Old Fashioned Thumbprint Cookies.... Cooler

As with many old timey recipes, there are a lot of versions of how thumbprint cookies came about and just when they date back to. But regardless of all that, the fact remains that they are a well known cookie reminisint of 'the good old days' when Grandma still baked cookies with the grandkids while wearing her apron!
This recipe is quite simple, and the tender flaky cookies, show off the filling wonderfully. Traditionally thumbprints are filled with jam or jelly and though that will work beautifully in these, in springtime when we have so many eggs I love them filled with our Lemon curd

1 cup butter, very soft
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp's Almond extract
2 cups flour
1 cup homemade or prepared Lemon curd (cooled completely) OR your favorite Jam
 ** Find our Lemon Curd recipe HERE

 Mix butter and sugar together till very creamy, add extract.
Add flour and still well, it will be very crumbly at first, keep stirring, it will come together into a nice silk ball, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for an hour (longer is fine too).
Lightly dust hands with flour and pinch off small balls of dough, roll into a ball about 1 inch in size place on ungreased cookie sheet and as you set down use your thumb to make an indentation in center of cookie. You can place them quite close together as they hardly spread at all.
When all your cookies are formed, take a teaspoon and place a dollop of lemon curd in indentation (don't overfill--about 1/2 a tsp. will do it) Bake at 350*15-18 minutes. Cookies will be slightly firm to the touch but will not brown. Remove from tray to a wire rack and cool completely.

Glaze: Mix together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice (about a teaspoon)  to make a glaze that is thick but will easily drizzle off the end of a spoon, glaze cookies and serve!!!

Farm Life....Sunny... too hot for fall!

There comes a day, it's sad to say

When strength and stamina ebb away

When all the work you have to do

Seems overwhelming to you

So while there's time to make some plans

And take care of matters at hand

I've come to you my friends

To ask if any of my farm family

Could have a home with you

And become your friend
And I won't deny become your task for every day



5 month old mini lamancha buck

2 male ducks ~2 years old~ One friendly male goose 12 years old



Mama kitty about 1 year old spayed 14 week old female kitten ~Both very sweet

 

 

 

Sunday Quotes...sunny...too hot!

~In Theory~
"I'd like to live in Theory....Everything works there!"
....If I lived in THEORY my house would be cleaner in winter, because I can't work outside. It isn't!
....If I lived in THEORY I wouldn't be looking at seed & chick catalogs, because I would remember all the failures, from years gone by. I don't!
...If I lived in THEORY, my theory of staying strong and active by working hard would have kept me strong and active. It didn't!
....And in THEORY my ''get up a...nd go" would not
have 'got up and went'. IT DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else want to live in Theory with me?

Sunday Quotes....Sunny...warm

Farming looks mighty easy when you plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the cornfield ! ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

Apple Blondies...sunny & warm

Believe it or not ,Fall is just around the corner.....here's a favorite to make with fresh fall apples !

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup applesauce-unsweetened
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups, peeled and grated apples

Cream peanut butter, oil, applesauce and sugar together, add apples and vanilla, mix baking soda and flour together and add to mixture. Will be dry at first continue to stir until evenly mixed batter will be stiff. Spread into a well greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake at 350* for 25-35 minutes. A knife inserted near center will come out clean when done.

Wonderful just the way they are, warm with coffee OR milk.

Sunday Quotes...sunny...warm

Pumpkin Pie Squares..Sunny, warmer

A family favorite, this is a  quick and easy recipe to satisfy your pumpkin cravings!

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Maple flavoring
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter or margarine (see note)

In large bowl beat eggs and sugar together, add pumpkin, milk, flavoring and spices, beat till smooth. Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch pan.
Sprinkle evenly with dry cake mix. Dot with butter.(Note: I use a frozen stick of butter and my hand-held grater for this, evenly distributes butter over top with very little mess!)
Bake in 350* oven for 30-35 minutes, center will just be set and a knife inserted  near center should come out clean, top will brown lightly.
Allow to cool to room temp and serve, or refrigerate and eat cold the next day. Some in our family like them warm, some cold, try 'em both and see which you prefer!!!



ENJOY

Farm life.... cooler , sunny 52*

Good Morning, remember when Buck & Bubbles were born?
See how they've Grown! Buck & Bubbles are now five months old and it's time for them to go to a good home! details below!

 Doe & Buck, 3/4 Mini LaMancha, 5 months old. From good milking stock.Will wether if wanted. Doe, $75.  Buck, $50. Contact by email, can't text      jonquiljunction@gmail.com

Farm Life.... partly sunny, HOT!

Who needs a sweet cat and/or her kitten.??

Mother is about 1 yr. old, spayed, very friendly and sociable.

Would make someone a great companion. Kitten is female, 11 weeks old, and quite friendly.

See the rest of the story HERE

 

Sunday Quotes, sunny & pleasent

Gardening is the only unquestionably useful job. 
George Bernard Shaw

Fresh Apple Cake..... Cooler, sunny

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
3 cups peeled & shredded apples
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Beat eggs, sugars, apple sauce, oil and Vanilla till smooth add shredded apples stir to mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and stir just till all moistened. Pour in to a well greased 10'' tube pan. Bake at 350* 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Browned butter frosting
Frosting:
1/4 cup Butter (no substitutions)
2 T. half and half
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter in a skillet (cast iron works great, but watch it closely) till it is golden brown 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the half and half and vanilla let cool five minutes then add powdered sugar, beat for 2 minutes till smooth and creamy, add a bit more half and half in needed but you want it thick.
Brown Sugar Glaze
1/4 cup butter (no substitutions)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Melt butter in sauce pan, add brown sugar and half and half, simmer, stirring one minute, or till all sugar is dissolved, remove from heat add nuts, cool five minutes and drizzle over cake!