I'VE BEEN MISSED

Thank you for the messages and emails from my wonderful followers who have missed me. I don't know how much I'll be back but for right now I'm here.

Life has been busy. It started this past summer with my grandparents returning from Florida. I try to visit every day, and maybe cook them a treat sometimes. Today It was pumpkin pie with real whipped cream(yum) I don't have any pictures to show you but I do have a recipe.

First I cut up a very large pumpkin I grew myself(I'm so proud of my big pumpkins) I peeled and cut the pumpkin in chunks. Then I boiled it in just a little water till it was fork tender. Then I blended it until it was smooth with a stick mixer. ( I got 14 pints of cooked pumpkin from one pumpkin, which I froze)

Then I mixed: 2cups pumpkin,  2 eggs,  1 cup brown sugar, 2 Tlbs. flour,  1/2tsp salt,  2 1/2tsp pumpkin pie spice, 12oz milk.    Pour in a prepared pie shell,                                                             Bake 450 for 10min, then turn down to 350 and cook another 55 min.  This recipe makes one pie I doubled it for two. One was a little deeper and took about ten minutes more to cook.

The end result was really good, plus I've got more pumpkin in the freezer, maybe I'll make some pumpkin chip cookies next.

Well ladies I need to go get wood in the fire as it's suppose to be down to 17 degrees this evening. The joys of living in Northern Maine but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Hugs for now 

Janice

                             Fall Has arrived

Good afternoon, It's been awhile but I'm back. 

The last post I did was almost a month ago and I think I made the statement I was almost done canning. Well I lied (grin) The fresh fruits and veg. just keep showing up on my doorstep. How does that saying go? Get all you can and can all you get!

Today I'm doing some apples my Aunt brought me. Thank you Aunt Joy.  I've started with a batch of applesauce and apple bread. When I get some more time I will be canning the rest. I also canned apple butter a couple weeks ago and it came out great.

Homemade applesauce

 Since my last post all the turkeys have gone except three. There souls have gone to a peaceful place because they led a good life, but there body's have gone in the freezer.(smile) We will be having one for supper tonight.

I've also been decorating for fall. I just love this time of year with all the fall colors, cool nights with a cozy fire. The leaves on the mountain are changing, and my pumpkins weigh about 40lbs.

This afternoon I'm going to a baby shower. I like the fall theme so I've made a diaper cake for fall. It's a little costly but so easy to make. This one took about 60 step 1 diapers. 

I just roll each one and wrap with an elastic. Three rows on the bottom, two on the second and one on the top tier. Secure each row with a large elastic. Then I cover the elastics with ribbon secured with small safety pins, and decorate. Real easy and such a presentation.

Well I hope everyone is enjoying these beautiful fall days. I need to head out now as I have a baby shower to attend.

                                        Hugs

                                    Janice

Fall Is Just Around The Corner

Good afternoon. Well the evenings are getting cool and the leaves are starting to change. Summer is slowly coming to an end, even though I hate to see it end (So do the dogs) I do love fall. Our leaves are beautiful here the end of Sept, and all the pumpkins and fall decor. The smell of the wood stove on a cold evening. I guess I can let go of summer.(grin)

Otis enjoying maybe the last weekend at the lake

Soon they'll be playing in snow instead of water

Some more of my canning

My canning is also coming to an end. I still have hot pepper jelly to do, applesauce, canned apples and apple jelly. This picture is just one week. I have that much more again already put away.

What is fall to you?

Julie over at "Ourlittleredsaltbox" is having a fall giveaway. I just love all the prim things she makes, so stop on by and tell her your favorite thing about fall to get your name in for her drawing.

                                  Hugs

                                        Janice

Canning Season

It's that time of year when I get busy early in the morning, then at the end of the day I'm really ready for bed. "Its Canning Season"

First  I wanted to show you how big the turkeys are getting. I'm thinking maybe 2 or 3 more weeks

Turkeys are growing so fast

 Thank goodness for local farmers and friends, because the turkeys and chickens are doing a job on my garden.

Turkeys enjoying pumpkins and squash

I think I chase the birds out of here at least 10 times a day(smile)

The cucumbers look really good until you take a good look at the cumbers themselves

And see this. The turkeys enjoy them

Like I said everyone has been very giving. I have been able to save some from my garden but what I didn't was given to me. I've canned carrots, pickles, wax beans, green beans, garlic and rosemary jelly, raspberry jelly, strawberry jelly. I've froze corn, blueberries, strawberries, and fiddleheads.

I need to head out as I have to go pick up a pail of cucumbers from a friend.

Happy canning.

                                    Hugs Janice

Getting ready for the weekend

Rain, Rain, and boy do we need it. I've been spending the day getting ready to go camping with family in Harvey New Brunswick.

I've been cooking, packing, cleaning, and did I mention cooking(smile)

My niece requested fudge so that's done. I also made mini blueberry cakes and these chocolate covered saltines. They are so easy and they are wonderful. The kids will love them.

You just arrange your crackers on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

Melt 1 cup of butter, with 3/4 cup of brown sugar. Boil for 3 min.Then pour over the crackers. Put in the oven on 350 for 5 min.

Sprinkle 12 oz of chocolate chips over the top. wait 5 minutes for them to melt then spread with a knife. Let cool until chocolate hardens. Break into pieces and enjoy.

Saltine Crackers

Brown sugar and butter

Finished crackers

 This afternoon Julie (From Our Little Red SaltBox) stopped by and brought me a case of peaches. I have another friend going to pick blueberries tomorrow. She's bringing me home a box full. So I think Monday I will be canning and making jam. Never a dull moment here.

The peaches are beautiful. Thank you Julie

Well that's all for today. I'm heading out to go camping with my umbrella in hand. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

                                 Jelly and Basil

Good afternoon, and a very warm afternoon. I was suppose to take the dogs to the vet, but the only car I had has no air conditioner, to hot for the baby's today so it gave me a little extra time for a post. A couple days ago I came across a recipe for Garlic, Rosemary jelly. I think it was on Fayes blog "The Blessed hearth" I'm sure it's wonderful but I came across one in the Ball Blue Book and I had all the ingredients.

Do you have a Ball Blue Book? If you don't you need to get one. I've got three, one is very old. I believe you can pick them up at Walmart.

Anyway "jelly" I think I'm going to eat mine with cream cheese on crackers. It came out so good.

Garlic Rosemary Jelly

 1/4 pound garlic                   hand full of rosemary

2 cups vinegar                        5 cups sugar

                        1 pouch liquid pectin

Roast garlic for 10 minutes, peel, and puree with rosemary and 1/2 cup vinegar. Combine garlic 1 1/2 cup vinegar and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to a hard boil for one minute. Ladle hot jelly into jars, adjust caps and process 10 minutes.

Fresh Basil And Jelly

 I also picked a little basil today. I now have the basil in the dehydrator. I just love my herbs.

Dehydrating Herbs

Well that's what I've been up to today and of coarse tending to the animals(smile)

Now it's time to start thinking about supper before my husband gets home. Last night we had new potatoes, new beans and pork chops. I think tonight I will combine it all into a cassarole with lots of cheese, and this time of year we always have sliced cucumbers and tomatoes out of the garden. Guess it's time for me to go I'm getting hungry. 

Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

                                              Hugs

                                             Janice

 I'm Back

Sorry I've been gone so long. It's been a busy summer, we've been tenting every weekend, there's been reunions canning, helping my grandparents, and the fair.

First of all check out these turkeys. They are getting so big, and they've been a lot of fun. They are a lot different than the old hens. They follow me every where. When I pull in the yard they come running. The downfall they poop all over the yard, and it's way cheaper to just go to the grocery store and buy a turkey, but this way I know where my food is coming from and I know I'm able to raise my own.

JUST CHECK OUT THAT FACE!!

 Then there was the fair last week. I did O.K this year. I entered 24 items(canning and baking) I came home with 18 ribbons!!!!!

RIBBONS FOR 2012

RIBBONS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. 65 IN ALL

 This family gathering is actually a cousins party. It's held in New Brunswick at a lake, the kids play games, do crafts, and we eat!! anyone who knows me knows I like to eat. This year there were 100 people at the cousins party. My husband has a rather large family(smile)

I DON"T THINK ALL THE FOOD WAS EVEN ON THE TABLES YET

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH SOME OF HER CLAN

Well that's a little of what I've been up to. I hope to get back on track and start posting more often. Tomorrow I plan to do some canning, so stay tuned(grin)

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening.

                                               Hugs

                                              Janice