Snow in April!

The calendar may say April 16th, but by the snow outside, it looks more like November!  Not wanting to go out into the snow today, I asked my husband to stop at the store and bring something home for me to make for dinner.  I know, asking him  to do something like that was asking for BIG TROUBLE, but I really did not want to go out, nor did I have any idea what to make.

I was mildly suprised when he came home with four small, very thin round steaks. Each was about a quarter of a pound.  Now, round steaks can be very good tasting, I just have a knack for overcooking them and  turning them into to shoe leather, so I rarely buy them myself.

So, here I was staring at these little steaks,  My husband of course, felt very proud of himself at bringing these home. As he was explaining to me why he chose these little morsels of red meat, I imagined him being the prehistoric hunter bringing food home to his family.

As I sat thinking of what I could possibly make with these to make them into the delectable morsels he imagined, I thought of beef stroganoff.  I thought I needed mushrooms for that, so it was out of the question.
 I decided on a beef stew made with my pressure cooker.  For those who do not use a pressure cooker, it is one of the best items to have in a kitchen.  The new ones are very safe, and cook foods in  a fraction of the time. Into the pressure cooker went a can of diced tomatoes, some celery, carrots, potatoes and onions along with the round steak which I cut into smaller pieces, minced garlic and beef broth.  While the stew was cooking, I made drop cheddar biscuits using my favorite White Lily self rising flour.

Forty five minutes after deciding what I wanted to make, we were sitting at the table eating dinner. My husband commented on how tender the round steak was.  Guess this one was a success!

Now, time to start thinking of my Easter baking!

Lunch at the feeder!

We have had birdfeeders in our front yard for the past 12 years. The feeder is in front of my living room window, where I can sit and watch the birds while I drink my morning coffee.  In the mornings, I can tell when it is really cold, the birds so not show up until the temp goes above zero.  

Since I feed the birds sunflower, I also have many squirrels that come to visit. I have tried many tricks to keep the squirrels off the feeders, the one that works the best is putting hot sauce all over the feeders.

This afternoon my dog started barking frantically, I knew by her bark that the hot sauce must have worn off, and the  squirrels were out there. I was sitting in another room, so I did not know for sure what the commotion was. But I figured from her bark that there must have been 2-3 of them feasting on my sunflower seeds.

When I went to the window, I saw the squirrels, at first only two- a black and a gray. Then, I spotted the third- an albino squirrel!  Last spring and fall I had thought I saw one in the woods, never could get close enough to get a good look.

Now, I’ve had my look!  I rushed to get my camera and get some pictures.  Not an easy feat with the dog barking all the while.  The dog could sense my excitement, no way was she going to settle down and be quite.

Here are some pictures I would like to share.  Please do not make copies, or send to others. Rather, link them to this page. Thanks!

Finally made an svg file!

Due to chronic pain issues, my baking has greatly diminished over the past two years.  Since last February I have found a new passion, my Cricut machine and Sure Cuts a Lot software.  I have spent many, many hours trying to learn to make svg files. I have downloaded Inkscape and Watched lots of videos. So, you can only imagine my Triumph when I finally learned how to make a file set.

I wanted to make some Valentine lollipop cards, for the grandkids. I needed to do something simple, that I could send them the parts, and they could glue them.  The first one I have completed is for the girls.

I also made the tag that can be used to write Happy Valentines Day on. Working on finding the way to get the file so I can share it with others. 

Life and Death/ Sadness and Joy

On Monday, January 10th, the baking world lost one of the last remaining old time bakers, my mother in law. She was one of those bakers, that learned how to bake on an old wood stove, of which temperatures were told by the way the heat felt on your hands, not an oven thermometer.  Water had to pumped from the hand pump, and heated on the stove. The cream was the best, as it came from the cows that had recently been milked. There were no mixers in those early days, just hand beaters and wooden spoons.  As we fret about the temperatures of the ingredients we use, and the dough we bake, they did not even have refrigeration in those early days!

And yet, this woman learned to turn out the best cream puffs, kringles and pies I have ever tasted.  Her baked goods were prized at many bake sales and church meetings, many people ate her pies on a Monday summer evening at Snowshoe Baseball in Lake Tomahawk. 

Like most woman born in the early 1900's, the boxed cake mix was a blessing to her.  There were no bakeries around, no fast food, and the guys always had to be fed.  I sit back and think of just what a time saver that must have been for them, and what it treat it was if they could actually afford to buy one!

She will surely be missed, as she was so loved by her family and friends. Always willing to help and lend a hand.  She was also one of the kindest woman I have ever had the pleasure to know.

Death is a sad thing for those who are left behind, as we mourn our loss of the loved one. But, in that death is also the joy and belief in knowing she is now free!  Free from pain and sickness, free from the boundaries of our humanness. It is up to the ones left, to carry on in joy, the memories of those who have gone before us.  Time heals our wounds, and it is in each other that we find support to carry us through.

When she was first became very sick a few weeks agom I sent my husband and daughter to the hospital, while I stayed home and made supper for us and my brother in law. While I was doing this, I had the thought that it was the thing she would do, send others to make sure things were taken care of, while she stayed behind to do the cooking.  While she was in the hospital, I also made a big casserole in the slow cooker for all of us to be fed, while there visiting her.  It is in those little things, that I realize how much I am carrying on her memories.  I only hope I can continue, and keep up her baking tradition!

Zoe posted an almond chiffon cake on her Zoe Bakes website today, which will be so fitting for our family get together tomorrow night. My mother in law really enjoyed almond, and chiffon and angel food cakes were some of her favorites.

In closing, let the BAKING BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ten Days

As I sit here tonight, I realize Christmas is ten days from today.  I have a tree up, a few decorations, other than that, not much else done.  Since we are celebrating the extended family Christmas on Jan 1, I do not feel as rushed as usual. After all, I have an extra week!

All the snowstorms of the past weekends, have also put a damper on my shopping.  Hard to get to the shopping malls!  Last weekend most of the stores I would normally go to were closed.

It's also very different having my youngest in college.  No more high school concerts, madrigal dinners, etc.  We did go to her college concert two weeks ago, last weekend we went to the Charity Ball at her school.  So, my holiday is now taking a different direction.

In the catholic church, this is the season of Advent, the time to prepare for the birth of Christ.  I have been spending time going more inward, and using this time as a time of spiritual reflection. Advent is a time of rebirth, and also the beginning of the new church year.

My wish is for all to take some time during this busy season to reflect on our lives, and how we can improve our spiritual self.  Spend less money, and instead spend more time with others. When walking into a busy store during this time, take a second to smile at someone.  There are many,many lonely and sad people, who do not get the chance to see a smile. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Great site

For all those who have a cricut, this is a great site for files!

Multi Tasking

I had baked some puff pastry cheesecake filled turnovers this morning. Unfortunately I was not paying very close attention- and they burned.  This got me to thinking about multi tasking.

As these were baking, I was also watching Fons and Porter quilting show on TV.  Had my computer opened to read my emails and check facebook, and knitting while reading the email message. All the while drinking my coffee!  Not suprised I burned something.

On Fons and Porter, they were making an elaborate log cabin Christmas quilted top.  Because of the log cabin strips, there was lots of stopping and starting.  For those of us who have tried quilting, you know how exact your seams need to be. I was startled when I heard one of the woman say you can make this while baking your Christmas cookies!  Even a TV show expects us to be multitasking!

Multitasking used to be a women's thing.  With the advent of technology, it now seems to be a dilemma of men and also our children.  Focusing on just one thing has become an actual problem for many.  Studies have found that those of us who think we are accomplishing so much in a day, are actually getting less done than if we gave our attention to one thing at a time.

As the holiday season approaches, I would like to challenge my readers to spend some time each day giving complete attention to just one thing.  Whether it is talking to our loved ones, making our cookies, doing our sewing, even when shopping.  Shutting off the phones, TV and computers for a half hour a day, may make a difference!