The gift of abundance! Homemade stuffing/dressing...

Have you ever noticed that some of us call it "stuffing" and the rest of the world calls it "dressing?"

 I once heard that it depends on which part of the country you are from.  So does that mean I err on the Southern side or the Northern?

Well I started making my near famous (with the family anyway) stuffing and I nearly lost it when it grew into two stock pots full!

Friends asked me how many people I was having over and when I responded..."about eight over at mom and dad's house," I realized how odd that sounded.

You see, I freeze this stuff.  It is great stuff that after partially baked, lasts for months in the freezer.

I chatted with a good friend last night about a benefit that I would be out of town during.  I felt bad, but even worse when I learned the little man the benfit for has a twin.  I have been thinking all day about what I should do and how I could do it since I will be out of the country but arriving late by plane the day of the event.  Too late to obligate myself- with the way delays happen and all.

Here I was plating this stuffing and then all of the sudden it hit me.  Someone once said to do whatever you are best at.

I am great at stuffing- so silent auction here I come.  Folks will have a chance to win three pans of my near famous stuffing!  I will bring it to them forzen and you simply bake for 30 minutes.

Now as for the rest of it, family, friends and neighbors will get dleiveries this week.

So the moral of this day might be that we often overlook the little ways we can help.  Think about what you are good at, what sets you apart even a little bit from the next Mrs.?  I bet some are crafty and can share that with someone who is lonely or just needs a smile.  Some are great teachers of anything.....some are greta moms and don't might one more.  Some love dinner parties and might invite those who think their family of one is oh so small.

I am so inspired...I think auctioning off my acclaimed cheeseballs  might be next.  How much do you think someone might bid on my stuffing?  $5 for three?

Rice and Salad Lunch

Ever feel like your lunch is odd?  You know, a combo that is not so typical?

Today I whipped up some saffron rice and a salad.  I paired that with some of my sweet tea and that is not such a bad lunch after all!

Stay tuned today as I am fixing twice baked potato soup and then later grilled steak sandwiches.  Stay tuned for more

Fine Art America

Digital Photography

Occasionally, even I take a great photo!  I recently became a contributing artist on fineartamerica.com and I might even sell a print or two!

Check it out and see if you might like to post a few of your best photos.  There is even a contest section! It is free and you might even become famous!

Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

Sweet Tea

One of the world's finest beverages, served over ice in a glass or metal cup.  This recipe is dedicated to my dear Uncle Ray who smiled broadly when he saw that I "boil" my tea.  You see, some folks make sun tea which is not brewed and it is just not the same taste.  So here is to you Uncle Ray!

Sweet Southern Tea

6 Black tea bags- I use the cheap ones

2.5 quarts of water

1.5 cups of sugar

Gallon size glass jar (I use a dill pickle jar)

1-  Boil the water and tea bags for about 20 minutes.  The tea should look dark brown.

2-  Dump the sugar into the glass jar and set the jar into the sink well just in case you miss the jar during the next step.

3-  Dump water and tea bags into jar.  Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar.

4-  Add cold water to the top of the jar and remove tea bags.

5-  Leave the lid off the jar and store in a dark cool spot or on a cool enclosed porch.

6- Serve over ice in a glass cup.

This will last for about three days unrefrigerated.  It is a good strong sweet tea.  Looks like soda pop but a little less sugar.  I like to think it is better for you.  What do you think?

A trip to the research zoo

Bison

Today after church, we decided to pack the car with my parents, brother and 3 year old nephew and head over to the Smithsonian conservation/research zoo.

They were having an open house and were asking for a $30 donation per car.  It was a beautiful way to spend a Fall day and we got to do a lot of walking.

However, there were not too many animals.  This was my first time there and I immediately noticed the government compound atmosphere similar to what you saw on the Lost tv series.  Seriously.  My husband has done some work there and while he can't or won't share everything he did there- well he says some folks rarely leave the compound.  They have all the supplies they need right there.  Ok, that is slightly creepy but for all those military folks out there, you might have a better understanding of the commune idea.

We got to see Bison, cranes, clouded leopards,  red pandas, and a few other critters but not many.  It turns out it was mainly educational and that there were not many young kid friendly see the animals type activities.  Instead, they had lots of educational booths set up explaining how they do research connected with the animals at the National Zoo.


Most of the animals were far away and behind an electric fence so it was hard to take pictures.  Husband says this is meant to be an area of respite for the animals and since they are only open to the public over the weekend we should keep it in mind that the animals are here to get well in most cases.

Yep- he is right because they have a nice vet hospital there as well.   All within the compound.

The search for the perfect bread continues.....

The Bread Quest continued...

So just about every Saturday, I am going to try my hand at finding the PERFECT bread recipe!  My "bread quest" has gone on ever since I started homemaking.  Sadly, my typical bread has been a dense loaf more like an angel biscuit.

Perfect bread  to me means a fluffy light texture, not too sweet,  and dark brown tops.  I would love to be able to make great rolls of massive quantity this Thanksgiving 2010!  With that timeline in mind  I hope you will join me as I share some great bread recipes!  Join me on my "bread quest" journey.

Knowing the basics of bread making is key in this quest.  I learned a long time ago that you should "proof" your yeast.  Since I buy my yeast in large quantity at Costco  it has often been open several months.  "Proofing" the yeast assures me that there will be nothing wrong with that part of the bread recipe.

To proof just add the required yeast and sugar and the warm water.  Best results are gotten from hot tap water directly from the faucet.   If it works well and the yeast is good,  it is a foamy texture as shown.

I have also learned that it is best to use a wooden spoon and ceramic bowl.  As you can see in the picture though, I have opted to used the metal mixing bowl that comes with the standard Kitchen Aid mixer.  In recent weeks it has worked well.

So this weekend's recipe  was for Freeze and Bake Rolls taken from a paper booklet put out by the Taste of Home Magazine.

Freeze and Bake Rolls   Yields four dozen rolls
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) of active dry yeast  (I used 2 Tablespoons)
1-1/2 Cups warm water
1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1-1/2 warm skim milk
1/4 vegatable oil
4 teaspoons salt
7-1/2 to 8-1/2 cups of all purpose white flour

1- Add the first three ingredients together and "proof" the yeast.  This should take 5-15 minutes for the foamy texture to appear.

2- Add the remaining ingredients and stir the flour in by hand every two cups.  After you add the 7th cup of flour move it to the mixer and begin mixing.  This takes aorund five minutes if that.

3-You are looking for a round blop of dough to appear and may have to add the other cup of flour.  When it is a nice round size and no longer very sticky prepare to move it to your dough board.

My dough board was handed down through my family and is typically only used for non meat items.  Please note that I have a contact for getting your own dough board- something you can hand down from generation to generation.   Stay tuned for more information.

4- Remove all of your rings- wash your hands and coat them and your board in a fine coating of oil or cooking spray.  Dump the dough onto the board.  Knead the dough 6-8 minutes.  I watch the digital clock in the kitchen.  This may be hard for you but think of it as therapy.

      To knead bread you flatten it with your hands then form back into a ball.  Switch and try  using your palms to deflate the round ball of dough and then roll back into a ball.  You are chasing it around the dough board, spray the board and your hands with oil as needed to prevent sticking.  Really take out your woes on this poor dough.  It likes to be beaten.  At some points when you get good at it you can take it off the board and check on things in the other room.  Just don't drop it.!

5- Let  it stay on you dough board till doubled about 1.5 hours.  Cover with a tea towel that will not leave lint.

 

It should keep "growing" a little more! 

6- Punch the dough down and cut into four pieces.  (Each piece makes a dozen rolls.)   Roll a section into a rope and cut into four even sections.  Then cut those sections into three.  Form them into tidy balls and place onto a long greased cookie sheet that has a side.  All of the rolls will fit, just make them snug.  Continue til all of your rolls are in the pan.  Let rise again about 30 minutes and start your oven.

7-Directions for these save to bake at 300 degrees if you want to freeze and reheat later.  I went with 375 since I like dark color to my rolls.  The ones on the edge were great that evening.  The paler ones I froze in zip lock bags. 

Overall- this recipe was the best so far when I think texture.   I would given it an 8 out of 10.  However, the rolls were not perfect and I did not do well on presentation as I got in a hurry and did not size them evenly.

  They do not show well at all....hope I don't lose viewers because of this photo!

Can't wait for another try next weekend.

Free LL Bean Items

LL Bean credit card

Have you heard about the LL Bean Visa?  Every $1000 spent earns you a $10 gift voucher.  Other than an expiration date which seems a few months after issue, you spend it like regular money.

Before you agree that the last thing you need is another card, try thinking of putting all of your general household bills on it and you might get $10 every two months.  Put your telephone, Internet, house alarm, electric and water on your card every month as an auto payment.   If you would be good about it, you could even add the gas!  Done correctly you will have about $120 in free rewards.

Wait to gather $30-40 worth of certificate and use them for your holiday shopping.  We especially like the blue jeans, shopping the sale items and of course pet items.

Check out the application at:

https://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ShowOAPLander?nav_gnu2

Little Dog Grooming 101

Doggie Grooming 101 with bows!

My little cupcake needs a lot of grooming to keep her girly appeal.  I do have a great local groomer and we have a standing appointment every fives weeks...but we bathe at home weekly.

Little "Cupcake" is white as snow  (that is her in the tub) and I use a special whitening shampoo though I am recently concerned about the chemicals found in her shampoo as well as mine.  It is a doggie whitening shampoo off Amazon as seen here.

I bathe her in the old porcelain 1940's era tub.  She does not hate it but at the same time she does not enjoy it and never sits down.

We start out with 3 inches of water which helps to soak those dirty paws.  Often I have put in a splash of olive oil or baby oil to keep her feet soft.   I add some mild soap like baby shampoo or Dawn liquid because all girly girls like  bubbles in the tub.

We use a pink sponge and a blue cup to pour water (the spray arm is tooo scary for her), I am so careful with her eyes and  the sponge is lightly used on the face.  Each paw is scrubbed and she raises one at a time.

When we are done I lift her out onto a rug covered with a towel.  I throw a baby bath towel with hood over her and cradle her as I towel her off.

I later use a brush or "lift" style comb to fluff her as she is almost dry.  Her pink skin hates a hair dryer!

Bows are added and I recently learned how to make them watching this video

Here is our grooming routine:

Saturday am bath  brush and fluff  add hair bows

Every other Saturday a pedicure when I do mine (front paws only)

Mondays or Tuesday- a nail trim with our Pedi Paws- just a little every week as we try to get her "quick" to recede so that her nails can be shorter.

So do you bathe your dog at home?

A quick lunch

A quick lunch

Note:  I cook "old school!"

Fried ham in a cast iron skillet- no oil or butter

The ham is slices from a large ham that had previously been cooked.

Fresh green beans & garlic

10 green beans

1/tsp sea salt

1 tsp chopped garlic ( I buy ours prechopped in a tub)

water to steam them

Throw beans together and cook on high about 5 minutes while stirring.  Turn down the heat and  add a splash of water every now and again to keep them from burning.  Should take about 15 minutes total to get a somewhat crisp but not tough green bean.  You might like to add a lid to retain steam.

Baking Bread

Making, Baking, Breaking Bread ....TOGETHER

Makes two loaves or three bread bowls!

Ever since I married, it has been a personal goal to learn how to make a soft light bread to compliment my meals.  It has since changed to anything that will rise above two inches.  One day, I would like to be able to bake bread from memory.  Join me as I continue my bread making quest!

This past Saturday morning I tried my hand at a bread recipe I found on the Internet of course.  Originally from the Tightwad Gazette

Cuban Bread
5-6 cups all-purpose flour  (I used a little more than 4 including 1 cup of wheat)
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. salt
2 cups hot water (120-130 degrees)

1- Proof your yeast!

I used my kitchen aid mixing bowl, added the yeast, water and sugar and let it sit about 15-20 minutes.  Begin the recipe when it is foamy.  This means your yeast is good.

For hot water, I let the tap run till it feels pretty hot.  When I have microwaved in the past, I have gotten it way too hot and that will kill your yeast!

2-Add the salt.  This is after you visualize the foam.  You are ready for the flour!

3-Add 2-4 cups of the flour and beat 3 minutes with the mixer.

4-Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky.

5- Pick up the dough in your hands.  Take off your rings!  Spray your hands with oil.  Knead 8 minutes.  You should feel as though the bread is alive in your hands.  To knead you are pulling and rolling while holding it with both hands.  Some folks use a greased cutting board.  Roll it into a ball and flatten then turn and roll and flatten again.   TIME this part!

6-Spray or grease the mixing bowl you used and place the dough in it for about 15-25 minutes.

I put my dough to rise  in the cold oven because I have central ac and that can affect the rising.  Somehow it is humid enough in a small space like an oven to rise.  I have heard of folks covering the bowl wiht a larger bowl as a cap while it sits on a counter.

7- After time has passed, punch down the dough.  Shape into two round or oblong loaves, and place on a baking stone or use your cast iron.

Cut an X or a few slashes 1/2 inch deep on top with a sharp knife.  I fogot this part and it worked fine.

8-Baking Do not preheat your oven!   Place a pan of boiling water on the lowest shelf.  (The water helps to form a tough crust) Add your bread to the oven.  My shelf was one level from the top.  Turn oven on to 400 degrees and check in about 20-35 miinutes.  Your bread should sound hollow to some degreee when you tap on it.

9-Shine with olive oil.

10-The most important part.  Share one loaf with a person who could use a smile today!  Those that never get out anymore, who are facing a tough prognosis, or those having trouble with work.  It is not about giving them food- you should be prepared to visit ,take it warm, and "break bread together."  They will carry your warm thoughts for months.