Thanksgiving 2009

This is the sky as we were entering Kansas, today, on our trip to MJ's for Thanksgiving.  There were ribbons of clouds floating from South to North as far as we could see.  I've don't ever remember seeing ribbons of clouds like this and this photo doesn't capture it very well but it's the best I could do from the front seat of the car.

We're here until Monday or Tuesday.  Tomorrow we will have a traditional turkey dinner with all the traditional side dishes.  Actually, MJ is making a new dish called Potato and Butternut Squash Gratin with a Black Walnut Crust.  Does that not sound just devine?  If it's as delish as I think it will be, I will beg her for the recipe and possibly make it at Christmas.

I'm thankful for many things this Thanksgiving...all the usual which I won't repeat for the umpteenth time.  But this year I'm additionally thankful for all of the wonderful people I've "met" online...my blogging buddies (you know who you are) and my Squidoo friends (ditto).  You've brightened my life and I'm a better person for it.  So thank you.

I'm heading to the kitchen now (where MJ is busy chopping, sauteing, and preparing stuffing) to meddle.  Isn't that what mothers are supposed to do?

English Muffins

This was never intended to be a food blog but it occurs to me that I've posted an unusually high number of recipes lately.  So just this one more and then I'll give it a rest.

It's because we hauled that bread machine up to the kitchen...I'm on some sort of bread making marathon.  Like I have to try as many recipes from the bread machine book as possible before I accidentally throw the little paddle out, again.  Well, that could be it.  Or it could be that it's fun.  Or homemade bread is just so good...

Anyway, there is a recipe for English muffins in the bread machine book.  I love English muffins and the recipe piqued my interest because what you do is make the dough and then roll it out, cut it into circles and bake the muffins in/on a griddle!  I'm thinking, "Get out! - no oven???"  Nope, no oven involved.  Of course, I had to try it.

They're actually really tasty although not as "holey" as the ones you buy.  That could be because it called for 6 to 7 ounces of water and I used 7.  Might have made them a bit denser.  Or not.  But they toast up really great so it's not a biggie.  Here's the recipe:

English Muffins

All ingredients at room temperature
(70-80 degrees F/21-27 degrees C)

6 to 7 ounces water

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

2-1/4 cups bread flour

1/4 cup dry milk

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup quick cook oats

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1/4 cup cornmeal

Measure all ingredients into bread pan, except cornmeal.  Select Dough setting.....yadda, yadda, yadda...*

When the dough is ready:
Sprinkle cornmeal over flat surface.  Place dough on cornmeal and roll to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into 2-1/2 to 3 inch circles.  Place dough, cornmeal-side-down, on an ungreased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 30 minutes.  Preheat electric griddle or fry pan to 250 degrees F/121 degrees C.  Cook, cornmeal-side-down about 8 minutes or until golden brown.  Turn and cook another 8 minutes.

Makes 10 to 12  3-inch muffins.

My finished muffins were not 3 inches...they were smaller.  So next time (and there will be a next time) I'm cutting the circles of dough larger.  But small or large, they're really worth trying.

*follow manufacturer instructions.

Happy Anniversary to my Blog

Thanks to Flickr photographer Padraic for this picture of Los Angeles Union Station.

It has been almost two years since I decided to create a blog. It was actually November 25, 2007 this little journal was born.

Today I'm going to post a link or two or three to a couple of my most memorable posts. Back then we were doing a good bit of traveling and had a few bizarre experiences worth documenting.

We had been housesitting in Los Angeles and were scheduled to housesit on Bainbridge Island, WA. We had the brilliant idea of leaving our vehicle in L.A. since we were going to be returning there for another assignment. Amtrak has a route between Los Angeles and Seattle. The people on Bainbridge Island offered to let us use one of their cars while we were there.

This first post is the prelude to a train trip that you will probably think is fiction. It is not. It really happened.

It all started before we even left California:

Leaving Los Angeles

After our "very good night's sleep" we left the hotel and hailed a taxi to take us to Los Angeles' Union Station. The story continues:

Los Angeles to Washington and why I vowed to never ride the train, again.

And then this: Newsflash

Now, let me tell you that I'm a huge supporter of public transportation. And I'll admit that Amtrak wasn't responsible for some of the disasters that happened enroute. But traveling by train is less than pleasurable because the railroad just doesn't have the funds to update everything that needs to be updated.

Just imagine all the jobs that could be created by fixing this antiquated system. Not to mention the fun it would be for travelers. What a great way for families to travel! This is a beautiful country and I can tell you that traveling by train does take you through some breathtaking scenery.

Okay, I'll give it another go...sometime. Stay tuned...my anniversary special continues.

Honey & Wheat Rolls - The Recipe

Hadn't used my bread machine for about a year. Mostly because I lost the little paddle that mixes the dough and bread machines are pretty much useless when that happens.

So we're cleaning out a storage area in the basement and Jack says, "Do you still want this bread machine?" A riveting conversation ensued whereby I lamented the loss of the paddle and Jack suggested trying to find another. Long story, short...looked for and found a new paddle online.

It was like having a new toy and I have been using it regularly. The other day I tried a new recipe for Honey & Wheat Rolls. I made some of them the shape of hamburger buns because we were having hamburgers that day and I didn't have buns. Brilliant.

They were delicious and I've been asked to make them for Thanksgiving. So I will. (Well, okay, I offered to make them.)

Here's the recipe:

NOTE: All ingredients should be room temperature and since there's an egg in this recipe, you shouldn't use a timer to delay the start time. Also, my bread machine (which is no longer made, of course) says to always place the ingredients into the pan in the order listed in the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey
1 egg (I beat it slightly)
2 cups bread flour
1-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Measure all ingredients into bread pan. Select Dough setting. Press Start/Stop. When unit signals and display reads 0:00, press Start/Stop and remove dough.

Lightly sprinkle all-purpose flour onto a pastry mat or board. Knead by hand 2 or 3 times to release the air. If the dough is easy to handle without flour, shape on a lightly oiled, clean (duh) countertop.

Shape as desired. Place on greased baking pan. Cover dough with a clean cloth and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Bake as directed at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes.

OPTIONAL: Before baking, you can gently brush the tops of the rolls with an egg glaze (1 slightly beaten egg with 1 Tbsp. water or milk) for a shiny golden crust.

Today I'm trying a recipe for English Muffins. Stay tuned...

Homemade Honey Granola Bars

Jack's traveling for Meadow Farm, today, and I'm just giddy trying to decide how to spend my day. No interruptions. I'm going to try to figure out a new photo editing software program that I've just loaded. I'm going to read a whole bunch of my favorite blogs. I'm going to take a walk because it's a gorgeous day.

But first I'm going to make a loaf of bread in my bread machine and then I'm going to make a batch of Homemade Honey Granola Bars. And, Honey, these are Goooood!

HOMEMADE HONEY GRANOLA BARS

1 cup granola
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl combine granola, oats, flour, coconut, almonds, raisins or chocolate pieces, wheat germ, and brown sugar.

In a small bowl combine the egg, honey, butter or margarine, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir together until all ingredients are moistened.

Spread evenly in a greased 12 x 7 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes or until light brown on the edges.

Cool completely in the pan (I always set the pan on a cooling rack). Cut into squares or bars. Makes about 24.

Those are my goals...we'll see what I actually accomplish.

I'll get by with a little help for my friend...

No, I'm not botching up the lyrics of a Beetles song. I just wanted to post a message about a friend and a really great Squidoo lensmaster who is in big trouble.

Her husband lost his job last December and although he has sent out about 200 applications, he still hasn't had any luck. So they're at the end of their rope, so to speak, and in danger of being evicted. She's keeping her chin up and really believes something will come up but right now it's looking pretty bleak.

Correen has created a blog to see if they can sell some collectibles, etc. to bring in some money. If you live in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area you might love that awesome butcher block that she's willing to sell, even though it's got a lot of sentimental value to her. She has aptly named the blog Everything Must Go. Obviously, she still has a sense of humor!

Correen also has a Zazzle store with some pretty cards and other gift items. You might just find an idea for a gift or two. There's also another Squidoo lens about Correen...it's called A Helping Hand.

I just thought I'd put in a good word, too. Even just thinking good thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks!

Which came first. - chicken or egg?

As far as I'm concerned, it was definitely the chicken. I promised chicken pictures and chicken pictures are what you're getting. Well, two. Well, one of the chickens and one of their little roosting rooms.

When I went to get my eggs, yesterday, I asked if I could take a photo or two of the chickens and was granted my request. It's chilly, now, so they're all inside but you can see that there aren't a lot of them. They've got lots of room and even a little ramp to go into and out of their "rooms".

I got a good chuckle as I took that photo of the chicken coming down the ramp. She was trotting down and just stopped and turned her head to look at me. I said, "Smile!" I think she did - heh, heh!

Sandy, their owner, gives them treats, too. She came out with me with a bowl full of carrot scraps for them and there were remnants of pumpkins on the floor because those little sweeties also love pumpkin!

They are treated royally and they oblige by laying lovely brown and tan and even green and blue eggs! Although I have to admit that I did not see the brown chicken and it seems to me that she's the one who lays green/blue eggs. Hmmmm. Not sure I want to know where she is.

Egg Day

Today is Egg Day. Every other week on a Wednesday I pick up three dozen fresh eggs from my Egg Lady. I've been doing this for several months and it's such a good feeling to know that my eggs are as fresh as they can be.

My Egg Lady is a "youngish" widow who lives a few miles west of our place. She's just the nicest person and her farm is quite picturesque. She has very pretty but rather unstructured gardens around the house and garage and barn. She grows gourds and pumpkins and just about anything else a gardener who lives on a farm would grow.

Her house has a wide front porch with benches and pots of flowers and right now she's got lots of pumpkins and squash out there. She's a quilter, too.

When the grandchildren came this past summer I took them out with me on Egg Day so they could see the chickens that lay our eggs. They loved that!

I just talked to her a few minutes ago and told her I'd be there within the hour so I'd better hustle! Think I'll take the camera...maybe she'll let me take some pictures of the chickens. Which I will post, of course.