A Soulin'

A soul, a soul, a soul cake

Please good Missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, Any good thing to make us all merry.

One for Peter, One for Paul, One for Him who made us all.

Today is All Soul's day, the day we remember the dearly departed.  Traditionally this is where Trick or Treating comes from.  This year I thought I would try making Soul cakes.  This is an adaptation of an old recipe from the 1800's.  It's very simple ingredients lead me to think it's a much older recipe.  It's almost like a spiced shortbread/sugar cookie.  Traditionally they should be round with a cross cut into them, but I made them heart shaped since we are remembering our loved ones.

Soul Cakes -makes about 3 doz. 2 inch cookies

1 2/3 c flour                 1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t allspice                 pinch of nutmeg

2/3 c white sugar        3/4 c butter

1 egg                                 1 1/2 t vinegar

Mix together dry ingredients.  Cut in butter.   Beat egg together with vinegar and combine with dry ingredients.  Dump out onto table and knead into a soft dough.  Roll out 1/3 inch thick.  Cut out cookies and place on lined cookie sheet.

Bake 350F for 15 minutes.

Yarn Along -1 June 2011 and a Recipe

Another Yarn Along this week.  Congrats to Ginny and her family for the save arrival of their little one!

I wish the colour would show up better.  When I have the sweater done, I'll have to take Ella outside and see if it photographs better.  It really is a beautiful marine blue -should be gorgeous with Ella's blue eyes.  As you can see, my big girl February Baby sweater is coming along well.  

I just finished A Knitter's Home Companion.  It was ok.  Not great, but certainly not the worst I've ever read.  I haven't decided if I'm keeping the book or whether I'll put it into the library donation box.  It does have one slipper pattern that I'm interested in trying.

And here's a recipe.  I thought I had put this online before, but now I can't find it.  This recipe also works for freezer cooking.  Just pour everything in a Ziploc baggie and toss in the freezer.  Thaw, shake and pour into your pan when you want to bake.


Crustless Quiche

4 eggs                                                1 3/4 c milk -any kind
1/2 c flour                                       pinch of salt
1/2 t bk powder                           1 1/2 c shredded cheese
filling of your choice

Mix together everything (custard) but cheese and filling.  Arrange filling and cheese in a greased 9-10 inch pie plate.  Set pie plate on oven rack and pour in custard.   Bake 350F for 50-60 minutes.  Let it stand for a couple minutes before slicing.

Yarn Along -23 March 2011 -Blogiversary -Giveaway -Recipe

 So many things to share today.  First of all it is our one year Blogiversary for our farm blog!!  I can't believe this blog has been up and running for a whole year.  It's been very helpful for the farm.  We've had a number of new customers who found us through the blog.  Very exciting.

 

I don't know what it is about Ella's sweater.  Maybe the gauge or maybe it's the pattern I can't seem to memorize, but I just don't seem to want to knit on it.   I know I need to get it done but there are so many other interesting things to knit.  So I started a pair of socks.  They are toe-up, two at a time and have a cable running up the middle.  I'm making them with Berroco Vintage.  It has some wool in it but doesn't feel like wool.  The person I'm making them for 'doesn't like' wool.   I know we're supposed to be reading something for the Yarn Along, I just can't seem to find the time this week.  I'm also trying to tidy up my corner of the living room.  The piles of books are getting taller than the piles of knitting  :)

Ella and I were busy baking this morning.  I made some of our every day bread. I tossed in a couple eggs (still swimming in eggs) and I had leftover potato water to use too.  Since I had some mashed potatoes that needed using I made scones too.  Ella and I will enjoy that for our afternoon 'tea'.







POTATO SCONES
makes one scone round (8 scones)
1 3/4 c flour                                 1/4 c wt. sugar
1 T bk powder                              1/4 c butter
1/2 c mashed potatoes (lump free and warmed)
1 egg                                                1/3 c currants or raisins
1/2 c milk
Mix all the dry ingredients.  Add the mashed potatoes and mix in well, I sometimes use my pastry blender.  Cut in the butter, fairly fine.  Stir in the currants and then the milk/egg.  Sometimes I need to add a bit more flour, you don't want it too soft but it doesn't need kneading either.  Shape into a 7 inch circle on a lined cookie sheet.  Cut into 8 wedges and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake 400F for 25-30 minutes.

In honour of our blogiversary I'm doing a giveaway.  I'm going to make one of these lovely little dollies.  She's not made yet, so you get a choice of dolly or Christmas elf.  So leave us a comment and Ella will make the random drawing Friday at noon (our time).  Good luck!

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday or better known as Pancake Day.  It's also Mardi Gras for those in New Orleans.  Traditionally it's the last day to get all the 'forbidden' food out of the house before the fasting of Lent starts.  The festivities with Mardi Gras also lets folks burn off high spirits before the contemplation and soul searching of Lent.

As you can see from my menu plan, we don't 'keep ' Lent.  Neither side of the family (the Anglican/Lutheran or the United/Baptist) ever kept Lent.  I'm not sure it would work with the family at this stage in our life.  I know my friend Magdalena and her husband keep a fairly strict Lent.  Colin works so hard that he wouldn't be able to function if I took away meat.  Ella eats such a limited variety of foods right now, I wouldn't be afraid for her health if I took away dairy -the one thing I can count on her eating.   In the past I've tried giving up Coke or chocolate, but usually fail miserably.   On top of it all, I'm not sure Colin would approve at all.  His family is United through and through and fasting isn't a part of that tradition.

Pancakes help use up dairy, eggs and fats that wouldn't last until Lent was over.  Fastnachts are another delicious way to use up these food stuffs.  Fastnachts are German potato doughnuts.  Unlike a lot of doughnut recipes, these doughnuts stay nice and fresh for days after frying.  They also freeze well, which is what we usually do with them.   I usually make doughnut holes.  They are just the right size for Ella and I and Daddy can eat a few at a time without having too much.  They take just a few seconds to 'nuke' in the microwave (from frozen) and are delicious slightly warm.

Fastnachts
1 T yeast

1 c lump-free mashed potatoes (I often use potato flakes)
1 c sugar                                         1 1/2 c warm water (potato water is best)
1 c flour
Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Mix in other ingredients.  Let rise in a warm place for several hours.

Then add:
1 c sugar                                                 1 c warm milk
3/4 c butter, melted                          3 eggs
1 t salt                                                     5 cups flour

Add this to the starter.  Mix well, adding enough flour to make a fairly stiff dough.  Let rise double.
Roll out about 1/2 inch thick and cut to desired shape.  Don't make them too big or it's too hard to get the dough cooked through.  Let the fastnachts rise again.

Heat at least 3 inches of oil (or use deep fryer) to 375F (use a deep-frying thermometer).  Carefully put fastnachts into the oil, be very gentle or the oil will splash.  Don't over crowd your pot or the oil will cool.  Fry them about 3 minutes per side, turning them as needed.  Lift out and drain on paper towel.  Roll in cinnamon sugar, white sugar or glaze of your choice.  Always do a test fastnacht so you have an idea of how long your dough needs to cook.  It's always easy to find testers  :)
If you've never deep-fried food, please be careful.  There are lots of information out there on how to do it safely.  And remember NEVER put water on an oil fire!  A deep fryer is the best choice for the novice doughnut maker.

no title

This recipe comes from my Great-Grandma's cookbook -Kate Aitken's Canadian Cook Book It's one of those books I like to sit and read even when I'm not looking for a recipe. It's not very "chatty" but I find Kate's "Note to Brides" interesting and a window into a world gone by.

Chicken a la King

3-4 lb chicken, or 3 cups leftover chopped chicken (bite size)

if using raw chicken, simmer in water with a chopped onion and a couple whole cloves until cooked. Cool chicken (saving broth) and remove from bones and chop.

In a largish saucepan (I use my non-stick) melt 3T butter and 2 T green relish, cook till tender. Add 5 T flour or cornstarch and cook 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups broth (or gravy) and cook over medium heat until thick and smooth -stirring constantly. Add 3/4 cup cream (milk will work), 1 eggs and the chopped chicken. Heat to boiling, but don't boil.

Serve over toast cups or patty shells.


This week's beef roast is too big for the crock pot, so I'll do it in the oven. Nothing fancy.

7lb beef roast
sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder
a little water in the bottom of the pan to prevent smoking

Roast 350F for approximately 20min a pound, until it reaches 160F for medium. I always use my digital meat thermometer with an alarm -no more overcooked meat.

As Promised

Here's a couple recipes for pickles. I love pickles and relishes. Guess it's the German in me:)

Just an FYI, my recipes are minimal, if you are unfamiliar with canning, please, please find a good canning book. Don't mess around with canning, be sure your family will be safe. But don't forget to have fun. It's not hard once you know "the rules"

Pickled Beets

Cut the leaves off the beets, leaving about an inch of stem. Boil for about 30 minutes, until fork tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. If they are fully cooked, the skins will slip right off in your hand (I wear plastic gloves). Cut off root and stem ends. Slice or cube beets (your choice) into freshly washed Mason jars. Fill jars with hot brine, leaving 1/4-1/2 inch head space. Wipe rim and place on snap lids/rings. Process 30 min for pints and 35 min for quarts

Brine

Heat and combine completely: 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water
Make up as much as needed depending on how many beets you have on hand.



Spicy Dill Pickles

Brine

Heat and combine completely: 5 qts water, 2 qts vinegar and 1 3/4 cup pickling salt

In clean Mason jars, place 1-2 cloves of garlic, a head of dill, and 1 tsp pickling spice in the bottom of each jar. Scrub up a pile of cucumbers. I use small ones but use the size you want. Cut off the blossom ends. Put cucumbers in jar, slicing if necessary. Pack in fairly tightly (will prevent floating). Make sure cucumbers will be covered by brine. Fill jars with hot brine, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Put on lids and process 15 min for pints, 20 min. for quarts.

Dill Pickles

Use recipe as above, leaving out the pickling spices.

Recipes -June 22

Sticky Chicken

Combine:

4 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 1/2 tsp pepper

Rinse and dry chicken. Rub inside and out with spice rub. Refrigerate overnight.

Roast 250F for 5 hours or 350F for 30/lb if you are in a hurry.


Cowboy Casserole

1 lb hamburger
1 cup cheese, Colby, cheddar, etc
1 can tomato soup
16 oz can corn
16 oz can kidney beans
1 tsp onion flakes
1/2 tsp chili powder

Brown beef, drain. Put everything into crockpot, stir to mix. Cover and cook on low 4 hours.


Barbecued Short Ribs

4 lbs beef short ribs
1 1/2 cups water
1 T vinegar
1/2 c ketchup
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt & dash of pepper

Cut ribs into serving size pieces. Mix everything else together then pour over ribs in large crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Could be done in the oven too, but it was delicious in the cp so why heat up the kitchen :)

This is supposed to serve 4-6, but it was barely enough for 4 (including a picky 3 year old). Next time I will definitely use closer to 6 lbs ribs and likely more sauce. I like to have leftovers.

Recipes -June 15

Honey Pork Chops serves 6

Mix together:

1/2 c honey 1/4 c apple cider vinegar 1/4 t powdered ginger
1 T dried garlic 2 T soy sauce dash of pepper

Add pork chops and refrigerate for a few hours. All this can be added to a freezer bag and tossed in the freezer for an easy, quick, freezer meal. If using frozen mixture/chops, thaw first. Dump into bake pan, in a single layer.

Bake 350F for 45min, turning occasionally.



Hamburgers/Meatloaf/Meat Balls

1 lb hamburger 1c bread cubes/large crumbs
1/4c milk 1 t salt
1 T parsley 1 onion, chopped fine, very fine for meatballs -I use dried, or onion soup mix
1 egg

Soak bread and milk. Mix in everything else. Form into patties.

If making meatloaf, put into greased loaf pan and bake 350F for 1 hour



Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

Put trimmed tenderloin on a parchment lined jelly roll pan (with sides). Mix oil and balsamic vinegar -use 1T each per tenderloin. Rub onto tenderloin. Make slices in tenderloin and put in slices of garlic, to taste. Sprinkle with steak spice, thyme and rosemary.

Roast 500F for 20 minutes, though I have been known to use a lower temperature and longer time because I always seem to smoke up the kitchen at 500, but maybe you'll have more luck.

Menu Plan Monday -June 15

We have a busy couple weeks coming up. I also need to get this week's bread baked as well as some cookies/cake for Daddy.

Monday: Fettuccine Alfredo -sauce from a packet because only Ella and Daddy like it. I had a salad

Sweet and sour chicken balls (frozen), fried rice and vegetables

Tuesday: grocery day so Daddy has his favourite peanut butter and honey sandwich -he would live on these if he could -Ella and I get lunch out

chicken souvlaki (store made & on sale), roast garlic potatoes, salad

Wednesday: lunch meat sandwiches and chips

honey pork chops

Thursday: spaghetti -something quick that Ella will eat because she has to go to the child health clinic after lunch

hamburgers

Friday: hot dogs and chips

venison chop/steak in the crock pot -a treat from my Uncle

Saturday: leftover hamburgers -delivery day for OVFC. I'm actually being interviewed by Jennifer Maddigan from A-Channel Ottawa, should prove interesting ;)

bacon and eggs -I know we had this last week, but it went over really well

Sunday: french fries -another meal that Daddy would live on. He actually likes mine better
than the ones from "The Chip Pit" -high praise indeed :) Easily made, peel and slice potatoes, soak in cold water. Drain and deep fry.

balsamic pork tenderloin -Father's day treat for Daddy, may even invite Grandma
and Grandpa over.



I'll try to get the recipes posted soon.

And, just for the people who think I deprive Ella of a "real" childhood because she wears dresses:

She loves to play in her sandbox.

(no title)

Another beautiful day. Daddy is busy replacing some of his transplants and putting out the rest. The tomatoes are starting to bud, so they have to get into the garden. I'm trying to get some dresses done for Ella before we go away at the end of the month. Ideally, I'd get one whipped up for me too. I need to get a project started and ready to go before my OVF board meeting on the 22nd. I'd go insane at meetings like that without some handwork to do -just can't sit and do nothing :)

I've made a double batch of macaroni and cheese, I like to have some in the freezer for quick lunches. This is one of the meals I make that I do for love :) I would have to be starving before you'd see me touch mac and cheese, but Colin and Ella love it, so I make it. The recipe comes from my great-grandma's recipe book: Kate Aitken's Canadian Cook Book

Macaroni and Cheese

1 c macaroni
3 T butter or oil
3 T flour
1/4 t dry mustard
dash salt and pepper
2 c milk
1 T chopped onion
2 c grated cheese

Cook macaroni to almost done. Meanwhile, melt butter and flour and seasonings in a saucepan. Cook a few minutes. Carefully pour in milk, stir or whisk until thickened. Add in cheese and stir till melted. Drain macaroni and add to sauce. Pour into greased 1 1/2 qt casserole. Bake 400F for 20 min.

Some Recipes

Garlic Bubble Bread

**do NOT try this with real garlic, it will burn and look terrible.

Melt 1/4 cup butter and add 1tsp of garlic powder. Take a loaf size chunk of proofed bread dough (one rise) and cut into inch size pieces. Dip balls and pile up in greased loaf pan. Top with any leftover butter. Let rise an hour. Bake 350F for 30 min. For best taste use real butter.


Chicken Casserole

This is a good recipe for leftovers:

2 cups leftover gravy or thickened chicken stock
1 cup milk
2 1/2 cups bite sized cooked chicken
8 oz cooked noodles (homemade or not)
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
sprinkle of breadcrumbs

Mix gravy/chicken stock and milk over medium heat and stir till thickened. Add meat, noodles and cheese; remove from heat. Pour into a greased 8 cup casserole dish. Top with breadcrumbs and bake 350F for 45min.


Meat Pie

Another good leftover recipe:

pie pastry for a two crust pie (your choice of size)
1-1 1/2 cups cooked beef, I shred in food processor
1 1/2 -2 cups cooked vegetables, whatever is leftover or can use frozen vegetables. I usually have to make a few more mashed potatoes
1-1 1/2 cups gravy

I mix all the filling in a bowl first, but that's the way my family likes it. Feel free to put filling in pastry lined pie plates in layers. Gravy can be poured over top, but I also mix this with the filling. You want the filling fairly moist. Top pie with other piece of pastry. Cut slits for steam to escape.

Bake 425F for 35 minutes, let sit for a few minutes before serving.


Stuffed Baked Potatoes
I do these the easy way:

Scrub as many potatoes as necessary. Cook in microwave until done. If you want to use the oven, toss clean potatoes in a 350F oven for an hour or hour and a half until soft. Carefully slice top off potatoes and scoop insides into a bowl. Save the skins. Mash or rice the potatoes. Add in enough butter, sour cream, minced onions, and cheese to make the potatoes yummy. Refill potato skins. 10 minutes or so before supper, put potatoes into a 350F oven and reheat to melt cheese -these also reheat nicely in my toaster oven.


Pizza Dough
I've tried a number of recipes over the last 6 years. This is Colin's favourite:

1 cup warm water
1 tsp salt
2 tsp oil
1 Tbsp sugar
2 3/4cup flour
1 Tbsp yeast

Put in bread maker in order given, set for dough cycle. This can also be made by hand the usual way for yeast dough. Let rise and roll out to fit pan. This fits a large-ish cookie sheet.

Monday Again

Man, I forgot just how exhausting it is to be around my father for more than a few hours. We had a good weekend. Dad brought up a bunch of old family papers, he calls them "junk" but I think they will be fascinating to read and may give lots of information. I'll have to get some of it translated as my German isn't that good anymore. But BIL showed me a Yahoo program that will help. Dad even gave me an old pocket watch that belonged to my Great Grandfather, as well as a scroll-work veil box (made by same person for his wife) and my Grandmother's rosary. I love family things.

Had a nice Mother's day. The house was a little over crowded :) I don't have a Mother's day picture to share. Ella was playing with Grandma Linda and slipped and fell, bouncing her face off the corner of Daddy's desk chair. By picture time Ella had a nice black eye starting. It's really purple today.

As much as my Dad complains, I actually think he was fairly pleased with the weekend. High praise indeed. He really like the supper I made yesterday. Here's some recipes.

Ham

5lb smoked ham -bake in oven, covered at 325F for 18-25min/lb

before last 45 min, make a paste of the following:
1 cup br. sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp dry mustard
trim off any rind and excess fat, spread glaze and let finish coming up to 135F

Scalloped Potatoes

Peel and slice potatoes into a greased baking dish. Layer with sliced onions, salt, pepper, and if you wish a sprinkle of garlic powder and a bit of cheese. Pour this sauce over potatoes:

Melt 1/4c butter 1/4 cup flour or cornstarch
1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

stir and cook for 10-15 seconds
pour in 2 1/2 -3 cups milk. Stir constantly until thickened.

Bake 325F for about 2 hours until potatoes are tender.

Steamed Chocolate Pudding
1 Tbsp margarine 1/2 cup wt. sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa 1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp bk powder 2 tsp salt

Cream margarine, sugar and cocoa. Add milk and vanilla. Beat well. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased 4cup bowl. Cover bowl with greased foil and tie sides down with string. Place on a wire trivet in a 5-6 qt slow cooker. Set bowl on top. Pour boiling water into slow cooker to reach halfway up the side of the bowl. Cover and cook on High for 2 1/2 hours. Serve with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Sauce
1/2 cup cocoa 1 cup wt. sugar
1 cup corn syrup 1/2 cup milk
4 Tbsp margarine 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
Put everything but vanilla into a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring all the time. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. It will keep in the fridge for a long time, if you hide it from the family :) It will thicken in the fridge but can be thinned by placing it in a pan of hot water.

Ella loves this pudding so much she has asked for it for this Sunday's anniversary party for Colin's folks. Should have seen her jumping up and down when I said ok :)

My Day

Not much cleaning got done today. It was so beautiful and Ella wanted to play outside. So outside we went. I did get most of the smocking done for Ella's new sundress. Ella had a grand time. Daddy and I decided she was big enough to have the slide that goes with her swing set. Daddy attached it after lunch. Ella was excited after her nap. She loves to slide.

I did get a load of barn clothes washed and dried. Finally caught up on laundry. Bread day today, I made some oatmeal bread. I like to pretend it's better for us than regular white bread. I just can't seem to get us switched over to brown bread. I must admit, I'm the real die-hard white bread eater -I really hate to admit that I like store bought bread the best (unless it's warm, fresh homemade). I also got some cookies made.

Healthy Oat Chocolate Chip -makes about 5 doz. Colin got into them before I counted :)

1/2 c applesauce 2 eggs
4 Tbsp butter 2 tsp vanilla
2/3 c wt. sugar 1 cup br. sugar
1 tsp salt 2 tsp bk soda
2 tsp cinnamon 1 1/2 c quick oats
1 1/2-2 c chocolate chips

Combine all the wet ingredients. Add in the dry, adding the oat and chips last. Drop onto lined cookie sheets. Bake 350F for 10-12 min. Let cool completely before removing from liner.

Since these have little oil/fat I would keep any extras in the freezer, they might go stale quickly. Though the rate cookies disappear around here, that will likely not be a problem.

Cropping Starts Today

Colin has lately started supplying a restaurant in Pembroke with pork. It's called JJ's if anyone's nearby. Grandma took Ella for a sleepover (she was having Ella-withdrawls), so I decided to take Daddy out for supper -likely our last real date night until the end of summer. I was right, today he started injecting the "organic soil conditioner", aka piggie pooh, today and has already said to eat without him.

On the house front, things are going well. We were at the Home Show in Petewawa on the weekend. We found another modular home builder, Guildcrest, that is actual based in Ontario. A definite plus. Also, their homes arrive complete, inside and out (except of course for the "seam"). Their prices are equal to or less than the company we were thinking of using. And those homes were completely NOT finished inside. Colin would have months of work to do before we could move in. We even got a quote for the new septic that was half of what Colin was expecting. Getting quotes has been the hardest part of all this -except the waiting. I'm getting so excited, I just hope we can work mortgage payments that we can afford.

Here's the floorplan we're thinking about. Room size is subject to change because I don't know what I'm doing :)

Cookie day today (in between loads of laundry). I made Bushel Cookies. I made the 1/4 batch because it's a new recipe. The 1/4 batch made 8 dozen cookies, plus 4 "Daddy size" cookies. I hope you've got a scale. Next time I make them I'll measure my ingredients and update the recipe. Also hope you've got a cookie scoop, the dough is rather slack and sticky.


Bushel Cookies
Full Batch 1/4 Batch 1/2 Batch
Brown sugar 5 lbs 1 1/4 lbs 2 1/2 lbs
Lard 2 1/2 lb scant 3/4 lb 1 1/4 lbs
Eggs 12 3 6
Maple Syrup 1 c. 1/4 c. 1/2 c.
Baking Soda 2 oz. 1/2 oz. 1 oz.
Baking Powder 2 oz. 1/2 oz. 1 oz.
Milk 1 qt 1/4 qt 1/2 qt
Flour 6 lbs 1 1/2 lbs 3 lbs
Oatmeal 2 lbs 1/2 lb 1 lb
Raisins and Chocolate Chips, mixed 2lbs 1/2 lb 1 lb
Ground salted peanuts 1 lb 1/4 lb 1/2 lb

Mix as you would any other cookie. Cream shortening and sugar. Mix in eggs and syrup and oatmeal. Alternate milk with flour and leavenings. Then gently mix in raisins, chips and peanuts. Bake 350F for 10-12 min. on greased cookie sheets. Let cool 5 min before removing from sheets or they will stick.

Personally, next time I will save the maple syrup for my pancakes, as you can't really taste it in the finished cookie. I may put in at least 1/2cup (per 1/4 batch) of peanut butter. I also did not put in the ground peanuts. I don't like nuts in things so I didn't have any around. I did have some sunflower seeds in the freezer, so I added some of them.

I always keep my nuts and seeds (and yeast) in the freezer. Please don't keep them in your cupboard, they can go rancid very quickly.

Pizza Day today! My helper did a great job rolling out the dough.

2 3/4 cup flour 1 tsp salt
2 tsp oil 1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp instant yeast 1 cup warm water


Mix, knead and let rise an hour. Roll out. Top and bake 450F for 15 minutes.



I usually just use spaghetti sauce. We don't have spaghetti that much so it helps to get the jar used up before it goes moldy :P Here's my helper sprinkling on the mozzarella. Though she's more of a pile maker than sprinkler :)


The pizza's ready for the oven. I know we're not that exciting for toppings. Peperoni for Daddy and Ella's side, tomato for mine. If I had time I'd fry some onions and put them on too.

It was very yummy. A meal I can be sure Ella will eat, though what she'll eat on top changes daily.

Recipe Notes

Just thought I should share a few basic assumptions for my recipes.

flour is all-purpose, unbleached white, unless otherwise noted

chocolate chips are semi-sweet

t means teaspoon

T means tablespoon

c means cup

liquids are measured in glass measuring cups and dry in metal measuring cups

If I think of anything else or if a recipe puzzles you, please let me know and I'll explain it here.

Romantic Valentine's Day -Not!

I had a nice quiet Valentine's Day planned for my Sweetie and me. Grandma had Miss Muffet sleeping over until Sunday. The only thing we had to do was go to a potluck/annual general meeting for the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op. It's an online group of Ottawa Valley farmers/producers. It's amazing the variety of things you can order. Order week is the second week of the month. Then on the third Saturday of the month, we producers take the orders to Pembroke where they are sorted and delivered to a variety of central locations for customer pick-up. It's surprising how far our products go, there is such a demand for local stuff. We've belonged for nearly a year, check us out here, it's a good overview of our farm too. I need to get a new picture, that one is nearly 2 years old, but Ella looks so cute. Maybe when it warms up some we'll try for a new Ella/piggie picture.

Back to my Valentine's day. We had fun at the potluck, it's good to talk with the other OVF people, we really don't know them. Most of the food was good. I made a marinated shoulder roast. Then the meeting started. It went on and on and on! It was 6 before we got home, Colin still had to chore. So much for my romantic supper and dessert I was going to make. We ended up with leftover pork and 5 minute rice when Colin finally got in for supper at 7:30. By then we were tired and I had a headache, so we just watched a dvd (Grapes of Wrath) and went to bed early. Not exactly what I had planned.

We've both been made board members for the OVF. They have a regular meeting/potluck coming up in March (if they can ever agree on a date) I sure hope it's shorter than the AGM.

Here's the marinated pork recipe, mix all this in a zipper bag and put in the pork roast the night before for best results. Though it's yummy done this way just before cooking too.

6 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp ground pepper 2 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika 1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp thyme 3lb pork shoulder roast

Take from bag and put in roasting pan, do not cover. Roast 350F for 30 minutes a pound, or until meat thermometer reads 165F.

Had I been home in time, I would have made my Grandma's chicken cacciatore for supper. It's the first meal I made for Colin when we were dating. It needs to simmer most of the afternoon.

Chicken Cacciatore
3lb chicken pieces, we use thighs 1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced salt & pepper, to taste
28oz stewed tomatoes 28 oz tomato sauce
1/4 cup red wine 1/4 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf

Brown the chicken in a little oil. Add everything into a dutch oven. Cover and simmer all afternoon until the house smells wonderful :) Don't use a crock pot, the sauce doesn't reduce and is too runny. If you really want to do this "old school" serve with Italian/French bread, green beans and roast potatoes -yummmmmmm!

More Cookies

So much for our warm weather. It's very chilly again today. The cold east wind is blowing through the house. At least the water has stopped pouring into the basement. This spring Colin has to get the culvert near the house replaced. Every time it gets backed up/frozen the water heads for the house. Colin figures he dumped out about 100 gal (Cdn) -not fun with a cement/dirt floor.

Made some more cookies today. I really like these ones, they are called Double Oat Chocolate Chip cookies. It's a smaller recipe and makes 4 doz.

3/4 cup margarine 1 cup brown sugar

1 egg 1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup flour 1 1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup oat bran 1 tsp baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips

cream margarine and sugar, add egg and vanilla. Add in dry ingredients and mix. Drop onto lined/greased cookie sheet. Bake 350F for 10-12 minutes.

I made some raisin bread too. I used the oatmeal bread recipe from the other day and added a teaspoon or so of cinnamon and a couple hands full of raisins.

More Cookies

I'm making cookies again. No, Colin hasn't eaten all the chocolate chip ones, these are more for Momma and Ella. These are my favourite sugar cookies. I make them whenever I have some extra sour cream. They puff up as they cook and are more cakey than most cookies. If you are looking for a crisper sugar cookie, try Tasha Tudor's in her Christmas book "Take Joy", it's a nice big recipe too.

Sugar Cookies

3 cup white sugar 1 cup margarine/butter
5 eggs 7 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar 1 cup sour cream
2 tsp baking soda

Cream together sugar and margarine. Beat in eggs. Separately, mix flour and cream of tartar. Dissolve baking soda in sour cream. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture, alternately with the sour cream. Refrigerate overnight. Roll out 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, cut as desired. Bake on lined cookie sheets 400F for 10 minutes. Makes about 15 doz, depending on cutter size.

If you have peanut butter lovers try this one. It's peanut butter cookies with chocolate ganauche in the middle. I've seen other recipes like it but they cheat and use Kisses. I think these taste better. It is out of this book Rose's Christmas Cookies this is my "bible" when it comes to great cookies, for Christmas or anytime.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The fastest way to make my husband not angry with me is to bake these cookies. He's not angry right now, but there has been some grumbling about the lack of snack variety. I thought I'd best get some new stuff made. These are my favourite version too, though I prefer the cookies that have less chips in them. Enjoy, but be warned, the recipe makes about 10 dozen, depending on size. I hate to admit how fast they will disappear if I don't hide them in the freezer.

Cream 4 cups brown sugar, 2 cups margarine. Add in 4 eggs, 4 Tbsp water and 1 1/2Tbsp vanilla. Separately stir together 6 1/2 cups flour, 3 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt and 3 cups chocolate chips. Mix into creamed mixture. Drop onto lined/greased cookie sheets and bake 375F for 10 minutes. Let sit on cookie sheet for a couple minutes before removing to cooling rack. Don't over cook.