My mom was an amazing cook and baker. She was always baking treats for some event or another, and I love to think that she is smiling down on me when I am in my baking frenzies.
As I've blogged before, I love to use things that were my mom's - like her plastic spoon, a recipe she had copied for me, etc.
Today I am making multiple varieties of Christmas cookies and candies for a friend. It's my first baking of the season and I am very excited! I need to make fudge, and spent way too much time on Pinterest and the web trying to find a recipe I wanted to try. When it hit me.
COOKBOOK
Try a cookbook!
I have tons of cookbooks - every type you can think of - and sometimes I just don't remember to pull them out. My mom had a lot of cookbooks too, and before she died, she had marked them for my daughter. So I don't have them, but I have been watching estate sales for certain ones that she used a lot. And one of those - the Dunn County Cookbook from 1972 - I've actually had for years. I found one at a garage sale for $1.00. The old adage "one man's junk is another treasure" couldn't be more true!
I remember mom using the DCC a lot at Christmas for candies and cookies, so today I pulled it out. While it's not her copy, it's the same to me, missing only her handwritten notes on recipes she tried. Time to start adding my own notes!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
My wish for you...chicken noodle soup and fresh bread!
I have not blogged in so long! I have a big craft sale this weekend, so I've been up to my eyeballs in glitter, modge podge, yarn, and everything in between. And I have the house mostly decorated for Christmas, all that can go up before the sale (space constraints), and the Christmas card ordered! So I've been a busy little beaver!
I've been up and moving since 6 am, getting things done. I ended up with 2 1/2 days teaching this week, so today is my big day to get things finished. But I've taken a break for lunch, sitting down to homemade chicken noodle soup and fresh bread, and I was struck by it- this is one of the things that so many people are missing out on.
You have to remember, that I was not always the stay at home domestic... I worked in management for almost 20 years. So I was one of those missing out for many years.
Missing out on what?
When I say homemade chicken noodle soup, I mean homemade. Yesterday I boiled a chicken with onion, carrot, and celery, for several hours to make the stock. The chicken was a locally grown chicken from the Amish. The bread? I made it fresh this morning. This is not something I did often, if at all, when I was working full time. But even with that, I DID enjoy foods like this growing up. Even though my mother worked full time after I was born, she was an amazing cook, and our food growing up was from scratch while I was young.
While chicken soup and bread is a simple lunch, to me, the fact that every bit of it is homemade, wholesome, good-for-you comfort food, that I prepared for my family, means so much. And then I wonder... how many people have never had the pleasure of something so simple and good? On a cold wintery day (-5 degrees F wind chill today!), to enjoy the taste of this amazing simple homemade lunch, to me, is a Blessing. And I wish for all of you that you get to enjoy the same, if not always, at some point. Because there is such comfort and goodness in it.
I've been up and moving since 6 am, getting things done. I ended up with 2 1/2 days teaching this week, so today is my big day to get things finished. But I've taken a break for lunch, sitting down to homemade chicken noodle soup and fresh bread, and I was struck by it- this is one of the things that so many people are missing out on.
You have to remember, that I was not always the stay at home domestic... I worked in management for almost 20 years. So I was one of those missing out for many years.
Missing out on what?
When I say homemade chicken noodle soup, I mean homemade. Yesterday I boiled a chicken with onion, carrot, and celery, for several hours to make the stock. The chicken was a locally grown chicken from the Amish. The bread? I made it fresh this morning. This is not something I did often, if at all, when I was working full time. But even with that, I DID enjoy foods like this growing up. Even though my mother worked full time after I was born, she was an amazing cook, and our food growing up was from scratch while I was young.
While chicken soup and bread is a simple lunch, to me, the fact that every bit of it is homemade, wholesome, good-for-you comfort food, that I prepared for my family, means so much. And then I wonder... how many people have never had the pleasure of something so simple and good? On a cold wintery day (-5 degrees F wind chill today!), to enjoy the taste of this amazing simple homemade lunch, to me, is a Blessing. And I wish for all of you that you get to enjoy the same, if not always, at some point. Because there is such comfort and goodness in it.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thankful...
Thanksgiving preparations are under way. Every year I get to host 22 of my husband's family, and it's something I look forward to for weeks before.
Our home is not large. It's actually rather small. But every year, we find a way, to have three tables set for a sit-down Thanksgiving dinner for all of us.
Today was a day to reclaim the house. I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, emptying shelves, disinfecting, decluttering, and organizing drawers and cupboards. It feels amazing to have a fresh kitchen ready to cook. A few more fall decorations were added, and the house put in order.
I baked a couple of loaves of bread to use in the stuffing, cubed them up, and have them out to dry. The recipes have been pulled and the grocery list made, and the ham is thawing in the fridge.
The next few days will be crazy. Grocery shopping, pie baking, and cooking. We need to pull up the family dishes, get everything washed, and tables set.
The best part of this week is my daughter returning from college. I love having her by my side throughout the preparation - cooking old family recipes together. And I love that the holiday means as much to her, as it does to me.
So this is my calm before the storm. I'm taking the night to sit on the couch watching holiday movies on Hallmark and drinking eggnog. Tomorrow morning the rush begins. And in 24 hours, I'll be sitting here with my daughter catching up. And in 36 hours, we will be sitting down with our family to remember all that we are thankful for.
I am thankful for so much. My life is so full. We are so Blessed.
Our home is not large. It's actually rather small. But every year, we find a way, to have three tables set for a sit-down Thanksgiving dinner for all of us.
Today was a day to reclaim the house. I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, emptying shelves, disinfecting, decluttering, and organizing drawers and cupboards. It feels amazing to have a fresh kitchen ready to cook. A few more fall decorations were added, and the house put in order.
I baked a couple of loaves of bread to use in the stuffing, cubed them up, and have them out to dry. The recipes have been pulled and the grocery list made, and the ham is thawing in the fridge.
The next few days will be crazy. Grocery shopping, pie baking, and cooking. We need to pull up the family dishes, get everything washed, and tables set.
The best part of this week is my daughter returning from college. I love having her by my side throughout the preparation - cooking old family recipes together. And I love that the holiday means as much to her, as it does to me.
So this is my calm before the storm. I'm taking the night to sit on the couch watching holiday movies on Hallmark and drinking eggnog. Tomorrow morning the rush begins. And in 24 hours, I'll be sitting here with my daughter catching up. And in 36 hours, we will be sitting down with our family to remember all that we are thankful for.
I am thankful for so much. My life is so full. We are so Blessed.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Remembering my grandparents....for my children.
Tonight during our Bible study, some of the questions led us to discussions of memories we have of our grandparents. There were tears shed, as we remembered, and laughed, and cried. And then I realized that I don't talk about my grandparents to my kids. I'm not sure why, but I don't. They know very little of them, and I think that needs to change.
So here is a letter to my darling children, hopefully the first of many, where I will recount some wonderful memories....
On my father's side, I knew only my grandmother and step-grandfather. My grandfather died before I was born. I don't have many memories of them....as they lived about 3 hours away, and we did not see them often. The visits we did have were brief and formal, often over coffee and Finnish cinnamon toast at their home. I do remember the little coffee nook we would sit in as we visited... I can picture it like it was yesterday.
But my maternal grandparents lived in my home town, and we were extremely close. They were quite old (I was a late child for my mom and dad), and with us being the only family still in town, we spent a lot of time with them.
My mom and I went over to my grandparent's house almost every night either after school for dinner, or after dinner, to play cards. I know for my mom, it was a chance to make sure they were ok, and a chance to give my Grandma some company. Grandpa was a big silent German farmer by that time....
I remember playing cards so vividly. By the time I was 8 or 9, I was the fourth player, learning to play Shmear and Sheepshead simultaneously. Amazingly, we would switch between the two at will, depending on which we wanted to play. I'll never forget learning sheepshead. Grandpa was explaining the game to me, and told me that you have to have an ace to bid. So the next hand, I had 4 aces, so I bid 4. Anyone out there knowing sheepshead knows that an Ace alone does not a hand make.... I didn't make it that round, but Grandpa got a good laugh out of it!
I was very close to my maternal grandparents, spending MUCH of my summers with them when I was young, traveling with them to the land in the country to do the gardening. Grandma and I would make sandwiches (typically egg salad), and Grandpa would load the old car. I wonder what year/make that car was? I'd love to see one again. It was an early 60s model I believe.... The ride to the land was only about 10-15 minutes. It was near the old family farm. Aside from a small wooden shed, and the still functioning well/windmill, it was simply a land plot that we planted as their garden. I learned so much from them, helping create the rows with old wooden stakes and twine, hoeing the row, planting seeds.... and working the land. At lunch time we'd sit in the car with the windows open, using well water from the pump to make koolaid, and enjoying our egg salad sandwiches. Honestly, some of the best memories I have...
There are many, many more memories to be written. And they will be. Fun remembering. But enough for now.
So here is a letter to my darling children, hopefully the first of many, where I will recount some wonderful memories....
On my father's side, I knew only my grandmother and step-grandfather. My grandfather died before I was born. I don't have many memories of them....as they lived about 3 hours away, and we did not see them often. The visits we did have were brief and formal, often over coffee and Finnish cinnamon toast at their home. I do remember the little coffee nook we would sit in as we visited... I can picture it like it was yesterday.
But my maternal grandparents lived in my home town, and we were extremely close. They were quite old (I was a late child for my mom and dad), and with us being the only family still in town, we spent a lot of time with them.
My mom and I went over to my grandparent's house almost every night either after school for dinner, or after dinner, to play cards. I know for my mom, it was a chance to make sure they were ok, and a chance to give my Grandma some company. Grandpa was a big silent German farmer by that time....
I remember playing cards so vividly. By the time I was 8 or 9, I was the fourth player, learning to play Shmear and Sheepshead simultaneously. Amazingly, we would switch between the two at will, depending on which we wanted to play. I'll never forget learning sheepshead. Grandpa was explaining the game to me, and told me that you have to have an ace to bid. So the next hand, I had 4 aces, so I bid 4. Anyone out there knowing sheepshead knows that an Ace alone does not a hand make.... I didn't make it that round, but Grandpa got a good laugh out of it!
I was very close to my maternal grandparents, spending MUCH of my summers with them when I was young, traveling with them to the land in the country to do the gardening. Grandma and I would make sandwiches (typically egg salad), and Grandpa would load the old car. I wonder what year/make that car was? I'd love to see one again. It was an early 60s model I believe.... The ride to the land was only about 10-15 minutes. It was near the old family farm. Aside from a small wooden shed, and the still functioning well/windmill, it was simply a land plot that we planted as their garden. I learned so much from them, helping create the rows with old wooden stakes and twine, hoeing the row, planting seeds.... and working the land. At lunch time we'd sit in the car with the windows open, using well water from the pump to make koolaid, and enjoying our egg salad sandwiches. Honestly, some of the best memories I have...
There are many, many more memories to be written. And they will be. Fun remembering. But enough for now.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
A day off!
I have been MIA! Cannot believe it's been two weeks since my last post. Life has been a bit crazy, but I've really no excuse. I have a couple of blog ideas that are swimming in my crazy brain - but will want pix to go with them, so I will hold off until I can do them well.
It's really feeling like late fall here in Wisconsin. Snow in the north, but none here yet. Cold, rainy, and windy. A typical fall. I headed out this morning to clean up a bit in the gardens, pulling my herb stakes (clay - porous - they have to be pulled or they will crack in our winter), and harvesting the last of the herbs. I was able to snip some oregano, chives, parsley, and sage this morning, so I'll probably do something fun for dinner where I can use them fresh. One last time!
I haven't had a day "off" in awhile. I know what you are thinking - "she works part time!" But rarely do I give myself a true day "off". I always set my alarm, up before six, getting the family started for the day. I decided last night that today would be my day off. I slept in until just before my son headed off to school and my husband was home from work. I'm looking forward to a day of just catching up!
Hoping to get another dehydrator full of apples going, and then I'm off to town to do errands - banking, rental stuff, groceries, etc. I will grab some fun music for the road, and karaoke the entire way there. I'm very much looking forward to a low key day.
I did take time this morning to finish another cowl for my craft sale. The annual sale is less than a month away, which is why I've been MIA. I've been working really hard crocheting cowls, headbands, etc., as well as completing misc. upcycling projects. I've been busy, just not blogging.
I'll work on some of those other ideas. just not today. It's my day off!
It's really feeling like late fall here in Wisconsin. Snow in the north, but none here yet. Cold, rainy, and windy. A typical fall. I headed out this morning to clean up a bit in the gardens, pulling my herb stakes (clay - porous - they have to be pulled or they will crack in our winter), and harvesting the last of the herbs. I was able to snip some oregano, chives, parsley, and sage this morning, so I'll probably do something fun for dinner where I can use them fresh. One last time!
I haven't had a day "off" in awhile. I know what you are thinking - "she works part time!" But rarely do I give myself a true day "off". I always set my alarm, up before six, getting the family started for the day. I decided last night that today would be my day off. I slept in until just before my son headed off to school and my husband was home from work. I'm looking forward to a day of just catching up!
Hoping to get another dehydrator full of apples going, and then I'm off to town to do errands - banking, rental stuff, groceries, etc. I will grab some fun music for the road, and karaoke the entire way there. I'm very much looking forward to a low key day.
I did take time this morning to finish another cowl for my craft sale. The annual sale is less than a month away, which is why I've been MIA. I've been working really hard crocheting cowls, headbands, etc., as well as completing misc. upcycling projects. I've been busy, just not blogging.
I'll work on some of those other ideas. just not today. It's my day off!
Monday, October 21, 2013
My view tonight....and my inspiration!
My "normal" spot in the living room at night is on the couch. So when a dear friend surprised me with flowers this week, they went right next to where I sit, so I can enjoy them every night. Behind them is a picture board with pictures of my mom and dad... from a LONG time ago. Pictures I just love. It's a beautiful thing to sit by! Great inspiration as I sit and blog, or work on my pictures, or write.
I had to do some online training tonight, and as I sat on the couch with my laptop, I looked up to catch the most beautiful pink shining through the window. The sunset tonight was gorgeous. I had enough time to grab my camera and snap a few shots before it changed and clouds took over for the night.... so I think I'll share. enjoy!
Hopefully these can inspire you as well.
I had to do some online training tonight, and as I sat on the couch with my laptop, I looked up to catch the most beautiful pink shining through the window. The sunset tonight was gorgeous. I had enough time to grab my camera and snap a few shots before it changed and clouds took over for the night.... so I think I'll share. enjoy!
Hopefully these can inspire you as well.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
paths....
I have always believed that God puts us on the path we are intended for. And He puts people on our paths that we need, either at that time, or in the future, or for life. This past week - ten days - have been filled with some of those people. People that I call Blessings.
For one week, we were host to our "kids" from New Orleans. Talk about God's work! On August 29th, 2005, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent floods. Brian, with then girlfriend, decides to relocate to Wisconsin temporarily with her family. While here in WI, he chose a job working for me. Brian was a great kid - and we were so thankful to have him on board. But like most, once the city was back and functioning, Brian returned to his hometown.
Fast forward several years. Thanks to Facebook, we reconnect. A conversation is made about us visiting for Mardi Gras, and a trip is planned. A second trip occurs when Brian marries the love of his life, Katherine (another NOLA native). Finally, after a few years, a trip to WI is planned, bringing them to see us this past week.
As many of my friends know, I call them my "kids" from NOLA. I love them like my own children. And they very much feel like family. That first night they were here - with Katherine, William, and I cooking in the kitchen, and Ken and Brian sharing motorcycle stories in the living room, it felt like they lived here. It was so natural to have them here, to be sharing a meal. And the week that followed, traveling all over Wisconsin, was SO much fun. It was very hard to send them home on Saturday. They are truly such a Blessing in our lives, people I am so thankful to have put in my path!
And only hours after we sent them on their way back to Louisiana, two of my dear friends from Omaha arrived for three days of girl time. Again - THE PATH! How did I find Dana College? A tiny Lutheran college in Blair, NE, found its way into my path back in 1988. Attending that college was absolutely one of the most important events in my life. Through it my family began, my life became filled with amazing friends who I am still close to today. Friends that I see many times a year, no matter how far the distance between us.
So as I sit here this morning, on a cool, rainy October day, I am enjoying my cup of chicory, reflecting on the last 10 days. Such Blessings. Our lives are so rich. I am so very thankful. This crossed my wall on facebook this morning, and it inspired this blog. Remember, through good and bad, everyone in our lives has a purpose. Everyone is God-sent. Today I am reflecting on all the good....
For one week, we were host to our "kids" from New Orleans. Talk about God's work! On August 29th, 2005, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent floods. Brian, with then girlfriend, decides to relocate to Wisconsin temporarily with her family. While here in WI, he chose a job working for me. Brian was a great kid - and we were so thankful to have him on board. But like most, once the city was back and functioning, Brian returned to his hometown.
Fast forward several years. Thanks to Facebook, we reconnect. A conversation is made about us visiting for Mardi Gras, and a trip is planned. A second trip occurs when Brian marries the love of his life, Katherine (another NOLA native). Finally, after a few years, a trip to WI is planned, bringing them to see us this past week.
As many of my friends know, I call them my "kids" from NOLA. I love them like my own children. And they very much feel like family. That first night they were here - with Katherine, William, and I cooking in the kitchen, and Ken and Brian sharing motorcycle stories in the living room, it felt like they lived here. It was so natural to have them here, to be sharing a meal. And the week that followed, traveling all over Wisconsin, was SO much fun. It was very hard to send them home on Saturday. They are truly such a Blessing in our lives, people I am so thankful to have put in my path!
And only hours after we sent them on their way back to Louisiana, two of my dear friends from Omaha arrived for three days of girl time. Again - THE PATH! How did I find Dana College? A tiny Lutheran college in Blair, NE, found its way into my path back in 1988. Attending that college was absolutely one of the most important events in my life. Through it my family began, my life became filled with amazing friends who I am still close to today. Friends that I see many times a year, no matter how far the distance between us.
So as I sit here this morning, on a cool, rainy October day, I am enjoying my cup of chicory, reflecting on the last 10 days. Such Blessings. Our lives are so rich. I am so very thankful. This crossed my wall on facebook this morning, and it inspired this blog. Remember, through good and bad, everyone in our lives has a purpose. Everyone is God-sent. Today I am reflecting on all the good....
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