Pioneer Woman at Heart

For the first time in a long, long, long time, I woke up to a day where I had nothing on the list that could be done (for one reason or another).  Rain arrived, and there was heavy cloud cover, making me feel even lazier than ever.  Oh, I could have attacked some deep cleaning with gusto, but I didn't.  I got a few recipes written on cards, but boy I felt lazy dazy.  Maybe I deserved a day off and it just arrived? Well, I eventually found something I could do.   I mean they are taking up half of a kitchen table right now. About the bread. . . .

Don't throw tomatoes at me, ha ha!  I spent the Labor Day weekend laboring in the tomato patch(s). Hubby and I had to re-tie the 100-some tomato plants and finally finished them up yesterday.  By the time we picked tomatoes, it was too hot to remain out there, and too late to start a batch of anything with tomatoes. I tried a new recipe to see if it would be a different spin on a holiday treat for gatherings.  I lined a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper, then lightly oiled it.  You could use non-stick spray if you prefer.  I didn't use much at all really.   Pour 1 cup of Jack Daniel's Whiskey over 2 pounds of sifted powdered sugar and stir.

Hubby's birthday is coming up soon, and has put in a request for flourless brownies, topped with organic vanilla ice cream, and of course whiskey butterscotch sauce.   I whipped up a batch of sauce before the weekend, so I could have that ready.  Not sure what the birthday dinner will entail just yet, but I'll be guessing he'll ask for tacos.  Maybe. 

I have found yet another way to use sorghum molasses - flavored butter for winter squash, sweet potatoes, or carrots.  If you don't want the extra brown sugar on your acorn squash this winter, it is a nice substitute.

The bad news? This is the last of the tomatoes that I picked the other day. The good news? 

Sunday we finally sat around and simply enjoyed ourselves.  We tossed around the idea of going bowling, but the more we relaxed and took time for ourselves, the more we wanted to simply hang out (in pajamas no less). It's hard for me to sit around and do nothing, which was what we told Mom to do (she had another ER visit) for the next few days.  I was reading through a library book, on handmade gifts and decided to not let the year end without a "bang."  I went to the kitchen and made Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce.

(the beautiful snowflake kitchen towel was part of a Christmas gift from my Mom) Here we go again.  Cough, cold, and flu season.  However, I used my youngest daughter's technique with Google ("no time to shop" but it's really no way to get out of the driveway,  and the fact I need to make it with what I have on hand and stay warm inside), and came up with a cough syrup recipe.  We got dumped with snow, and today by afternoon the temps will be that glorious -20° to -40F.  Even banks closed today.  So....  (don't forget to click on "read more")