Wednesday's Words

Some days while helping others, we learn of ourselves.

Our travels are not always the voyages of discovery 

we say we seek.

Often they are rituals of reassurance.

Linda Ellerbee, Take Big Bites

When I came home tonight from work, I took a moment to read a bit, for my own pleasure. I found the 2 lines shared above.

They made me realize that we seek reassurance as we continue to live, to be on track. And not because we are not on track. A new voyage begins each new day.

As always, thanks for taking a moment to stop by.
I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments.

key words:  self discovery, reassurance, truth

Hearth and Soul #71

Hello everyone, once again it is time for the Hearth n Soul blog hop. Another week has passed, another week of healthy meals. We are in slow food mode here, with darkness at dinner time. Time for stew and soup and homemade breads. What are you serving your family?

With that, I thank you for joining us and sharing your ideas and recipes, philosophy and wonderful new discoveries. Food from your hearth, food for your soul. I continue to learn something new and wonderful each week. And I look forward to seeing what you have been cooking, creating and enjoying this week.

If you are new, please read the Hearth and Soul mission statement page which includes the rules for linking up.

If you have any questions, just drop me a line at MomsSundayCafe@gmail.com.

Now before we "go to the hop!" here are a few links that caught my eye from last week:

Chocolate Tahini Spread


Swedish Meatball Knockoff (Ikea)


Roasted Brussels Sprouts


Baked Chick Peas



Kale and Chops


I would like to take this moment to invite you to visit the linked post before your own, as well as the linked post after yours. It will be fun as well as interesting to visit the other links and say hello. 

And now on behalf of all the co-hosts,

April of The 21st Century Housewife,

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen,

Penny of Penniless Parenting  

Alea at Premeditated Leftovers,

and me

Melynda at Mom's Sunday Cafe , welcome to the Hearth and Soul hop!

I am sharing an older post, but a delicious one! Saucepan Oatmeal Cake.

What will you be sharing? I can't wait to see.

Wednesday's Words

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, 


places to play in and pray in, 


where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

John Muir 

 

I use to walk through Muir Woods when I lived in California as a younger girl. To this day, those times in the woods with the fresh air, beautiful trees and walking are some of my most favorite childhood memories. 

I have been sharing bread with family and friends for years, this quote seemed especially appropriate to highlight Wednesday's Words.

As always thanks for taking a moment to stop by.

I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments.

this post is shared with:
gallery of favorites @ premeditated leftovers

key words:  bread, specialty breads, homemade breads

Hearth and Soul #70

Hello everyone, once again it is time for the Hearth n Soul blog hop. Another week has passed, another week of healthy meals. We celebrated 2 birthdays and the wedding still 3 weeks away, which means still lots to do! I am very fortunate my co-caterers are in charge on this one! I am proud to say that real food continues to be served here daily, even on the days I am not able to share and visit here.

Thank you everyone for continuing to drop by and visit at Mom's Sunday Cafe!

And now I thank you for joining us and sharing your ideas and recipes, philosophy and wonderful new discoveries. Food from your hearth, food for your soul. I continue to learn something new and wonderful each week. And I look forward to seeing what you have been cooking, creating and enjoying this week.

If you are new, please read the Hearth and Soul mission statement page which includes the rules for linking up.

If you have any questions, just drop me a line at MomsSundayCafe@gmail.com.

Now before we "go to the hop!" here are a few links that caught my eye from last week:

Plastic wrap substitute (re-usable too!)

Oatmeal Raspberry Bars

Slow cooker sticky chicken

Chocolate Dream Bars

Homemade Creamed Corn

I would like to take this moment to invite you to visit the linked post before your own, as well as the linked post after yours. It will be fun as well as interesting to visit the other links and say hello. 

And now on behalf of all the co-hosts,

April of The 21st Century Housewife,

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen,

Penny of Penniless Parenting  

Alea at Premeditated Leftovers,

and me

Melynda at Mom's Sunday Cafe , welcome to the Hearth and Soul hop!

What will you be sharing?

Sharing the view.....

A Friday view....

I love this standing fruit/veggie basket! Nothing gets squished, left behind, or wasted! 

There are many tasks to be done, when combining 2 lives and 2 households! Add into the mix, working different shifts, oh my! Keeping it all in balance, that is the key.

6 more books for the cookbook collection! 

And how was your week? 

As always, thanks for stopping by.

I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments!

Garden Tuesday

After 3 bed changes, some compost, 

and now some rain, 

we will have rhubarb pie for Thanksgiving!

I sure hope the rest of the garden, as I continue growing a garden, is not so challenging!

As always, thanks for taking a moment to stop by.

I appreciate your time and your comments.

This post is shared with:

garden tuesday @ sidewalk shoes

tuesday garden party @ an oregon cottage

Hearth and Soul #69

Hello everyone, once again it is time for the Hearth n Soul blog hop. Where did the week go? We celebrated a birthday and are getting ready for a wedding. However real food goes on every day, even the days I do not have the time to share here on the blog, my family eats well.

Thanks for joining us and sharing your ideas and recipes, philosophy and wonderful new discoveries. Food from your hearth, food for your soul. I continue to learn something new and wonderful each week. And I look forward to seeing what you have been cooking, creating and enjoying this week.

If you are new, please read the Hearth and Soul mission statement page which includes the rules for linking up.

If you have any questions, just drop me a line at MomsSundayCafe@gmail.com.

Now before we "go to the hop!" here are a few links that caught my eye from last week:

Two Way Pasta

Lacto Fermented Salsa

Blue Cheese (sandwich) Spread

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Noodle Stirfry

I would like to take this moment to invite you to visit the linked post before your own, as well as the linked post after yours. It will be fun as well as interesting to visit the other links and say hello. 

And now on behalf of all the co-hosts,

April of The 21st Century Housewife,

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen,

Penny of Penniless Parenting  

Alea at Premeditated Leftovers,

and me

Melynda at Mom's Sunday Cafe , welcome to the Hearth and Soul hop!  I will be sharing Pumpkin Bread.

What are you sharing?

Pumpkin Bread

Rain is pounding on the roof and the sun porch, darkness has invaded our evenings until daylight savings time comes to play. And since I received a request, the only thing left to do was bake. You know they* say "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" so tonight I am making pumpkin bread! When Jim requested pumpkin bread the first cookbook I thought of was "The Wooden Spoon Bread Book". I have used this book time and time again through the years.

Pumpkin Bread
adapted from:  The Wooden Spoon Bread Book
350 degree oven
makes 2 loaves

the intro:  Some of my friends take a pumpkin from the field and cook it themselves. Starting from scratch has it's virtues, but I personally make pumpkin bread with canned pumpkin. This is one case where I prefer for someone else to do the work.

(my thoughts, canned pumpkin is great to be able to make this wonderful bread, long after fall is gone.)

3 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 c sugar
2 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t each cloves, nutmeg, ginger OR 3 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients, whisk to mix well. Set aside.

2/3 c oil
2/3 c molasses
4 eggs
2 c canned pumpkin

In a large bowl, combine wet ingredients, beat well.

Mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

 Divide between 2 loaf pans, bake 1 hour, or until tests done in your oven. Let cool 10 - 15 minutes, turn out to cook completely.

I do want to take this moment to apologize for being absent from here. Getting married has a ton of chores to be done, even if the ceremony will be small and family only. One of the chores we did get done, was to purchase our wedding bands.

My band has 3 diamonds, and Jim's band is on order for size, with this one going back to stock, when we pick his up. One month and one day and counting.............

As always, thanks for taking a moment to stop by.
I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments.

* do you know who they are?

this post is shared with:
hearth and soul # 69 right here at Mom's Sunday Cafe!

Hearth and Soul # 68

Hello everyone, once again it is time for the Hearth n Soul blog hop

Thanks for joining us and sharing your ideas and recipes, philosophy and wonderful new discoveries. Food from your hearth, food for your soul. I continue to learn something new and wonderful each week. And I look forward to seeing what you have been cooking, creating and enjoying this week.

If you are new, please read the Hearth and Soul mission statement page which includes the rules for linking up.

If you have any questions, just drop me a line at MomsSundayCafe@gmail.com.

Now before we "go to the hop!" here are a few links that caught my eye from last week:

Squash Zucchini Casserole

Coconut Cake

Flat Roasted Chicken

Purple Pizza ( I love this name!)

Crazy Salad Pizza

I would like to take this moment to invite you to visit the linked post before your own, as well as the linked post after yours. It will be fun as well as interesting to visit the other links and say hello. 

And now on behalf of all the co-hosts,

April of The 21st Century Housewife,

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen,

Penny of Penniless Parenting  

Alea at Premeditated Leftovers,

and me

Melynda at Mom's Sunday Cafe , welcome to the Hearth and Soul hop!

What are you sharing?

Garden Tuesday

The one thing I can "grow" real well in this yard is fir trees, actually I am totally lying, they grow regardless of my ability or lack there of to grow anything! They have been here much longer than I , and the adults are bigger than me. However not this little guy.....

The little ones like this always show up after a windstorm. The tan needles make a great backdrop for the  little green shoots! As cute as they are, they are everywhere and must be "weeded" out, otherwise I would have no yard after a couple of seasons.

This is the walkway to the front door after a windstorm, lots and lots of needles are everywhere!

And if you get busy and don't weed, the little green shoot, looks like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in about 6 months. This year I will "decorate" this one for the birds. But for now, as soon as the rain stops, I need to rake up these needles and weed out the little trees.

As always, thanks for taking a moment to stop by.
I appreciate you time and your wonderful comments.

This post will be shared with:
garden tuesday @ sidewalk shoes
tuesday garden party @ an oregon cottage

Cookbook Sundays October 2011

Welcome to Cookbook Sundays!

I enjoy hosting this link party, because it incorporates everything I love about cooking, getting to know your cookbooks. Cookbook Sundays is so easy to participate in, all it takes is you, and a cookbook, or magazine or even a cooking app on your iphone. 

There are no specified ingredients to use, no tricks or gimmicks, just cook and share. Whether you have one cookbook or hundreds, Cookbook Sunday is a great way to use your cookbooks and share with fellow bloggers.

I am sharing a delicious pound cake. I had never made a pound cake until today for Cookbook Sunday. So there is only one question, why did I wait so long?

 Pound Cake for Cookbook Sundays!

Cookbook Sundays link is open through October 9th! Hope to see you there!

Old Fashion Pound Cake

Until today, I had never made a pound cake. There is one right now in the oven, baking up to a golden brown wonderfulness. I love pound cake, it is buttery and delicious.

Pound Cake
from:  Jim Fobel's Old Fashioned Baking Book
makes 1 9X5 loaf
325 oven

the intro:  Pound cake derives its name from the original formula from which it was made; one pound each of butter, sugar, flour and eggs, enough to make 2 loaves. This old recipe of Aunt Irma's calls for approximately one-half pound of each of the ingredients and yields on loaf.

2 c all purpose flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder

1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 c sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
2 t vanilla extract

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour (prepare in your preferred method) a 9X5 inch loaf pan.

In a medium sized bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Gradually beat in the sugar, until blended.

One at a time, beat in the eggs. Add the vanilla extract.

 This morning I had a special helper while baking this cake. She learned to crack eggs, opening them will need additional practice, good thing we like to bake, practice does make perfect!

 The butter, sugar, egg mixture will look curdled, don't let that stop you because....

Add the dry ingredients and beat just until smooth.

This batter comes together beautifully.

Turn batter into the prepared pan, bake 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Time to get things cleaned up!

This will be my entry for Cookbook Sundays, link opens at 6:00pm.

As always, thanks for taking a moment to stop by.

I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments!

key words:  old fashion pound cake, butter cakes, Jim Fobel