“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Friday, November 16, 2018

Thanksgiving AKA Turkey Day



Thanks a bunch my blogging friends! Nice to see you here! Here in the states we love our Thanksgiving also known as Turkey Day!


Bay and Lemon Turkey


It used to be that Turkey was served only on Thanksgiving and maybe Christmas and it was a very special occasion while growing up in the 1960's and 1970's.  As a kid seeing that huge bird was awe inspiring and drool worthy!



When I was really young we celebrated at my Grandparents and we alternated years as to which side of the family we would visit.  I do remember it was a spectacular feast. The special side dishes that went along with the turkey were also phenomenal!


The Feast

Our menu consisted of....
Roast Turkey
Stuffing or Dressing
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Sweet Potatoes with the Marshmallows on top
Green Bean casserole
Cranberry Apple Jello Salad or Cranberry Fluff or Cranberry Apple Relish Salad (below)

 

Cranberry Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Relish Plate with olives, baby pickles and carrot and celery sticks; and pickled beets if we were visiting my Dad's parents.
Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream

That was the basic menu, it was long before people started Deep Frying the turkey or brining them or doing whatever the new thing is now!

Now days though we can get turkey all year round and it has lost some of its allure.  But I still love a good roast turkey and the menu hasn't changed too much. The Green Bean casserole is now just steamed green beans (much healthier) but we've made up for that by adding a corn pudding and a scalloped oyster side dish (below) so there has been no reduction in calories!


 

I have fond memories of those olden days when all the families got together and I got to see my cousins and we ate and laughed and played! Now it's pretty much a get together for a bunch of us older folks to solve the worlds latest crisis and eat as much as we want!



How do you celebrate your Thanksgivings? What are your favorite foods? I know some of you are Canadians and have already celebrated, any juicy stories you'd like to share? Whatever you do or did I hope it was fun and that you enjoyed your time with friends or family!

Happy Thanksgiving!
See you in December!
Diane




P.S. some of these photos aren't mine. Click on the image and it should take you to the site.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Autumn Breeze

Well I'm trying to turn over a new leaf by posting more than once in a blue moon! I thought that fall would be a good time to try and get back into a rhythm again. Leaves are on my mind of course, because I'm already starting to see them fall from our trees. The other day it was raining and windy and the leaves were falling like crazy. And then things change. 

Zig-Zag Goldenrod and Phlox

The first day of Autumn and our temperatures are scorching! Almost 90 degrees and humid to boot! We've had an unusually warm September and and unusually cool August! It's like the months are switched around, it seems it's been like that all year. Nothing is dependable anymore, just a sign of our times I guess.

There have been terrible storms and other natural disasters across the nations. What have we done to deserve this? Well nothing, it just happens. If you're reading this on a tablet or your phone, you may not see the little message at the top of my blog, it reads....

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life:
It goes on.” 


I've kept this quote up for several months as it seems to fit and it's a good reminder for me whenever I happen to show up on my own blog!



Wild plums


Other things of note:  plums, husbands and cats. 

The wild plums above were picked from our very own plum shrubs in our wild area of the yard next to the lake. Many had been harvested by the deer. They left us enough for a batch of wild plum jam. After it was cooked down, I ended up with about 2 pints of jam. It's pretty tart even with lots of sugar, but I thought of another way to use it that was delicious. Upside down Plum Cake. 

 Upside-down Plum Cake
It's basically the same recipe as you'd use for Pineapple Upside-down cake. What I did was spread about 1/2 cup of my wild plum jam onto the bottom of the pan. I then used about four store bought plums and arranged (dumped) them onto the top of the jam. I then sprinkled on about 1/2 cup of brown sugar and then dotted with a couple of tablespoons of butter. Then I spooned the batter over that. After it came out of the oven all you need is a bit of whipped cream or ice cream if you prefer!


Husband.... too much yard work and hauling trees branches and just doing too much gardening over the weekend brought on a bout of sciatica. He's already better but has a new understanding of what I've been through several times over the years. The pain can really be unbearable. I was there to help him through it and he's almost back to normal, well his normal, which is non-stop doing things!



Guy actually loves his cat carrier...

Cats... well poor Guy has not been feeling well. After 3 times to the vet, I finally think we have this under control. He has Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, also known as Pandora Syndrome. In short he is prone to urinary tract irritations. Not always bladder infection, but similar in feel and effect. So he has been an unhappy boy for awhile. Seems that diets high in dry food cause it to be worse. Mainly because cats don't drink enough water. I've always fed my cats both dry and wet cat food, so this was a shock to me.

Guy just happens to be more sensitive than our other cats were and therefore more prone to this condition. After a few tests, pain medication and new upgraded wet cat food he seems to be getting a bit better.

Guy trying to take a nap...


So it's been a busy couple of weeks. Let's hope the rest of Autumn is normal and easy breezy!

Thanks for taking a moment to read and comment on my blog. 
I'll try and visit yours soon. 
~~Diane~~

 

Friday, September 8, 2017

A Look Back at the MN State Fair

Hey Our Minnesota State Fair has a gopher for a mascot ......
With his striped jacket and his jaunty straw hat, Fairchild the gopher is a bouncy, furry representative of the Minnesota State Fair. He became the Fair's official mascot in 1966, which means he's celebrating his 51st birthday at this year's Great Minnesota Get-Together. I had no idea until this year that he had a name.


Fairchild back in the early years with red stripes. Sometime they changed the stripes to green...? No clue why.

Did you ever see the play or movie "State Fair", maybe the lyrics below will jog your memory....

State Fair
Our State Fair is a great state fair
Don't Miss it don't even be late
(our state fair is great)
It's dollars to doughnuts at our state fair
It's the best state fair in the state
-chants-
OUR STATE FAIR IS A GREAT STATE FAIR IS A GREAT IS A GREAT IS A GREAT STATE FAIR HEY!!
Source 







Seriously though, our state fair IS A GREAT STATE FAIR! We got there bright and early and visited the animal barns. It had been a few years since we'd done that. It was fun but always a bit smelly! I didn't take that many photos as we were in and out pretty quickly.







Had to get a picture of this adorable bunny though!






The  poultry were fabulous and very noisy! We also checked out the sheep and horse barns. Then we needed some refreshment, fresh squeezed lemonade!!




Next we checked out the Creative Arts building for all the prize winning entries. The food was gorgeous! Arranged by type and even color. Cakes and more cakes, and muffins, cookies, breads, pies, jam, and oils.. wow!

























I love how the preserves and oils and vinegars were back-lit so they shown like jewels!


After all this marching around I needed a pick-me-up.  The maple creme nitro coffee did the trick.  You notice it was half gone before I thought of taking a picture!!




Then we had lunch, Tipsy Pies! We ordered two and my husband and I split them. We loved the Boozy Blueberry Lemon and the Onion Gouda! No pictures, we tore into those and well it just wasn't pretty, but it was delicious!!

After we listened to free music in one of the many park/stage venues we were ready to venture back into the Creative Arts building for more cool stuff!!





The button dress amazed me.  I can't imagine sewing all those on, and oh my I bet that it's heavy!



This is adorable, a hand crocheted tea set! It folds up into a tote bag! Maybe for your picnic tea party!



There were many beautiful quilts and of course lots of cute stuff like the crocheted animals below!




Well that's it folks! Thanks for joining me at our state fair!



The pretty dahlia above is in my garden right now. We still have a beautiful month of flowers ahead before the leaves all fall. Hope you have had a wonderful summer.

I'll be around to visit soon! ~~ Diane

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Throwback Thursday - 50 years of Cool Whip


Happy Birthday Cool Whip, you're 50 years old this year!

source

Most of you are familiar with "Cool Whip".  It's one of those items that Martha Stewart has probably never eaten.  But back when I was growing up it was a staple in our household, it replaced another 'almost food' item called Dream Whip.  Don't get me started on that foul concoction. I'm not sure if they even make it anymore....

Anyway, we're here today to talk Cool Whip which was brought to a supermarket near you back in 1966.  Do you remember that catchy phrase and commercial jingle in the late 80's, called Cool Whip's the One?
If not let me refresh your memory....






The lyrics as far as I could make out are something like....

"What makes everything so whip smackin',
lip smackin'... a-aah good... mm-mm
Cool Whip's the one, that whipped creamy taste.

Cool Whip's the One,
That makes it whip smackin',
lip smackin'... a-aah good, yeah!
Cool Whip's the one,
That whipped creamy taste,
Cool Whip's the One!"

OK so wasn't that fun! Never mind that the debate still rages as far as whether Cool Whip is a food or not... Health nuts, don't lecture me... it's not as though we eat this stuff everyday. Besides, if you've ever eaten a prepared salad dressing or pretty much any processed food you've eaten the ingredients that are in Cool Whip!

Now back to my story,.... so my Mom loved to make Jell-O Salads and they almost always had a Cool Whip addition to them.  By the way Jello-O is twice as old as Cool Whip!  Sometimes the Cool Whip was incorporated into the salad or it was just a festive dollop on top. I remember how a plain old cherry Jell-O with sliced bananas suspended inside was transformed into a work of art when Cool Whip was slathered on top and sprinkled with chopped walnuts! My mom served it in a clear glass salad bowl and to a ten year old kid it looked like a sparkling jewel!

One reason cooks love Cool Whip is because it holds it's shape for a long time.  Regular whipped cream will start to melt and break down, especially in warm conditions.  That's why Cool Whip was a popular item for all those pot-lucks and church dinners!

So I can't leave you without sharing a simple recipe that has tons of variations all over the internet. Is it a dessert, is it a salad?  Who cares, it is delicious!  Here's my favorite...




Fruit Cocktail Cottage Cheese Salad
1 box Lemon or Lime Jell-O (3 oz.)
1 can crushed pineapple (8 oz.)
1 can fruit cocktail (14 oz.)
1 small container Cool Whip (10 oz.)  UPDATE: I now use Truwhip instead.
1 container small curd cottage cheese (16 oz.)

Drain the fruit cocktail juice into a glass measuring cup and heat in microwave until hot (about 30 seconds) or heat in a small pan on your stove. Remove from heat and stir in the Jell-O and mix until it's dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the pineapple, cottage cheese and the fruit cocktail. HINT- To help this set faster, I refrigerate the canned fruit ahead of time so that it is cold.

Add your dissolved Jell-O and stir to combine.  Fold in the Cool Whip and transfer to a large serving bowl or container and refrigerate for several hours. It will have a somewhat soft consistency.

More HINTS-- Use any flavor Jell-O you like. If you like less sweet and more like a salad, add 1/2 cup sour cream or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt in addition to the cottage cheese. If you want it more like a dessert, add marshmallows.  Want nuts, add some. You can do pretty much anything to this salad/dessert and it will turn out yummy!








Want this salad but without the Cool Whip? Here's a recipe for whipped cream, try substituting it for the Cool Whip. Best if eaten the same day, remember the real whipped cream might not hold up as long as Cool Whip.

UPDATE: I no longer use Cool Whip as they have been using High Fructose Corn Syrup and other questionable ingredients in this product. I use a product called Truwhip instead.

Homemade Whipped Cream
1 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Pour the heavy cream into a large metal bowl with crushed ice under the bowl.

Add about a 1/3 cup of sugar and a tiny pinch of salt.
Whip for approximately 5 minutes until it forms soft peaks. Must be  keep refrigerated for best results.

Disclaimer.... These are my personal opinions, I'm not being reimbursed for anything I say or do on my blog!

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane! 
So the burning question... Is Cool Whip a Food? 

Thanks for joining me on Throwback Thursday!
~~~ Diane ~~~



Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Christmas Time is Here!


How is it even possible that Christmas is almost here again? Seems like just a few months ago I took down the tree!  But it's coming 'round again, so ready or not, here it is!




I think the hardest part is getting my mindset working,  but we now have a bit of snow, which helps it seem more like Christmas to me. I put the wreath on the door, but so far that's as far as I've gotten for decorations!  Better get cracking!!

But first, I need to set the mood with some music and maybe some holiday baking! Then I'll be ready to decorate.


 Cranberry Scones Ready for the Oven




 Cream Scones

2 cups flour, plus extra for the counter
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons butter, cold
1 cup heavy cream



1.    Heat the oven to 375 degrees.  In large bowl mix the dry ingredients together.  Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal with a few slightly larger lumps.  Mix in any extras at this time, (see variations) Stir in the cream until dough forms, about 30 seconds.

2.    Turn the dough and any floury bits out onto a floured board and knead a couple of times to form a ball.  Place the dough on a baking sheet and press the dough down into a slightly flattened dome shape about 8 inches around.  Sprinkle the top with sugar and cinnamon if desired. Cut through the disc into 6 to 8 wedges. Do not move the dough.

3.    Bake for 20-22 minutes until slightly golden around edges.

4.    Variations:  Stir in approximately 1/2 - 3/4 cup of currants, raisins or other dried fruits.  Lemon zest or crystallized ginger are also nice additions.  If using fresh fruit such as cranberries, raspberries or blueberries be careful when mixing to not crush the fruit.




 Here are the finished scones, topped with a drizzle of vanilla icing....









So, I've got to run right now but I'll be back and checking on all of you to see what you've been doing lately!






Have a wonderful week! I'll see you soon!
~~ Diane ~~





Monday, November 19, 2012

By and By the Harvest . . .


I found the image above somewhere on a public domain site and thought it was perfect for my Thanksgiving post. Way back in the olden days, this was what my ancestors did. I have traced them back many generations and quite a few were farmers. Maybe that is why I love the land and my gardens so much. "We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves" ....

Nevertheless, bringing in the sheaves is not something we do by hand much anymore. The harvest has become so mechanized people from the time the song was written would barely recognize it as the same activity. 

I used to watch a show from the BBC called Lark Rise to Candleford. The show was an adaptation of Flora Thompson's memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood, set in the small village of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, at the end of the 19th Century. The last episode was about when they brought in a newly invented "harvesting machine" to harvest the crops.  The town was split on whether this was a good thing or not. Many thought it would mean the end of them. Obviously the amount of laborers needed would be less, so what were the rest of these unskilled people to do? Alas the show was never able to settle this argument because it was canceled. In real life, I guess we do know how it was settled. Time moves on and technology advances. People lose jobs and new jobs are created, and so it goes.



The things that don't change are our need for a home. A place to feel safe and comforted and warm.
A place to enjoy the good things in life. We need a home to share with our loved ones and our pets. Home is where we invite our friends to entertain them and to share a meal. In my own home I try to create a sense of whimsy and fun. I also want my home to feel cozy and warm.

I decorated my old sideboard with faux pumpkin and faux turkey and some cute little pilgrim chipmunk candle holders. This is my way of making my home cute and cozy. 
Music is also a part of my home and I listen to some everyday.



Chipmunks with their Pilgrim outfits. They are headed for my table upstairs. 



This cute squirrel light has an battery operated candle inside  
and looks very nice in a darkened room.

I have had the turkey for years. When I bought him he was plain pale brown. I painted him with watercolors to closer resemble the real thing. I also painted the pumpkin a more rosy tone. 
Warning: I will paint anything that doesn't move.



As time goes on some things lose their importance, fads come and go. Technology brings us more distractions than we can even comprehend.  What we always need is a home. I have always been lucky, I have never been without one. I feel bad for those who have never known one. I feel sad for those who because of hurricanes, fires and bad circumstances are not in their homes right now.

So please join me in a collective prayer, or good thought, or strong vibe and send it out there to anyone you know, or just to a complete stranger. Send a thought of comfort, joy and love to all those who are home-less at this Thanksgiving time. Or better yet, pick up the phone or go on the web and find a charity that will help someone feel a little less sad and alone as we celebrate our own Thanksgiving bounty. I've put my donations in the mail this week and I hope they will do some good.

I also want to Thank all of You, my good bloggy friends who always leave the most wonderful comments and make me smile every day. I'll be taking a few days off from the blogasphere to be 
with family and friends. I will see you all back here soon.
Thank you... I am truly blessed! ~~~ Diane ~~~

Happy Thanksgiving

Monday, October 22, 2012

Haunt Cuisine

Shall we eat? Haunt Cuisine if you dare! Savor these unusual and I dare say, cute edibles from around the web and Pinterest. I will spare you the truly icky items, I mean really, do you want your guests to be ill or run screaming from your house? Click on the links if you would like the recipes.

Corn syrup, sugar overload anyone? Personally I think these are only good for decorations. Our raccoons and squirrels seem to love them though!


Lots of great recipes and decorating ideas here.



Labels make these common candies spooky cute!




























Love this pumpkin cheese ball. I think this and a Green
Goblin Cocktail would be great together! Yes I have Green Goblins on my
mind lately since I wrote the post Goblinade.



Goblinade Punch

I renamed this drink from the original, Brew-Ha-Ha- Punch to Goblinade, which I think is a much better name. I changed their recipe slightly using frozen limeade and pineapple juice. Putting the punch in a second bowl of dry ice gives it that eerie feeling that's perfect for a spooky party. I wonder if some ginger vodka* would spice this up a bit? Might have to give that a try!

Ingredients    

2 quarts water
2 (12-ounce) cans frozen limeade
1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
1 quart ginger ale
*optional 1 cup vodka or to taste

Stir in all ingredients. Chill.
Note: Place punch bowl into a larger bowl, and add dry ice to larger bowl.






















Green Goblin Cocktail





Bat Wing Pumpkin Cheesecake






This is such a clever and simple idea!




Another version of the Green Goblin Cocktail

I hope this has inspired you to try some new treats for Halloween. Happy Hauntings!