"Vintage" Chocolate Pudding... partly cloudy...windy...40's

A favorite recipe we shared with you early in 2016, seemed like a good one to end the year with ....One of our family favorites...................
My Mom's recipe, at least 50 years old. You can see how much it's been used. 
Isn't her handwriting lovely? She and her sisters had such pretty flowing script, back in the day when handwriting was still emphasized in school!

6 T. cornstarch
1/2 cup cocoa
few grains of salt
1 cup sugar
1 quart milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Here's the procedure ------------
Mix sugar ( I reduce to 2/3 cup) cornstarch and cocoa in a heavy
bottom pan.  Add milk while stirring over medium heat.
Continue to stir until thickened and just starts to bubble.
If you have to answer the phone,  the door, or check Facebook remove from heat, it will catch on bottom and burn! Add vanilla, pour into bowl, cover with plastic and let cool or chill in refrigerator.
Says feeds 6, but not at my house!

Check out our Saturday recipe posts here:
 http://jonquiljunction.blogspot.com/search/label/recipes

Farm Adventures...cloudy and cool

Today started better than Monday, because he/she went into the live
trap. This live trap barely works so I never know what the result will
be when I set it! My excellent Hav A Heart trap was run over years ago by the Fish and Game Dept. man who was out here setting up a Bear trap.
Ahhhhhhhh, life in the country!  This replacement is persnickety.
And you have to open the gate with your fingers which is reachable by the Critter!
But hooray, one less in close proximity. He/she will get a ride down the country
road, perhaps to Charlie's place ( read about that in this post HERE ) where no one lives, and there are no neighbors nearby either.
I have decided, however, to use the pitchfork for picking up hay from now on!

Farm Life ....cloudy..windy...warm.. 68*

I awoke this morn to Clarabell barking.
Wherever a person lives, don't we learn "to know our noises"?
I could tell that she was in a fixed location.
So AFTER COFFEE I got the leash and headed to the woods behind the duck and goose house.
Now Clarabelle is very obedient, well to me anyway, she ignores my husband, who can't do a thing with her. (I know why but we don't need to go into that now!)
But when she has something treed she can not be called off.
 Here's a pic of what I found.

 I tried my hardest to get IT and her in the same picture but couldn't.
Anyway I brought her to the house, to let it go away.
An hour later while feeding hay to the goats, my eye caught movement and there was another one watching me from under the pile of loose hay. Boy did I
think of my fingers that had just grabbed a mound of hay from that
exact location!
I've been letting Clarabelle stay inside at night this winter, because she's old and stiff (aren't we all) and I guess that has emboldened the critters to come out of the woods for "poultry possibilities".
I don't have as many of those possibilities as I used to, because sneaky Walter has been up to his old tricks again, after a several months hiatus.
And I guess if I don't make Clarabelle stay out at night I'll have even less possibilities to share.
Now  isn't that why we raise poultry or waterfowl, TO PROVIDE PROTEIN FOR THE WILDLIFE POPULATION?

Sunday Quotes...... Foggy...light rain....

In rivers, the water you touch is the last of what has passed
And the first of that which comes: So with present time     
  Da Vinci

Rocky Road Brownie Cake...Foggy...49*

1/2 cup butter plus 1/4 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 + 3/4 cup flour
1 + 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 eggs
1 + 1/4 cup thick yogurt (drain yogurt thru coffee filter for 1 hr. to
remove some whey)
1/4 cup chocolate chips
12 tablespoons marshmallow cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butters and sugar together. Add eggs and beat. Sift all dry
ingredients together and add half to batter. Beat. Add yogurt, beat
and then add rest of the dry. Batter will be very thick. Spread in a
greased 9"x11" pan. Sprinkle choc. chips on top and bake at 350* about
30 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake. Remove from oven and dollop
spoonfulls of marshmallow over top. Spread with knife, some of the
choc. chips will blend in with marshmallow to make swirls. Sprinkle
with chopped nuts.

December Features: little known artists that we like...Sunny...6*...

Good Morning, for the month of December we are going to be featuring an Artist, both local and from afar, that we have discovered and want to share with you, our followers! You can see the other posts for this month HERE  & HERE if you missed them!

This week we'd like to share with you  Susie Swanson, a dear poet from North
Carolina, who we know you'll enjoy.
She's written 2 books about her life, surroundings in the country side, and the old time ways and values.
You can find her on-line at https://www.facebook.com/Echoes-Of-Time-173729432822112/?fref=ts where she shares beautiful pictures from "back in the day"

Her books "Echoes of Time" and "Rhymes of My Life", are not
available in print currently but you can get them on Kindle. (there is a link on her Facebook page!)
You'll also find her blog www.countrysidepoet.blogspot.com  a delight!!
It's filled with poems, thoughts, and beautiful photos.
 I'll close with Just a snippet of Susie's writing here, the closing stanza from one of my favorite poems in Echoes Of Time "Yesterday's Sky"
" Writing about my Yesterdays
My inkpot will never run dry
They are planted in my heart
And still blue as Yesterday's sky"

www.countrysidepoet.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/Echoes-Of-Time-173729432822112/?fref=ts
 

Sunday Quotes....8*... sunny...

Cont. from  last week ( HERE )
You can hear music everywhere......
In the rhythm of the raindrops
In the rippling of a stream
In the lilt of children's laughter
As they romp upon the green
In the warm voice of a friend
And the comfort that it brings...
You can hear music everywhere
If you have a heart that sings   
Ruth Barker

Layered Cabbage Soup..... Windy..turning Colder

 With the arrival of Winter our thoughts turn to simmering soups of all kinds, nothing like coming into a bowl of hot soup after a long cold day, wouldn't you agree??

Layered Cabbage Soup

6 cups chicken broth
6 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
2 cups chopped kale or other greens
2 cups chopped carrots
3 cloves garlic
6 ounces Kielbasa or other hard sausage
1 tsp. tarragon
2 tsp. salt
Combine all of above and bring to boil, then cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Meanwhile stir 1 tsp. tarragon into 1 1/2 cups thick yogurt (plain Greek yogurt or strained homemade), set aside.
Place thick slice of sourdough or rye bread in each of 6 serving bowls.
 In 4 tablespoons of butter sauté 2 cups sliced onions.
Cook until just starting to brown and then put on top on bread.
Remove meat from soup, slice and add to bowls. Sprinkle each portion with 1/4
cup shredded cheddar cheese.(See pic on left.) Ladle hot cabbage soup
into bowls. Top with dollops of yogurt and sprinkle Smoked Paprika
over yogurt.



December Features: little known artists that we like ....Cloudy...windy...40's

Good Morning, for the month of December we are going to be featuring an Artist, both local and from afar, that we have discovered and want to share with you, our followers! You can see last week's feature HERE if you  missed it!
We've mentioned before how well hid artists can be in these hills.... Facebook, Etsy and the internet in general have allowed some of us to reach out to the 'rest of the world' with our creations!  This lady is another from our area that has been able to do that, I remember when she was going door to door selling her beautiful handmade items one at  a time , and now she has over 500 Sales on ETSY! Like I say in my introduction on the right "To raise a family in these surroundings a woman must have had character, strength and stamina. " ! ------>>>

Here's what Cindy has to say about her little shop in her own words :
I started painting about 7 years ago to help with the family income and as a way to glorify our Lord. I am a stay at home mom with 4 children at home. I make lots of different things including painted wine glass candles, journals, beautiful little scripture seashells. Hand painted tins, ornaments and more.............

We hope you'll Take a minute to stop by her shop and have a look at all her beautiful creations from her small Scriptures Shells to her full size paintings..... we think you'll  like what you see!
Visit Heavenly Treasures Etsy store here:
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeavenlyTreasures?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Sunday Quotes....Cloudy.. cool

You can hear music everywhere........... (Cont. from last week HERE )

In the whisper of the wind
Through the branches of the trees
In the chirping of the crickets
In the humming of the bees
In the chatter of the squirrel
In the whir of tiny wings.....
You can hear music everywhere
If you have a heart that sings
                          Ruth Barker ❦

Quick Carrot-Pineapple Cake...Partly sunny and COLD

1 pkg. Spice Cake Mix (16-18oz.)
2 eggs
1 + 1/4 cups crushed pineapple, not drained
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 + 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 cup raisins & nuts, optional

Make cake and pour in 8x8" , 9x9"  or two greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350 until tests done, about 40 minutes.
This cake is moist and delicious without frosting, or frost with buttercream frosting flavored with a little pineapple juice.

December Features: little known artists that we like

Good Morning, for the month of December we are going to be featuring an Artist, both local and from afar, that we have discovered and want to share with you, our followers!
For the first week we have some Music to share with you~ The Ozark Mountains are full of Talent, often well hidden!

 I've thoroughly enjoyed this CD and want to invite you to too!

His roots run deep here in the Ozarks, He considers himself a writer first and singer second, but his voice is great.
I'm sure the lyrics will touch you, After all isn't a songwriter really a poet?

                               Listen and follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3DpL9SyPR47X0_CXj9B1WQ

                                                     Listen to "Daddy's Old Work Boots"


                                                    The Meaning of It All  
     Find them On Facebook~ Follow for new songs, quotes and photography If you are interested in Buying a CD you can do that there too! :
                                 https://www.facebook.com/TheMeaningOfItAll2016/

Sunday Quotes..... Foggy.......chilly....

You can hear music everywhere
If you have a heart that sings ❦
You can hear a melody
In ordinary things.......
                      Ruth Barker

 

Soup Season.... Rainy.... chilly

Soup season is upon us! This is a favorite around our house, and unlike many soups that need to simmer for hours it can be thrown together in a few minutes with ingredients you most likely have on hand!!

Italian Soup
1 cup sliced kielbasa sausage
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
1 can diced Italian tomatoes, un-drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup penne or spiral pasta
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt , or to taste
1 tsp. garlic powder, or to taste
1 cup frozen spinach leaves
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 

Sauté sausage, onions and garlic in olive oil, about five minutes. Add  next three ingredients and bring to a boil, add pasta and seasonings, simmer uncovered for ten minutes or till pasta is tender. Add spinach, stir well, turn off heat, cover and let sit for five minutes.
To serve, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and serve with garlic bread or crackers.

Find this recipe and MANY more in our Digital
Everything Season Cookbook !
https://www.etsy.com/listing/254958239/digital-download-cookbook-digital?ref=shop_home_feat_4

Winter is on its way...... sunny 28*

Here are a few of my winter soothers....what are some of yours?

Chocolate pudding, hot coffee, a steaming bowl of soup...................

The fragrance of homemade bread and simmering soup

Backing up to the woodstove that's cooking the soup!

Eating homemade bread and homemade soup!

Reading a "can't put down book" while sipping hot cocoa
Enjoying the outside view of a sunny day while
Backing up to the woodstove!
Covering up with your "Biscuit Quilt" when not
Backing up to the woodstove!
Fingering the Biscuit quilt  while reminiscing  on heartfelt memories

these are a few of my winter soothers.........................