't <i>believe </i>it's been so long. It seems like it happened just last month...</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">In some ways, the past eleven months have been a lot like living through a disaster. I wonder what we'll remember when we look back ten or twenty years from now? Will the memories still be fresh?</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">And that simple spaghetti recipe still sticks with me! The joys of having a pantry to rely on in times of need!</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">Which reminds me - Do you have a few cans of soup stored away? An extra loaf of bread in the freezer? Some canned fruits and veggies? It's winter! Consider this your friendly reminder to keep at least two weeks of non-perishable food in the house!</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2375139292358567525" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAtZfWJs5bSor1L7ECg_eM5QOxTb2gJ_mokDX2xjYVrDpSg2I9lo-XdMWN7wxBXR8kDo5npT6w21rax5Nno9OtfqbxMlSOXqYpfP27ztJpRaVLQRAiKm6fNVGcAggzUY8oIvw_lZCZ40/s200/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAtZfWJs5bSor1L7ECg_eM5QOxTb2gJ_mokDX2xjYVrDpSg2I9lo-XdMWN7wxBXR8kDo5npT6w21rax5Nno9OtfqbxMlSOXqYpfP27ztJpRaVLQRAiKm6fNVGcAggzUY8oIvw_lZCZ40/s0/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" /></a></div><br />Jan Drexler has always been a "book girl" who still loves to spend time within the pages of her favorite books. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her dear husband of many years and their active, crazy dogs, Jack and Sam. You can learn more about Jan and her books on her website, </span><a href="http://www.jandrexler.com/" style="color: #b5653b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">www.JanDrexler.com</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #783f04;">.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>Jan Drexlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-33678790066353504492021-01-15T00:01:00.010-05:002021-01-15T00:01:21.980-05:00The Future of Our Wonderful Cafe Blog<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">Missy Tippens</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Yankee-Belle Cafe was started as an extension of the <a href="https://seekerville.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seekerville Blog</a> for writers back in 2011 when we developed a website laid out like a downtown. We decided to have virtual shops in our Village. Ruthy and I decided to pair up to open a place to chat and share recipes from New York and Georgia, and we later added bloggers from around the country to add more local flavor. The Cafe has been going strong all these years! It has been so much fun to share recipes and lifestyle posts and to chat with y'all.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygAeFfNkQZoLlU5DcIECthYhMybnhRYGWcuZGdv52NQQAtunDa2pezG_70G_Drk94VS-ltbW5TwqUBlD4c2XaCXnka7o3O8hyphenhyphenpFmK6kupl-BcuPLfSI-XY-S4yyVjclInYg_WrhKZvZyH/s500/Minimalistic+Floral+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygAeFfNkQZoLlU5DcIECthYhMybnhRYGWcuZGdv52NQQAtunDa2pezG_70G_Drk94VS-ltbW5TwqUBlD4c2XaCXnka7o3O8hyphenhyphenpFmK6kupl-BcuPLfSI-XY-S4yyVjclInYg_WrhKZvZyH/s320/Minimalistic+Floral+Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We here at the Cafe have been thinking off and on for a while now about when we might decide to close the doors at our blog. I recently retired from the main Seekerville blog and had been thinking it might be time to retire here as well. Once we started discussing my retirement, we decided that because all of us have our time pulled in many directions, maybe it was time to end our wonderful adventure here at the Cafe. Though a difficult decision, we plan to close at the end of January.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">BUT... we are not going to be removing all our posts. They will remain here as an archive. Especially since some of us (me included!) have told our children that anytime they want one of Mom's recipes, they can come here to find it. :)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD2YKsa3OMv-lMjcR-fLjSd4eTGP8_dHCeTlG9AdS6GlJNksPFvA0QAv9gZk-aWbqNSEyDlHgFDKZr4D3Bpwp9pSa9ll2EbaLZOqODGP8CM3rRb9X9ocXkQQgnRI7QvUK1yIlVjEkBF2F/s500/Minimalistic+Floral+Logo-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD2YKsa3OMv-lMjcR-fLjSd4eTGP8_dHCeTlG9AdS6GlJNksPFvA0QAv9gZk-aWbqNSEyDlHgFDKZr4D3Bpwp9pSa9ll2EbaLZOqODGP8CM3rRb9X9ocXkQQgnRI7QvUK1yIlVjEkBF2F/s320/Minimalistic+Floral+Logo-2.png" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We appreciate all of you, our wonderful readers who have been with us over the years--almost a decade! What's amazing is that when we look at our stats, we see several thousand visitors a month. We've had almost a million views!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the next couple of weeks, I would love to hear from you in the comments if you feel comfortable. I'd love to learn more about those who have been with us every week but have never commented.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">You have kept us going all these years! That and the fun we've had. I have to say that you have probably helped keep my family fed much better than if I hadn't had someone out there reading what I've been cooking lately. LOL So my family thanks you, too! :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We look forward to spending the next weeks with you and chatting. And of course, all the other ladies will still be on the <a href="https://seekerville.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seekerville blog</a>. And I'll still be writing and will be on social media. So please look me up there. I may even share an occasional recipe!</span></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"><span style="color: #262626;"></span></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMUjJKOSRXBZSLnfn3u3ZN5Kdw13H4G-9GBnzQRbCtPZvkXlfAVHPp8gWs0HGj4nppj3OQBGoCV2XO-bN4aYSIN44XQCH7Z_J0EpY9TFhWwUheH-gWNJM1tzka4N7fPAw0RvvMlv_wEJV/s900/Missy+Tippens+2018+headshot+513+kb+%2528Bentley%2527s%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMUjJKOSRXBZSLnfn3u3ZN5Kdw13H4G-9GBnzQRbCtPZvkXlfAVHPp8gWs0HGj4nppj3OQBGoCV2XO-bN4aYSIN44XQCH7Z_J0EpY9TFhWwUheH-gWNJM1tzka4N7fPAw0RvvMlv_wEJV/s320/Missy+Tippens+2018+headshot+513+kb+%2528Bentley%2527s%2529.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, <b>Missy Tippens</b><span style="color: #262626;">, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA<sup>® </sup>Award. Missy also writes devotionals for several publications from Guideposts. Visit Missy at </span><a href="http://www.missytippens.com/" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #1b615c;">www.missytippens.com</span></a><span style="color: #262626;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MissyTippens" style="color: purple;">https://twitter.com/MissyTippens</a><span style="color: #262626;"> and </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #1b615c;">http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers</span></a><span style="color: #262626;">.</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-40165629222127428712021-01-14T00:00:00.001-05:002021-01-14T00:00:06.974-05:00Winter Wreath Fun at the Farm!<p>So this is how I see the Peaceable Kingdom at the farm... and how I'd like to imagine our country getting along.</p><p>Maggie and Milky Way, like Tod and Copper, friends for life.</p><p>They are so cute! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGJE1fpe8R0N1FBX9yl3oRTJCMQ7E-uzsxYlIEigzhcBEd9yKxPwPwccaBNhU4gqPhZzh9F5q54bzZrmQ7vt8NdSk8TBJNlW_RmohbIvXj5LNseSNr06VRoaKhmZmWckX1lg_9Whv4EU/s5152/DSC07331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGJE1fpe8R0N1FBX9yl3oRTJCMQ7E-uzsxYlIEigzhcBEd9yKxPwPwccaBNhU4gqPhZzh9F5q54bzZrmQ7vt8NdSk8TBJNlW_RmohbIvXj5LNseSNr06VRoaKhmZmWckX1lg_9Whv4EU/w400-h300/DSC07331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>And this kitten tries to nurse on Maggie... who has never had a puppy... and Maggie lets her. So we've got wonderful (and weird!) maternal instincts! </p><p>So we've been making pretty things for the farm season because this is the time we can spend a few hours to do it... and I have some young buds who are between semesters. Sweet! </p><p>So this is Lena (five years old) working with me on Sunday.... Train 'em young!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwvwvXML6PoFvZxIuwnDor7i4PKeFkLT4STPWYoUPQWucaH_BpnpIisxQ28F-K7nQpC9Bp8y96Zt2oH9rHWRCqDCActvx3VUFbfYXxuk_nUJgeBuVTUHsWsI0dRK6uOA1umyIERtkQd4/s5152/DSC07385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwvwvXML6PoFvZxIuwnDor7i4PKeFkLT4STPWYoUPQWucaH_BpnpIisxQ28F-K7nQpC9Bp8y96Zt2oH9rHWRCqDCActvx3VUFbfYXxuk_nUJgeBuVTUHsWsI0dRK6uOA1umyIERtkQd4/w400-h300/DSC07385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Spring theme....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oRoBKK4ROLzvbyogDMsFefZjUuEF9nA6lxe5tpLQ4-5mc87U1KzmlFpsICXtLoFFP0sL5InFnFHVG4l7IQ5x6UTg1p5czJOgpqHVdAEm3U4QaDZqy6ujjVdb0T8AcWj2fHSnupJ7DGY/s2048/138060438_3526262750755510_6856152679810964276_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oRoBKK4ROLzvbyogDMsFefZjUuEF9nA6lxe5tpLQ4-5mc87U1KzmlFpsICXtLoFFP0sL5InFnFHVG4l7IQ5x6UTg1p5czJOgpqHVdAEm3U4QaDZqy6ujjVdb0T8AcWj2fHSnupJ7DGY/w300-h400/138060438_3526262750755510_6856152679810964276_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Christmas wreaths! This first rag wreath is 18" across, so extra large and look how cute with the sign in the middle!!!! LOVE IT!!!! My two college gals are home for an extra couple of weeks because of Covid so they might as well stay busy, right? Taylor's been making wreaths and Christina's been doing rustic porch and yard decor in Patriotic themes.... Because we love the Red, White and Blue! But here are Christmas wreaths waiting for bows... and then we'll wrap them and tuck them away until next fall.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMspOU9MH9RWJ5GKPkFY_XxGIg2z463lujGC1_G70GvtJgk5G4AImAgP7Ape0BsQV_VtY3zPmW3dsOfjGoh5IprVGuICrxHqFK3U02Y_DupmqVaJVUPL8TngIenmzj0X519ELh63iklM/s2048/Christmas+rag+wreath+extra+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMspOU9MH9RWJ5GKPkFY_XxGIg2z463lujGC1_G70GvtJgk5G4AImAgP7Ape0BsQV_VtY3zPmW3dsOfjGoh5IprVGuICrxHqFK3U02Y_DupmqVaJVUPL8TngIenmzj0X519ELh63iklM/w300-h400/Christmas+rag+wreath+extra+large.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RTuRynymD7xqGGGFOjOWMJJRzY1ybNU4QotAP5qHLjH_h4C2oaCxBSpDLsfzSbpMVvl6GD_OZTfi-WxuMWdrQlGyI00XXIQ7xkMM43AAPQa5tx2Z2o1WxWUUXr6nVa_L_o6RfMKrE40/s1280/Christmas+rag+wreath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RTuRynymD7xqGGGFOjOWMJJRzY1ybNU4QotAP5qHLjH_h4C2oaCxBSpDLsfzSbpMVvl6GD_OZTfi-WxuMWdrQlGyI00XXIQ7xkMM43AAPQa5tx2Z2o1WxWUUXr6nVa_L_o6RfMKrE40/w300-h400/Christmas+rag+wreath+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4G5XJmSt9iZiKXeRcXOnuQJhzNyV2Cn3W78WVqX__YXolZA5pNx6DH3zBAzkHa49l3dpyimtuS0dkTHHi0EYmcN3ZquJufYsEKZpWDHXNEeFxsEmHIz2Oq3a-Lsr-xqpWm3kmaN7CpE/s1600/Door+Wreath+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4G5XJmSt9iZiKXeRcXOnuQJhzNyV2Cn3W78WVqX__YXolZA5pNx6DH3zBAzkHa49l3dpyimtuS0dkTHHi0EYmcN3ZquJufYsEKZpWDHXNEeFxsEmHIz2Oq3a-Lsr-xqpWm3kmaN7CpE/w300-h400/Door+Wreath+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U18kJo7_McgjnlD9BHMeYUlsPmVtFli-WGL95V2d5QX4DifOdqhKgmMrm9K5s-ZZzvk5aWHvUW2qfL11_K_C5Gz_cYeD6EKe7e5miwvoEM5U86XS8Y7NPHtfflOn8NdWahZHBFtGHqo/s1600/Door+Wreath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U18kJo7_McgjnlD9BHMeYUlsPmVtFli-WGL95V2d5QX4DifOdqhKgmMrm9K5s-ZZzvk5aWHvUW2qfL11_K_C5Gz_cYeD6EKe7e5miwvoEM5U86XS8Y7NPHtfflOn8NdWahZHBFtGHqo/w300-h400/Door+Wreath+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>We made a family project day last weekend and got a lot of things done and a lot of ideas for 2021 Farm Events... Here's a rustic burlap ribbon wreath, waiting for a bow.... my ribbon order hasn't gotten here yet, so the bows are coming! I've learned a lot with these first wreaths... and had a lot of fun. I love creating things that make folks happy. Their smiles make us smile!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLHiNlFaImmVujcasKlY3iSAeqJ5Mad6nOxtdfFkHX8Wqgj0Z3oOndUgtE88yEUOcZMJVqrAEyYpJ6W5ZxjA0Qofnt2GgQd8h5l-O5UJ5ArjU1HSPu9VY-xHKCHrhrLgm2WNnYg73XZY/s2048/Country+burlap+ribbon+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLHiNlFaImmVujcasKlY3iSAeqJ5Mad6nOxtdfFkHX8Wqgj0Z3oOndUgtE88yEUOcZMJVqrAEyYpJ6W5ZxjA0Qofnt2GgQd8h5l-O5UJ5ArjU1HSPu9VY-xHKCHrhrLgm2WNnYg73XZY/w300-h400/Country+burlap+ribbon+wreath.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Christina's rustic flags.... so popular last year! Amazing what one can do with old fencing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP3zI20XvAiRhJUGttTbp4DUQmbfywEAS6e8Bv12qa5xEJh02N8sCeLXoj_4biFUNR5k2_eEb7Hm2ZSwL3WoxdlmiK8PJDsdr7VD-eG6ppMbgzvo3KQ-MEeIQ05M70fxp4dt0uc81rB4/s200/Rustic+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP3zI20XvAiRhJUGttTbp4DUQmbfywEAS6e8Bv12qa5xEJh02N8sCeLXoj_4biFUNR5k2_eEb7Hm2ZSwL3WoxdlmiK8PJDsdr7VD-eG6ppMbgzvo3KQ-MEeIQ05M70fxp4dt0uc81rB4/w400-h400/Rustic+flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We're getting together every few weeks to create as a group and doing what we can in between... and it's fun! A pot of chicken soup, some Swedish meatballs, Italian bread and pasta... and a cake to celebrate a precious life, gone too soon... our little Joseph who's waiting for us in heaven. No doubt being rocked by Lisa right now... She's got him in heaven... I've got her littles (and not so littles) down here. And we move on.... because that's what folks do when they love one another.</p><p>So that's our week... we did have one hour of sun one day... and maybe one hour of sun another day in December. Crazy cloudy and gray here, no snow, just icy mist and rain, very British!!!! </p><p>But that's all right. We can't change the weather.</p><p>We can change our hearts... So from our farm to you, we're sending winter blessings as I work on finishing a Christmas mystery and busy hands create this, that and the other thing!</p><p>Oh, and then this... I swapped out Christmas lights for white lights to go through March because it is SO DARK AND GRAY up here.... But I do love this effect! Winter White! #MustLoveTwinkleLights</p><p>There's just something heartening about seeing the white lights in the depths of winter. It brings a smile to people's faces, driving by...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfOHedzc9EjAj4ATDIV-iazp2SU9EWW46uJh3fzQnr1xa2AXOryQXHTVZqJKelvlObIAJ1Wpj54ZknT24vzRSqopGnNNPHwxjTgH72qsL6SyRymLGarLAncvEnZvXyyXdDZb2H9BV2W4/s5152/DSC07389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfOHedzc9EjAj4ATDIV-iazp2SU9EWW46uJh3fzQnr1xa2AXOryQXHTVZqJKelvlObIAJ1Wpj54ZknT24vzRSqopGnNNPHwxjTgH72qsL6SyRymLGarLAncvEnZvXyyXdDZb2H9BV2W4/w400-h300/DSC07389.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Okay, that's it for now.... Until next week from the farm!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s320/Ruthy+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s0/Ruthy+2012.JPG" /></a></div><br />Multi-published award-winning USA Today Bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of writing beautiful stories of faith, hope and love... while running a busy and fun family-friendly pumpkin farm in Western New York with her husband and a whole crew of family and friends. You can pester Ruthy over on Facebook where her more conservative views are always stirring up some sort of conversation, email her at <a href="mailto:loganherne@gmail.com">loganherne@gmail.com</a> or stop by her website <a href="http://ruthloganherne.com">ruthloganherne.com</a>. She'd love to see you and know more about you! <p></p></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-76570473040457486002021-01-13T00:00:00.001-05:002021-01-13T00:00:04.544-05:00Celebrating a New Release<p> I have done no special cooking lately, but... The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335404988/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">print edition of my book</a> officially released yesterday!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cENr8F9AnU/X_5fMT8pt0I/AAAAAAAAEf4/tQWWUWalraosrfy10OsaAfVt4DLgrsO8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/517HNraBACL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cENr8F9AnU/X_5fMT8pt0I/AAAAAAAAEf4/tQWWUWalraosrfy10OsaAfVt4DLgrsO8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/517HNraBACL.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Between a pandemic and my daughter in the hospital, the release kind of flew under the radar, so I thought I would throw myself a pub party at Yankee Belle. Please join me to celebrate.</p><p><br /></p><p>I thought we would start with some cake!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xu2fOIhe4ns/X_5eDf5OI9I/AAAAAAAAEfo/ye71xjHiSMExCeGcm96tEm758hYeNurawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/cake-3544640_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xu2fOIhe4ns/X_5eDf5OI9I/AAAAAAAAEfo/ye71xjHiSMExCeGcm96tEm758hYeNurawCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cake-3544640_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heart-shaped seemed appropriate for Love Inspired Suspense.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>And a toast to celebrate!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JybAh_9Y18E/X_5eulMDK0I/AAAAAAAAEfw/W_4cSj1BcZ88ayqFHmerPQ72Ub_Oy7CZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/a-toast-to-708938_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JybAh_9Y18E/X_5eulMDK0I/AAAAAAAAEfw/W_4cSj1BcZ88ayqFHmerPQ72Ub_Oy7CZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/a-toast-to-708938_1920.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>So I'm curious. How do you celebrate book releases or any other favorite milestone?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Photo credits - c<a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/guvo59-9285194/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3544640">Gundula Vogel</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3544640">Pixabay</a>">ake</a> <a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/rz0603-912741/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=708938">rj z</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=708938">Pixabay</a>">toast</a></p>Cate Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10424872139114718902noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-89185213463838551892021-01-12T01:00:00.141-05:002021-01-12T01:00:01.261-05:00Pantry Redux<p><span style="font-family: arial;">News flash! Winter came to Texas this weekend. While we only saw a little bit of sleet that was barely detectable except that it coated the deck with slush...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jKnO5ORNhhpBG8MFghnFbGjHA-q7T9ItDOSLJBUE2uC-AvNMvKBB9-rtEuJzBz2RR-3RRnRh4sZ-Qh_itKN3TTIIv_RdKNMCj6a5E1Cp3zMhmRpq1H9pSey6Oz-QYAd8zRoJG9-GDX0/s1200/IMG_7966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jKnO5ORNhhpBG8MFghnFbGjHA-q7T9ItDOSLJBUE2uC-AvNMvKBB9-rtEuJzBz2RR-3RRnRh4sZ-Qh_itKN3TTIIv_RdKNMCj6a5E1Cp3zMhmRpq1H9pSey6Oz-QYAd8zRoJG9-GDX0/w300-h400/IMG_7966.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0LyseUl0IR9HzlrR6m30y5INwZ1CihJ_qBSIhZ142iiFYPiY9cEwmjkvGLRpp4hUhN1aEv1NHWk4BhZ95EeC0TZXPpgcAG8j8EJmX5p-S8xvKzPRGTH94_FZxOPZp1AYlq5V-7hTw_w/s1200/GQNI8174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0LyseUl0IR9HzlrR6m30y5INwZ1CihJ_qBSIhZ142iiFYPiY9cEwmjkvGLRpp4hUhN1aEv1NHWk4BhZ95EeC0TZXPpgcAG8j8EJmX5p-S8xvKzPRGTH94_FZxOPZp1AYlq5V-7hTw_w/w300-h400/GQNI8174.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A little farther north, our granddaughter was having the time of her life.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge10LhB5jA1pGM4Fe_sbdcQvki3SiQr-Jv2VmbdiQl0RM1wXYs3cxkAfNV4aD_6kXfu_HiYCKDFe6j7qJ2fx7WjY4udfz9EtLQSQxs0002OPIPT2QGECUmH2Wu5zti9wZwoK19FdtSmT8/s960/IMG_7972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge10LhB5jA1pGM4Fe_sbdcQvki3SiQr-Jv2VmbdiQl0RM1wXYs3cxkAfNV4aD_6kXfu_HiYCKDFe6j7qJ2fx7WjY4udfz9EtLQSQxs0002OPIPT2QGECUmH2Wu5zti9wZwoK19FdtSmT8/w320-h400/IMG_7972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Such a lovely sight.</div><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our cold rain made it the perfect day for doing some much needed purging and rearranging, though.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We moved into our house in December 2017, a mere 10 days before Christmas when we were inundated with family. So despite the best laid plans, by the time January rolled around, my new pantry looked like this. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgT1lpjmzlQuAwG8rlQandY1oQ2HB5pFkcY_TSGpeR9XucXdl7dTCf54zgEYFbbtMe3Ym1E-Z_oBoFvMuhCfPLVV742SmjO5m60HdFfCFlY5htJX1mvJsPMF0pPfr_wAJBIjX6FgDXY0/s800/IMG_0224+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgT1lpjmzlQuAwG8rlQandY1oQ2HB5pFkcY_TSGpeR9XucXdl7dTCf54zgEYFbbtMe3Ym1E-Z_oBoFvMuhCfPLVV742SmjO5m60HdFfCFlY5htJX1mvJsPMF0pPfr_wAJBIjX6FgDXY0/w300-h400/IMG_0224+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A catch-all for anything and everything until I gave it some organization.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r9ZP9niwFiY6JP4gd6CRwEiW82sNfimn3qq7EmtclS59BkDcdVYqxwL15kna6-upVTvX4EfRP4-O95i374VRre852wH83m0CMxH2p5kbHJhq4Dz7QNd9Dbq-gKowy-lPRc5G95jUzno/s800/IMG_0230+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r9ZP9niwFiY6JP4gd6CRwEiW82sNfimn3qq7EmtclS59BkDcdVYqxwL15kna6-upVTvX4EfRP4-O95i374VRre852wH83m0CMxH2p5kbHJhq4Dz7QNd9Dbq-gKowy-lPRc5G95jUzno/w300-h400/IMG_0230+%2528600x800%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Three years later, it once again looked like the first image, only with a lot more stuff. So while the rain fell, I rolled up my sleeves and removed everything from the pantry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I started putting things back in, I realized I'd forgotten to take a Before picture.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi_Ty0yAsVi8U4InWxyQoWjSM7wO8E7o-d9DeTEPh9zfXOSGV2n2fbjI7Mw496qsrqUGTPef4Epn9IvyV-zJEkmCbbbXatR3aOjmOqQaVPIZv-QbWL_RpK1R-0zOjSLRFlMPY2__SNDk/s1200/IMG_7962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi_Ty0yAsVi8U4InWxyQoWjSM7wO8E7o-d9DeTEPh9zfXOSGV2n2fbjI7Mw496qsrqUGTPef4Epn9IvyV-zJEkmCbbbXatR3aOjmOqQaVPIZv-QbWL_RpK1R-0zOjSLRFlMPY2__SNDk/w300-h400/IMG_7962.JPG" width="300" /></a></div></div>I started by grouping similar items into these old locker baskets I'd had shoved in a cupboard in the mudroom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C2kT9BuWO1-7jcDUPU9fChEpjhFPDy27ZCgwVHss2_UyHL7GdLda7ZTs9KE6NsMh9XGbYqTZhfOpjAAcHrvW8WokcMVzfwHPzWimMsY-Wm3wpqfWzE5WQeMwGjiVngW0PdGF_ylyCnA/s1200/IMG_7971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C2kT9BuWO1-7jcDUPU9fChEpjhFPDy27ZCgwVHss2_UyHL7GdLda7ZTs9KE6NsMh9XGbYqTZhfOpjAAcHrvW8WokcMVzfwHPzWimMsY-Wm3wpqfWzE5WQeMwGjiVngW0PdGF_ylyCnA/w400-h300/IMG_7971.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I did the same thing with some smaller items that tend to get lost in the pantry, grouping them in these small baskets I'd picked up for less than dollar.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil7vHfDQvEOnQhWy7GIu5EkiWsvm29qWpUrqJ7Ni6LJqhrYy18WcETtI-GZIdfISaxC6X2dY4OBsL7-Ygj4HzT7a1P_3zJyGVT0bW4qnz44ZmPEQb4tZDp-kmB1aRUIo5795uP43rvHU/s1200/IMG_7976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil7vHfDQvEOnQhWy7GIu5EkiWsvm29qWpUrqJ7Ni6LJqhrYy18WcETtI-GZIdfISaxC6X2dY4OBsL7-Ygj4HzT7a1P_3zJyGVT0bW4qnz44ZmPEQb4tZDp-kmB1aRUIo5795uP43rvHU/w300-h400/IMG_7976.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRD6fGDwFCSoG6vPaVDU2cU3fy4sijdJSCYmh-2be4aLd7R5_4cJbsZYvObyJOjUgCjo7B9VoTvk_lZvgobACfY4KAU8BKz1Q5lLhwzJ-yyXDvHT4LZXr0852gGoyjfAtcypFfGHrJa8/s1200/IMG_7977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRD6fGDwFCSoG6vPaVDU2cU3fy4sijdJSCYmh-2be4aLd7R5_4cJbsZYvObyJOjUgCjo7B9VoTvk_lZvgobACfY4KAU8BKz1Q5lLhwzJ-yyXDvHT4LZXr0852gGoyjfAtcypFfGHrJa8/w300-h400/IMG_7977.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>The biggest job was repackaging a lot of items. Combining multiple packages of the same thing into one central location.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rIKZGfbkhpz6LJIWBYXycqvSDXgEDLNmxbbu0uCeQ-PlTn4jGogJgQSGi0kAMMqx57pfHRY9PNcFJOA_HImu8XXRqL6_ZRCcMAmBiqPnhmcuEKhDR4vy31CwEmq35J8Vlso3xlnCfSM/s1200/IMG_7975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rIKZGfbkhpz6LJIWBYXycqvSDXgEDLNmxbbu0uCeQ-PlTn4jGogJgQSGi0kAMMqx57pfHRY9PNcFJOA_HImu8XXRqL6_ZRCcMAmBiqPnhmcuEKhDR4vy31CwEmq35J8Vlso3xlnCfSM/w400-h300/IMG_7975.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Those half-gallon size Mason jars are perfect for storage, though I still use some of the Tupperware I bought way back in the 80s.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJPPy-IlbCzdFUMbQbOk490w-4LPr59BlKSgeu97DvMqSN0Pi0lU-C3fBv11szpZFDlhtCpipl63A31TIM1U7mdl3lgN-Zl-q6n8D6F-lWjlw6xlfTQwUjzoHn46EIIKGswRibIGY4Yc/s1200/IMG_7974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJPPy-IlbCzdFUMbQbOk490w-4LPr59BlKSgeu97DvMqSN0Pi0lU-C3fBv11szpZFDlhtCpipl63A31TIM1U7mdl3lgN-Zl-q6n8D6F-lWjlw6xlfTQwUjzoHn46EIIKGswRibIGY4Yc/w400-h300/IMG_7974.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It took me all day, but as night fell I once again had an orderly pantry. Save for that wayward box of aluminum foil. Who put that there?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLN1DaBQexIuJXC2OaeUhlnkHhyq882g3ZwbJMlvso2YYiQreChiuSfepsvELewOGuquG0mHin2iCbQ9GhM-s4zDuCdevzKeuljIwFN_BJ7h9bm8pjmGu8q1OiSuGvbqI1cO3j7Hqfh8/s1200/IMG_7970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLN1DaBQexIuJXC2OaeUhlnkHhyq882g3ZwbJMlvso2YYiQreChiuSfepsvELewOGuquG0mHin2iCbQ9GhM-s4zDuCdevzKeuljIwFN_BJ7h9bm8pjmGu8q1OiSuGvbqI1cO3j7Hqfh8/w300-h400/IMG_7970.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApBo6GQKijqCVsH80L3FVslw8Tfk2aG2YfqzF7JN2KbbbN_ESTMEhBzSTHGZOU1uOJMp2mx9ct6sZWpz6tiDlIo9bio3G5Ui_O8EIskMLwps4a0sUHTrjxNeJkOH9M1Kfb3DKSCr418o/s1200/IMG_7969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApBo6GQKijqCVsH80L3FVslw8Tfk2aG2YfqzF7JN2KbbbN_ESTMEhBzSTHGZOU1uOJMp2mx9ct6sZWpz6tiDlIo9bio3G5Ui_O8EIskMLwps4a0sUHTrjxNeJkOH9M1Kfb3DKSCr418o/w300-h400/IMG_7969.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>What could have been a lazy rainy day turned into a productive rainy day. One that had me so jazzed I couldn't wait to move onto the mudroom. Hooray for newfound space!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are some of your favorite storage ideas?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s1600/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="803" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s200/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="199" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at <a href="http://mindyobenhaus.com/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">mindyobenhaus.com</a></span></div><br /></span><p></p>Mindy Obenhaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049730175697756032noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-75175153158381888452021-01-11T02:00:00.003-05:002021-01-11T02:00:04.088-05:00January Musings and Planning for Spring!<p> Jan here, in the middle of a gray January afternoon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAynEohfqkLctWU6LA57-FLwekjP8BmMih6YJ7XVnPrhkemgcHmTAr2c6s9ymra6N3gJ6wzMKTlgJ8O9YdNwMk0KafmOf43V5ABVMM8kaHsEK92eodlqDcl_2ajf-RjcyaEBWm1R_JPbQ/s2048/032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAynEohfqkLctWU6LA57-FLwekjP8BmMih6YJ7XVnPrhkemgcHmTAr2c6s9ymra6N3gJ6wzMKTlgJ8O9YdNwMk0KafmOf43V5ABVMM8kaHsEK92eodlqDcl_2ajf-RjcyaEBWm1R_JPbQ/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We had fog on Saturday morning, and the temperatures hovered around 28° all day long...and that means freezing fog, or hoarfrost! I remember reading about hoarfrost in old stories (maybe Dickens?) and thinking how awfully cold it sounded.<div><br /></div><div>I was right. Even though the temps were warmer than they could be for January, the chilly damp seeps into your bones. But Sam didn't seem to care.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WjpC5lShniTVRvuRt5RJf5V5dKFIXc5Wuc9lgagQsPnyRtSnXIg2E4AxKNga3wI1UEy-jvtIJ2I4-JOj3QHgxFJUMUw8q63OXPg69qQeoc1xq2aPK6OHYsOKblutCfk6lXcfZzDPy-U/s2048/034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WjpC5lShniTVRvuRt5RJf5V5dKFIXc5Wuc9lgagQsPnyRtSnXIg2E4AxKNga3wI1UEy-jvtIJ2I4-JOj3QHgxFJUMUw8q63OXPg69qQeoc1xq2aPK6OHYsOKblutCfk6lXcfZzDPy-U/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>While Jack happily snoozes in the house, Sam can't wait to go outside. And he loves posing for pictures! As soon as he sees the camera, he sits. Silly dog!</div><div><br /></div><div>And the leash? A necessary item. We have a herd of about two dozen mule deer in our neighborhood. They wander around eating whatever they can find, and often take their afternoon siestas in our yard. On Saturday they were at the neighbor's and Sam was safely on his leash.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not so much that I'm worried about him chasing the deer as it is that the deer can be dangerous. There are two good-sized bucks in our little herd, and they can kill a dog that they see as a threat.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things Sam and I did on his walk was to visit our garden.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_j_kzv-5IZ2waqIo4sEso1eXwT-hPBL0FmrgyEKoSesiOp-W_mKgovWyNzO3RJBWHJbFv-WayQb0kpGp-aruXhwH0SSR4YhxHwIZY4lyoVd9nMv0da8uaW-IXndhhqK04f8r9P-YzlE/s2048/029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_j_kzv-5IZ2waqIo4sEso1eXwT-hPBL0FmrgyEKoSesiOp-W_mKgovWyNzO3RJBWHJbFv-WayQb0kpGp-aruXhwH0SSR4YhxHwIZY4lyoVd9nMv0da8uaW-IXndhhqK04f8r9P-YzlE/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Yes! This is new! We have four units in our building and last year three out of the four of us decided to start a shared garden space. Last summer the younger one of us spent his spare time putting in a fence (it's nearly complete.) The ground has been tilled, covered with composted horse manure, tilled again, and is enjoying a winter of snow fertilizer. In the spring we'll be ready to plant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeh40vR_QXkEaduf4yyo6MbMYp9IDZ4kPmXuzmwpHyPmND060QHQoHXPRKS22USZpBfc6yXNYPli5GYfEW2m_I5UyRAJmoubYMR085Vj4t3Y4Qo-8p18NJfIOzsyk5qJQQAJPxsxxdh0/s2048/030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeh40vR_QXkEaduf4yyo6MbMYp9IDZ4kPmXuzmwpHyPmND060QHQoHXPRKS22USZpBfc6yXNYPli5GYfEW2m_I5UyRAJmoubYMR085Vj4t3Y4Qo-8p18NJfIOzsyk5qJQQAJPxsxxdh0/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have an 8' x 10' spot, and I hope it will be this end. I plan to put in some perennial plants right away (rhubarb and asparagus,) so I often cast a longing look toward this corner. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>While I wait, I spend many hours planning the garden. Unlike Ruthy, I am NOT planning to plant thousands of mums! Eventually I hope to grow all of our summer produce here. But for the first year, I'm sticking with some tried and true easy friends - beans, radishes, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, potatoes, and peppers, among others. I know it will take a few years to get the garden up to speed. After all, a year ago this was a grassy meadow!</div><div><br /></div><div>Another chore we took care of on Saturday afternoon was doing an inventory of our food storage pantry and freezer. We straightened, counted, and planned what we needed to bring the inventory up to the next level. We're ready for a blizzard (whenever the next one comes!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEuMIwe-qnmqi4NKGn7tQD_8pkQma46DNoDgSg71taAP9XcBJB4DlCMV9aSY4kpLiZeeULdgCrUyND4boDka4nqVh7rEaPtCREVu1uCCtAOdXVkEYmOmL3XkXmCUnXoxOus4OCe4gQtM/s2048/036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEuMIwe-qnmqi4NKGn7tQD_8pkQma46DNoDgSg71taAP9XcBJB4DlCMV9aSY4kpLiZeeULdgCrUyND4boDka4nqVh7rEaPtCREVu1uCCtAOdXVkEYmOmL3XkXmCUnXoxOus4OCe4gQtM/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then, once the dogs were walked and before it's time to start supper, I turned my attention to this project!</div><div><br /></div><div>I love this picture. Years ago when I had just graduated from college, I backpacked through Europe. One day I visited Neuschwanstein Castle. I stayed at the Youth Hostel in nearby Fussen the night before, then walked to the castle. I took the tour, then also toured nearby Hohenschwangau - King Ludwig's ancestral home. (To tell the truth, I enjoyed Hohenschwangau more!) While I was on that tour, I <i>might</i> have touched the piano that Richard Wagner played when he visited the royal family.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I work on this puzzle, those memories swirl through my mind. What a wonderful way to spend a long winter afternoon, don't you think? And it's a good thing I'm enjoying it, because this puzzle is HUGE! 2000 pieces! Four and a half feet long! Two feet wide! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e26Sv-24KrEm25Dnx6Sw2uL0QVdtPlTMou2p6kBrLq4WGLBU4lHDfAv4jYnXN19jOLI4LkZhkheY_QCjWSJUqY9ONefT8LX_eo3zQYDsOlA3wYSXYdNco1YpYThyphenhyphenzfpVN2vZpBOy4Nw/s2048/035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e26Sv-24KrEm25Dnx6Sw2uL0QVdtPlTMou2p6kBrLq4WGLBU4lHDfAv4jYnXN19jOLI4LkZhkheY_QCjWSJUqY9ONefT8LX_eo3zQYDsOlA3wYSXYdNco1YpYThyphenhyphenzfpVN2vZpBOy4Nw/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But before I knew it, it was time to go upstairs and fix supper. This night it was my favorite Tuscan Style Soup, aka "Zuppa Toscana." You can find the <a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2013/02/tuscan-style-soup-and-italian-bread.html" target="_blank">recipe here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>It may have been a quiet afternoon, but, you know, I enjoy those times. Life is hectic enough. Sometimes we just need to slow down, muse on the future, and soak in some quiet peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>What kinds of things fill your quiet afternoons?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0__YWtThGX6gLxTaenUW1V1YqQecKn8O3SO7Znw0WGycVjG1-Rf-gs6WDuLX4x2cnRuSt7DJwZ5lsT5rpchrMIiBVUy6YTwgIYlUg4wHKiMmj-R0z9iwvyjQdoPtqC_mrpPRyxjjUQw0/s200/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0__YWtThGX6gLxTaenUW1V1YqQecKn8O3SO7Znw0WGycVjG1-Rf-gs6WDuLX4x2cnRuSt7DJwZ5lsT5rpchrMIiBVUy6YTwgIYlUg4wHKiMmj-R0z9iwvyjQdoPtqC_mrpPRyxjjUQw0/s0/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" /></a></div><br />Jan Drexler has always been a "book girl" who still loves to spend time within the pages of her favorite books. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her dear husband of many years and their active, crazy dogs, Jack and Sam. You can learn more about Jan and her books on her website, </span><a href="http://www.jandrexler.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #b5653b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">www.JanDrexler.com</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #783f04;">.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jan Drexlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-614641980863218442021-01-07T00:00:00.069-05:002021-01-07T00:00:00.237-05:00Nothing Like Flowers To Balance Winter's Gray Days!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtOwX85Q62tG7qYBRdXIWVWjZWtGux5iwZhzGpuc5znI0opWp57f-wMOUXVq4EPGpyKgUV4ogRTI9F7pFX1QVzlogfzYSSovMmYlRCGryapMyvYjkSlQN1L8IwXDPPjO6arszHn1cybc/s5152/DSC05490.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtOwX85Q62tG7qYBRdXIWVWjZWtGux5iwZhzGpuc5znI0opWp57f-wMOUXVq4EPGpyKgUV4ogRTI9F7pFX1QVzlogfzYSSovMmYlRCGryapMyvYjkSlQN1L8IwXDPPjO6arszHn1cybc/w400-h300/DSC05490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>So all y'all know I'm a pumpkin farmer... and that I write wonderful books! </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Life-Kendrick-Creek-Book-ebook/dp/B08JCV5N65/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=rebuilding+her+life+herne&qid=1609979841&sr=8-3" target="_blank">SHAMELESS PLUG! AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW! </a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL8qcl7PmWWnNYIy3nYdO3s6JgydFMYtNupQjfuAiE3Tx7p7tDJ1i8WxiUyTevOS6pKWWsYjUnnq4VeY0145BrOlKPAxYTsEgTl1-5oO2WbTUOwfO1lFhto3rQKKObDqtRkMWifF1LoU/s2048/9781335430892_TLP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL8qcl7PmWWnNYIy3nYdO3s6JgydFMYtNupQjfuAiE3Tx7p7tDJ1i8WxiUyTevOS6pKWWsYjUnnq4VeY0145BrOlKPAxYTsEgTl1-5oO2WbTUOwfO1lFhto3rQKKObDqtRkMWifF1LoU/w265-h400/9781335430892_TLP.jpg" width="265" /></a></p><p>"<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Faced with a decades-old mistake, </strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">can she find forgiveness?"</strong></p><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></strong><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">After a fire devastates her hometown, Dr. Jess Bristol returns to save her mother’s clinic—and comes face-to-face with her high school sweetheart. Over twenty years ago, Jess helped put Shane Stone in jail…and later learned he was innocent. Now they must work together to restore their town. Though Shane has put his past behind him, can the adoptive single father forgive the woman he once loved?</span><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">I LOVE A GREAT ROMANCE!!!!! SIGH..... Okay, back to what's going on here this week!<br /></span><p>I also grow gorgeous chrysanthemums for our fall market and what started out as a fairly small number (<b>800</b> the first year I tried it and I didn't kill anything. I was PSYCHED!) </p><p>Yep, that's me in my summertime glory, watering 1400 mums by hand! :) As daunting as that sounds, by doing this, I (or my trusty helpers) can see if a plant is in distress, if I'm having a bug problem, if the leaves are tinging yellow or red.... and then I take Dr. Ruthy action to make them happy and healthy again! I have learned so much!!!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6ArfMXDhjYhPeR90nFLM9kozCbnnd5p0m6_yk5_26NuJGTh14pCVDFqJjRaJf3Vfggm7Fu4AcBufwSY4xLWOyN7t7AWaayhKrVs99bdh_Vi05UlUFH3yAsWmvqRacxj-UzsTcoyR2ho/s2592/IMG_20180721_075145217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6ArfMXDhjYhPeR90nFLM9kozCbnnd5p0m6_yk5_26NuJGTh14pCVDFqJjRaJf3Vfggm7Fu4AcBufwSY4xLWOyN7t7AWaayhKrVs99bdh_Vi05UlUFH3yAsWmvqRacxj-UzsTcoyR2ho/w300-h400/IMG_20180721_075145217.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>then grew to 1400...</p><p>Then 1600....</p><p>And for next year, we're looking at 2200 or so because we sold out in 2020 (so this was one amazing thing in 2020, right???? Happy farm????) and I want to do a special September promo for Breast Cancer Awareness to honor my beautiful friend Lisa...</p><p>And I need enough flowers to make it work and to last into late October.</p><p>So 600 more flowers is a lot of watering and feeding when you do it by hand. </p><p>I may have heard a couple of minor complaints... and shocked looks.... and faces, aghast! (I love using words like "aghast"!!!!) But if my projections are anywhere near true, then we need to be ready, so I'm going all in like on a great poker hand!</p><p>Of course we want pinks for the Breast Cancer Awareness weekends: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bUmTj6_jZVQ09b9asTylJ54TaKu2iKw8NQHWG8a0ngODGErWRrqYe4aIxn8JbOYVCAu9VvcgBYZ8m_8_S9Ug7Hho2JTWCIbPDlWeydPLzuAVg2Zn18PYojPY_j25YesoMgfNdaICJOg/s300/Chelsey+coral.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="300" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bUmTj6_jZVQ09b9asTylJ54TaKu2iKw8NQHWG8a0ngODGErWRrqYe4aIxn8JbOYVCAu9VvcgBYZ8m_8_S9Ug7Hho2JTWCIbPDlWeydPLzuAVg2Zn18PYojPY_j25YesoMgfNdaICJOg/w400-h265/Chelsey+coral.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And all colors for a really big "splash" to make folks smile!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C_FJt1X-oHHmbgM_jJJ1O7NnaxgQOI7sokVTImhMr0wGUE9bZeefe_sEIM74qMBhWxteNdtoY7Jb9qSXJTIk_CvKBVn6FIsGkMG5AUE2ejOawna0Qu-M0e8k7ZRiph3sP8DkeTB0d9g/s5152/DSC05576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C_FJt1X-oHHmbgM_jJJ1O7NnaxgQOI7sokVTImhMr0wGUE9bZeefe_sEIM74qMBhWxteNdtoY7Jb9qSXJTIk_CvKBVn6FIsGkMG5AUE2ejOawna0Qu-M0e8k7ZRiph3sP8DkeTB0d9g/w300-h400/DSC05576.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Look at those colors! We make people so happy because we grow hundreds of flowers in dozens of colors and blends and it just makes folks smile. And when they smile, I smile! </p><p>And we have a "Farm Chic" section with all of the lighter colored mums and of course, a perennial favorite, our "Rustic" mum display!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6um87y9Oo5JD9ElRuKvD7EOMs99O6xe3WXmMnFwdwrC4RdvXsNaKOuK_ql5ti-oyu-NFhI5JNql0cHcBGrWHyXz7oJOTiq1xtCjgi8lyKzxEFBbLIPu5B7x2huut-btJoAaoC54bDeaQ/s200/Rustic+mums.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6um87y9Oo5JD9ElRuKvD7EOMs99O6xe3WXmMnFwdwrC4RdvXsNaKOuK_ql5ti-oyu-NFhI5JNql0cHcBGrWHyXz7oJOTiq1xtCjgi8lyKzxEFBbLIPu5B7x2huut-btJoAaoC54bDeaQ/w320-h320/Rustic+mums.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>So that's what's going on at the farm this week... it seems easy, right? </p><p>This is where the math comes into play because mums bloom based on length of day so I have to know what week they're projected to bloom (from week 36 through week 42 and this is different down south because their day lengths are different from ours) and then order them to be planted enough ahead of time for them to be perfect for the weeks in question.</p><p>:) </p><p>That smiley face is because this is easier said than done! One year the early ones blossomed two weeks ahead of schedule... and last year, they were all about 12 days behind schedule (which isn't as bad, folks will still buy them then... but if they're too early, then folks lose the blossom time at their house. And we want them to love, love, love the flowers!)</p><p>So it's always got a measure of risk, but everything worth doing comes with a measure of risk. No risk, no reward!</p><p>I still have Christmas things to pack away but I had other jobs that needed me this week, so I'm going to let lights linger a while.... because it's mighty dark at this latitude in January and February and I think our neighborhood, our town and our country could use some extra light.</p><p>Wishing you all the very best!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcxxm4W7NfnvPV2y4d_3Pdd_rOP_4crcMDKxw5GaCtoOfpVB8ugec2UmJAkXcZm6QL_E2mYudnFIW4Ma_tlNIvpy3_XaWjnC22divfl0hr9doGMTtLdL30J8c3ZyvIqPXojyG7ecfFNU/s2048/Pro+shot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcxxm4W7NfnvPV2y4d_3Pdd_rOP_4crcMDKxw5GaCtoOfpVB8ugec2UmJAkXcZm6QL_E2mYudnFIW4Ma_tlNIvpy3_XaWjnC22divfl0hr9doGMTtLdL30J8c3ZyvIqPXojyG7ecfFNU/s320/Pro+shot+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Ruth Logan Herne is a multi-published inspirational author with a somewhat bossy nature and a really great smile which she loves to flash because folks are way too grumpy sometimes and a shared smile is a wonderful thing. She manages a pumpkin farm in Western New York, has a flock of kids and grandkids and is absolutely loving life.... because God is good! And we are blessed... find Ruthy on Facebook where she likes to boss folks around, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or email Ruthy directly at loganherne@gmail.com. She'd love to chat with you! <p></p></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-34440942835575777862021-01-05T01:00:00.098-05:002021-01-05T01:00:05.558-05:00Holiday Recap<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGC5R3qp3m4_1FRxTYrx4O56ZMZZJZ8OZNWc311X8vCCkV_jTBoLiNnKgMRXD6KEa8iFQ5ljxrzuRd4-DbWmvtxZzGqkebZ6K7mMblxp-VMJ_bpQM3gRH7pB0t-EOYryaSpLqwwg-frs/s1200/IMG_7746-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGC5R3qp3m4_1FRxTYrx4O56ZMZZJZ8OZNWc311X8vCCkV_jTBoLiNnKgMRXD6KEa8iFQ5ljxrzuRd4-DbWmvtxZzGqkebZ6K7mMblxp-VMJ_bpQM3gRH7pB0t-EOYryaSpLqwwg-frs/w400-h300/IMG_7746-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Well, the holidays are finally over. And while I cooked at least a month's worth of food in the week between Christmas and New Years, I don't have any pictures. Not of the food, anyway. But I have lots of pictures of the fun.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Each of our kiddos and their families were in at some point during the week. We ate (obviously), we played, we enjoyed each other's company. And spent a fair amount of time outside. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp_48PkicOPjKHItfdaARILuGi5JbIDl40ZRsceceRYktqXLFw4ZMYjrN5YQSiw6XmsTSrRieEfL9xK5yIJKuUQfpjsYfoS-DQycJ23ErG2nwioaonaDqit2_MTlo1eP0ojVoxqmYHWw/s1200/IMG_7793-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp_48PkicOPjKHItfdaARILuGi5JbIDl40ZRsceceRYktqXLFw4ZMYjrN5YQSiw6XmsTSrRieEfL9xK5yIJKuUQfpjsYfoS-DQycJ23ErG2nwioaonaDqit2_MTlo1eP0ojVoxqmYHWw/w400-h300/IMG_7793-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yep, the stars at night really are big and bright. Making it a great night for a bonfire.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RBt2EWKr-crlLwHKj8XGCWczhyphenhyphenz0hVu-SOQvNgOBReDYr_jxFsWrcgsClWXsiRCoHETx_HquIphackzeqk7HU8JleoYeMweQXLl-zvUQPsS86WaXwC8ATH3dZMm-rsP8a3JL1120Iow/s1200/IMG_7798-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RBt2EWKr-crlLwHKj8XGCWczhyphenhyphenz0hVu-SOQvNgOBReDYr_jxFsWrcgsClWXsiRCoHETx_HquIphackzeqk7HU8JleoYeMweQXLl-zvUQPsS86WaXwC8ATH3dZMm-rsP8a3JL1120Iow/w400-h300/IMG_7798-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our oldest daughter and I took some of the boys to the Blue Bell Creamery where they make some of the best ice cream in the world. And yes, we got samples.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXaqI-caAehRsE71VKf-TOjnLexYIqJZu6ciUBtXRm-460TFWWTCWjiPGLlC3vrSkdw1srnfONhy7njgchtBwnJyMUIxzWH1O8GU-AzzjferYhHWy-PZ028bwvkxhDEyBkLV1ZlFUAbk/s1200/IMG_7840-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXaqI-caAehRsE71VKf-TOjnLexYIqJZu6ciUBtXRm-460TFWWTCWjiPGLlC3vrSkdw1srnfONhy7njgchtBwnJyMUIxzWH1O8GU-AzzjferYhHWy-PZ028bwvkxhDEyBkLV1ZlFUAbk/w400-h300/IMG_7840-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW0Xjx03xYne9icamGXBdDtEnuPpX2K0eDpJIGKex1TyyjQpFZNdi68aZjCdpCShqTL1h7Ixw5vN1QwA4kAOhnr11Ahvv21oPruZEcKAs4sXgjxUYN-rD4uViBTVFGgW3GdrSePFN_M0/s1200/IMG_7838-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW0Xjx03xYne9icamGXBdDtEnuPpX2K0eDpJIGKex1TyyjQpFZNdi68aZjCdpCShqTL1h7Ixw5vN1QwA4kAOhnr11Ahvv21oPruZEcKAs4sXgjxUYN-rD4uViBTVFGgW3GdrSePFN_M0/w400-h300/IMG_7838-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Of course, the week's big finale was our annual New Year's Eve fireworks display.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJr8XqYnuzZqSk_4PmSoti6HKL1xVHYMjJzGqGIDtlyc4w6LMFzu3aLFV3NOgMfMWr3VLAeAMi_jaoiCiCgoiJuFPvL1BJ2TXf8BmmDaY0oFm7CdAS_HX61fTY0MLtJbD7Vmz7wY8NrY/s1200/IMG_7885-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJr8XqYnuzZqSk_4PmSoti6HKL1xVHYMjJzGqGIDtlyc4w6LMFzu3aLFV3NOgMfMWr3VLAeAMi_jaoiCiCgoiJuFPvL1BJ2TXf8BmmDaY0oFm7CdAS_HX61fTY0MLtJbD7Vmz7wY8NrY/w400-h300/IMG_7885-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxvAyLgEgL2cH4flzSMl_OEkqwxBi-kEM6Fqhxq94ay7KjWT_YbicCkzpttWi3x-5b5MMAgDgfBWyuTjvLF_np7Br_WjOHCXhcWjNWy5Y-mWPXK80S4tkCp14qFNWS54qQ7L4osxjpOQ/s1200/IMG_7886-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxvAyLgEgL2cH4flzSMl_OEkqwxBi-kEM6Fqhxq94ay7KjWT_YbicCkzpttWi3x-5b5MMAgDgfBWyuTjvLF_np7Br_WjOHCXhcWjNWy5Y-mWPXK80S4tkCp14qFNWS54qQ7L4osxjpOQ/w400-h300/IMG_7886-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The house is quiet now. I've hung up my apron and returned to my desk where a delightful Christmas story waits to be completed. So maybe the decorations will stay up just a while longer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy New Year, y'all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s1600/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="803" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX20xQ5Tg6fANooP7QTgBBMkDYNIhBRuEFZ6lUk6QgT5_rG85VmbLHw8-MCMxPYLhdIuuciLIyIbUHp8U3L0Ix4gWTS0fAiI7P2crlPP3g0mBFlRBLO-7KeDudQY6Le7QiPMwJXLC7jg/s200/Mindy+Obenhaus_032+%25283%2529.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="199" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at <a href="http://mindyobenhaus.com/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">mindyobenhaus.com</a></span></div><br /></span><p></p>Mindy Obenhaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049730175697756032noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-71954497286776233362021-01-04T02:00:00.003-05:002021-01-04T10:52:10.466-05:00Baked Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan here, enjoying our sunny January weather!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ3GxxGli3nlqNAS6pgUK20q75IVUoHulvbxiwgBi8lG4VgI7MCokwBOHncJzbwR0xcx8zTeACvXbBWFp8Aadh1Wgzq7Qplb-0xpxopPlj90O9v9y-LWLMnk506AlzY7Ks9O4aoEzv4g/s2048/044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ3GxxGli3nlqNAS6pgUK20q75IVUoHulvbxiwgBi8lG4VgI7MCokwBOHncJzbwR0xcx8zTeACvXbBWFp8Aadh1Wgzq7Qplb-0xpxopPlj90O9v9y-LWLMnk506AlzY7Ks9O4aoEzv4g/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a mild winter for us so far, with temperatures above freezing most days, plenty of sunshine...but very little snow. That isn't good news, though, because we count on a snowy winter to provide moisture for next summer!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">But since we can't change the weather, we may as well enjoy it, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">And in the middle of the winter, what is better than comfort food?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This recipe for Baked Steak is so easy and delicious, and it's practically no-fail! I first shared it almost four years ago and it's still one of my favorite ways to fix steak.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Baked Steak</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; border-top: 0px solid rgb(220, 149, 34); color: #4e2800; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>serves two </i><br /><i>ingredients:</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">two steaks - round steak works best, I had rib-eye on hand</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup flour</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">salt & pepper to taste</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Tablespoons oil (I used one Tablespoon each of coconut oil and butter)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2-3 cups beef stock</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small onion, sliced</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYViItTChmJIwepe09w3AErCSndIY5dV69Y42dUuUUrJJ37vw9kBe-eriJ5uArYJ6UUT_3PeI3j6lSyWguRfbhFkJauOkHwr4AgiDDmS8pDqMSVjsx85v4czmMADYCWY0PIpHVkWQl0mA/s1600/002.JPG" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYViItTChmJIwepe09w3AErCSndIY5dV69Y42dUuUUrJJ37vw9kBe-eriJ5uArYJ6UUT_3PeI3j6lSyWguRfbhFkJauOkHwr4AgiDDmS8pDqMSVjsx85v4czmMADYCWY0PIpHVkWQl0mA/s320/002.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat your oven to 375°.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a Dutch Oven, or other large pan that you can use both on top of the stove and in the oven, heat the oil.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mix the flour, salt and pepper together and dredge the steaks in it. Place the steaks in the pan in the hot oil and brown both sides.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remove the steaks, and pour in part of the beef broth and bring to a boil. Scrape the yummy bits off the bottom of the pan as the broth is heating and mix them in. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add the Worcestershire sauce, more broth, and half of the sliced onions.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZyRDmdeOsgPp7kO2huO-bDTczKjVRVj3T7mxTUxn3r9VezGWzuNF-kl1TDxipBa5HwWaOn7-5wyFGqBrW_FzbCVfvPGZQOJ57AKUgQKrVXrGW_d0g21F3M7Zso1hN9BKKRz07tuL-kI/s1600/005.png" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZyRDmdeOsgPp7kO2huO-bDTczKjVRVj3T7mxTUxn3r9VezGWzuNF-kl1TDxipBa5HwWaOn7-5wyFGqBrW_FzbCVfvPGZQOJ57AKUgQKrVXrGW_d0g21F3M7Zso1hN9BKKRz07tuL-kI/s320/005.png" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Layer the browned steaks on top of the onions, add the rest of the sliced onions, and the rest of the broth.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz96U7E_uMMmNq3uz3Sl7HkQI0z_fruMjPQsXF0dce6_KD-RvuAuEQKPxhyphenhyphenTa3L_o94b7p4FPG_FPKOgl3jLyUhL3euVmSdE3STmeeTXTLRdxmkd8H3GVhidS-A0eT9LC4xhpqHX-22I/s1600/006.JPG" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz96U7E_uMMmNq3uz3Sl7HkQI0z_fruMjPQsXF0dce6_KD-RvuAuEQKPxhyphenhyphenTa3L_o94b7p4FPG_FPKOgl3jLyUhL3euVmSdE3STmeeTXTLRdxmkd8H3GVhidS-A0eT9LC4xhpqHX-22I/s320/006.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cover and bake at 375° for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cook some potatoes in your favorite way - I quartered and boiled some red potatoes and seasoned them with salt, pepper, and butter.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Serve with a big salad, and maybe some homemade bread, if you have any. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCAVnOWMOszKYUiu7lmhSS3GKd_E7Aj9WlnRCOMwlkMEwkL-FENR0zGz5TlLUXDc1sUSx47jKUVOP2qs1F6g1XterCwFbxvmg_t6OMpqz-GMidIRgasR8j9n4PU9jDvBVWRz2xKRT00Y/s1600/008.JPG" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCAVnOWMOszKYUiu7lmhSS3GKd_E7Aj9WlnRCOMwlkMEwkL-FENR0zGz5TlLUXDc1sUSx47jKUVOP2qs1F6g1XterCwFbxvmg_t6OMpqz-GMidIRgasR8j9n4PU9jDvBVWRz2xKRT00Y/s320/008.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's the way we enjoyed the steak back in 2017, but these days I'm roasting the potatoes more often than using any other way of fixing them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry, no pictures, but it's easy-peasy:</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use either Yukon Gold or red potatoes for this dish.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, cut the potatoes into 1 1/2" cubes (roughly - after all, how can you cut a round vegetable into cubes?) If you're using the baby size, just cut them in half. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put them in a large bowl and add a couple Tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, garlic (fresh or powdered,) and a few Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (the kind that comes in the can.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mix it all to coat, then put the potatoes into a pan - it works well to use a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, or you can generously grease a 9 x 13 pan. Make sure to leave plenty of the oil/seasonings mixture in the bowl!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roast in a preheated 375° oven (I just stick the pan in beside my Dutch oven) for about 15-20 minutes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, put some frozen or fresh broccoli florets in the mixing bowl and stir until they're coated thoroughly. Add more olive oil and seasonings if you need to.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the 15-20 minutes are done, stir the potatoes, then shove them to one side and add the broccoli. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roast them for an additional 15-20 minutes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How is winter faring in your part of the country? Enjoy it while it's here, because before we know it, spring will be arriving!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t65Yh05bVD4hpHc57IuHJ-3EglD0oWx0Efs9vrTqcfOgBPyKDhCDf0PsDYhB3tMgQ_o6vMEYdClKZS3APufkL68i1QKPC7sSwcqd3QP0L6vHlvIgexnvvJ23H-Qy2t9WvZ1ZghACFpw/s200/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t65Yh05bVD4hpHc57IuHJ-3EglD0oWx0Efs9vrTqcfOgBPyKDhCDf0PsDYhB3tMgQ_o6vMEYdClKZS3APufkL68i1QKPC7sSwcqd3QP0L6vHlvIgexnvvJ23H-Qy2t9WvZ1ZghACFpw/s0/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" /></a></div><br />J</span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">an Drexler loves her family, her home, cooking and just about anything made by hand. But she loves her Lord most of all.</span><br /><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Stop by Jan's website to learn more about her books: <a href="http://www.jandrexler.com/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.JanDrexler.com</a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4e2800; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jan Drexlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-75695534578581563602021-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:002021-01-01T00:01:49.349-05:00Happy New Year!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-IUKoLIjUaEXHkNiZNFAG-TkabmF75Sa4foaWzmSrDrMYCLniBgTkQYGEv9Kudr-P_0pT3tmrcZOR2DX3XzlIoy4UrZacvfU319CNveGPTAo9gDgSEL6_YKX8SY-38oREdrB-aw2YfNb/s2000/Violet+Fireworks+Photo+New+Year+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2000" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-IUKoLIjUaEXHkNiZNFAG-TkabmF75Sa4foaWzmSrDrMYCLniBgTkQYGEv9Kudr-P_0pT3tmrcZOR2DX3XzlIoy4UrZacvfU319CNveGPTAo9gDgSEL6_YKX8SY-38oREdrB-aw2YfNb/w400-h285/Violet+Fireworks+Photo+New+Year+Card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Missy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-55795316216536336802020-12-31T00:00:00.027-05:002020-12-31T00:00:00.275-05:00Antique Island for the Win!<p> There are pros and cons to living in a 166 year-old house. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw00pz6GFn0OTMqkcbR_Qwq6GTgSfsitseBI1SI8IK9-oYNVdojckALV3fEXr4IrHmzFy3o-b_4aC4RkG6qodCRWm4IMf0UL4Oh73G-97Y302KQPISujUnKWHaitg7re7AqhSxX3aogaM/s5152/DSC05023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw00pz6GFn0OTMqkcbR_Qwq6GTgSfsitseBI1SI8IK9-oYNVdojckALV3fEXr4IrHmzFy3o-b_4aC4RkG6qodCRWm4IMf0UL4Oh73G-97Y302KQPISujUnKWHaitg7re7AqhSxX3aogaM/w400-h300/DSC05023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The pros are the built-in charm of an old home. Solid hand-hewn timbers that frame the house, old red cedar floors that never hold their finish, and the blending of old with new, like when we put in a new first-floor full bathroom three years ago and left a corner of a support beam exposed. </p><p>Just think of that, a home that's withstood winter's wrath, summer storms, spring floods and a couple of lightning strikes on the catalpa tree in the back yard.... and it stands still, a testament to workmanship and the love of owners. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSxrRcJAxRQWGQOVjBzw8gUM-MNnb78V9TFEkORHf2w_6INsVbD2UEjCNbLbvleaJQKl3uckCL-VVAfjVyac6Ens9xryIfZsXeP6sjkch9WjnEWhWddEuBfMr9xOFz1VartZOIcWQVUs/s2592/DSC05717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSxrRcJAxRQWGQOVjBzw8gUM-MNnb78V9TFEkORHf2w_6INsVbD2UEjCNbLbvleaJQKl3uckCL-VVAfjVyac6Ens9xryIfZsXeP6sjkch9WjnEWhWddEuBfMr9xOFz1VartZOIcWQVUs/w400-h300/DSC05717.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Now, raising six kids and Farmer Dave losing his job at the downturn of jobs in the Rochester market some thirty years ago put a dent on the wallet, so things went undone for a bit.... and now the kids are raised, I've got a fun mid-life career and we've got our wonderful pumpkin farm, but we still have to go bit by bit and the kitchen is a case in point. See the kitchen is underneath the upstairs bathroom... a bathroom that's managed to leach water into the kitchen ceiling multiple times over the years, and I can't remodel the kitchen (It's 70+ years old and yeah... needs a remodel!) until that bathroom is done because that's silly... but that bathroom couldn't get done until we had a bath on the first floor because weeks without a shower wasn't on my short list... so project one (downstairs bath) is done... project two (remodeling 70+ year old upstairs bath that is too awful to share on the World Wide Web) is this winter...</p><p>And then in a couple of years, we move to kitchen. </p><p>But in the meantime, the most amazing thing happened. </p><p>I bought an island from a wonderful woman on Facebook. Vera had posted a small, rustic painted hutch bottom months ago and I liked it but it was too small... well then in December she posted this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEzZdg2N4ZQ3GbzBKO_Af4P3AYHL1AM29kaZKlHmVYVaRWzKo0RBsbpaWF4KHedd431g_nBiPVWz2_kUrFFfya0qLXwp_6oO0wf0ngCMECHQrP-n4pCSk3LQ1Fz7GNtuacZ0FRtK91qU/s5152/DSC07345+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEzZdg2N4ZQ3GbzBKO_Af4P3AYHL1AM29kaZKlHmVYVaRWzKo0RBsbpaWF4KHedd431g_nBiPVWz2_kUrFFfya0qLXwp_6oO0wf0ngCMECHQrP-n4pCSk3LQ1Fz7GNtuacZ0FRtK91qU/s320/DSC07345+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's just over five feet long and about 26" wide/deep. And it has cupboards! And drawers! It's the bottom to an old pecan hutch she refinished and I was so happy to get it... because it's big and it is a life-saver in this somewhat old and not well-laid-out kitchen... but don't get me wrong, this kitchen has served us well for over 30 years... it's just that we're a big family and the kitchen was designed for a family of four in the 1950's.... and I'm a baker. Bakers bake. It's what we do. So this is a huge help to me for organizing baking supplies!!! <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv1_uLvKzKIfQIZJR9XKt8nm6cfPQqWZgAc_aQNcWJkK3MMg3nPGXiKEyhyGakrg54BBd5h9CsoeVN6J9ZVTZsfvn48h60u9nbE0DOM82SxRWtvopYbIeG51XIoRbaBfLuaT1PXZCxhA/s5152/DSC07346+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv1_uLvKzKIfQIZJR9XKt8nm6cfPQqWZgAc_aQNcWJkK3MMg3nPGXiKEyhyGakrg54BBd5h9CsoeVN6J9ZVTZsfvn48h60u9nbE0DOM82SxRWtvopYbIeG51XIoRbaBfLuaT1PXZCxhA/s320/DSC07346+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Pie pans in one side cupboard... and this is like half of them, the other ones are in use! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZKCyA9_cTCuFOGBr_kWpRZBw44ge8bjQfW0_-FyC31vo_SPdv92WtTq-_KgrEVxpNxXb-dwqur8eIbf54JP9r-xGlDHH6yG-uv5dq14vP8wbzg6dI_9ITl2dSIrojrctlkdGxdA-0uQ/s5152/DSC07352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZKCyA9_cTCuFOGBr_kWpRZBw44ge8bjQfW0_-FyC31vo_SPdv92WtTq-_KgrEVxpNxXb-dwqur8eIbf54JP9r-xGlDHH6yG-uv5dq14vP8wbzg6dI_9ITl2dSIrojrctlkdGxdA-0uQ/s320/DSC07352.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Little cutting boards in this drawer... Off the counter top!!!!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAX0jTweG2lQBI4ApKMej7Ocvs3mzqLllCiVJIXPSHWbZY0dkPS3-fpoF5Z7wpNcKqKkQEVWyAtwlyAFGDwP50NW0VZdqBj5TfagPLiyvb9eVvgSnCEAdbxcFvoY9zbqwmQrSLDDNwuw/s5152/DSC07353+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAX0jTweG2lQBI4ApKMej7Ocvs3mzqLllCiVJIXPSHWbZY0dkPS3-fpoF5Z7wpNcKqKkQEVWyAtwlyAFGDwP50NW0VZdqBj5TfagPLiyvb9eVvgSnCEAdbxcFvoY9zbqwmQrSLDDNwuw/s320/DSC07353+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Muffin pans and bread pans in other side cupboard... and my stash of chips because I guarantee you, Farmer Dave will never bend over and look into a baking cupboard! :) A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do and Farmer Dave loves potato chips! SHH... don't tell him where they are! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnxSP-PY-5-v1FoEwTfLnRqVx9g1_NGjl-OldoOhT44H3dpu_H_vdCkgRQV6nRsBDmSDV5yqFGz2d4ewQniqTeIKbPRte0bL-C0qE3HucnWu3CxmdiQPkZ_1bd7EQdT4n_6qxMpfmeHg/s5152/DSC07350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnxSP-PY-5-v1FoEwTfLnRqVx9g1_NGjl-OldoOhT44H3dpu_H_vdCkgRQV6nRsBDmSDV5yqFGz2d4ewQniqTeIKbPRte0bL-C0qE3HucnWu3CxmdiQPkZ_1bd7EQdT4n_6qxMpfmeHg/s320/DSC07350.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The main cupboard... all of my big baking pans, cookie sheets (air bakes and a new variety I'm trying this winter) Pyrex casseroles (that used to be on the highest shelf and I needed a stool to get to them) and layer cake pans. And a sifter that doesn't fit in a drawer. So it's hanging out with the cake pans.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLkSYWqcO7lIvyJUUZ68qBqVetB2ZF0wBhHo9BCijIlBQBCeuhds5DMHflu-rXW-aWIIP9R_2yHCUol-E8mRit1hHU_DWgIA4Cj5dWS7FBUCq6vf-QmSBpei5f4pTyv819KboO59n7LY/s5152/DSC07351.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLkSYWqcO7lIvyJUUZ68qBqVetB2ZF0wBhHo9BCijIlBQBCeuhds5DMHflu-rXW-aWIIP9R_2yHCUol-E8mRit1hHU_DWgIA4Cj5dWS7FBUCq6vf-QmSBpei5f4pTyv819KboO59n7LY/s320/DSC07351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>PHOTO BOMB of people playing Sequence, a fun tile game with a deck of cards.... Team Matt/Zach won this one. And the next. And maybe a third. #brats.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEuxYtCj_NWyrezIAugvivv-cxbNUyblPzxAhSkDBwocGlY1jJA3K8n1NhlEc5UxqmeZF3dHTvsQXhvq9T7h-Kv4WU-bqmV-yec9FB0YTK5WfFM2L_543LsDv_qt1NnPhcE7ISFfNVRE/s5152/DSC07335.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEuxYtCj_NWyrezIAugvivv-cxbNUyblPzxAhSkDBwocGlY1jJA3K8n1NhlEc5UxqmeZF3dHTvsQXhvq9T7h-Kv4WU-bqmV-yec9FB0YTK5WfFM2L_543LsDv_qt1NnPhcE7ISFfNVRE/s320/DSC07335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Look at this! :) BIG GRIN! These used to live in a big basket on my counter and now here they are, tucked into a drawer and not one bit crowded! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWpyyOz5C3T2a2VUUmVJ5buGAQbocb7y00cljIKgV7FkchSVMyGgSrqrk97DbvuaQX4RoYEIsIBu9Mz1gKeIDNgMSxLsG_7b5f4kykc2qrEZiEPyI_HuYnrR_ypRQ7tJiNfst0RDxPOY/s5152/DSC07348+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWpyyOz5C3T2a2VUUmVJ5buGAQbocb7y00cljIKgV7FkchSVMyGgSrqrk97DbvuaQX4RoYEIsIBu9Mz1gKeIDNgMSxLsG_7b5f4kykc2qrEZiEPyI_HuYnrR_ypRQ7tJiNfst0RDxPOY/s320/DSC07348+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The two BIG drawers! All my baking and canning utensils are tucked in here!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdfOBj0-A-jLZMVhOtVPVAdqkgKMxgW1rzt9kdv7zTdjcYO6MVAY1i7P5aHdVHpUyt7hyphenhyphensHBu1t9kaHKXM3F_Nyz6OlyQrXBbLlmvP_2xF0XenT3gtfQqfceK9pJNM_9QVphukpZPkOc/s5152/DSC07347+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdfOBj0-A-jLZMVhOtVPVAdqkgKMxgW1rzt9kdv7zTdjcYO6MVAY1i7P5aHdVHpUyt7hyphenhyphensHBu1t9kaHKXM3F_Nyz6OlyQrXBbLlmvP_2xF0XenT3gtfQqfceK9pJNM_9QVphukpZPkOc/s320/DSC07347+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Scissors, tape, knife sharpeners and staplers.... all off my counter now. Oh, hallelujah! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyshoYHnO0kHrhrfWSDA9aHhdpy9WqdyIyXBtvUOofTdzs803ohUI3qC4uqmW5CqRNXBOcUKs5sCxed7YBp7PDI2CU5dFGgSWKCWBGOVnaFHhXexyMI1GrqcHETS30kTll6XkqCV2BAA/s5152/DSC07349.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyshoYHnO0kHrhrfWSDA9aHhdpy9WqdyIyXBtvUOofTdzs803ohUI3qC4uqmW5CqRNXBOcUKs5sCxed7YBp7PDI2CU5dFGgSWKCWBGOVnaFHhXexyMI1GrqcHETS30kTll6XkqCV2BAA/s320/DSC07349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is like the world's greatest organizer... and when the kitchen gets a facelift in a couple of years, this cool cabinet stays here, somewhere because it's awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am giddy!!!!! I have ten square feet of clear counter space. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's my major kitchen improvement... and I couldn't be happier.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes it's the little things (compared to kitchen remodel!) that make the biggest difference! </div><div><br /></div><div>What would you change in your kitchen if you could?</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s320/Ruthy+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s0/Ruthy+2012.JPG" /></a></div><br />Multi-published, baked-goods lover Ruthy Logan Herne loves her life, loves writing beautiful stories of faith, hope, love and redemption and is totally gobsmacked by how amazingly generous God has been to her in so many ways, including adult children that like her most of the time! #BONUS! :) Friend Ruthy on Facebook for more of her free wisdom, visit her website <a href="http://ruthloganherne.com">ruthloganherne.com</a> and/or email Ruthy at <a href="mailto:loganherne@gmail.com">loganherne@gmail.com</a> where she is proud to say she still answers her own email... because she kind of thinks that's how it should be done. <br /><p><br /></p></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-51017151780059951302020-12-30T00:00:00.004-05:002020-12-30T10:39:18.584-05:00Cookbooks Under the Christmas Tree<p> </p><p>It's been a while since I've bothered looking at any new cookbooks. You guys tease me a lot about my "innovations" in cooking, but the truth is, I've never been much for following recipes. I use them more as a jumping off place.</p><p>I imagine the same will hold true with these two cookbooks my daughter requested for Christmas, but the recipes and photos are so amazing that I just wanted to share them with you.</p><p><br /></p><p> I had ordered the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/She-Glows-Dinner-Nourishing-Plant-Based/dp/0593083679/ref=asc_df_0593083679/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459706669091&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16620249113965799905&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004351&hvtargid=pla-919085627224&psc=1" target="_blank"><i>Oh She Glows</i> <i>for Dinner</i></a> months ago as a Christmas present, but I liked it so much that I kept it for myself and sent another one to Maine for my daughter. The recipes in this book just beg you to try them.</p><p>There's a recipe for butternut squash, sweet potato and red lentil stew that looks gorgeous! It reminds me of some of the dishes I've experimented with. The <a href="https://ohsheglows.com/2016/11/23/cozy-butternut-sweet-potato-and-red-lentil-stew/" target="_blank">recipe for that one is can be found here</a>.</p><p>I LOVE mashed potatoes, but the carbs leave me needing protein, so I'm intrigued to try her "Sneaky Protein-Packed Mashed Potatoes." *hint - it involves chickpeas.</p><p>There's a smoky black bean veggie burger recipe and something called Sloppy Glows that seems like a lentil-based version of Sloppy Joes.</p><p>And so on.</p><p>But leave some room for dessert, because here comes Rachel Conners.</p><p>Rachel's <i>Bakerita</i> cookbook is just so beautiful! It inspires me to want to make all the things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dnygB2frKY/X-v_lQb_62I/AAAAAAAAEek/jR3Z-MO_Z5Azbu_HcVuGhlr83MLoabsoACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/61bp-%252BeYxQL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="444" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dnygB2frKY/X-v_lQb_62I/AAAAAAAAEek/jR3Z-MO_Z5Azbu_HcVuGhlr83MLoabsoACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/61bp-%252BeYxQL.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>If you want to get an idea of some of the recipes, you can check out her website - <a href="http://bakerita.com">bakerita.com</a></p><p>I could get lost over there. I'm particularly intrigued to try her recipe for <a href="https://www.bakerita.com/holiday-drinks-peppermint-mocha-london-fog-tea-latte-salted-cashew-hot-chocolate/" target="_blank">London Fog Tea Latte.</a> Doesn't that sound just perfect for curling up with on a winter afternoon?</p><p>There's a recipe for <a href="https://www.bakerita.com/chocolate-strawberry-fudge-paleo-vegan/" target="_blank">Chocolate Strawberry fudge</a> and one for <a href="https://www.bakerita.com/grapefruit-tart-gluten-free-paleo/" target="_blank">a grapefruit tart</a> that is simply a work of art!</p><p><br /></p><p>I could go on raving about all the fabulous recipes, but why don't you go Look Inside yourself - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bakerita-No-Fuss-Gluten-Free-Dairy-Free-Sugar-Free-ebook/dp/B07T4LGBF2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bakerita&qid=1609301214&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Bakerita</a></p><p>You can even read some of her inspiring story. I'll admit, I immediately felt a connection when I read these opening lines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fW0FXE-1Fkk/X-v_Ez7kyGI/AAAAAAAAEec/JYj7S-JHouUPJC3n-JHSPbMkeSIcc6h2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s980/Bakerita.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="980" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fW0FXE-1Fkk/X-v_Ez7kyGI/AAAAAAAAEec/JYj7S-JHouUPJC3n-JHSPbMkeSIcc6h2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bakerita.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Yup. That would be me.</p><p>Honestly, after reading these cookbooks, I just want to go shopping and cook amazing foods all day!</p><p><br /></p><p>How about you? Did anything jump out at you?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zdJb3zOWDY/X-wHbKhl31I/AAAAAAAAEew/_mCzMkAJDWo3WXMl8OlhMmuFR0rbCM0dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/51WPe9xBYEL._SX401_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zdJb3zOWDY/X-wHbKhl31I/AAAAAAAAEew/_mCzMkAJDWo3WXMl8OlhMmuFR0rbCM0dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51WPe9xBYEL._SX401_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Also, I'm excited to say - ONLY TWO MORE DAYS BEFORE MY BOOK RELEASES!!!</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Witness-Threat-Inspired-Suspense-ebook/dp/B089RM8LP6" target="_blank">Texas Witness Threat</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0AhgoIs7Cw/X-yfHYmKrkI/AAAAAAAAEe8/igBZRkXgS1MuD0zknWkn_Uci9Nl0P9zvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/517HNraBACL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0AhgoIs7Cw/X-yfHYmKrkI/AAAAAAAAEe8/igBZRkXgS1MuD0zknWkn_Uci9Nl0P9zvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/517HNraBACL.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Cate Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10424872139114718902noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-88315094135515829802020-12-29T00:00:00.001-05:002020-12-29T06:47:11.451-05:00White Mac & Cheese<p> So I'm trying to find a recipe for a white mac and cheese.</p><p>Wanna know why?</p><p>Because I used to love, love, love that macaroni and cheese IN A CAN.</p><p>It might be because we couldn't afford to buy it, or because it was a rare thing to have at a neighbor's house, but gosh... I loved the stuff! </p><p>So I grabbed a recipe off the internet last night and it had great reviews... It's supposed to be like Panera's mac and cheese.</p><p>I have never had Panera's mac and cheese. I've had their broccoli soup. It was good. I've had their bagels... not as good as a couple of local bakeries, but I find that's generally the way with bagels. Somehow the locals do it better.</p><p>And this mac and cheese is good. Really good. I cut down on the macaroni because there were only three of us eating, and that made it too saucy. You probably didn't know there was such a thing!!!!</p><p>I should have cut the sauce in half. My bad.</p><p>But other than that, we liked it. I thought it was a little too thick. I'd either sub in one more cup of milk for the cream or cut the flour in the roux, but it was delicious even with those caveats. </p><p>The recipe is <a href="https://www.shugarysweets.com/copycat-panera-macaroni-cheese/" target="_blank">HERE </a>... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX00y6Z2eVesxC0nU9C5HubYSntVGI8psvLiDcf5wit9dfVMxbewvwD9iTBDBOX_b6lG_mNBZfXgPc5GYmwFieKNh3pGmwEf4erNefPMx37GTXTIqJ0X2J_br4X2EOu-p3rWTUfTyazc/s5152/DSC07343+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX00y6Z2eVesxC0nU9C5HubYSntVGI8psvLiDcf5wit9dfVMxbewvwD9iTBDBOX_b6lG_mNBZfXgPc5GYmwFieKNh3pGmwEf4erNefPMx37GTXTIqJ0X2J_br4X2EOu-p3rWTUfTyazc/w400-h300/DSC07343+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And I didn't change a thing but I would thin it a little more and I used Farfalle (bowtie) pasta.</p><p>I'd go with Celentani or elbows next time. Or shells. But I didn't have those in the cupboard, so...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fz1rSpaY1Y6AHeDVe6pALGKa0BS43fzGkTju9FwW3C2YDPw3IR1aaea_Z4jbiZwixMRwEeOS-Cnnx4qyCE5yoGZwp4MpvSZOOR5yTW0wbcS2ICEm5uK0XubCvSlAtMAaPmcODrrVsmg/s5152/DSC07344+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fz1rSpaY1Y6AHeDVe6pALGKa0BS43fzGkTju9FwW3C2YDPw3IR1aaea_Z4jbiZwixMRwEeOS-Cnnx4qyCE5yoGZwp4MpvSZOOR5yTW0wbcS2ICEm5uK0XubCvSlAtMAaPmcODrrVsmg/w400-h300/DSC07344+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>And from the canine side of the farm, here is Maggie (Goldendoodle) with her newest feline BFF "Milky Way".... The cat is just like her cousin Pumpkin. They hop into Maggie's area and cuddle with her. It's our very own peaceable kingdom here on the farm!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrfPAgFRJFQ6pKhpMC_OnG0L08uEVDpc7LW99HyhMzOlOhobk8cQsTzY4W1FKcAdX7x8iQVHHHINl_tU6Xi9j1EHhMtbq2HNLPIfShrg6VvOPlVFNBcJkTxmPV7p7EgrV8XUbzeo0mkg/s5152/DSC07331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrfPAgFRJFQ6pKhpMC_OnG0L08uEVDpc7LW99HyhMzOlOhobk8cQsTzY4W1FKcAdX7x8iQVHHHINl_tU6Xi9j1EHhMtbq2HNLPIfShrg6VvOPlVFNBcJkTxmPV7p7EgrV8XUbzeo0mkg/s320/DSC07331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And this is one from pre-Christmas week .... Brody and Mary wanted to soak eggs in vinegar. So we did... The vinegar breaks down the minerals in the shells, making them SOFT... and that was weird! And leaving them out doesn't rejuvenate the calcium. They stay soft and awkward looking. Clearly God knew what he was doing when he made the shells hard!!!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLedDaKi1LLDQL8RNRcRz9kjQDHBzmxXD2RIKD2TMGdjyGplayJZblIjQIF0J6YGZn-VGibHQ0DRKIzOnlGiJMfMMswyF6D8JEpx6R06UAOqkYlmQD0r9BeRmMuJw9uIpr-R0Wme6UqQ0/s5152/DSC07291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLedDaKi1LLDQL8RNRcRz9kjQDHBzmxXD2RIKD2TMGdjyGplayJZblIjQIF0J6YGZn-VGibHQ0DRKIzOnlGiJMfMMswyF6D8JEpx6R06UAOqkYlmQD0r9BeRmMuJw9uIpr-R0Wme6UqQ0/w400-h300/DSC07291.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yL2evnB1QdT4u9XSCvLdH4DC3PAPntfthNH7MKhyCGuqLl9VCUuveV3LwfCP-suef9UayEbB3ooPGr6NPEYMyUbj6uWyLmgOWxD6_VZFWYCnK1chb0p0e570lxFEQrEac6VPGnAEpTU/s5152/DSC07292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yL2evnB1QdT4u9XSCvLdH4DC3PAPntfthNH7MKhyCGuqLl9VCUuveV3LwfCP-suef9UayEbB3ooPGr6NPEYMyUbj6uWyLmgOWxD6_VZFWYCnK1chb0p0e570lxFEQrEac6VPGnAEpTU/w400-h300/DSC07292.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><p>Kitchen science is a fascinating past time! </p><p>And that's it from the farm today... An okay recipe from a really cute website, weird eggs and cat and dog besties... We are so blessed!</p><p>And toss in a new .99 novella available on Amazon or on KU! Great suspense story... and a great price! </p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deceiving-Death-Ruth-Logan-Herne-ebook/dp/B08PFXPF58/ref=sr_1_1?crid=P3SR2GNPAJPE&dchild=1&keywords=deceiving+death+herne&qid=1609242335&sprefix=deceiving+death%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1" target="_blank">DECEIVING DEATH AVAILABLE HERE! </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4Qf07vIsZqFy0vFzYTI8Jckj8-e9K6h_FIIgSL5CZK8yj_WpZQDv0dUipskw-w2buWIRMq7np488MifGxNKvwaipHbIlPlSb7ugBLxvNSrjRE1kVDRDXaCgM0lMQSrhWBDJacX1KRpE/s1080/Deceiving+Death+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4Qf07vIsZqFy0vFzYTI8Jckj8-e9K6h_FIIgSL5CZK8yj_WpZQDv0dUipskw-w2buWIRMq7np488MifGxNKvwaipHbIlPlSb7ugBLxvNSrjRE1kVDRDXaCgM0lMQSrhWBDJacX1KRpE/w400-h400/Deceiving+Death+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s320/Ruthy+2012.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3fWOn6yFhezov5HQxPwAM-LiSDPffFGlZFRkcV5R_iNtWmb6jAdtC-bBPE0IpcjDYWH3omlCaKsZTsNvG6NaCub4p2l84t1cu2TpkxNCo-1XZ6tFtE4FlAAZm7nAZpl4EOjS0UAHIX4/s0/Ruthy+2012.JPG" /></a></div><br />Inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne loves what she's doing... and often pinches herself to see if it's real because how could this possibly get better? Really cute kids, healthy family and a job she's longed to do all her life... Puhlease, God is good! You can find Ruthy hanging out on Facebook, or visit her website ruthloganherne.com or email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com where she actually answers her own email and loves to hear from readers. Wishing each and every one of you a blessed and happy New Year!!!!<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-14944649373468974272020-12-28T02:00:00.029-05:002020-12-28T02:00:03.456-05:00Pumpkin Bread for a Small Crowd<p>Happy New Year!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZCOCdAfeLDUkDCJFJYJm7723vH4R5H3agAnhPiS_SU9n5HU9PNhvrECnLjQcqNx3J-b80gkQh0IcAPMG1l0BnAf2SbShJMFIUBs-pQOpx7PjjC8LoNkGQQ57SSzuwXweMns6ab81wL0/s2048/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZCOCdAfeLDUkDCJFJYJm7723vH4R5H3agAnhPiS_SU9n5HU9PNhvrECnLjQcqNx3J-b80gkQh0IcAPMG1l0BnAf2SbShJMFIUBs-pQOpx7PjjC8LoNkGQQ57SSzuwXweMns6ab81wL0/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I share photos of our sunsets so often that I thought you'd like to see one of our sunrises. This is the view from the top of the hill behind our house. It's worth the climb!</p><p>But the problem with sunrises (and sunsets!) is that they don't last very long. In the few minutes it took for me to grab my camera and scoot up to this spot, the pink had faded. I'm just going to have to get up there earlier next time!</p><p>And now to today's recipe. First, a disclaimer. I <i>love</i> Mindy's "Pumpkin Bread for the Masses" (<a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2020/11/tis-season-for-pumpkin-bread.html" target="_blank">click here for that recipe</a>,) but sometimes it just isn't the right time to make it.</p><p>Case in point: Yesterday at church we had our usual New Year's fellowship instead of Sunday School. We normally have a small crowd on the last Sunday of December with families traveling to visit relatives, etc. And this year was no exception. My husband and I had volunteered to bring sweet breads (<i>not <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/37944/sweetbreads/" target="_blank">sweetbreads</a></i>) for part of the snacks and I planned on picking up a variety on Saturday.</p><p>Yup, you guessed it. On Saturday morning, there was nothing at the store but leftovers from Wednesday.</p><p>So I thought I'd make Mindy's pumpkin bread...and thought I remembered the recipe well enough to know we had all the ingredients at home.</p><p>But it was the day after Christmas. In my post-Christmas brain fog, I forgot that I could look up the recipe on my phone - duh! - and happily went home to make pumpkin bread.</p><p>When I looked up the recipe, alas! I was missing a couple key ingredients!</p><p>No worries. I went to my trusty 1980 Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and made an old favorite. I doubled the recipe to make enough. This is the recipe for one loaf -</p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Pumpkin Loaf - Jan's version</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRm46ghuQ_JivR-GdGotev6XjBAOHlTa041LJsgh_KIZ3rsS9sT6bykev1UnCvoZLwcZhQk-HnHu7nOKNGh2JcRsKFdxgoARWQk2-2rz-uR3ux4cLHMbXJcv-Qb6LH46xUSPlFsTAd7E/s2048/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRm46ghuQ_JivR-GdGotev6XjBAOHlTa041LJsgh_KIZ3rsS9sT6bykev1UnCvoZLwcZhQk-HnHu7nOKNGh2JcRsKFdxgoARWQk2-2rz-uR3ux4cLHMbXJcv-Qb6LH46xUSPlFsTAd7E/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i><p><i><br /></i></p>ingredients:</i><p></p><p>2 cups flour</p><p>2 teaspoons baking powder</p><p>1/2 teaspoon salt</p><p>1/2 teaspoon ground ginger</p><p>1/4 teaspoon baking soda</p><p>1/4 teaspoon ground cloves</p><p>1 cup packed brown sugar</p><p>1/3 cup butter</p><p>2 eggs</p><p>1 cup canned pumpkin</p><p>1/4 cup milk</p><p><i>optional:</i></p><p>1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans</p><p>1/2 cup raisins</p><p>In a medium sized bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.</p><p>With your mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar together, then add the eggs one at a time. When everything is mixed well, add the pumpkin and the milk and mix well.</p><p>Add the flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time until all is smooth. If you want to add nuts and/or raisins, stir them in now.</p><p>Pour the batter into a 9x5x3 loaf pan and bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes, or until done.</p><p>My loaf pans are 8x4x3, so I put my double batch of batter into 3 pans, and baked them at 350° for 50 minutes.</p><p>Cool, then wrap. Wait until the next day before slicing (unless you just can't wait!)</p><p>How do you like your pumpkin bread? With or without nuts and/or raisins?</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Yei4kq0pMRNCbSATOwSzAuoINSF88zMaMA8JcvUcWcfW0426SQBafGHXw9lzvJIDvN3TjYKVsDjszbiP-3E5PQKVIKLZEnVwT2sTzKrIrQbyptI-JChSZbHlH0RDOifpsg1Eoom5WM/s200/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Yei4kq0pMRNCbSATOwSzAuoINSF88zMaMA8JcvUcWcfW0426SQBafGHXw9lzvJIDvN3TjYKVsDjszbiP-3E5PQKVIKLZEnVwT2sTzKrIrQbyptI-JChSZbHlH0RDOifpsg1Eoom5WM/s0/Jan+Drexler+2018+.jpg" /></a></div><br />Jan Drexler has always been a "book girl" who still loves to spend time within the pages of her favorite books. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her dear husband of many years and their active, crazy dogs, Jack and Sam. You can learn more about Jan and her books on her website, <a href="http://www.jandrexler.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #b5653b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">www.JanDrexler.com</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">.</span><p></p>Jan Drexlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609332074458434806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-19863350636189418752020-12-24T00:00:00.001-05:002020-12-24T00:00:03.743-05:00Merry Christmas from Yankee-Belle Cafe! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">MERRY CHRISTMAS!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuwbTpS0egEj2YEOIyp57_YXrpTbGm17rj0n4uzKqbwPJ3WbvnSOYtc2XmQnvK0CPd5Wg2vrxQ_PlFm6MqP8i3TEkrSz2ozb5227rqFyRrgHzx6FfC2MOnuXZoMFwyxAMNJkNl5H_KfQ/s2048/Yankee+Belle+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuwbTpS0egEj2YEOIyp57_YXrpTbGm17rj0n4uzKqbwPJ3WbvnSOYtc2XmQnvK0CPd5Wg2vrxQ_PlFm6MqP8i3TEkrSz2ozb5227rqFyRrgHzx6FfC2MOnuXZoMFwyxAMNJkNl5H_KfQ/w400-h268/Yankee+Belle+Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Ruth Logan Hernehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550734775151341968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7945786327884906788.post-66183835746898889582020-12-23T00:00:00.004-05:002020-12-23T00:00:04.913-05:00Russian Tea Cakes - a Christmas Memory<p>I was commenting to my daughter the other day that this would be the first Christmas in over 3 decades that I didn't make these. #2020sadness</p><p>It's okay. I really didn't need all the butter and sugar, and I'll appreciate them all the more once I have a working oven again. And I figured that by sharing this post again, it was almost like having them since I can taste the remembered sweetness. </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #f48d1d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2016/12/russian-tea-cakes-and-giveaway.html" style="color: #f48d1d; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Russian Tea Cakes</a></h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7660852678723355629" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Butter Spritz cookies. Those were definitely a favorite with my girls when they were growing up. But somewhere along the line, the family favorite changed over from spritz to Russian Tea Cakes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These super easy, delicious treats look like little snowballs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They also camouflage themselves as pfeffernusse which means a lot of people pass them by, mistaking them for their spicier Dutch cousins. The better for those of us who know of their secret goodness!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xllRtZOFLug/WFDDqELvEKI/AAAAAAAABNY/LquaomOK_b0D8QUzudTBzS6aI_MQusSGgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #b5653b; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xllRtZOFLug/WFDDqELvEKI/AAAAAAAABNY/LquaomOK_b0D8QUzudTBzS6aI_MQusSGgCLcB/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4MZcCPtZcg/WFDDqNWMddI/AAAAAAAABNI/e_NaEBkqk9o_vanQTihgbkzgzL9jhsOVwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4MZcCPtZcg/WFDDqNWMddI/AAAAAAAABNI/e_NaEBkqk9o_vanQTihgbkzgzL9jhsOVwCLcB/s320/IMG_1882.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While we're sharing cookbooks, let me show you the shape of the one this recipe comes from. It's so old (See copyright below) and tattered, and it falls open automatically to the Russian Tea Cakes page.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptp4oP3wUXk/WFDDqcJMu_I/AAAAAAAABNU/TWANPVHL6wYxMRggCRf33jGKPP3cSxkogCLcB/s1600/IMG_1886%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptp4oP3wUXk/WFDDqcJMu_I/AAAAAAAABNU/TWANPVHL6wYxMRggCRf33jGKPP3cSxkogCLcB/s320/IMG_1886%25281%2529.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>I love the introduction. (Click to enlarge.)<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFY3UpxoR-k/WFDDqZS0foI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jSf6X8ShNFMF6wZuwa_Ugwj6zPagjEGjwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1885%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFY3UpxoR-k/WFDDqZS0foI/AAAAAAAABNQ/jSf6X8ShNFMF6wZuwa_Ugwj6zPagjEGjwCLcB/s320/IMG_1885%25281%2529.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These are SO easy, I almost hate to give it away.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The recipe calls for:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 cup of butter</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 teaspoon Vanilla extract</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 1/4 cups of flour</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/4 teaspoon of salt (I never add this. I just use salted butter instead of sweet)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3/4 cups of chopped pecans</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EqTAwQUk-4/WFDFB8qboGI/AAAAAAAABNk/yIVv5jfkZWI6cNuU4QIIRzLtbRkHpy8VQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1887%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EqTAwQUk-4/WFDFB8qboGI/AAAAAAAABNk/yIVv5jfkZWI6cNuU4QIIRzLtbRkHpy8VQCLcB/s320/IMG_1887%25281%2529.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Additional powdered sugar to roll the cookies in.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So first you soften the butter. If you're in a rush, you can use the microwave (because this recipe is pretty forgiving). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cream the butter and sugar and add vanilla and try to avoid eating it all at this point because the dough is SO good.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mix in flour, salt (if you're using it) and pecans.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is where I also like to play with substitutions. Mini-chocolate chips work GREAT! I've been known to use rainbow sprinkles for colorful fun.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And this year I bought these.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOuQpaHJvs4/WFDFBlhN9fI/AAAAAAAABNg/ErSHHRwfa6wlbaZlRnb4xcG-4rVXlBJFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOuQpaHJvs4/WFDFBlhN9fI/AAAAAAAABNg/ErSHHRwfa6wlbaZlRnb4xcG-4rVXlBJFwCLcB/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh my stars. I am going to have to find lots of excuses to bake with these babies!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So you roll them into little balls and bake at 400 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. As soon as you take them out, you (carefully) roll the hot cookies in the powdered sugar. Once they've cooled, you roll them again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then you have something pretty like this.</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwI7JF_7Jv8/WFDH--Bm65I/AAAAAAAABN0/hrOtyywRQD4nt9NitaWJWQed3zG5K9YlwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #b5653b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwI7JF_7Jv8/WFDH--Bm65I/AAAAAAAABN0/hrOtyywRQD4nt9NitaWJWQed3zG5K9YlwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Betty Crocker website has a cool adaptation where you basically create a solid chocolate middle. Check that out here. <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-filled-russian-tea-cakes/a162813a-bf6c-4f93-9b95-b6d578a53377" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">Chocolate-Filled Russian Tea Cakes</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">FoodGawker has an entire page on possible variations. Ahhhhh. So many pretty cookies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://foodgawker.com/tag/russian-tea-cakes/" style="color: #b5653b; text-decoration-line: none;">Russian Tea Cakes</a></span><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7660852678723355629" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7660852678723355629" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 536px;">Are there any traditional treats you're not doing this year?</div>Cate Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10424872139114718902noreply@blogger.com3