Kentucky Burgoo ... and other things

BURGOO (ewww) .... a southern soup-like dish I never thought I'd care for, but Hubby brought home some fixing's the other night .....

.... and we got at and added to, and made 3 huge pots-full. We canned 15 qts., put 1 qt in the freezer and had enough left for a couple meals for the 2 of us. (We had googled for a recipe to see what to add)

Doesn't it look good?? It is!

We just cannot see good food going to waste. So, leftovers from a company dinner, and a couple bags of lima beans, blackeyed peas, and celery, carrots, and onion that we had on hand.... oh, and 4 bottles of BBQ sauce and seasonings. and we have quick meals to open at a momments notice!

The kitchen had already been cluttered cuz I was out all day seeking references for paintings. But we pushed things aside and did it anyway. BTW, one of the most useful things I learned growing up was...

... how to stack dishes! Our canning was done and kitchen clean by 11 pm.

Meanwhile I have only a few inches til my 2nd sock is done. I will post when they are so you can see too (two ?)!

Ah, yes.... and I need to give Izzy a bath and a trim. Doesn't she look like she needs one???

Maybe I'll get to pick up a paint-brush yet this afternoon.

A New Dish

Baked, stuffed rabbit breast and pieces, with Mandarin Fruit sauce

... in the wood-stove oven, of course.

..... accompanied by our own frozen corn, and baked sweet potatoes w/ brown sugar/cinnamon topping.

Oh, YUMM it was good!! and Hubby gave his approval!

Mandarin Fruit sauce

1 can (11oz) mandarin oranges

3/4c orange juice

1 1/2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp lemon juice

1 T cornstarch (I added a little more)

2 T brown sugar

3/4 tsp ginger

a few marashino cherries, sliced

Drain oranges and reserve liquid. Combine andarin orange liquid with orange juice, soy sauce and lemon juice in saucepan. Mix cornstarch, ginger,and brown sugar and add to the liquid; cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Fold in oranges and cherries. Stuff the rabbit breast cavity with your favorite stuffing and place in roaster pan or dutch oven with other rabbit pieces, Pour sauce over rabbit pieces and bake in oven on med. heat (325-350) for 2 hrs, basting occasionally. Take lid off roaster the last 20 mins. Enjoy!! I am sure this could also be used nicely with skinless chicken breasts.

New Years Day

New Years day or not , it was the weekend and the only 2 days of the week Hubby and I get to spend together.

Because it had been warm the last couple days, we decided to let the woodstove go out, and give it a good mid-season cleaning.

The top of the oven is accessed through the lid on top left and the ashes and hard stuff is scraped to the side, and falls to the bottom.

By working the handle (that you pull to circulate the heat around the oven) back and forth, you also loosen any creosote build-up on it.

As well as the handle in back that opens and closes the draft, which is not really a problem unless you are constantly burning a low-heat fire.

There is a little trap door in the back (bottom right) where you clean out that ash and any creosote that builds up on the side walls.



The ash drawer gets cleaned, not only at this time but also every 2nd or at least 3rd day, and that is located under the fire box.

The oven gets a cleaning now also

As well as the entire outside washed and polished. The stove-top can be cleaned with a very fine sand-paper or emerycloth and a light rub with mineral oil shines it up nicely. This project promotes safety as well as a bright spot in the house.

That is the first of my "2011 clean-up, clean-out projects"

Wishing everyone a happy, blessed new year. Let the past be the past... this is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts.

Home-made Gifts

I have been thinking about gifts for miscellaneous giving; ie, mail-person, Hubby's boss and/or co-workers, lady who runs the Todd County Welcome Center..... and came across this recipe from Leh*man's blog and decided to try it out.

Pumpkin Bread in a Jar

This recipe makes 8 pints! That's 8 gifts!!

With a Home-made card I think it makes a nice little gift.

What do you think??

Recipe (because I knew you would ask ;) )

Pumpkin Bread In A Jar
Ingredients:

2/3 c. shortening

2 c. pumpkin ( I used my home-canned)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground cloves

2 2/3 c. white sugar

2/3 c. water

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

4 eggs

3 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts, if using. Pour mixture into greased wide-mouth pint canning jars, filling them each half full. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes. When done, remove one jar at a time and wipe off sealing rim with a cloth. Screw lid on tightly with band. The heat will vacuum seal the jar. Makes 8 pints.
Variations: Substitute one of the following for the pumpkin: 2 cups shredded apples; 2 cups shredded carrots; 1 can cranberry sauce; 2 cups mashed bananas; 2 cups chopped peaches; 2 cups applesauce; 2 cups shredded zucchini; 2 cups fruit cocktail; or 1 3/4 cups applesauce plus 1/4 cup raisins.

(Changes; I cut the sugar to 2 cups and 2 T, used 5 very small eggs cause thats what I had, and added 2/3 c raisins. (we cut one open this morning and Hubby liked it really well!)

Add your ribbon and a tag and there ya go! (I made my ribbon out of a strip of plaid flannel left from Hubby's quilt)I was able to gift one yesterday about an hour out of the oven to a lady who came to get a trailer-load of rabbit manure for her garden. When I told her I had baked it in my wood cook-stove oven, that made it all the more special to her!

Well, Merry Christmas to you all. Happy baking! Wishing you all a very Blessed New Year!

Pie Crust Recipe and Odds n' Ends

For all who requested, my pie crust *recipe* has been added to the Apple Pie post from a few days ago.



I greeted my 2 new Nubian goats this morning on my way to turn the lights on in the rabbit barn and hen house. They greeted me back with "Maaaaaa" ...... no they are not purchased yet; just gettin' in practise :) (those of you who hold to the teachings of the Bible will especially understand this... )


I need to finish clipping Izzy now that I have found the combs that go onto the end of the clippers. Picture will be forthcoming.


Other things I am planning to do for today;

1.I will be baking bread ... or "Dorothy" will (the fabulous bread machine)

2.I am also getting presents ready to mail out by the 10th.

3.Knitting a slouch hat for youngest daughter.

4.Put nest boxes in rabbits pens that are due on the 11th (9 I think)

I am sure most evryone is is decorated and ready for Christmas except me, but I'll get there. No hurry, no rush :)

So what does your day consist of ??

Apple Pie - My Way

There's no getting around it...... my Hubby likes to eat pie!

If I am going to eat pie, it has to have something in it other than fluff and sugar.



I make the crust using a good bit of old-fashion oatmeal added (1 part oatmeal to 2 parts flour)



Then I like to use fresh apples. I wash them good, then slice them up with skins on, saving all those good nutrients.



I stack it as high as I can, till they are falling off and can't be stacked any higher. More apple to crust ratio. I mix 1/2 cup flour and 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1-2 tsp cinnamon (its good for you) Dot with butter and "put the lid on". Sculp an apple shape in the top crust to let out steam.




Bake at 375* for about an hour. When it is done I sprinkle a little cinnamon-sugar mixture on top . It will melt into place from the heat of the pie.



......... and there you have it , a Good-For-You apple pie!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those that requested, my pie crust recipe is simple, I am a "dump" cook.... a little of this , a pinch of that.

2 parts flour

1 part oatmeal (the old-fashion kind)

1 1/2 parts Crisco or lard

enough cold, cold, water to make into a nice dough.

Roll out immediately and put in pie tin. Make the top crust over-sized to fit over the apples. Crimp edges, cut slits and bake. I do my apple pies at 375* for about an hour

1

Making Bread

... yesterday. I am so used to just throwing my ingredients in, varied a little if I want, and whipping up a big batch of bread!

However, kneading bread has been wrecking havoc on my wrists the last few months. I need my wrists for important things like .... well... quilting... painting.... knitting, you know , the really important things. So talking to DD on the phone (after the fact) she suggested I get a bread making machine from Wal*Mart. I didn't think ours carried them but I called anyway.... then ran (in the car) to grab this on clearance, reduced bargain of the week! a whole $25! Made by Oster, it has so many features it will take me a month to learn!

I know.... you've seen bread machines before (sheepish grin)

but, oh it will save my wrists..... and

hubby can have his different kinds of bread without having to eat 6 loaves of one kind at once ....... and

no more freezer bread! At least not as much... but it is good to know, that I can still whip up a batch to feed an army :)

Still canning ....

The other evening we went to the Mennonite farm and came home with a bushel of wonderful green beans. They were able to raise them this late in the year because of their drip irrigation system.

I was sure glad to get them as we hadn't been able to can when green beans would have normally been available.

We canned 14 quarts and 16 pints. That added quite a bit to our winter pantry stock.

Besides that, it inspired a new little painting, posted on Sunny's Studio.

Yogurt by the Gallon ... and other good food

Now that I am back home from a wonderful, refreshing vacation and seeing PA family once again; its time to get back on track with what I need to be doing as far as frugal living is concerned. I had been so homesick I had "fallen off the frugal wagon" so to speak. But that is behind me now and I am looking forward to each new day!

I stopped in the other day to pick up good wholesome, raw cow's milk from my Amish neighbor, Sarah. I had been wanting to get back to making yogurt and cheese so I purchased 2 gallons.

First on the agenda was to make some home-made yogurt.

I poured 1 gal into my 5 qt. stainless steel pot and raised the temp to 165* for 15 sec to pasturize it. (I don't try using raw milk for yogurt, as there is too much chance of failure and I need to be frugal especially after going on a spur-of-the-moment vacation ;) Then I cooled the milk in a sink of cold water to 115* and added my 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt as culture. After stirring that in, I lit my electric oven and heated it to 120*. I had a thermometer in the yogurt and one on the oven shelf. As I timed the temp drop in the oven I decided I needed to relight the oven for a few minutes every hour to keep the temp right. This worked very well, as the large amount of yogurt took a longer time to change in temperature, than it would have if I'd have put it in smaller containers. The temp range for this recipe called for 11o-118*.

It took only 4 hrs to set but I left it another hour to solidify more. I am really pleased with the result! No bitterness or sour taste at all. I will make half of it into yo-cheese and add herbs to it for a cracker spread, and use the other half for yogurt, adding a few strawberries or other fruit.

Our strawberry patch is producing quite well. Although the berries themselves aren't gigantic they have a very good, sweet flavor.

I made this Fresh Strawberry Pie for hubby soon after I got home, in appreciation for the vacation! (he stayed home and went to WORK, including many overtime hours, took care of our little dog, Izzy, fed the chickens, AND did all the RABBIT chores - He's an amazing man.... sigh)

(He likes his pie topped with a huge helping of vanilla ice cream.....)

.... and the chickens didn't even miss me, as proven by the beautiful eggs they are still laying.

Nothing says country like wonderful fresh-made yogurt, home-picked strawberries, and fresh home-grown eggs!

I had a wonderful time with my kids and Grands, but I am glad to be home again!

Making Sourdough - Walnut Raisin Twist

This sourdough starter is made with Prairie Wheat unbleached flour that I get at our Amish bulk foods store about 20 miles away. It has a nice fine texture with all the good nutrients left in.

Let the starter get to room temp, meanwhile starting 1 1/2 cups warm water, 2 1/2 tsp yeast and 1 T sugar in the bowl to start working. After 10 min add 1 cup starter and mix well. Add 1/2 cup softened butter to the mix

...... then proceed to add 3 1/2 cups unbleached Prairie Flour and 1 tsp salt to stir in. Add enough more flour to make a soft dough. ( It takes about 6 1/2 - 7 cups altogether)

.... put it on a floured board and knead for about 10 min, adding flour as needed. Meanwhile, wash and grease your bowl.

... eh, I found it a little hard to knead AND take pictures at the same time.

Knead until it is nice and smooth ...



then form into a smooth ball and placing it back in the bowl, turn it once to grease it all over. Cover with a clean cloth and set in a warm place to raise.

Let rise about 1 1/2 hrs or until double (mine rose too much as I had to pick up Izzy from the vet after her "surgery")

When you punch it down, add 1 cup raisins that have been plumped in warm water (drain the water) , 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and 1 tsp cinnamon and gently knead it in. Divide ino 4 equal pieces making ropes about 20in long of each. Twist 2 together, then form it into a circle on a cookie sheet. This gives you 2 "Twists", one for you and one to share with a neighbor. Bake 30 min at 375*. When cool frost with a thin cream-cheese frosting. I cut this one into sections as it would not fit on any of my plates :)

(for some reason these last pictures turned out funky)

Umm, love it, chock full of nuts and raisins! Old-timey goodness!

The Monster in my Kitchen!

(a re-post from the earlier blogging days, for some of my new readers)

There is a monster in my kitchen! ........You would think I could get rid of it, with just 2 people living here, and use the space more wisely. This monster fakes me out every time I give in and let its call beckon me; to let it do something for me that I already know good and well I can do better and quicker myself! It pleads with me, like a small child saying, "I wanna help! " .... just to find that I have to do at least half the job again anyway. I have to bend over and "bow" to it whenever I let it bribe me by its beckoning presence. Soon as its mouth is open I have lost the battle. I have to fill that mouth, and it will take many handfuls of what it likes best to ever get to the place where I can shut its mouth and silence the guilt within myself for allowing it to be open in the first place. Then there is the constant "bowing" again, to undo what I previously did at the start! And, deep inside I know ...... I know ..... that that so-called time-saver is actually a waste of MY time.

And really, I could get better results asking a toddler to clean up his plate than I do from this monster that I am slave to....

So ........ If anyone would want to take my dish-washer, and replace it with a nice cupboard of 2 shelves and a deep drawer, I would be ever grateful!

( Are you listening, dear hubby? )

Saturday Morning ... and an Afternoon Surprise!

We started off with a breakfast of bacon, eggs and Homey Oatmeal Scones, with dried cranberries and raisins! Baked in my cast iron skillet in the wood stove oven..



Topped with real butter and Pennsylvania honey! (the best of course ;)



Then it was out to cut another pick-up load of wood for hubby while I cleaned and puttered in the house. He cuts and splits the wood ...



and it is my job to stack, which I just love. Its great exercise!



Meanwhile in the early afternoon, a package was delivered to the door....
It had gloves and tee-shirts and cookies for hubby, a toy and treats for Izzy, and for me a teapot cozy knitted by my daughter Tina, to fit my Brown Betty tea-pot; along with an infuser that sits in the teapot, and some natural organic Lavender and Chamomile loose-leaf tea, and Stevia from Restoration Herbs. I made some and sipped it all afternoon Sunday! You can click on the photo and bring up the detail on the cozy. See the buttons in the back where it buttons under the handle? Didn't she do a fantastic job??