Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Speaking of April 15th...what's the most 'taxing' thing you've done recently?

 This very unfortunate and woeful thing did in fact happen to me five days ago. There I was sitting very cheerfully crocheting my last row of shells onto my afghan when lo and behold the most magnificent tangle came sliding out of my ball of yarn, after spending a tearful afternoon trying to undo the tangle, I finally gave up and finished my afghan with another ball of yarn.

2. When did you last take a taxi somewhere and where was that somewhere?

 I have never been in a taxi, but I have always wanted to jump into one and yell "Follow that car!"    That is actually on my Bucket List.

3. What's something you can do today that you couldn't do a year ago?

 Something that I can do now is crochet, I'm always busy crocheting something, whether it is a beanie, a pair of slippers, an afghan, or a shirt, crocheting is now my favorite hobby.

4. How often is chicken (in some form or fashion) on your menu at home? Which of the following would you most like to see on your table tonight...a chicken salad sandwich, your mom's fried chicken, a Chick-fil-A meal, Cracker Barrel's chicken n' dumplings, a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings, or 'hold the chicken, I'm a vegetarian'...?

 I'm not just trying to be loyal or something, but nothing beats my Mom's fried chicken.

5. What was your favorite television program when you were a kid? What characters do you remember the most?

 My favorite television shows used to be Hazel and the Dick Van Dyke Show 

6. What was the last piece of 'art' you made?

 The last piece of "art" that I made was my Purple Mountain Majesty afghan which happened to give me a months worth of crocheting cramps while making it.

7. What frustrates you most about the Internet?

 Hmm lets see, considering that I'm an avid crocheter, watching tutorials for inspiration is not uncommon, but those five seconds I have to wait before I can skip an ad and watch the video always frustrate me.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Right now I think that a pan of cookie bars are beckoning to be made by me, so I guess off to the kitchen I go.

Homemade Butter

  I have always thought making homemade butter would be fun. In the Little House series they churned butter, and my Mom used to churn butter, it would simply be marvelously vintage-like, (even romantic) to churn butter. My obsession with vintage things started a year ago and churning butter was a definite "need to try."

  A week or so ago some of our Amish neighbors were giving away free milk because the milkman had some kind of problem and couldn't pick up the milk from their farm. They of course had far too much for their own use, so when they offered it to us my Dad went and got us some and Mom skimmed the cream from it to make butter.

 I was excited! Finally I was getting my chance, but as it turns out we don't have a churn so Mom goes and pours the cream into a quart jars and instructed us to shake it. Well I shook my jar , Diane shook that jar, Eldon shook that jar, even Mom and Dad shook that jar, and finally we had butter. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious and all, and I guess worth the effort. But oh what a let down to my high vintage-y/romantic ideals.

  In case you want to give making butter a try, here are the instructions.

  Oh, and even though it was not at all old-fashioned and dreamy, it was a very good work out.


Home Made Butter

The ingredients you need are as listed:

Cream (approximately two and half cups)
salt, to taste


Pour all your cream into a quart jar leaving space to shake the cream.

  Once you have been shaking for a while your cream should have thickened and have become considerably harder to shake.

After a bit more of shaking your cream will have formed into butter.

Pour out the butter milk and put your lump of butter into a bowl and cover with really cold tap water, chill for five to ten minutes then drain the water and work the butter by using the back of a spoon to squeeze out all the extra buttermilk. Salt your butter by sprinkling the salt over the butter and mix.

When the salt has been mixed in well you can shape your butter any way you like and store in the fridge for an hour before using, though if chilled too long you might have to soften it before it is able to be spread.

We enjoyed it on fresh, warm, homemade bread.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house?

 My sister and I share a bedroom and a small closet, not all our clothing actually fits into the closet, so we store quite a few clothes in a large basket.

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 

So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question?

I most definitely aim too high, even simple things like summer picnics, and birthday dinners show that.

 And no, I did not know Michelangelo's surname. 

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?

I am still a smidgeon to young to drink beer, not that I have any plans to once I'm old enough, and we don't cook anything with beer either.

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?

Hmm this doesn't really qualify but a few weeks ago my Mom, Diane, and I went to a birthday party that was lots of fun even though it was a rainy day.

5. The value of _________________________is greatly overrated.

I have to say that the value of  fitting in with everyone else is greatly overrated, and even though you probably have heard this hundreds of times, You don't have to try being someone that you're not.

6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?

 To a normal person (yes I'm saying I'm abnormal) this would not bother anyone, but me being sarcastic makes that when a waiter, or waitress asks you "are you finished with that" when your plate is completely empty is awfully annoying, I'd love to say "No thanks, I'd like to eat my plate too."

7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.

  This happens to be my very favorite poem.


    Cruelty of Cooks

If you itemize the terms of cooks,
You'll find we quite deceive our looks.
The things we do sound very cruel,
Like fighting a one sided duel.

We beat the eggs, whip the cream,
Blow pudding up with hot steam.
We mash potatoes, slice the bread,
Tear apart the cabbages head.

We chop the onion, grate the cheese,
Lemons and oranges get a squeeze.
We burn the sugar, gash the steak;
The celery's heart we often take.

We skin the tomatoes, peel the pear,
Scrape the carrots everywhere.
We scald the milk, freeze the salad,
Strain the tea that's really pallid.

We prick the unsuspecting pie,
And remove the baby potatoes eye.
And then if that's not enough,
We smother chickens and other stuff.

Goodness knows what else we do;
I'm really quite abashed aren't you?
We do all this and never cry
'Til we get onions in our eye.



8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm planning a birthday breakfast for my sister, Diane later this month. So far I know I'll be making chocolate chip pancakes and bacon, but still need to figure out the rest.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. In honor of the date...when were you last sent on a 'fool's errand'?

 Well apparently I'm blessed, because I can't think of any fool's errands that I have been on.

2. Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The Energizer Bunny, The Easter Bunny, Rabbit (Pooh's friend), White Rabbit (of Wonderland fame), or the Trix Rabbit...which of these 'famous' rabbits can you best relate to right now?

 I guess I feel like the Energizer Bunny, because I am getting lots of things done lately.

3. When did you last find yourself scrambling to get something done? Explain.

 After the weekends our house is sometimes " Less than spotless " and unfortunately an unexpected visitor came. Care to put two plus two together?

4. Last time you were up at the literal crack of dawn? Why? Last time you stayed up all night? Why?

 The last time I was up at the crack of dawn was spring last year when my sister and I walked up to our neighboring woods to pick wild flowers and dewy ferns before the bugs had a chance to beat us there.

 I can't remember ever staying up all night.

5. Crack a book, crack a bottle, crack a joke, crack an egg...which have you done most recently?

 I love baking a lot and those Mini Cheesecakes that I made yesterday needed an egg to be cracked.

6. What's your favorite part of a typical weekend? Tell us why that's so.

On a typical Saturday I get to help with Saturday cleaning, but towards the afternoon I'm busy doing puzzles, reading books, or crocheting, so obviously Saturday afternoons is my favorite part of the week.

7. What's something I'd find on a bookshelf in your home? Other than a book I mean!

 I'm afraid that there would be nothing but books, everyone in my family has a habit of collecting more and more books, so things like book ends, pictures, and other objects don't have a rightful place to live on the book shelves in our home. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Spring is finally springing, cows are having calves, the Canadian Geese have settled down, and lo and behold spring flowers are peeking through the ground, they are not budding but they might soon.

 Oh but I love Spring!

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

 

I love trying out new recipes and today I had the opportunity to make these gorgeous little cheesecakes. They were exceptionally fun to make, a little time consuming, but all in all fun.

 In case you all want to try your hand at making these, here is the recipe,

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Crust:

1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup cold butter
2 tbsp cold water

Filling:

2 packages (3 ounces each) of softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg (I used medium)
1 can cherry pie filling

In a small bowl mix together your flour, sugar, and cocoa, once combined mix in your butter with a fork (It makes mixing easier) until it is all crumbly. Gradually pour your water onto the mixture and mix with your fork until the dough is moistened, then roll up your sleeves and mix the dough with your hands until it forms a ball. Put your ball of dough on a cutting board, using your hands, form your dough into a log, and cut in half, then to achieve 24 equal balls of dough, cut each of those halves into six pieces and finally cut all twelve pieces in half, which makes 24 balls of dough. Shape each of those little balls into a liberally greased mini muffin pan.

 In a large mixing bowl, beat your cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the milk, vanilla, and your egg, beat until creamy then spoon about a tbsp of filling into each cup. Bake at 325º for 15 to 18 minutes or until the filling is set. Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes then place a towel over the top and gently flip your pan over to release your mini cheesecakes, if they don't all fall from the pan I find gently twisting them helps. Then finally garnish each cheesecake with a cherry, and store in the refrigerator.  This recipe makes 24 Mini Cherry Cheesecakes. They are bite sized, but if you're feeling ladylike you can get two, maybe three tiny bites from each one.

3's of Me

 3 Names I go by ....
 (Since my Mother has a problem remembering my sister's or my name, she often calls us these instead)

Frieda Beth
Betsy Sue
Isabella


3 Places I have lived ....
 (Though my family doesn't move often I have had the privilidge of living at these places)

A large and beautiful farmhouse
A log cabin in the Ozarks
A double-wide


3 Favorite drinks ....

(To me no other beverages even compare to my favorites)

Water
Hot Cocoa
Birch beer



3 Places I have been ....
 (I love traveling, even though I don't get to very often these are some of my favorite places that I have visited)

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
White Sands, New Mexico
Niagara Falls

3 Favorite foods ....
(To me nothing is quite like walking into the kitchen and seeing my favorite foods on the table)

Lasagna
Chicken potpie 
Beef Wellington

3 Things I look forward to ....
 (My life is tons of fun but these things are pretty much like the icing on my cake)

Christmas
My birthday
Back to school sales

3 Pets I have had ....
(These animals were all loved and adored by me when I was younger)

A Great Pyrenees, named Abby
A Beagle, named Trixie
And a cute little kitten, named Chocolate

Hodgepodging

 

1. This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Do you celebrate Easter in your home? What was your favorite Easter tradition as a child?

 My earliest memory of ever celebrating Easter is when I was four, my Mom had filled various cups with different colors of dye and we got to roll our eggs into them with spoons and wire whisks, by the time I actually cracked an egg open it was solid purple and I'm pretty sure I threw it away.

2. George Weinberg is quoted as saying, 'Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.' Agree or disagree? Share your own thoughts on the word hope.

 Hmm I have to say I agree, but to me the word hope has far to many levels of comprehension to even begin trying to explain.

3. Weigh in with a yay or nay on the traditional Easter candies. A solid milk chocolate bunny? Cadbury Creme Eggs? Peeps? Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs? Jellybeans? Coconut Cream Eggs? Of the candies listed, which one would you most like to find in your Easter basket?

 Not to sound positively selfish, but for the past three years I have been getting a foot long crackly chocolate bunny that takes about a month to eat I like it and all, but what my heart really yearns for is a box of Cadbury Creme eggs.

4. When did you last feel 'like a kid in a candy store'?

 That would definitely be last summer when my Mom, Diane, and I all went to " hilltop fruit market, home of America's Candy Land " the title pretty much sums up how awesome it is, there are rows after rows all filled with every candy you can think of, even though last summer was very adventurous, that was my favorite afternoon.

5. What's something you know you do differently than most people? Does that bother you? Does it bother other people?

I don't like to listen to music while I'm working, and I know that annoys some people.

6. Palm Springs CA, Palm Beach FL, or the PALMetto State...of the three mentioned, which sunny spot would you most like to visit right now? Which have you visited at one time or another?

 Ever since watching " I Love Lucy " I have always wanted to go to Palm Springs CA, so I'm choosing it for the place I'd want to be right now.

I have visited the Palmetto State twice. Love going to the beach there!

7. If you could change the length of a day would you lengthen it or shorten it? Tell us why.

  The days are fine to me, though I am quite frequently wishing that the days would be longer,at other times I think the day will never end, so I guess I'd just leave them the way they are.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

 Oh woe me, yesterday I had the most brilliant plans of starting a series of "Tasty Tuesdays" where I would obviously post food recipes in a weekly fashion, and unfortunately my whole family ate up all the "chosen" food before I even had a chance to take a picture.