FOR TODAY September 26,2013

Outside my window ...
the leaves are turning orange, red and yellow - all the beauty of fall surrounding me in glorious colors!!!
 

I am thinking...

it is time for me to keep motivated with fun activities and projects as this is the time of year I start crawling in a hole with S.A.D.

I am thankful ...

for such a wonderful family that I love to spend time with and can't wait to live closer to them!

From the kitchen...

hamburger I bought on sale and put in the freezer is thawing and getting ready for me to can the meat mixture that can be made easily into spaghetti, sloppy joes, and so many
other casserole dishes!! 

I am wearing...

a sweatshirt and jeans.

I am creating...

hand made Christmas gifts!
Shhhhhhhh - can't tell as you might be getting one of them!
 

Bible Reading with my husband, Dick for today...

the book of Acts - Chapter 8

Bible Reading ~ my study for the day ...
Luke 20:27-40

God's *PEARL* for me today from the bible study ...

My pearl for the day is that God is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow ... ALIVE and we are alive with him.  When we go to live with him, we will not deal with earthly issues like marriages.

Quote for today...

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that
never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Charles Dickens

I am hearing...

songs of praise from my CD player ...right now it is
"OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART LORD"

Green Smoothie for today...

Blueberry, banana and kale!
mostest favorite :)

One of my favorite things...

arranging for family outings.  November 2nd will be for the gals in our family - sisters and nieces -  an overnight sleepover at Margo's to celebrate the upcoming holidays together as we don't get to do that on the actual holidays!  We have some fun things planned!

.

A few plans for the rest of the day:

preparing the hamburger for canning and winterizing the motor home.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My precious sisters and me!

Not much better than family!

~ ~ ~

Click here to join the group of women journaling with A simple Woman's Daybook, thank you Peggy for the wonderful format!

Grandma's Peach Kuchen

I kept remembering Dad's mom making the best *Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake*!  But I could find no recipe that even came close.   Then I found Kuchen and started experimenting ... this is as close as I can remember and is just heavenly ... reminds me so much of Grandma!
She made hers in a round cake pan and I may do that next time ... here is the recipe.  I used my home canned Honey Cinnamon Peaches.  You could use any fruit.

 

2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup shortening (I used coconut oil)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 TBS sugar
2 tsp yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 egg yolks
1 cup canned coconut milk (or regular cream)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups peaches - chopped or sliced (I used drained home canned Honey Cinnamon Peaches)

Mix yeast, water and 1 tsp sugar in a bowl and set aside.
Mix flour, shortening, sugar and 2 whole eggs.  Mix until crumbly then add yeast mix.
Knead for a few minutes then cover and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
Grease a 9x9 pan.  Turn oven to 350.  
Pat mix into the pan and up the sides a bit. Bake for 15 minutes.
Mix the 2 egg yokes, cream, cottage cheese and cinnamon.
Put peaches over baked crust.  Pour the cream mix over peaches.
Bake 30 - 40 minutes until topping is firm and set.  Enjoy warm or cold.

I remember loving the apple with brown sugar one too!  Maybe even more then the peach ... you could use any fruit fresh or canned (drained).
Enjoy!!!

Honey Cinnamon Peaches ~ home canned

Home canned Honey Cinnamon Peaches

I bought a 20 pound box of Alberta Peaches.  At Rays market I had found cinnamon sticks on sale for $3.99 (they are usually around $8) so I had quite a few jars of those on hand ... I do not use sugar anymore so this was the perfect recipe for canning these peaches.  Yield 30 pints.
My canner processed 10 pints in the water bath at a time.  It takes 20 minutes for pints (25 for quarts).  I put 1/2 stick of cinnamon in each jar then added the peeled cut peaches.  On the stove I had
5 cups of water with 1 cup of honey simmering.  Pour the honey water over the peaches leaving the 1" space at top.  Put on the lids and process.  Let these sit for a few weeks before tasting so the flavor has a chance to develop .....  These will be so good alone, over cereal for breakfast, mixed into yogurt or over ice cream for that special treat.  Going to make this winter a little bit brighter!

Pickled Radishes (canning instructions)

PICKLED RADISHES (GREAT FOR SNACKING)

1 bunch red radishes (about 10-12)
1/2 cup cider vinegar                                                                                                              1 tsp liquid Stevia
1/4 cup water
2 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. mustard seed
1/4 t. black peppercorns
1 clove garlic - sliced

Slice radishes and set aside. In a heavy sauce pan combine vinegar, stevia, water, and salt. Cook until the mixture simmers with bubbles around the edge. In a sterilized pint size jar put in the radishes, spices, and garlic. Leave a 1/2" headspace. Pour the hot brine into the jar, remove the air with your rubber spatula, and add more liquid to measure to the 1/2" headspace. Put on the lids and rings, tighten finger tight. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes.
You will want to wait for about 10 days to two weeks for these to really get to the best flavor. Enjoy!

PICKLED RADISHES (GREAT FOR SNACKING)

1 bunch red radishes (about 10-12)
1/2 cup cider vinegar                                                                                                              1 tsp liquid Stevia
1/4 cup water
2 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. mustard seed
1/4 t. black peppercorns
1 clove garlic - sliced

Slice radishes and set aside. In a heavy sauce pan combine vinegar, stevia, water, and salt. Cook until the mixture simmers with bubbles around the edge. In a sterilized pint size jar put in the radishes, spices, and garlic. Leave a 1/2" headspace. Pour the hot brine into the jar, remove the air with your rubber spatula, and add more liquid to measure to the 1/2" headspace. Put on the lids and rings, tighten finger tight. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes.
You will want to wait for about 10 days to two weeks for these to really get to the best flavor. Enjoy!

Creamy Apple Pie Green Smoothie

1 Fiji Apple (peel, core, cut up add 1/2 cup water and cooked until tender)
1/4 cup Vanilla Yogurt (I used Dannon Lite)
1 TBS crushed Pecans
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
2 cups fresh Spinach
2 cups Water

I cooked the apple then cooled in the refrig for several hours.
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Enjoy

Calories 208g
Fat 8.1g
Chol -0-
Sodium 76g
Carbs 31.7g
Fiber 7.1g
Sugar 22.3
Protien 6.2g

BENEFITS:
Apple -
Strengthens bones, protects from osteoporosis; reduces symptoms of Asthma; Lowers cholesterol; shown to help prevent several types of cancer; diabetes management; helps with weight loss - many other benefits.  As I always say this is what I have learned from on line research and make no health claims regarding any of the benefits in this post.

Yogurt -
Adds healthy bacteria to your digestive tract (be sure it says live cultures on the yogurt container); helps to prevent osteoporosis; helps to lower risk of high blood pressure.

Pecans -
Most anti-oxidants (protects against cell damage in your body) of all nuts; good fat; boosts your immune system (your body's ability to fight off disease); reduces cholesterol levels; lowers blood pressure.

Cinnamon -
Regulates blood sugar levels; lowers cholesteral; resists yeast infections, arthritis relief.

Spinach -
High in fiber, maintains blood sugar levels, anti-inflammation, osteoporosis help; controls blood pressure, vision assistance, immune system help; healthy skin and helps maintain a healthy nervous system.

Plum-D-Licious Green Smoothie

PLUM-D-LICIOUS GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 1/2 cups water
4 Plums (remove pits and cut in pieces)
1 Banana
1 cup packed fresh Spinach or two lose handfuls
1/2 tsp ground Ginger
add stevia to taste (I use liquid stevia)

Put all in blender and blend until smooth - enjoy!

Calories - 236g
Fat - 1.3g
Sodium - 25g
Carbs - 58.8g
Fiber - 7.5g
Sugar 40.8g
Protien - 4.1g

BENEFITS:
Plums -
helps regulate digestive system; natural anti-oxident; helps resist infectious agents; counters inflammation; helps maintain healthy mucus membrane and skin; helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers; helps to control heart rate and blood pressure; helps body metabolize carbs, proteins and fats; helps with blood clotting; helps reduce Alzheimer in the elderly.
(These are all claims I found on line through a variety of sources. I do not make any claims, just love to pass on the possible benefits I find. This is true of all the other ingredients and benefits listed below.)

Bananas -
helps reduce depression; anemia support; normal bowl functions; eye sight protection; healthy bones and kidneys; blood pressure control; heartburn relief; morning sickness and ulcer help; regulates nerves and body water blance; stroke risk reduction.

Spinach -
High in fiber, maintains blood sugar levels, anti-inflammation, osteoporosis help; controls blood pressure, vision assistance, immune system help; healthy skin and helps maintain a healthy nervous system.

Ginger -
helps with cancer symptoms, relieves morning and motion sickness, assists with pain relief and inflammation control, heart burn relief; cold and flu prevention and migraine relief.

Baby Boy's Baby Seal Blanket

I have decided to try my hand at creating my own pattern for a baby blanket.  Living in Seal Rock what else would I create ...  so far I just have 2 panels done.  The finished blanket will be approx. 32"x32".
I will post the finished product when done!

First two panels

Close up of baby seal panel