Pioneer Woman at Heart

Not much going on in the way of Christmas countdown, other than trying new recipes lately.  I am borrowing books from the library to do this fun research too (other than one recipe). I picked up one more advent gift, and it was a very good price.  A hand towel and hot pad set.  Yes, it's store made and not handmade, but it was perfect for an advent gift (useful and inexpensive ).  I'm working on the next gift, and it will be handmade. I am still trying to locate stores that offer paper bags.  I have plans to use them to wrap the advent gifts, but it's hard to find paper bags anymore.  I even visited one Wal-mart to find that brown craft paper on a roll.  Nope. Nothing.  I'll keep looking when I am out and about.   New Recipes Tried and my very first fruit cake! Butterscotch Shortbread.  I was very much intrigued to try this recipe, simply for the "butterscotch" in the title.  I made the recipe.  It sliced very nicely too. ...

I adapted this family recipe with homegrown, organic ingredients.  The original recipe is from my own Mom, and called for "shortening" so feel free to use organic shortening if you can't find real lard or process your own lard. The crunch is also a thin dessert.  It is not thick and will go quickly, as it is so good.   Rhubarb Crunch 1 cup flour 1 tsp. Baking powder 2 Tbsp. lard (or shortening) 1/2 tsp. salt Cut lard into dry ingredients.  Add 1 beaten farm fresh egg.  Pat into the bottom of a 13 x 9 in. baking pan.  Scatter 2-3 cups of diced rhubarb over the crust. Mix: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup butter Cut butter into mixture and sprinkle over the rhubarb.  Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes.

The kids were wondering if I was trying to speak a new language when I mentioned "succotash" for dinner.  I have never made succotash before, so I was thrilled to try a new recipe of sorts.  I however, did not put it over fish.  I put fish in it.  I call this dish

Years ago, we discovered a recipe that was a family favorite.  However, it contains three cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and one of celery soup.  Needless to day, I have not made it in many, many years. Yesterday I made the recipe, and used homemade soups, organic chicken, and organic tortilla chips (which were made with non-gmo oils, believe it or not).  It took a few days to make my soups ahead of time, but it was worth it.  Here is the recipe.