Everyone Loves King Arthur Flour!

Even black squirrels.
I am starting to repurpose food scraps. I'm trying to learn what the critters like and what I should just put in my bokashi bucket. (http://bokashiworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/diy-bokashi-buckets-swedish-green-buckets/)
The Walter Sands' bread is a clear winner for critter food.

Christmas 2012: Recipe Update #3

This year I tried something new - I made "real" Turkish Delight. It didn't set up all the way so it had a softer consistency than what I imagine the White Witch served Edmund. But the imported (from Akron) rose water and the hand-shelled/toasted (example #3489 of why I would never have made a good pioneer woman) really made for a special treat for this rookie candy maker.
Here's the recipe I used:
http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe398.turkish-delight.html#reviews

Christmas 2012: Recipe Update #2

I hinted at our Christmas food with the Boxing Day post. Christmas is a VERY busy time in our household. I always say that the kitchen is the heartbeat of the home. I think this is especially true this time of the year because sometimes it is only at mealtime that we are all together. Here is a list of the PLANNED meals we shared this year:
Christmas Eve Eve Dinner: homemade vegetarian stuffed peppers, tossed salad with homemade Asian dressing, and pies (Thank you, Dad Long and Gardner Pies!)

Christmas Eve Breakfast: America's Test Kitchen's Peanut Butter and Banana Steel Cut Oats Lunch: Mark Bittman's Bay Leaf -Infused Baked Potatoes Dinner #1 (Between the 4:30 and 7:30 services): Taco Quinoa and homemade guacamole and salsa. Dinner #2 AKA "Shepherd's Snack" (Between the 7:30 and 11 services): Amish One-Spoon Turkey Spaetzle, salad, pie, and homemade cappuccino.

Christmas Day: Breakfast #1: King Arthur Flour's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones Breakfast #2 King Arthur Flour's Sour Cream Cinnamon Rolls Lunch: Guacamole, Salsa, Chips, and pies Dinner: Homemade pizza. (Andy slept on until 6 am so we didn't have time for breakfast #3 - Dutch Baby Oven pancake)

Christmas 2012: Recipe Update #1

Grammy and Grampy graciously got me THREE kitchen items. Thanks to them, I know have the third Good Eats cookbook, America's Test Kitchen's Quick Meals Cookbook, and my very own canner. I really couldn't tell you which item I am the most excited about. The Brown cookbook contains cutouts to make your very own yeast sock puppets. (Kitchen nerds unite!) There's many tasty vegan-adaptable treats in the latest ATK cookbook. My head spins when I think of canning the delicious bounty from our local farmer's market. My mouth waters at the possibility of eating Curly Girl's (heirloom tomatoes (http://curlygirlfarm.blogspot.com) in the winter time.
Thanks, GP's!

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #6

This simply gorgeous ornament came from my very best friend. We've known each other since seventh grade. We now live in different states so our visits are few and far between. But we were able to spend most of a day together this holiday season and she gave me this ornament which I did not have!

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #5

The last of my beloved's Raggedy Christmas gifts was this book. It is in great condition and should make for a wonderful read!

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #4

My Raggedy clothing collection grew by another item this year with the edition of Raggedy scrubs! I thought of wearing it as a summer PJ top. But my son thinks it would be wonderful if I wore it the next time he is REALLY sick. I'm hoping it gets worn as a PJ top first, don't you?

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #3

I'm not usually a souvenir t-shirt kind of gal, but my beloved found me this shirt FROM THE EXACT YEAR we visited the now closed Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in Arcola, IL when our son was just a year and half. Wow!

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #2

This is gift caused squeals of delight Christmas morning because I had only seen it listed in the online CleveNet catalog as a non-circulating item. Despite several memorable trips to the Main library in downtown Cleveland, I was never able to locate it. That is all forgotten because I now have my very own copy. The illustrations are just so delightfully innocent. I especially like the "Hoppy Toad" one. As a child, my father ALWAYS admonished my sister's and my wiggles with "Stop it - you're not some hoppy toad!"

Christmas 2012: Raggedy Update #1

My beloved showered me with Raggedy-themed gifts again this Christmas. This dear pair of Knickerbocker Raggedys were adopted by us. Since the Andy is missing an arm, we nicknamed them "Handy and Hannah."