whatever

Waffle Love-

So, this summer we were introduced to Liege Waffles....thanks to a tip from  Shannon.  

While visiting Kent and Becca I received my first taste of Liege Waffles at the waffle Love truck.

 Talking with the guy in the truck about how different their waffles were..... we found out that they were called Liege Waffles, made totally different ....but hands down the best waffle of my life!

 

 

After doing some research...

meaning....tell Sam about them....he is  the cook in the family...

 he did the research, found the right kind of sugar and then he made them....

then I made them. =)

Happy Day...they came out right....see those little spots of white?  Yep, that's the Pearl Sugar that caramelized when I cooked them.

One word of warning....they are not  a "wake up in the morning  think I will make waffles for breakfast kind of  waffle."  Plan on two days.....and you will be surprised to find out the batter is not runny....it more like mini loafs of dough.

This is the recipe Download Liege Waffles

 

Man they are good!

-Your Welcome- 

 

 

Deep Fried Twinkies-

 
Well, I succumbed to the pressure.... for the longest time Dan has been wanting Deep fried twinkies.... sounded so  gross to me. 

But I have to say....if you can get past the fact that you just put a frozen twinkie that was dipped in cake batter  int0 4 cups of oil.... then you will love them....yes, I really liked them.  Danny liked them best au-natural....they were a little too crisp that way for me.

I don't even what to know how many calories I just ate.

Yikes! 

baking....

 

 Thursday Bree and I spent most of the day baking- it was the first real test for this little kitchen and it did just fine.

  

 Cookie recipes- Download Ginger Cookies

 

 

Denver and Bree will be heading back to school next week. We have really enjoyed having them here this Nut season. They have a lot to look forward to and wonderful adventures as they made their own home. They will be missed.

 

 This picture was just for fun....sorry it's a little blurry. 

 

 Emma's going to miss them too. 

Winter Wonderland-

In my very near future-

• winter cyclamen
• seasonal music performed live
• magical warmth
• Holiday Boutique
• Unique Holiday gifts

I've been waiting all year for this- So I'm gathering up Bree & Sandi and off we go.  Just in time.  I was needing a little pick me up.

And there's nothings like beautiful Holiday surroundings and friends to do that.

Happy Day.

Remember this place? In a few days it is going to become a "Winter wonderland"! Fun!

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving- 

I thought I would leave you with a little something Bree and I are making for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla frosting
• 7 drops yellow food coloring
• 32 miniature peanut butter cups
• 1 package (11-1/2 ounces) fudge-striped cookies
• 32 pieces orange mini Chiclets gum

Directions

• In a small shallow bowl, combine frosting and food coloring. Remove paper liners from peanut butter cups.
• Holding the bottom of a peanut butter cup, dip top of cup in yellow frosting. Position over center hole on the bottom of cookie, forming the hat-band and crown. Add a buckle of Chiclets gum. Repeat with remaining cups and cookies. Yield: 32 cookies.

Recipe from Taste of Home-

For Carlee and Preston's Mommy and Daddy-

 

This week has been filled -

• Trips to the Tree-house
• chasing the neighbors cat
• Wild Turkeys knocking at our door
• Horses, dogs and ants oh my!
• peas up the nose- Preston adventure
• Carlee's question everyday- "So Grammer, how is your day?"

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of fun Hair days-

 

and now the recipes I promised-

 

Sandi's Tart-

Crust:    
2 Cups Ground Gingersnap cookies (about 38Cookies)
2TBSP Sugar
1/3 Cup Butter 
 
Filling
8OZ. Cream cheese ,softened               Assorted fruit: Strawberries, Blueberries,Kiwi, oranges , red or green grapes raspberries.
1/4 Cup sugar                                                          2TSP Lemon Juice                                                     1/4 cup Apricot Preserves.
1/2 Cup Whipping cream                                             1TBS Water
 
 
Preheat oven 350
for crust:  in a medium bowl combine ground cookies & sugar with a pastry blender add butter & mix until moist clumps form.  Press mixture into bottom & sides of 10" removable bottom tart pan.  Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned.  Let cool
Filling: Combine cream cheese, sugar & lemon juice with an electric mixer. Add whipping cream & beat at high speed until light & fluffy. Spread in tart shell & chill several hours arrange fruit on top of chilled filling.  Combine Smucker's Apricot preserves with water & brush over top. Garnish with mint leaves and serve, for a lighter version: Proceed as directed for crust, but replace filling ingredients with 1 8 oz. container of lemon yogurt.

 

Baby shower Brownies-

 

One package of brownie mix- cook in bite size muffin tins-

after cooled- add sliced Banana and Strawberries- drizzle with chocolate.

 

Old Fashioned Homebrew....

RootBeer-

This was our Family Home evening activity tonight-

 

RootBeer soda pop base

Malto Dextrin

Red Star Pasteur Champagne Yeast

Sugar

bottles

caps

 

 

 

Step 1. Dissolve yeast in a cup of warm water {98}. Let stand 5 minutes or longer to dissolve, mix thoroughy before adding.{Fleischman, Red star preferred. Use only FRESH Yeast!}

 

 

Step 2. Shake extract bottle well. combine Homebrew extract and sugar in sufficient warm water to dissolve sugar.

Step 3. Now add yeast mixture.  Add warm water to bring level of liquid up to correct amount chosen.

 

Step 4.  Mixture can be tasted. More or less sugar or Homebrew extract may be added to suit your taste.

 

Step 5.  Fill sterilized bottles within 1 to 2 inches of top. Depending on the type of bottles used, seal with hand capper or resealable caps.  Bottles not sealed properly may become flat or sour.

 

{This bottle capper was a gift from my Dad- we made homemade rootbeer with this capper when I was a little girl, so it's really old.  =}

Step 6. Lay bottles on side to check for leaks.  Age 3 to 4 days at room temperature.  Then store in cooler, dark place, total aging at least a week- 2 weeks improves flavor,  As natural carbonation takes place,  a slight yeast deposit will form on bottom.  when serving, pour carefully as to leave most of the yeast deposit. This is not harmful in any way, but sometimes gives an off flavor.  Refrigerate before opening.

 

{now we just sit and wait- When I was a little girl we knew the rootbeer was ready when we heard it explode in the cellar.....fun times.}

 

Apple Muffins

One morning  I was talking to Kent on the phone and asked brightly, what the temperature was there, it was like fourteen below, or something insane like that, to which I replied that it was in the high 60's here, I could tell that I had ruined his day. {although I think I took a little glee in that....  Sorry Kent- }

 Well it came back to bite me- it's been freezing here for the last couple of days, we can even see snow in the hills just behind us.   Kent called today to ask about the predicted tornado in our area { which didn't happen thank heaven.}

With all this cold weather I decided to bake up a batch of apple muffins, that should warm me up some.

 

Download Apple Muffins recipe.

Instead of 12 small muffins I made 6 large ones.{like the ones from costco.}

To get more muffin recipes head over here to see what others are sharing. Have a great day.

Spring Asparagus and Fresh Strawberries

 

Today was a beautiful day- sunny and warm.  I took the opportunity  to do some gardening.  I planted 30 strawberries plants- {they look a little gnarly- but will grow just fine.} I  thinned out my strawberry patch last fall, these new plants were to replace what I took out.  I also planted 30 more Asparagus plants, which look about the same as the strawberries but with thicker roots. We love Asparagus and seem to never have enough- so I took out some herbs and in their space added more asparagus. {it won't be untill next year that we get to harvest from this planting.} Just planning ahead. Before I planted,  I Cultivated everything-to freshen the soil and discourage all the gophers.

Here are a couple VERY simple recipes- when the strawberries and asparagus are ready to harvest I fix them this way just about everyday.

Fresh Strawberries

1 quart strawberries

1 cup sour cream

1 cup brown sugar

Dip strawberries in sour cream and then brown sugar. Enjoy!

Spring Asparagus

2 pounds fresh asparagus

Butter

salt

Trim woody ends from asparagus and discard. Cook asparagus in a large pot of boiling, salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain. rise asparagus under cold water. Drain well. Butter and salt to taste.

{one of my goals for this month- 

 Perseverance-

History rests on the shoulders of those who accepted the challenge of difficulties and drove through to victory in spite of everything. – Hugh B. Brown

 I will win the war with the gophers!}

On a totally different subject:

I was going through some of my old recipe books today- cleaning up my book shelf. When I came across these two little beauties.

 

 

These recipe/party books I inherited from my Mother- {dated 1960} I remember using them as a little girl. Man how things have changed.  In just about every illustration the women are wearing dresses and have an apron on- {love the apron part} and the men were in suits and ties at the dinner table.

I think most families are lucky if they sit down and have dinner together now. {I'm thankful that as a family we were able to sit most every-night together for dinner.}

Also something else very interesting the terminology used in the book,  would never be found in our current books- Phrases like

" Gay Picnic Accessories " or.... "when your husband returns home from a long day at work, greet him with this wonderful beverage."   or...."it's very important to serve your family with flair." {had to smile at that one, now that might be fun- first of all I guess I better figure out what they mean by Flair?}

The Party Book- was cracking me up...but I loved it. With words like:

The young hostess, get your gang together, festive air and last but not least.... how to  increase your reputation as a hostess.

Oh, the good old days.

 

 

 

 

Breakfast food

 Pam has asked us to share a breakfast recipe- one that our family likes- We are not big breakfast eaters here- it's usually a bowl of cereal or a waffle- But here's a recipe that I use from time to time for breakfast-

1. Fry up some hashbrowns until very golden- set aside

2. cook up some sauage patties

3. Poach some eggs-

4. Now stack everything together- first- hashbrowns,then sauage, top with a poach egg.

We are just plain ketchup people here, but if you what to get fancy try this:

Spicy Tomato Sauce-

1/2 cup ketchup

1 1/2 tablespoons red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.

Don't forget to head over to Pam's site to link up your recipes for Breakfast.

Christmas with Family

Last night John, Libby and the girls came over for a little Pre- Christmas get together-

On the menu-

• soups
• salad
• warm bread
• Appetizer - by Libby
•  & peppermint shakes

The activities-

•  Making peppermint marshmallow sticks
• Short Family Home Evening lesson
•   & visiting

 

Mix 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with just enough water to make a smooth runny paste-

Dip one end of a marshmallow in the powdered sugar- then roll the dipped end in crushed candy cane-

Set to dry; then stack on sticks-

Wrap  in bag until ready to use-

Add one or two to your next cup of Hot Chocolate-  YUM!

 

I enjoy spending time with my brother; I enjoy our conversations at mealtime, about school, church, work, and our families.

They have such a sweet family.  It was fun sharing a simple FHE with them. Talking of Christmas and it meaning- asking the children what they would like for Christmas- just sweet.

After they left I found myself with this question in my mind-
"If Christ were here with us today, what would I give Him?"

I happened to be reading from a book earlier today that had this poem in it from the poet Christina Rossetti:

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise Man, I would do my part. Yet, what can I give Him? Give my heart. 

 I believe Christmas is about Christ and giving. He gave us the precious gifts of immortality and the prospects of eternal life. Surely we owe our hearts and more to him in return for all that he has done for us.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Savior, but the real story of Christmas includes also his life, death, and resurrection.  He was born to give his life for us, to give us immortality and the opportunity for eternal life. I hope as I think about Christ this Christmas I remember the full story from Bethlehem to Calvary and the Garden tomb.

 I'm thankful for his gift- Christ's gift was his life. I pray that I can live my life in accordance with his gospel plan- so that my life will be a worthy gift to him.