January 17, 2014

Random 5 Friday

Random 5 Friday



Our little bantam, Butterscotch, laid her first egg yesterday! That was a long time waiting.

Dental work is so discouraging in my family where bad teeth are in the gene's. I no more than recovered from last weeks dental procedure, and an old filling fell out. Ugh.

I usually prefer salty snacks to sweet ones.  But when I am standing in line at the grocery store, 9 times out of 10, I leave with a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup :)

I love my job, my employers, and my co-workers. It is so enjoyable going to work every day. I know how lucky and fortunate I am to be able to say this.

Vacation plans are in the works. The thoughts of warmer places are helping keep us warm. Even though it's more than a month away, it's still nice to know that it's coming!

Happy Friday Ya'll!



For todays link up with Nancy, click here

January 16, 2014

My Baking Tips

My mom has followed several of my recipes and will complain that her cookies didn't turn out like mine. "What do you do? What's your secret?" Really no secrets, but I thought I would put together a list of things I do when baking that I believe produce the best products! This is relating mainly to cookies, but the same applies to any of my baking.



1. Eggs. I always have my eggs at room temperature before adding them to a recipe. If you forgot to get your eggs out ahead of time, gently place the eggs in a bowl of warm water for about fifteen minutes. 

2. Eggs again.  In my baking I always use large eggs. Save the smaller eggs for breakfast.

3. Butter. I only use real butter. No margarine. Ever. 

4. Vanilla. Only the real stuff. No imitation flavoring. Ever. I used to always have Mexican Vanilla, but my grandparents aren't doing the snow bird thing anymore, so I've been trying other brands. But, just use the real stuff. If it says "Imitation", it's not worth the time.

5. Baking soda/Baking powder. Don't let the stuff expire. Keep it fresh. If you can't remember, or aren't good at checking dates, just buy new every year when you start your holiday baking!

6. Sugar. I only buy Cane sugar. In my stores there is only one brand of cane sugar, I will buy nothing else.

7. Flour. Pick a brand and stick with it. I don't know if one brand is better than another, but I believe they have their differences. I stick with my brand, because I know the results I get with it.

8. Ovens. Know your oven. Everyone's oven is different, and you may need to compensate your baking time depending on your oven. Not sure? Get an oven thermometer and find out how exact your oven temperature is.

9. Baking sheets. My cookie sheets are "air bake" sheets. I believe in them.

10. Cooling racks. Own a set. Depending on the recipe, you don't always want your cookie staying on that hot baking sheet to long. Once your transfer your cookies to a rack, the sheets will cool a little faster which allows you to prep the pan sooner with more cookies!

January 10, 2014

Random 5 Friday


I think we are all going a little stir crazy this winter, and want to stretch our legs when the weather permits. 
Even our four legged friends.

As many people do, we plan on some year soon spending our winters in a climate warmer than Wisconsin. We do like snow though, just looking for milder... Tennessee or Carolina's maybe?

I spend more time than I should looking at property for sale. Places that are not realistic at all. 
Like this one.

I had to get a tooth pulled this week. Not sure what was more brutal, 
that or the recent temperatures.

Truckin' Man went back on the road this week. He took the week of Christmas and New Years off.... Then Monday the rig wouldn't start due to the temps. Tuesday the place he was delivering was closed due to the weather. Wednesday... finally, on the road again!

Linking up with Nancy @ A Rural Journal

January 9, 2014

Honey Oatmeal Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips

It's time to "Fill the Cookie Jar"! This month Cynthia gave the group a couple of options, one of which was "healthy".  I know I am not alone in trying to start the new year off with "healthy" goals in mind, so that was the cookie choice I went with. The first two recipes were NOT to my liking. In fact, one batch went directly to the chickens!  The second batch, Truckin' Man rejected as well, but I kept them around, they will work for dunking some day when the cookie craving has hit.

Thankfully, the third recipe was the charm! I found this recipe hidden in a stack of recipe newsletters that my Gram had saved from the late 70's to early 80's. Since Gram had saved them all these years, I new that there had be some amazing recipes tucked away in them. I found several little gems in themI did find several little gems. You may hear about more of them in the future :)

What I have brought for the "healthy" cookie is a Honey Oatmeal Cookie with Dark Chocolate. It may not be the healthiest cookie ever, but I liked the twist with the honey. And, I added some dark chocolate in, that's healthy right? And to kick it up another level, dried cherries! These were delicious. They were more "cakey" then I typically make my cookies, but all the flavors made them so enjoyable.



If you are interested in joining Fill The Cookie Jar group on facebook, fill out the form that can be found at Fill The Cookie Jar. Each month we bake a different theme for the cookie.
We bake, we share and we enjoy our cookies!



Honey Oatmeal Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips

1 cup honey
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup dried cherries  (raisins or dried cranberries would be great too!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large mixing bowl, cream honey, butter and eggs.  Cream until light in color.  In medium bowl, add both flours, baking soda, salt, and baking powder; whisk together.  Add dry ingredients to honey mixture, mixing until fully incorporated.  Add oatmeal and vanilla; stir.  Fold in chocolate chips and dried cherries.

Use a medium cookie scoop and drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are light golden. Cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Enjoy :)

Sharing this at:
Weekend Potluck
Finding the Pretty and Delicious 
In and Out of the Kitchen  
Treasure Box Tuesday

January 5, 2014

Choo Choo Cabbage and Ham Soup

My bestie gave me this recipe a couple months ago when we met up for a fun day out by the Mississippi River. We were checking out the swan migrations, and having a fun girls day away. As always, she brought me lots of fun foodie gifts from the big city, but this time she also brought a recipe for me to try. One of her co-workers had brought some soup in for lunch, and everyone loved it so much the lady had to follow up by bringing the recipe in! This recipe is based on a very popular soup served at a restaurant in Minnesota. 

This is a great soup for a cold winter day.  It will warm your bellies, and we all need that with the weather that has been hitting most of the country!

Be sure to enter my drawing for the chance to try Almondina.  Click here for your chance!



Choo Choo Cabbage and Ham Soup

2 Tbsp butter
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 lb cabbage, shredded ( I used red cabbage )
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 qt chicken stock
2 cup ham, diced
1/4 c butter
6 Tbsp flour
3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsp salt
Tobasco to taste
1/3 cup shredded parmesan

Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large pot.  Once melted, add onions and celery. Saute for several minutes. Add cabbage, red bell pepper; continue to saute.  When vegetables are tender, stir in ham.

In small pan, heat cream to hot, but not boiling. Meanwhile, in another small pan start the roux.  Melt 1/4 cup butter. Add flour, stirring continuously. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, continuing to stir.  Add cream to cabbage mixture, stirring constantly.  When soup is just below boiling point, and the roux one teaspoon at a time, while stirring. Add pepper, salt, tobasco, and parmesan cheese.

Garnish with additional shaved parmesan cheese if desired.

Enjoy!


Sharing this at:
Treasure Box Tuesday
Weekend Potluck 
In and Out of the Kitchen 

January 1, 2014

Almondina Feature and Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to try a cookie that is new to me, Almondina. These are a healthy cookie, with a crisp crunch. Honestly, at first, I was hesitant. I am used to the sinfully thick chewy cookies.  Well, Almondina has won my cookie loving heart!  These cookies come in so many flavors, there is one to fit any craving you have. I enjoyed many of these with a cup of coffee, and some I tried with a thin spread of marscapone cheese, and that folks.... was delicious! I wanted to try some crumbled on top of a bowl of ice cream, but .... it has just been to cold to have ice cream in my part of the world! But, trust me, I think it would be a great way to top your ice cream!



I can't remember the last time I made a New Years Resolution, but we have made them this year. More exercise, and healthier eating. Almondina is a perfect snack to help us along.  The cookies are:
  • Crunchy, addictive, healthful
  • Free of cholesterol, coloring and preservatives
  • Made with no added fat or salt
  • Low in calories – only 30 per slice
  • Proudly made in America
  • Kosher and Pareve (non dairy)

It is hard for me to pick a favorite flavor, but I am torn between the Chocolate Cherry, and the AlmonDuo which is loaded with pistachios! You need to try these!

(This picture is just a preview of the flavors offered!)
I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are my own and are not indicative of the opinions of Almondina.

Check out their Store Finder to see what stores in your area stock Almondina. You will also see that you can buy the cookies on line, if you live in the boondocks like I do, and don't have a lot of shopping options near by.

Almondina is offering one of my readers the same sampler package that I just enjoyed. Enter below to win some of Grandma Dina's Almondina cookies.  Follow the rafflecopter to get your entries, please give it a minute to load. Entries will be accepted through January 11th, 12am. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn.


December 28, 2013

Top 10 of 2013

I've seen some other blogs sharing their most popular recipes of the past year, which made me curious. What were the most popular recipes I had shared? 
I pulled these recipes together to share with you in a year end recap. 
I'm now feeling the urge to make some Baked Ham Balls, and some Buttery Garlic Ranch Pretzels!






















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