Holiday Meals

Christmas Eve Dinner for Ten

Fuji Apple Cocktails
Beer
Meritage

Polynesian Meatballs
Plum Spicy Chicken
Kasamati Rice

Korean Salad
Mandarin Orange Jello

Sweet Potato, Orange, Almond, Cranberry Cake
Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango



Christmas Day Dinner

Beer
Wine

Kielbasa, Lieberwurst, Ham
Fancy mustard selection
Red Cabbage
Mashed Potatoes and Chicken Gravy
Roasted carrots, parsnips, and beets

Yule Cake
Peach Kuchen

Both meals were really good.

Another Gift with Grandma

Randy and I made this lamp for Jacob and Brandy from and old meat grinder that was my grandma's.  I had the thing for nearly thirty years and finally figured turning it into a lamp was a good idea.  Jacob really likes it.  Ideally it was to go into his kitchen, but it is a little too big for his counters. 

I explained that the grinder is still in working condition so in the event that global destruction occurs they should flee with the meat grinder in case they find a squirrel or rat to eat. 

Valances by Grandma and Me

My grandma Beulah, made these wonderful potholders a long time ago.  I love them and had been pondering how to best display them.  I finally thought I would turn them into valances.  I found some all cotton vintage style dish towels that I cut in half.  I sewed the raw edges and then I tied the potholders on.  I am really happy with the results.

Mom got all misty eyed when she saw them and thought my grandma would have been pleased that I appreciate the potholders.

Another Cake

For my dear friend Maripat's birthday, I made a chocolate strawberry cake.  The cake was strawberry with strawberry filling, coated in chocolate ganache, and topped with strawberries dipped in ganache.  I added a cup of pureed strawberries in place of the water in the cake mix which gave it a nice mauve color.  I think next time I might not puree the strawberries so finely.  It was a lovely cake.  I hope it tasted good.  I know the strawberry filling was super!
Maripat said she never had "spring" on her birthday.  Birthday's are a season that last as long as they need to.  Strawberries and chocolate never go out of season.   

First Steps

I have been on the planning committee for an Advent Tea at our church.  Last year I attended one of these events in Saline, MI and I had a transformative experience.  I attended the event feeling some what empty and came out full and satisfied with the all the Holy Spirit's mysterious goodness.  I told members at my church about the gratitude I felt at hearing about the TRUE message and meaning of Christmas.  As it turns out, others had similar experiences at different churches and before long we were planning to have a tea at St. Stephen's. 

As it was our first year, and taking our first steps through an event of this kind, I has the added responsibility of cooking soup, setting and preparing desserts for three tables.  Anyway, I had been conceptualizing a cake all week long  a Cranberry Almond Orange Cake. 

There is fresh cranberries in the orange almond cake, orange buttercream frosting, and a decoration of dried cranberries and sliced almonds.  I baked the over sized cake in a springform pan.  I liked the size of it.  I also made an Orange cake with orange curd and chocolate ganache, and a gingerbread trifle.

The night was aglow with love; the Word there among us.   Every action was an act of prayer.

Sometimes prayers are awkward and and lack eloquence - yet they are still beautiful, like a baby's first steps.

Treasure Under my Feet

 While out thrift shopping with my sister we spotted this beautiful rag rug at the Faded Rose in Clinton.  My sister bought it for me for Christmas.  I LOVE IT!!!  I've never seen another rug made this way.  It is knitted, maybe with needles or with a little loom.  I marvel just thinking about how the maker pieced the small fabric scraps together before even knitting the strips.

There were several big holes and frayed parts (the reason why it was just ten dollars), but I was eager to repair it and now you can hardly tell there was any significant damage. 

Originally I was going to put it in my kitchen or at my front door, but for now it is beside my bed cushioning my feet when I rise in the morning.

Why did Spring Girl Cross the Road?

To get to the chicken on the other side.

 Last Saturday Randy called me outside to witness a chicken strutting down the sidewalk.  I guess this little guy wanted to visit the city.  I was surprised, but then I wasn't.  I like to think of our location as the Axis of Eccentricity.  I'm not sure if this is an exaggeration . . . I AM sure stranger things happen in other parts of the world, but our little corner seems to be a magnet for the peculiar.  This isn't always good, but it sure makes life interesting. 

Anyway, the little Bantam Rooster was a curious sight for squirrels, cats, and people.  I knew he wasn't safe.  I felt kinda confident in chasing him because I love the chickens at the farm.  I'm teased about this by all the workers. They think I can talk chicken.

After chasing the little guy awhile I cornered him and scooped him up pretty easily.

  He was really friendly and even enjoyed being talked to and petted.  I took him over to some friends, but the large hens were literally pecking out his feathers.

 I ended up taking him to the farm where I work.  I love the chicken yard when it is full of produce.  Watching the chickens eat squash has been a treat.   They bowl out the butternut and pumpkins like artisans. 

 The farm cats are never impressed and rarely curious.

 Here is Mr. Fancy Feathers doing much better.  Even though he is smaller than all the other chickens he is holding his own.  I also call him F3 aka Feather Footed Fowl. 

It was brought to my attention that he might have been owned to fight.  I think he is too docile to be a fighter.  I swear he knows who I am.  He stares at me when I talk to him and he places himself where I will be sure to notice him.  I think he is surprised by how he is drawn to me.  A chicken is enamored by me.

Kim said HE found me, I didn't find him.  This may be strangely true.

Little Happenings

 Not sure what to eat?  You know where to find and answer!  I love letter shaped green beans.

 Kale Chips

Pre-heat oven to 350.  Wash and dry kale.  Rub kale with olive oil and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until kale is crispy.  Serve with vinegar.

 27 lb butternut type squash baby.  I love looking like a farmer!!!!  I took a smaller baby home and made squash lasagna.  It is so tasty.

 Super Storm Sandy caused sleet for us folks in SE Michigan.  It was a freaky day to work on the farm.  I am so happy I was there to mark the event.  I think of Super Storm Sandy as a math equation. 

S cubed plus moon equals God is our help in times of trouble.

It's a treat to see Tricksters.  Jake made Dominic's costume.

 My buffet decorated for Autumn. 

Honey comb jar, Roman harvest muse, two year old pumpkin vine (grown by Gwen), old German beer stines, wicker cornucopia filled with farm produce,

 my new lovely antique crocheted buffet runner (love it!!!!), and sweet potato pecan pie.

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

Serves 6 - 8

2 lbs or 1.5 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (boiled or roasted)

3 eggs

1/4 c. butter

3/4 c. light corn syrup

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/8 t. salt

1 c. pecans ( a half cup of the pecans a can be chopped and mixed into filling or all of the pecans can be kept whole)

1 - 9" unbaked pie shell 

Cook potatoes until tender and mash.  Cool slightly. Pre-heat oven to 350.   Add all ingredients except 1/2 cup of whole pecans.  Pour into pie shell and decorate with remaining whole pecans.  Bake 1 hour.

This pie doesn't try to imitate pumpkin pie.  No spices are added to mask the lovely sweet potato flavor.

Yummy pie.