Tsar Nicholas II

I've been reading a book about the last Tsar of Russia; Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. It is written by Robert K.Massle. It has not been an easy read for me but I have been learning alot of history that effected my forefathers. It has been interesting. I found myself thinking that Nicholas lacked in abilities to run a country. I felt pity for him as he had no choice but to take the role of Tsar. I wonder if he wasn't prepared properly. I appreciated Winston Churchill's view point of Nicholas. Winston made note to the fact that Nicholas made some very important decisions that worked well for Russia, he also reminded us Nicholas did make mistakes but what ruler hasn't. I admire the fact that I believe Nicholas did what he thought was right for Russia. His was the function of the compass needle. Not an easy role, especially for a man like Nicholas. His lack of ruling a country was his love for his family. Is that such a horrible thing? I wonder how anyone else would have managed in his shoes. Winston reminds that we are human.
 I think about all the minor decisions I make in my life compared to his. Well mine seem minor when I compare them to his. I admire that he was able to make decision and included his wife in his matters. I do think he should have allowed his son Alexis to become the next Tsar.

Harvest Time

Something about fall and making use of what the land has given us makes me feel a bit pioneer - ish.

Add caption

It feels good to make the most of what is given to you or what you've worked for. Fall is my favorite season and I hope we have a long enjoyable fall this year.

Spaghetti in a skillet in the making

Today I will be joining my mom and Kyle and Leanne canning peaches, oh ya and most likely my dad will be there too. My mom's canned peaches are absolutely the best canned peaches a person could eat. The expense of canning your own peaches is more than store bought, but the quality and goodness is worth the expense.

Tomato Sauce in the making

I also received some tomatoes & green pepper from my mom this week. I have been busy with processing the garden goodies, that didn't get used snack taco dip, this morning. Chili con carne, spaghetti in a skillet, tomato sauce,  & farmer sausage quiche.

Peppers in my back yard

Sorrel

I picked sorrel from my mom's garden yesterday. It seemed like a lot of leaves until we cut it all up and then it wasn't such a huge amount. Probably enough for a couple of recipes. I do enjoy green been soup with sorrel so that will be one of the recipes that I will use sorrel in.

Then I went to the google to see what other recipes I could find. I found this one that I will try as well.

Sorrel Pesto: great as an interesting pasta coating or a thick sauce for fish.

2 cups coarsely chopped fresh sorrel, ribs removed
1/3 cup packed fresh parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/4 cup pine nuts  - I will use almonds as I am allergic to pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil

In a food processor or blender puree the sorrel, the parsley, the garlic, the parmesan, the pine nuts and the oil, transfer the pesto to a jar with a tight fitting lid and chill it, covered. The pesto keeps, covered and chilled, for 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup.

To use the pesto: For every pound of dried pasta cooking in a kettle of boiling water, stir together in a heated serving bowl 3/4 cup of the pesto and 2/3 cup of the hot cooking water. When the pasta is al dente, drain it in a colander, add it to the pesto mixture, and toss the mixture until the pasta is coated well. Vermicelli works very well with this recipe.


Oh yes this recipe uses a food processor. I need to replace mine as it is on its last piece of life. Any idea's what kind of food processor I should buy?

random thoughts

Things I thought about on my Morning walk today: 

Will that old worn down home ever be removed


I would like to be a more fun person


The trees are so beautiful, I live in a beautiful community


wow, that person said good morning to me as they passed by, isn't that nice


I remember when this location had a public swimming pool


those people really need to clean their windows


I wonder what our renovated hospital will look like


did anyone notice me cleaning up my dogs poop


It's going to be a hot day, good thing I went for a walk this morning


I should loose some weight by eating and exercising in a healthy manner


i think ill go to yoga class this morning 

Red Red Wine

I tasted some delicious wine this last week. It was a full bodied, powerful flavor of deep red wine. The name of the wine was Hardy's Butcher's Gold. It was a 2009 Shiraz, Sangiovese from South Australia. If I ever see that in the store I will defiantly buy a bottle or two.

Baking Buns

Recently we were invited for dinner to a friends home. They served buns that were made by the Hutterites. They were so delicious. The very next day I decided to search the internet for a recipe. I found a few different sites with Hutterite buns and they all looked like the same recipe. I decided to try them. They tasted exactly the same as the buns we were served. Ya I found it! The internet is a great place :)
Here is the recipe I found.

3 1/2 cups warm milk

1 tbsp yeast
1 tsp honey
3 tbsp butter

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 small egg
8 cups flour

Dissolve yeast with 1 tsp honey and 1/2 cup milk. Melt the butter and combine with milk, honey, sugar and egg. Mix well. Add flour. Knead and let rise 1 hour. Knead a second time and let rise 2 hours. Form the buns and let rise 1 hour. Bake at 450F for 10 - 15 min. Makes 30 large buns.

Next time I make them I'll take pictures :)

Christmas Baking List

To start with the recipes that I enjoy to make over the holiday season have changed slightly from past years. Usually the reason I enjoy certain recipes is the joy that comes from serving them to family and friends that enjoy these particular treats.

People's favorites change as the years fly by, so does my recipe list.

I will start by sharing recipes of my list for this year, 2011. This serves 2 purposes for me. 1 to share my recipes with friends and family as well I can prepare my shopping list of ingredients needed at the same time.

Meat Buns (this is one of my favorites)
I don't have a favorite recipe, so maybe I'll call my mom and get her favorite. :)

Toffee Special K
2 toffee bars
2 cups special K
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp cream
melt toffee, butter, cream and heat until toffee is melted. add cereal and spoon onto pans and cool

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls  (Keenen's request)
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp soft butter
2 cups rice krispies
1/2 cups nuts (optional)
mix all ingredients and form 1 to 2 inch balls, freeze these. melt your choice of chocolate and dip frozen balls into chocolate to coat evenly and then dry

Whoppie Cookies   (Kyle's)
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening lard
2 eggs
2 tsp soda in 1/4 cup warm water
2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour milk - 1 tsp vin with milk
1 cup hot water
1/2 c. cocoa
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour

Mix shortening, sugar and eggs in bowl, blend well. Add sour milk and vanilla
Mix hot water and cocoa together and then add to bowl with other ingredients. Combine the soda mixture and salt and add to the bowl. Add flour,  then drop teaspoon of dough onto cookie sheet. After baking spread Marge's Icing in the middle of two cookies, pressing together like a sandwich.

375 aprox 11 min

Marge's Icing: 
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup soft margarine
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
Beat marg until very creamy add rest and beat until light

Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake   (Kyle)
1 1/4 cup boiling water
1 cup wolled oats
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Pour boiling water over oats and let stand 20min Stir occasionally . beat butter, sugar until fluffy. add van eggs, blend well. Then add the oat mixture and the remaining dry ingredients.
Well greased 9x9 in pan at 350 for 50-55 min

Frosting
1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp light cream
1/2 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup flaked coconuts
Mix put on cake after done,place under broil until topping starts to bubble.

Irish Cream Liquor
1 can condensed milk
fill can with whipping cream
3 eggs
1 tbsp chocolate syrup
1/8 tsp coconut essence
1 cup rye
blend and store in fridge up to 2-3 weeks. Makes approx 26oz

Christmas Morning Waffles   (All of us!)


3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
beat the yolks of 8 eggs well and add:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, sweet or sour (if cream is not heavy, use 1 cup and omit the 1/2 cup milk)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup melted butter
add the egg mixture to the flour and beat well.
Sauce for waffles:
1/2 cup waffle batter
1 tbsp flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
beat this well. Bring to a boil one quart of milk and gradually add the flour mixture. Bring to a boil and set aside. Now add the stiffly beaten egg whites to the waffle batter and bake in waffle iron. Yield: 10-12 waffles.