Archive - January, 2014

Menus from the Shelf

corn dryer, mason jars, home-canned foods, food preservation, gingham, strainer,My menus in the winter often come from the freezer or a jar. Many days I go down to my cellar and choose the groceries I have stored.  I clean a lot of quart and pints when I wash dishes.

This time of the year has seasonal tasks that keep me busy.  I am delighted that so much of my cooking has already been done in the summer and fall when the produce was fresh. Though cooking still takes attention, I don’t have to spend as much time traveling to the grocery store since there is a lot of food on my shelf.

I have items like dried parsley, basil and sage.  My pie cupboard holds black cherry and choke cherry jelly.  Strawberry syrup and currant jelly are two favorites we enjoy.  Grape jam and apple jelly await the time when I will choose them for my table.  Old faithful recipes like Best-in-the-World Dill Pickles and homemade Tomato Soup, apple pie filling and salsa perch on the shelves ready for  the taking.  Cooked, tender chicken rests in pint and quart jars.

In celebration of the art food preservation, we are featuring the card named, “Preserves.”  It may motivate you to think about how you can grow some food that the Lord provides for you in your garden or in the orchard. Perhaps this scene from the past may encourage and warm the heart of a friend who recalls the good old days of preserving foods for the winter.

The card,”Preserves,” may be found for sale in our store.

My Boot-Jack

snow drifts, blizzard snow, snow fence,We have had some blizzard weather recently.  With all of the snow, wearing boots is a big deal.  It has been a perfect backdrop for using the Christmas present that my husband made for me.

When I go out into the snow covered-landscape, I have to remove the boots when I come into the house, right? My boot-jack meets me at the door and pulls my boots off for me.  I don’t even have to bend down!

My dear dad built a boot-jack for himself many years ago.  A while back, my mom gave it to me.  I could picture it being of great help to my husband on a daily basis.  His farm shoes, I would call boots.  He uses them daily, so I foresaw him using it often.

home-made gift, home-made boot-jack, wooden boot-jack, snow boots, oak mopboard, oak trim, shaped oak trim,When he got the old one for his basement mud-room, it must have worked well for him.  Secretly, he fashioned a more sightly one for me to use upstairs.  His improvement on my dad’s design makes it a double-duty device. I really like it.

I just have to put the heel of the boot in the “V-shaped” notch.  I step with the other foot on the floor end of the boot-jack to stabilize it.  Then I simply have to pull my foot out of the boot. Voila! This jack really works.

My husband really gave me a practical gift. I have used it a lot so far this winter and so have my guests.  I expect this is a gift that will keep on giving.

photo credits:Wenda Grabau

Winter…Time for Making Ice Cream

Home-made ice cream, Custard ice cream, cooked custard for ice cream,

Note how the liquid looks on the spoon. This indicates it is not thick enough for freezing.

In the early days of our  marriage, we got a new ice cream freezer.  The plastic tub did not insulate the cold as well as the old-fashioned wooden ones did.  So much cold escaped that the freezing took a tremendous amount of time.  The ice cream tasted fine, but the amount of work required with the new plastic product hindered us.

cooked custard for making Ice cream, homemade ice cream,

Here you can see the coating of the spoon. The custard is now cooked enough for making ice cream.

When we moved to the farm, we inherited the old ice cream freezer.  We still churn with the old hand-crank method.  It takes time and effort. Yet, it makes the experience a family or group event.

homemade ice cream custard, Ice cream freezer and dasher,  Ice cream dasher,

After cooking the custard, it is refrigerated to cool. Then it is put into the ice cream can and it is ready to freeze. Cold custard makes the freezing go more quickly.

Ice cream companies consider winter a slow time for marketing their  product, at least in the frigid parts of the world.  Folks enjoy their hot cocoa instead.  But for us, it is a prime time for making it.  The reason: snow is the magic ingredient for ice cream-making, not ice.  It packs easily during the freezing process.

In fact, this past week we had a birthday to celebrate.  The birthday boy requested home-made ice cream.  We did just that.

The day before the event, I cooked up the custard recipe for my ice cream recipe. After it thickened I refrigerated it over night.  The next day, I poured the thoroughly chilled mixture into the freezer can for freezing.

wire basket, bucket or snow, pail of snow, camp stool, folding stool,

The wire basket will table the ice cream maker, The snow will freeze the ice cream mixture. It pack nicely around the ice cream can inside of the wooden bucket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We collected the equipment in the basement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ice cream freezer, wooden ice cream freezer bucket, wooden bucket, broom handle, home made ice cream, churning ice cream,

Dad churns, his helper packs the snow around the metal can holding the ice cream mixture.

The family gathered around for the work and entertainment.

 

 

 

ice cream making, ice cream freezing, ice cream freezer, churning ice cream, snow, salt, brrom handle, wire basket,

This treat takes teamwork.

 

 

 

 

 

Snow and salt are packed down with the old broom handle.  The salt melts the snow at a colder temperature than 32° F.  Hence, the low temperature of the melted snow works to freeze the contents of the ice cream can.

 

 

 

 

homemade ice cream,  ice cream sundae, homemade custard ice cream,

What a treat!

Look, the snow did its job.  The churning took time, but the wait was worth it.

photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau

The Storm Rages

evergreens, snowstorm, winterscape, winter storm,A winter storm rages this morning as I write.  Storms are a part of life.  Though we don’t like its fury, our land needs the snow-cover it brings.

Storms of all kinds happen all over our world.  There are those relating to weather, relationships, finances, physical challenges, mechanics, scheduling, etc.    They are real.  They are not fun.

This morning the storm brought to mind a story from the Holy Bible about Jesus.  It is from Matthew 8:24-27, (NKJV)

“And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and woke Him, saying ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?‘ Then He arose a rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'”

Is it not interesting that Jesus called the disciples’ faith small?  Notice from their statement, they did not really know Jesus.  The extent of His power, His spoken Word, had not occurred to them yet.

Mankind has much knowledge, but may still be in the dark as to the power of Jesus and God’s Word. How well do you know Him? Even disciples have much to learn.  Disciple of Jesus or not, I challenge you to dig into the Holy Bible to search out the truth about this Great One that even the winds and the sea obey. Any storm you experience He can handle.  Let it lead you to Him.

photo credit: Adventures of Pam & Frank via photopin cc

Creative Writing

desk lamp, journal, pen, writing, diary,I have not always enjoyed writing.  I remember creative writing assignments in grade school and in high school made my blood run cold.  But I have found over the years that even I am a creation in progress.  I have changed with maturity.  Today, I find great pleasure in those times when I have the time to write.

Early in our marriage, I think my husband assumed his new wife would have many characteristics like his mom.  She kept a diary.  She wrote daily in her diary from the days before her marriage until her final illness.  That is a testament to a faithful, self-disciplined woman.

I tried to do that.  It worked for a few years.  But I found that I am a “wordy” person.  I don’t recount just facts, but feelings.  The diary took effort.  It did not have enough space in its pages for me to say what I wanted.  That noble effort ended.

Then the children came into our lives.  Occasionally an opportunity to perform presented itself to our family.  We could sing or speak at church, children’s Bible club, or the local care center for the elderly.  With our young children in piano lessons and their ability to sing, we made a musical contribution to our world around us.

But even then, we needed spoken words or written ones to tie our musical packages together.  That job fell to me.   I saved some of them  for future reference.

Yesterday, I found a file of some of those efforts tucked away and began to read them.  What a fun time I had reading things I had written in the 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s. I even found a Christmas play I wrote.  I laughed till I cried at things I did not even remember I had written.

The upshot of this little story is you, too, can jot down some of your quiet thoughts.  Maybe you are good at rhyming and enjoy poetry.  Take time to create pictures and stories with words.  Some day, you will be able to look back at it in review. You may get to share it with your family when they are grown.  Thoughts to ponder and humor will be tied up neatly in your writing.

“Penguin Duo”

penguins,  penguin art, penguin drawing,  pencil drawing, children's penguin art, penguin note card, note card,My grandchildren gave me a gift years ago. Their art work is especially endearing. Each of the two of them crafted a penguin out of their own footprints. They decorated them to be penguins.

I posted them up in a prominent place in my kitchen where I could see them every day. One day, the mounting tape I used on them let go. I don’t really know what happened to one of them. I still have one penguin to enjoy as I work. Fortunately, I drew both of them before the loss of the littlest penguin.

In this season of frigid weather, I thought you might enjoy the artwork of children. I have made it into a card, calling it “Penguin Duo.” I hope you enjoy it.

This card is available for purchase in our store. It may bring a smile to the heart of a shut-in or anyone for that matter. Keep warm on these, wintry cold days and warm the heart of a friend with a special note of kindness.

Until January 15, 2014, you may get all items on this site at a 40% discount.

 

 

The Dumpling Factor

Today’s temperature is -22°F.  The winds are swift and penetrating.  That makes today a cooking/baking day.

The cold winds are strong enough to rattle the blinds on my kitchen windows.  My cupboards line the south wall where the winds seep in. By keeping the cupboard doors closed, the cupboards act to insulate the room from some of the cold.

bowl of soup, chicken soup, chicken dumpling soup, dumplings, bowl of chicken soup,With my husband working in the frigid outdoors, I must prepare a hot meal that will warm him. This morning we had a hot cereal to accomplish that.  But that small amount of cooking hardly warms the kitchen.

A longer cooking job will warm the kitchen. I got a chicken out of the freezer and planned a lunch of chicken dumpling soup.  The frozen chicken cooks in the water most of the morning sending its vapors into the kitchen.  The aroma of garlic and chicken make the house inviting. Besides that, the steam from the water adds humidity and warmth to the kitchen.

The chicken serves as a hearty meat for the day. But besides the celery and carrots in the broth, I add dumplings to make the soup special.

Today, I made sage dumplings.  They are not hard to make, but add bulk and taste to the soup.

dumpling ingredients, egg in dumpling mix,One recipe of dumplings consists of:

  • 1-1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. sage (or to taste)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup water or milk (You may use more liquid if the batter seems too stiff.)

 

 

 

dumpling dough, dumpling cooking, Near the end of the cooking of the soup, while the broth is in a full boil, drop the dumplings in by the 1/2 – 1 teaspoonful. I have noticed that when the dumplings are finished cooking, they float to the top.

 

 

That warm kitchen, then, will be a good environment for my bread dough to rise.  Hot bread, coming from the hot oven, will add to the delight of a warming place as my husband rests from his work at noon.

Dessert may not be necessary. Homemade hot bread spread with butter and honey might just be enough to top off the meal.

Lifetime cookware, dumplings, cooked dumplings,I hope you have a chance to try the dumpling factor.  If you delete the sage, you can use this recipe with beef stock or just plain water.  The finished dumpling will add to stews or chicken gravy you might try.

photo credit:Wenda Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau

 

That Darned Sock

sock, hole in sock,  holey sock, Have you ever had a good sock with only one hole in it?  What a shame to have to make it into a rag or toss it into the garbage can.  I had a pair of socks I did not wish to throw out just yet.  So I decided the sock was worth a darn.

 

 

needle, darning needle, large-eyed needle,

 

To darn a sock one needs proper tools.

  •  a darning needle
  • an old light bulb (There are also products such as wooden eggs for darning that one may purchase.)
  • darning thread or suitable yarn (If convenient, choose a color to match the color of the sock.)
  • a holey sock

 

 

 

light bulb, darning a sock, sock, darning needle, repairing hole in sock,

Insert the light bulb into the sock to stretch out the hole into it proper shape.

Begin the darning without making a knot on the tail of the thread. A knot will be uncomfortable to walk on. Leave a loose tail which can be woven into the darning later on.

With overcast stitches, catch places in the knitting where stitches could run.  Do this around the perimeter of the hole.

darning sock, sock, hole in sock, darning,After completing the first round, you may start the weaving. Make stitches in one direction until the area is sufficiently covered.

 

 

 

darning a sock, sock, holey sock, repairing hole in sock,

 

 

 

Complete the weaving with stitches perpendicular to the first set of stitching.

 

When the entire patched area is covered, weave the end of the thread into the woven area several times and cut off the end so there is not dangling thread.  Do this to the tail of thread that was used at the beginning of the darning process.

 

 

darned sock, darning a sock,Now you are free to try on the sock and give the darning a work out.

photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau

A Warm Day, It’s Zero.

Snow, log cabin, Wintry log cabin, winter scene,How nice to start the new year with a warm day!

December has been unusually cold.  Zero degrees sounds rather warm in comparison.

Besides the concerns about keeping the animals and the farmer warm, pipes can freeze and the farmhouse can get coldWhen the winter winds blow, the kitchen has a considerable chill.  It is a key time to bake bread or other goodies.  The oven helps take the chill off in the kitchen.

swing, rope swing, snow on the farm, snow on a swing.With snow piling up in the yard and road, my husband spends time plowing snow.  Snow removal is especially important in order to let the milk hauler in to pick up our milk and take it to the creamery.

Many folks consider the falling of snow to be pretty. I understand that. However, the snow adds more work to the farmer’s chores.  In spite of the snow we got yesterday and today, it is great to have the rise in temperature.  Zero degrees with no windchill seems much more tolerable than what we have had in the recent past.

Keep looking at the bright side and have a Happy New Year!

photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau