Pots and Pins

Thanksgiving 2013...Part One...

The first frenzied hour in the kitchen is over...the birds are in the roasters and now I can kick back until 2-ish when it will be time to fly into action so everything is done by feasting time.   The mister handled the removal of parts from the birds, because that's his job, and then he deftly duct-taped the rock on top of one of the roasters so the lid would stay down...the 23 pound bird is about 3 pounds too big!  We have to do this every year...why can't someone make a roaster to handle a BIG bird?!?

Usually the week before Thanksgiving is a combination of wind storms, heavy rain, flooding and power outages but this week we've been blessed with SUN and mild temps!  Looking out my kitchen window the thermometer is already at 50 degrees!  That's almost summer weather!

There are already kids in the park behind us playing football...sure hope no one gets hurt this year, last year someone was carted off in an ambulance...probably some 50 year old who was trying to prove something!

My table is set with all kinds of crappola...but it's all stuff I love!  My Pilgrim ships some kids made for me a while back, filled with nuts and seeds, to remind us of what the Pilgrims had to eat that first Thanksgiving...or not...I realize that's a stretch but whatever, I'm all about the stretch!  My gold flatware was a gift from a former neighbor - thanks Fred!  I love it and use it often - Fred bought it in Thailand many years ago and I think of him every time I get it out.  Also on the table, my little yellow-flowered plates, they were a gift from my mom about 20 years ago...love them!  And her!  It just doesn't seem like a holiday without having my parents here to help me decide whether to add more butter or not!  The crystal candlesticks - the big fat ones - were a gift from my daughter and SIL 13 years ago...beautiful, no?  And let me tell you about my amber colored glasses...what a steal they were!!  They are a reproduction of a pilsner glass that was made in 1776...and they were reproduced in 1976 for the Bicentennial...I found them all on ebay and decided the mister would like them for his birthday, which was conveniently one week before Thanksgiving...he was not as thrilled as I had hoped ("Just what we need, more glasses!) but I'm tickled to have them on our table!  They will be filled with Martinelli's - mocktails for Thanksgiving - it's the new black.  Also on my table are little orange bowls - that's for the homemade cranberry sauce - thanks to Martha Stewart and Macy's for those!

We moved furniture around and brought in the table from our deck so we would have plenty of room for everyone - 14 adults and one beautiful baby - it's going to be fun!  I have to thank my neighbors Linda and Lorelle for providing me with my "centerpieces"...I clipped boxwood at Linda's house - trimming her bushes gave me plenty of filler for my little crystal glasses/vases...which were a gift from Jan and Larry Brown about 12 years ago - thanks Jan - love you and Larry and hope you're having a great day!  The orange berries came from Lorelle's bush in her front yard - I clipped them the other night in the dark, used the headlights on my car so I could see what I was doing...they add color and everyone can see over them!  My plates are a mixture...I have a set of 12 Queen's Myott Turkey Plates but I decided it was rather boring to use them all...so a couple of years ago I started collecting brown transferware - every other plate is from an antique shop...it's much more interesting, don't you think?

 

We couldn't fit in the dining room - I tried moving the table at an angle, corner to corner, and adding card tables to fit everyone but they would be like prisoners - once seated they would not be able to move.  Having everyone in the kitchen was the only way to make things work - and people like being in the kitchen, right?  In my next life I'm going to have a huge dining room!

Only the pies are in the dining room...Pumpkin, of course, Pecan Coconut, Chocolate Cream and Raspberry-Cherry - plus Julie is bringing her famous apple pie with rum sauce!  That should finish everyone off nicely!  Still need to whip the cream...I have 2 quarts - do you think that's enough?  Notice my rug?  That was a gift from my parents - they bought it in Turkey a long time ago ...it's so beautiful and I have loved having it here - reminds me of them.  Can you tell I'm missing them?!?

I'm so thankful for this wonderful holiday and the chance we have as a nation to gather together with family and friends to give thanks for all of our blessings - we certainly have a lot of them.  I'm so thankful to live in this country, to live in Washington state, to have family and friends to love who have enriched our lives over and over...it's almost enough to make me humble!  (Our little Caesar-Beezer-The-Wonder-Dog agreed to pose in exchange for a drumstick.)  I've got just enough time to read through the paper (it weighed a ton today!) and plan some shopping strategies for tomorrow before I head back into the kitchen to finish up our feast!  I wish you all a happy and safe holiday and remember to save room for pie!

Celery Root Soup...

Apparently I'm one of those people who can try something for the first time and become immediately addicted. 

Case in point:  I had never had celery root before.  And really, why would I?  Who wants to eat something with the word root in it's name?  When I went to buy it to make this soup I had to ask for help because I didn't know what it looked like - and when I saw it I had serious second thoughts! 

Now celery root is my newest love - it  surprised me with it's potato-like texture yet bright green celery taste...I found it to be totally refreshing!

I'm sure you're thinking someone else is writing this because when's the last time I waxed on about a vegetable...never...but it's me, and I'm not ashamed to say I'm addicted to Celery Root...a vegetable.  Lest you think I've gone to the dark side (no sugar/no fat/no fun) let me assure you I'm not crazy, haven't fallen off my rocker and I'm no longer delirious with pain from the burn I got from making this dang fine soup.  I've got half my wits about me,  and am completely aware of my admission and how some people will view it with skepticism...they who have not yet tasted the sweetness of celery root cannot be blamed for their ignorance any more than I could be blamed for mine...after all, we only know what we know!  Oh thanks for asking, my burn is much better...I'm no longer planning my funeral.  No doubt it will leave a nice scar, a constant reminder of this soup..I'm currently accepting sympathy chocolate which will help alleviate the pain in my wrist.

So this is celery root...not much to look at, is it?  Once the dirt is washed off and the bulb is peeled, the hard, white root is ready to slice or dice.

 

 

 

 

This recipe comes from my new favorite cookbook, Bountiful - Recipes Inspired by our Garden, by Todd Porter and Diane Cu.  I love this book for the recipes, which are inventive and fresh and for the amazing pictures, which make me want to make their dishes!  Todd and Diane are the brains behind one of the most interesting blogs in all of blogdom, White on Rice Couple.  Their photography/food/travel blog daily serves up something eye-catching or mouth-watering - if you haven't paid them a visit before, do so now by clicking here.  (If you've got a foodie in your life, this book would make an excellent Christmas present for them!)  Celery Root Soup is just one of their recipes that jumped off the page at me - the picture begged me to make it!  I've made this soup every week for the last three weeks...the first time I made it I followed Todd and Diane's directions to the letter - and the soup was fabulous...brothy comfort in a bowl.

The second time I made this soup, for my book group, I added in a bit of cream at the end - see, it IS me writing this!  And while the cream didn't change the soup dramatically, it did add some richness...my apologies to Todd and Diane who eat much more "cleanly" than I ever will!

The third time I made this soup, for my quilt group, I blended half of the soup with my immersion blender, added in a bit more cream, and called it perfect.  Then I burned my hand, thereby searing this soup into my memory/wrist for life.  Celery Root soup will be the starter for our Thanksgiving feast - it made the grade because it starts with bacon (cue the choir!) and along with sauteed onions and garlic, there's fresh ginger and sage (and the fat lady sings!)   (Again, my apologies to Todd and Diane!) 

Make this one kids - it's a keeper!

Celery Root Soup - Inspired by Bountiful by Todd Porter and Diane Cu

2 medium celery roots (make sure they are firm, not soft)

1 lb. center-cut bacon, sliced into small pieces  (center cut tends to have less fat)

1 medium onion, minced

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 piece (2-inch) fresh ginger, peeled and crushed whole

2 to 3 sage leaves, minced

4 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup red lentils

1 cup heavy cream

sea salt and black pepper to taste

Peel celery root, removing all of the dark "rooty" bits and cut into bite-size pieces.  Heat a large pan over medium heat, add the bacon, and cook until the fat is rendered.  Add the onion, garlic, ginger and sage leaves.  Cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent.  Add chicken stock and lentils to the pot, bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer until lentils are softened, about 30 minutes.  Add in the celery root, and continue to cook until it is fork tender, about 30 minutes longer.  Stir in cream*, cook until heated through but do not allow to boil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serves 6. 

*After adding the cream you can either serve it like it is or blend half of it with an immersion (or regular blender, done in small batches so you won't get burned!)  which will make the soup a bit thicker and creamier.  I would only blend half of the soup because I think having the little bites of celery root is too delicious to miss!

This year the boy and DIL will be joining us, along with eleven others...it's going to be SO fun!  I love having a crowd for Thanksgiving!  I've been counting my blessings - I've much to be thankful for.  I have a great family, great friends, a roof over my head and enough food to keep Spanks in business for another year.  And I've got great readers - those of you who put up with this drivel and come back for more - I'm truly thankful for you!  Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

The Quilts of Freddy Moran...Part Two...

I probably would have been on sensory over-load had the mister not been with me to snap me out of it with comments like this,  "Isn't this the same quilt as that one over there?"  Um, no, same colors, not the same pattern, but good for you for trying!

 

Freddy's quilts are very colorful and there does seem to be an infusion of black and white in a lot of the quilts we saw at Island Quilter on Vashon Island, so I can see why the mister was easily confused - or maybe it's because his eyes aren't what they used to be - maybe his eyesight is failing because he can't spray air-freshener without walking into it...yes, you read that right...the mister sprays air-freshener straight out ahead of him and then while he's still spraying he walks straight ahead until he's inhaled a healthy dose and sputters and claims his eyes are burning.  There's no explanation for this.  He does it all the time.  I would encourage him to seek out help for this obvious condition/snydrome, but where does one go for a Spraying Disorder?!?

This was definitely one of my favorites - I love house quilts - what a fun crazy neighborhood that is!

How fun would this quilt be at a picnic on the beach...I have a theory about beach quilts...the busier and more colorful they are, the heavier I can be...I mean, if I were sitting on the quilt above in my swimming suit, would anyone notice my rolls spilling over the top of my suit?  The more plain the quilt, the skinnier you have to be...feel free to quote me.

There is nothing simple about the quilts above...really, look at the bigger one, how was that even pieced?  Freddy's designs can sometimes be mind-boggling!

This was one of my favorite quilts, too...look at those flowers!!!  And the rooster - waaaay cute.  I don't know if those black dots are sewn on or if that's fabric...should have looked closer but I could barely get past the flowers - they are amazing!  And that border!!!

Another beautiful flower quilt - the details in the quilting are pretty awesome - hope you can make them out.

Three initials came to mind when I saw this quilt...LSD, not to be confusd with LDS...seriously.  Wild, man, totally rad, like dude, where did she come up with this stuff?!

Now this one above I love...call me crazy, but it's a bit more calm, no?  Yes, it's blurry, dang photographer!  Maybe I should spray some Febreeze and walk into it before I pick up my camera?

 

Now this quilt is my second all-time favorite quilt of Freddy's...I love the colors, love the baskets, love the pin-wheel border...love, love, love it!

Autumn leaves like I've never seen before!  (There isn't a green border around this quilt, that's another quilt hanging behind.)  I would love to use that quilt on my Thanksgiving table!  Now that's a conversation starter!

You are probably thinking I've posted this picture twice - you're wrong - but if you want to go back to yesterday's post just to double check - go ahead, I'll wait.  And even if I had posted twice, it would have been worth a second look - all of Freddy's quilts are worth at least that!

 

Another crazy-mixed up village!  See the school bus?  How cute is that?!?  I want to live in that town! 

When I asked the mister what he thought of the quilt above, he said, "I can't tell, my eyes are bleeding!"  What a comedian...he continued with, "If I stare at it much longer I'm going to puke."  I get to listen to stuff like that on a daily basis - you'd think he was 4 years old.  I tried to get him to just go sit in the corner but he refused, I think he was intimidated by all the bolts of fabric that surrounded us because he said, "A person could get lost in here, covered up in fabric and never be found for years!"   If only...

 

I've saved the best for last...really, this is my real favorite Freddy quilt.  Trees!!  Red and green and Christmas all over - at least to me...this quilt, with it's "flying geese" border is definitely my favorite...think I might have to make myself one - or maybe I'll make one for the mister so when he goes in for an eye-exam he can say his eyes bleed from looking at bright and crazy quilts because I know there is NO way he'd ever confess to walking into air-freshener!

After we left Island Quilter we drove onto the ferry and while the mister walked around the deck, I scrolled through my phone and looked at the pictures I took, hoping they would show just how wonderful Freddy's quilts are.  My camera just didn't do them the justice they deserve but lucky for you, if you live in the Seattle area or are visiting soon, the Freddy quilts will be at Island Quilter until December 4th - so there's still time for you to see them in person! 

Thanks to Island Quilter for the wonderful exhibit - plus their shop has the best selection of fabrics this side of the Atlantic! 

Thanks to Freddy Moran for her inspiration and creativity!  I'll never look at lime green fabric in the same way!

Thanks to Helen and Stephanie who told me about Freddy, making me a fan for life!

The Quilts of Freddy Moran...Part One...

So over a week ago, after the mister and I went to the Christmas Show, and after the American Hero Quilt Tea, our next stop ended up being the meat of our day...we landed at Island Quilter to see the Freddy Moran Quilt Exhibit.  I'd like to say I've always been a Freddy Fan...but the reality is I'm her newest fan.   It was only the day before that I heard her name and saw a picture of one of her quilts, which are bright, happy, inventive and over-the-top creative, that I became one of her many devotees.    

Please forgive my usual blurred pics, not all of them are bad, only half, a glaring-statement of the photographer herself!  But you'll be able to get the gist of Freddy's quilts...one eye-popping-colorful-quilt after another!

Freddy is rather free with her designs - sometimes there is a distinct pattern, sometimes not - she just goes with whatever suits her at the time - and she's not a big stickler for matchy-matchy-straight-lines, something I feel is SO over-rated...again, a glaring statement in regards to you know who!  (You can read an interview in Quiltmaker Magazine with Freddy by clicking here.)

Think Gees Bend Quilts - or maybe just devil-may-care...Freddy is my kind of quilter!  This quilt, above, like most of Freddy's quilts, is a scrap-buster...you'd have to continually be buying fabric just to have enough scraps!

 

From a distance the geranium quilt is stunning...up close you can see it's all raw-edged machine applique - be still my heart!

The quilting on her quilts was wonderful - I didn't write down who the quilter was, so sorry!  For you Seattle quilters, if you haven't been to Island Quilter on Vashon, get yourself over there...the ferry ride will set you back the cost of 2 yards of fabric but I promise it will be worth it - their selection of fabric is like nothing you've ever seen!

Like always with my pictures, try squinting - might help make them less blurry.  I do try.  In my defense I had the mister walking 2.3-inches behind me telling me to hurry along...he's ever so happy to go with me to quilt shops just as long as I know the meter is running.  Tick-tock, tick-tock - it's hard to get a picture with Father Time breathing down your neck!

This may look like a simple quilt block - but notice that none of the "clothes" are the same!

 

This is a modified pickle dish block - haven't ever seen a pickle like this - but don't you just love it?  Again, the colors she uses are just incredible...what must the inside of her brain be like?!

If you stare at this too long you'll go blind, or your eyes will cross and stay that way or you'll just be very relaxed, calm and all will be right with the world - depending on what drugs you take.

There are no words for this one - every color of the rainbow and then some - and check out those triangle placements!  Bizarre-bizarre!  But I do love it!

That's not one piece of fabric - all of those flowers are sewn on - raw-edge, machine-applique...pretty amazing!

Last one for today - Part Two will be up soon...

Thanksgiving with Friends...Friendsgiving...

Just the other side of Snoqualmie Pass,  nestled in the Cascade Mountains, is Moulton's Lodge...it was the perfect place for the girls in our church to hold our first ever Friendsgiving.  The girls had a great time - but I had more fun than anyone...I love "lodge life", love the mountains, love the cool crisp air and the smell of a bonfire - especially if I can roast marshmallows, I mean burn them, which I did, over and over and over again!  It was perfect!  Side note:  I don't recommend putting burnt marshmallows into hot chocolate...you end up with black bits floating on top that eventually stick to your teeth and lips...not a good look on anyone.

There were 19 of us (including the "caretakers", Andrew, Emily and their two adorable boys) and we spent the day making things for our feast that included Pilgrim Ships, Turkey Cookies, stamped table runners and napkins (the girls painted the backs of plastic leaves and then pressed the paint side down onto linen, they used acrylic paint so it was dry in 15 minutes) and Blessings Mix!

 

 

 

 

After the mad-crafting, everyone set about peeling, chopping, dicing, and stirring to help make our feast.  We dined on turkey cornucopia tacos (made with ground turkey and a soft tortilla that was rolled like a cornucopia, clever, no?), roasted root veggies, Indian Corn Pudding, zucchini salsa (all Pilgrims eat this), and we had apple and pumpkin pie for dessert...we waddled around for the rest of the day!

The girls decorated the tables with things they found outside, including an exact replica of Plymouth Rock!  Their Pilgrim Ships were filled with M&M's and their turkey cookies looked adorable on the tables!

Andrew took the girls on a trail ride and the weather cooperated - no rain the entire day!  We only spent the day at the Lodge,  home by 4:00 in the afternoon - but what a day it was!  Thanks to the Moulton's for allowing us up to their little resort - it's a bit of paradise for sure!

 

American Hero Quilts Tea...

We usually cram a lot into our weekends but last weekend was one for the record books!  After our visit to the Christmas gift show in Seattle, we headed over the West Seattle bridge, past the docks (the ships in port made me think of the movie Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks is a shoe-in for the Oscar!) and the Vashon ferry.

 

 

Driving onto the ferry is always exciting, it's a mini-vacation on wheels and water!  Vashon Island is a short trip, about 20 minutes.  Roundtrip for car, driver and one passenger was $18.00...it used to be much, much cheaper!  It was a typical Seattle November day...gray skies with a chance of rain...but while on the ferry the sun tried to make an appearance, which means the weathermen up here would classify last Saturday as a "partly sunny" day!

 

I've posted many times over the years about American Hero Quilts (AHQ).  My quilt group has been lucky enough to be associated with this charity and it's founder, Sue Nebeker, for a long time.  Sue began making quilts for returning wounded soldiers and Marines back in 2002...and since then AHQ has given away over 14,000 quilts.  Just think about that, AHQ is not the only charity that gives quilts to our wounded warriers, there are many others, but AHQ has given over 14,000 by themselves!  It's quite a sobering thought.  Sue Nebeker and her merry band of quilters, who are from all over the country, have worked tirelessly to make sure everyone who is injured is wrapped in a red, white and blue quilt upon their return, with a label that says, "You are our Hero, Thank You!"  

The mister and I went to Vashon Island, to the VFW Hall, to give AHQ a check from our quilt group and a quilt top two of our members made.  The tea was lovely, beautiful china on each table and the most delicious looking and tasting food!  Around the room there were beautiful quilts on display and I'd like to show them to you!

Are you a long-arm quilter who could donate a bit a time?  Are you someone who wouldn't mind piecing a quilt top?  Do you have extra batting you know you'll never use?  Sue could use your help!  Dozens of women around the country work on the quilts - some piece, some machine quilt, some sew on bindings...it's takes a village of quilters to get one of these beauties ready!  How about joining Sue's village?  Details on how you can help are at the bottom of this post.

Sorry, this is a bit fuzzy!  Must have had too many crumpets!  Maybe you're not a quilter, maybe you can't thread a needle...you can still help!!  And Sue really needs our help!  It costs a small fortune to ship quilts around the country to be quilted...how about sending Sue a check for $10.00...that's how much it costs to send a quilt top to Alabama and $10.00 will cover the postage for a quilt to be sent to South Dakota to be bound.  $10.00 isn't a lot...if you live in Seattle it's 2 grande lattes for Pete's sake!!  Do me a favor, empty out your change jar and send Sue a check today...think of it as a way of showing thanks for all of those men and women who daily put their lives on the line for our freedoms.

 

Maybe the mister took this picture, surely I didn't!  What's that you say?  You don't want to write a check?  No problem, you can send AHQ $10 cash donation through PayPal!!  (Cash is needed to purchase fabric, backing and thread - all monies received go torwards the quilts, no one makes a penny from this!) and AHQ is a 501 (c)(3) charity so your donation is tax deductible...hurry and take advantage of that before the government gets rids of all deductions - you know that's coming!

There, that's better - nice and clear and what a beautiful quilt it is!  The statistics from the Iraq-Afghanistan war are staggering...for every soldier/Marine killed there are at least 6 extremely serious injuries and while our government talks about withdrawing troops that isn't likely to happen for a very long time.  Unfortunately, we still have men and women being injured, and this is one small way we can tell them we appreciate their sacrifice.  Supporting our troops is the American thing to do!  Buy one less can of cranberry sauce and donate $10...it's the right thing to do!

Maybe I should take up drinking?  My pictures would imply I already have - at least I'd have an excuse!  The quilts we saw at the VFW Hall were not just "best ones"...all of the quilts Sue receives are wonderful.  And the letters she receives from the recipients of these quilts are enough to make the cold-black-heart of an old Marine weep...as the mister did when he read one of those letters...miracles do happen - who knew he could cry?!?

 

Maybe I should issue a "squint advisory" because if you squint the pictures seem to come into focus!  I don't know how much money was raised at the AHQ Tea, but I do not it's not enough.  There was a good turnout at the Tea but a lot of people are just war-weary...they are tired of hearing about it, tired of helping.  That's why I'm writing about this today - Sue needs our help - she needs an influx of $$$ to keep AHQ going...If every one of my followers donated $10 - well, you know I can't do math but I'm smart enough to know that would be a HUGE amount of money!  Enough to keep AHQ in business for a long time!

 

 

American Hero Quilt Standards

Quilts should be made from 100% good quality cotton

 

Quilts should be approximately 63x87 inches.  We find that many of the soldiers need the extra length and width to keep warm.

 

The quilts should be red, white and blue fabric.

 

Backs should be 100% cotton and 10 inches larger on each side.  For example:  If the quilt top measures 63x87 inches, the back should be 73x97 inches.

 

Please don't use beige or white fabrics on the back.  Many of our injured soldiers have open wounds which can cause stains.

Binding should be cut 2 1/2 inches wide, at least 300 inches in length, and sewn diagonally rather than straight across.

Below is where you send your donation, and where you can call to get information on how you or your quilt group can help:

American Hero Quilts

6716 SW Maury Park Road

 

Vashon, WA 98070

 

phone: 206-463-5650

 

fax: 206-463-6105

 

email: [email protected]

 

Pumpkin Cornbread...

Last Friday, the mister called me from Global Headquarters and said, "I heard on the radio there's a Christmas show in Seattle, want to go tomorrow?"  I dropped the phone, lest I be burned by whatever demon was on the other end!  The mister asking me to go do something with only one day of notice?  The mister suggesting we go to a Christmas show???  The man who's brother from another mother is the Grinch?  Surely this was a joke!  In case you don't know, the mister never has an idea for something to do on the weekend,  and even if he did, he would never suggest something with only one day of notice...oh no, he's a 7-day-out-kind-of-guy...he needs time to get his head wrapped around antiquing or a ferry ride to the islands, because you know, those are such weird and strange activities...he needs to be able to write it on his calendar and put a little star by it, then he needs at least three or four days to whine about it!  He is nothing if not routine, methodical and predictable...get the idea? So. So. So.  He tells me about the Christmas show, my antennae go up, way, way up, and I said, "Sure..what's the catch?  What are you up to?  YOU want to go to a Christmas show?  Are you freakin' kidding me?  Shall I call an ambulance now or wait until you've finished your stroke?  You want to go to a Christmas show when football is on TV?  Hahahahaha...hello?  Hello?  HELLO????"  He hung up.  The next day we went to the Christmas show...either I've finally got him trained or he's given up.

 

The show was a bit of a disappointment for me, but then I'm a hard sell, I'm always looking for the magic...there were way too many booths selling the same thing - oils, vinegars, soaps, jewelry...not anything that really said Christmas or rang my bell.  The mister was impressed by the parking garage and the fact that we found our way in and out of it.

 

 

 

 

Even though the show was not what I had hoped, it certainly didn't spoil our day.  After the Christmas show we headed to Vashon Island to attend a Tea for American Hero Quilts and we ended our day at the Southcenter Mall...which was like going to a third world country!  We heard at least a dozen different languages in the first hour we were there!  But I'm way off topic...more about AHQ and the rest of our adventure in a later post.  Let's get back to the matter at hand, Pumpkin Cornbread...it's perfect with soup, salad, for breakfast or a late night snack.  You are going to want to make this, and soon.

This is rich and moist with the flavors of fall baked right in - it almost has a nutty taste with a very, very slight crunch from the cornmeal and the molasses and dark brown sugar lend a richness and depth making this one dang fine savory treat!  If you make your Thanksgiving stuffing with cornbread, which is a Southern thing, then you might want to consider using this cornbread in place of your usual...it will definitely take it up a notch!  Serve it with Honey Butter (click on that link, this Honey butter is the best ever...no lie, stick a needle in my eye and die without pie in a sty!) this one gets 5 Dangs on the ol' Dang Meter...ring it out loud and clear, 'cause this Pumpkin Cornbread is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good!

Pumpkin Cornbread - Pots and Pins

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup cornmeal

2 large eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened, canned or freshly prepared)

3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tablespoons molasses

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Butter a 9-inch deep dish pie pan and set aside.  In a large mixing bowl combine flours, baking powder, salt and spices.  In a separate bowl combine eggs, pumpkin, brown sugar, oil and molasses and whisk together until smooth.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add in the pumpkin mixture.  Using a wooden spoon, stir until just combined, do not over mix.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until top is browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Serves 8.

Just look at that!  It bakes up nice and high so you can slice it in half, slater on the butter and enjoy two pieces in one sitting! 

(There are several blogs I read that regularly end each post with what they had posted in previous years.  I used to do that, too, but one day I ran out of time and then the next day I forgot and before I realized it I had not posted the "ago's" for several months!  Today, to celebrate the start of my SEVENTH year of blogging(!) I took the time to do the "ago's" - more for me than you because I like to see what I was doing way back when - and I'll try to remember to do it from now on - now that's funny, me remembering to do something...well, a girl can dream!)

One year ago:  Maple Cakelets

Two years ago:  Gift Block Tutorial

Three years ago:  Thanksgiving Banner

Four years ago:  Parsnip and Parmesan Soup

Five years ago:  Chocolate Cola Cake with Toasted Coconut Pecan Frosting

Six years ago:  Pumpkin Butter

 

Lumberjack Pancakes...

This is definitely the time of year when a dob of yogurt just doesn't cut it for breakfast!  No, something more substantial is needed, something with stick-to-your-ribs goodness...enter Lumberjack Pancakes!  They are everything you want for breakfast and more...and they'll provide enough protein to keep you from getting hungry even after you've been outside raking leaves for hours on end!  Man, that's real work!  In fact, it's more than real work, it's exercise work...you know, when you're working so hard you use muscles you've never used before and you sweat buckets and gasp for air and your face begins to turn the color of a pomegranate - just the kind of thing I hate!  And speaking of hate...I hate that our local hardware store left town!!!  When my rake broke in half from all of my strenuous maneuvers, I cursed them and the city for letting them leave!  I thought about driving off the Plateau to get a new rake, but it's   j u s t   s o   d a n g   f a r !!   I might as well drive to Canada to Rona!

While I was recuperating from my exercise work, I made myself a leaf garland...pretty, no?  The only good autumn leaves are the ones ON the trees or in a garland!  Feel free to quote me on that! 

Okay, let's talk pancakes, shall we?  These pancakes aren't little, light or fluffy...they are dense, with a very slight chew...think hearty, think Paul Bunyan, think plaid and flannel and warm and fuzzy...because that's what these are.  Now think buttery and brown sugar and maple syrup...okay, quit thinking and get to making, you're going to love these as much as we do!

 

 

 

Lumberjack Pancakes cook up just like your garden-variety-version of pancakes, cook on a griddle until bubbles form around the edges, then flip and cook until golden brown.  Feel free to add blueberries or toss in some raisins, which is what we like.  This recipe makes about one dozen 4-inch pancakes; if you don't eat them all in one sitting (shame on you!) you can freeze the rest.

These will soothe the savage beast - or make your leaf-raking nothing more than a bad memory. 

Lumberjack Pancakes - Pots and Pins

3 cups oats (raw, old-fashioned)

2 cups flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

1/3 cup butter, melted (plus a bit more for greasing griddle)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Optional:  1/4 cup dried fruit, raisins, currants, cranberries, blueberries (fresh blueberries are also great, too.)

Maple syrup for serving - warmed, of course.

In a large bowl combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla and whisk together until smooth.  Pour liquid mixture into dry mixture, stir with a wooden spoon just until combined. 

Heat griddle over medium to medium-high heat and lightly butter.  Pour 1/4 cup pancake batter onto hot griddle and cook until small bubbles appear around the edges and on top, about 3 minutes.  Flip pancakes and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes.  Makes one dozen 4-inch pancakes.  Freeze leftovers between sheets of waxed paper for up to one month; reheat in microwave or toaster.  Serve with warmed maple syrup.

 

Around The House - Picture This...

The mister bought "us" a new picture...from a thrift store.  Now, two things you need to know about the mister, first, he hates shopping and he reeeHeeely hates thrift stores!  He claims thrift store will give him cooties...he's a cootiephobe.  We were in the thrift store with the boy and DIL, who were looking for blankets for their dog to destroy, when the mister called my attention to a picture hanging on the wall.  The picture he was pointing to was directly above a fabulous oil painting...to which I directed his attention.  He was not amused, said if I didn't like the one he liked then, "Fine, we don't need any more pictures."  So we both walked away.  But I turned around, looked at my painting, and decided I couldn't live without it, not for $19.95!  I told the mister I was getting the oil painting and he said, "Fine, buy that piece of crap and Happy Anniversary!"  He's so romantic.  Words just float off his tongue like hot tar dripping on feathers.

Isn't is great?!?!  It's oil on canvas and the frame is genuine wood...and there's not a mark on it!  I was beyond thrilled - I love landscapes and the colors in this are perfect in our family room.  And it was $19.95!!!  

Aaaand the mister decided to buy his picture.  Now, don't get me wrong, I do like this print...it's a scene of Tuscany, one of my favorite places on earth...so what's not to like?  Have you seen the new wire picture hangers that make hanging a picture SO easy?  They are great for hanging multiple pictures and take all of the guess work out of it - and they work well for a large picture, like this one, especially when it's time on "display" will be rather short!  At first we decided to hang this picture in the living room - but it didn't work, so we tried the family room, not happening...then our bedroom, nope!  Finally it landed in the dining room and it's okay there...for now.  (I know, you're thinking my wall paper needs to go...I agree, but unless you're willing to come and help me remove it hold your tongue!)  Here's the thing about this picture...since it's been on the wall, we have been talking about going back to Italy...it's sparked something in the mister - I think it's got some kind of travel-mojo!  (We've also been talking about taking a cruise down the Yangtze in China, a rail trip to Banff and a trip to DC to see the mister's family...yadda-yadda-yadda, I'd like a little less talk and a lot more action!)

So, who's picture/painting do you like better???

Gourmet Gifts for Christmas...

Hey Kids - I have a treat for you today... My Scottish friend is here to tell you all about her new book...read on!

Hi, I’m Karon from Larder Love and I’m thrilled to be visiting here at Pots and Pins and to be able to share one of my recipes and a bit of fun news with you. To celebrate the launch of my new Bookette, Gourmet Gifts For Christmas (available from my web site www.karongrieve.com) and the Ebook version which is available now on Amazon Kindle, I am hosting a Bloggers Challenge on my web site during the month of November.

It is all about Foodie Gifts and I’d like everyone to share their favourite foodie gift idea (from homemade drinks to cookies, jams, pickles, jellies and preserves, anything you can eat or drink in the gifty department) with a recipe (must have photo on your post and only one entry each please),  the challenge ends on Monday 18^th November.  I’ll get a guest blogger to choose their favourite and the winner will receive a paperback copy of my Gourmet Gifts For Christmas. All the entrants will then have their photos and links to their blogs and recipes listed on my blog Larder Love during the build up to Christmas.

 Everyone loves receiving something homemade, it shows how much you care for the recipient that you took the time and trouble to make something especially for them. A gift of food is even more special, something that can be enjoyed and shared, savoured and remembered long after the festive season is over.

Here is a simple recipe for Orangettes (from Gourmet Gifts For Christmas) which make an excellent gift when presented in either an old sweetie tin, recycled cut glass jar or in a simple crinkly cellophane baggy with a pretty bow. Beware though, these are seriously moreish and you may find you eat more than you give!

Orangettes - From Gourmet Gifts For Christmas

2 oranges unwaxed

100g/3 1/2oz granulated sugar

100g/3 1/2oz dark chocolate 70%

1 teaspoon whisky

Sugar to scatter

 Scrub oranges and dry if waxed and slice into quarters to remove peel,  removing as much pith as possible; cut into strips.

Put peel into pan and cover with water, boil for 5 minutes, drain and repeat twice.  Put 100g sugar and 100ml water in pan

and heat to dissolve, boil 10 mins and add the peel, simmer 30 mins till tender.  Drain and toss in sugar set aside on

baking paper in fridge overnight.  Melt chocolate in double boiler and add whisky when fully melted and cooled slightly.

Dip oranges halfway in chocolate, allow to set on baking paper in fridge for 2 hours.  Store in airtight container for up to 2

weeks.

My new Bookette (available from my web site at www.karongrieve.com) Gourmet Gifts For Christmas contains 26 recipes for fabulous foodie gifts from Brambly Apple Gin and Vin D’Orange to Salt and Pepper Shortbread, Carrot Cake Jam. It is fully illustrated throughout with my own photographs and has chapters on handy hints and tips for preserving, there are even labels on the back cover for you to copy and print. The Kindle version available on Amazon worldwide has an extra chapter on packing like a pro and a link to downloadable labels and tags too.

Huge thanks to  Nan for inviting me on to Pots and Pins and letting me share all this with you.

Merry Christmas when it comes!

Karon x