My Garden

Between everything else lately, I've been working on the garden and will plan on doing some canning from it when the time comes.  We are in a drought here so no rain in sight for a week.  I've been watering when I can from the rain barrel to help with the cost of watering.

Easy Striped Dishcloth

My daughter got me hooked on these.  I love how they are not as large as regular sized ones, making your yarn go further and it's not as heavy to use.  The pattern can be found here.

Tatting

For years I have kept a journal with scraps of tatting in it and things I wanted to remember how to do, showing various techniques that I did.

 

It really does show my journey through learning how to tat.

 

I have as my on-the-go container of tools a glasses case as you can see in the picture.

 

There is also a tea ball that works as a great thread-holder.

Rhubarb Strawberry Jam

Rhubarb Strawberry Jam

 

2 c. sliced rhubarb

4 cups of sliced strawberries smashed

5 1/2 c. sugar

1 box of sure-jell

In your large pan (8 qt.) measure fruit and sure-jell.

Mix together put on high heat.

 

In large bowl measure all the sugar so you can it add all at once.

 

Bring mixture to a full boil that is one that cannot be stirred down, then add the sugar all at once. Bring back to a boil that cannot be stirred down and time for one minute.

 

Fill your clean jelly jars one at a time. Wipe rim affix the prepared lids and put on rings. When all are done, water bath them all for 10 min. 

This is Jam favorite of ours. 

Making a Basket

I needed something to store my shuttles in for my Beka loom and this is what I came up with. Works perfectly!

A few bread recipes...

Raspberry Braid

 

3/4c. warm milk

1/3 c. sugar

3 tbsp butter melted

 

mix together

 

in bowl add:

 

1/2 tsp of salt

1 pkg yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1/4 c. warm water

mixing these together to soften yeast

3 eggs

4 1/4 c. flour and a bit more

 

Filling:

 

3/4 c. raspberry jam

3/4 c. chopped walnuts

1 tbsp sugar

 

Add the first mixture (when lukewarm) to the second mixture.  Stir till you get to a kneadable dough. Knead for five minutes.  Spray and cover, let rise for 1 hour.  Punch down and let rest for 15 minutes.  Spray a 15x10x1 inch pan.

 

Roll dough into 14 inch square. Brush with raspberry jam, leaving 1 inch border. Sprinkle with nuts. Roll up like you would for cinnamon rolls and pinch seam closed.  Cut lengthwise.  With cut side facing up begin in middle, work to end cross strips back and forth, keeping the cut sides up as much as possible. Pinch ends together repeat for other end.  Spray and cover, let rise 45 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush on lightly beaten egg white, sprinkle with the sugar & bake for 30 minutes. Cool on rack.

Aleta's Anadama Bread

 

1 pint boiling water

1/2 c. yellow cornmeal

2 tbsp butter

1/2 c. molasses

3 tsp salt

Stir together and cool to lukewarm then when luke warm proof your mixture of:

2 tbsp yeast

1/2 c. lukewarm water

1 tsp sugar

Mix together and stir in 4 c. flour, then add more till kneadable dough. Knead five minutes adding flour one tbsp at a time as needed. Spray and cover, let rise for one hour.  Punch down and place in two sprayed pans. Let rise till 1 inch over the top of the rim of the pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

 

Seed Bread

 

1 1/2 tbsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

3/4 c. luckewarm water

Mix together and proof

 

In bowl add:

1 1/2 c. lukewarm milk

2 tbsp melted butter

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp salt

5 1/2 to 6 c. flour

 

Only use half the flour and mix both mixtures together add more flour and:

 

2 tbsp millet

1 tbsp poppy seed

1 tbsp sesame seed

 

Add enough flour to make kneadable and knead five minutes. Spray and cover and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. Punch down and form into two loaves. Spray and cover and let rise to one inch over rim of pan and uncover. Place in a 375 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.

 

This is ideal toasted with butter and honey on it.

Also great for making grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

Stamp Room

Did some organizing in my stamp room. It's nice to have things a little more organized.