This and That

 

Let's talk about English Muffin rings.  I had no idea these things even existed.  Do any of you have them and use them, and if you have them, do they help in the rising/baking process?

Where is a good place to purchase a wool pressing mat?

Let's talk pie.  Does anyone have a really good homemade butterscotch pie recipe?  I will be checking my cookbooks, but I really don't want to use a pudding to make it.  I'd like to try a homemade one.

I found another use for my home canned pizza sauce.  One day last week I made chicken parmigiana in the crock pot.  So easy and tasted awesome.

I sliced two organic chicken breasts in half, making 4 filets of chicken.  Dipped them into an egg beaten with salt and pepper, then dipped them in Italian panko, seared 3 minutes on each side in butter in a stove top pan.  Transferred them to the crockpot, poured a pint of home canned pizza sauce over it.  Put the crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours, then hand shredded mozzarella cheese over it at the end until melted.  Delish!

My 21 year-old daughter bought me a very cute camper blanket.  She also bought me a box of Christmas cards she found at the dollar store.  So cute!

I finally figured out what I can make for Mom for Christmas.  I will be digging out my sewing machine for part of the making.  I haven't gotten it out since I sewed goat coats for our baby goats.  I'll update as I work on it.  This should be fun.  I never figured out how to thread a bobbin with it, so I sure hope YouTube has some videos.  The book that came with it doesn't have directions.  Mom gave me the sewing machine, so I am thankful for that.  I still have her old one that I used for years until it just got to the point of not being useable.

Dad, Mom, me and my siblings with my Dad's horse Sugar.  We lived in the city, and his horse was kept at a barn nearby.  I remember us driving home one time and Dad road Sugar into town to our house.  The first kiddo on Sugar is me at the age of 2.  Such precious memories.

His service was Wednesday afternoon.  It was graveside.  It started with an honor salute, as Dad was in the Navy during the Korean war.  It was very cold and raining the entire service, but we shared many, many funny and happy stories (and we all had different ones).

By the way, not sure if I shared, but our daughter (who has our grandkids), was tested positive for covid.  She got pretty sick.  We are really worried about her family, as her husband has many health issues.

We plan to do a driveway drop today for my Mom and one daughter (meal).  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Pizza Sauce and other tidbits

I got 25# of tomatoes off my tables, but went out and picked more, bringing 22.5# more back in.

Pizza sauce is restocked now.

Somehow, in all that work of canning, I put chili in the crock pot for dinner, but did not have the time or energy to make my delicious buttermilk cornbread.

I made this spread the other day, and haven't made it since we had dairy goats I think.  The recipe is on my blog:  Easy Layered Dip.

This was at our local area Meijer the other day.  I sent it to a friend who was looking for wide mouth quart jars.  They also had other sizes, but no lids.

My indoor rosemary plant got a new pot.  My cilantro did as well, but you don't a picture of that one.  I sort of neglected it, so hopefully, it will spring back having been re-potted for winter.

I haven't had any time to do handiwork.  Hopefully soon, as the garden is starting to slow down a bit.  I brought in another dozen bell peppers, another 2# of jalapenos, a few ounces of hot banana peppers as well.

Random Tidbits ~ Pickled Red Onion

Pizza night was another huge success.  I froze the Einkorn dough for the first time last year (preparedness), and it worked out great.  We love the pizza sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes.  They make the best sauce so far.  I'll be sure to grow them again this summer.

I should have started a temperature afghan last spring.  With the hot days followed by this very strange and nasty winter, it would have been one interesting afghan.

I'm scanning my recipes for our oldest daughter.  Not that she's settling in her new apt. she wants to take advantage of her crock pot and cook good meals again.  I have a plan for that too.

I pickled red onion for the first time.  It'll be used for salads, although I am leery to eat fresh kale out of season, we can typically find organic in our grocery store.

Pickled Red Onions
Using organic/non-gmo ingredients, thinly slice enough red onion rings to fit in a wide mouth pint canning jar.

Add:
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
2-3 splashes of home canned hot sauce*
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. red wine vinegar

Shake.  Store in the refrigerator

*any hot sauce will work



My husband is really having a stressful time at his work place.  Even though the vote was like 170-something (no) to 50-something (yes), the higher up's are making them vote again on Thursday on the contract.  They are using their power to manipulate them into voting yes, and from what I see, threatening them in the process.  He, and the others, could surely use prayers, good mojo, and good thoughts right now.  It is a very hostile work environment.   Both mentally and physically.   

The only thing I can do to help him, is clean the house, cook good food, pack his lunch and coffee and listen.  I'm afraid this however, may affect our income (depending on the outcome).  Remember they went on strike one year, and he had to take work out of state?  We are preparing however we have big ticket jobs to get done this year no matter what.