One Smart Kid

This little gal has made a video in response to an article written by Dr. Oz that conventionally grown food is just as healthy as local and organic food. He went so far as to say canned foods are a bargain food and just as nutritious.

I never watch Oz because he has always come off as an advocate for big agra and his health information is outdated. He states that eating real, organic, local food is "snobby" and "elitist! What??? Is he kidding? He supports the large food companies, with their CEOs who make more money in a year  than most of us will see in a lifetime, and calls budget-conscious people who support small farms part of the 1%?

Here's my note to Dr. Oz - stop drinking the Kool-Aid! You have, in my opinion, a serious conflict of interest in most of what you present. Studies funded by the Canned Food Association are going to tell people that those BPA lined lids are not good for you? That the pesticide-laden food one finds in those cans is safe? As Coral says.... puh-leeze!

Take a look for yourself and share, share, share. Let's see if we can get Dr. Oz to see this and respond!

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.

Food Companies to Avoid

Here is a list of food companies that donated considerable funds to prevent labeling of genetically modified food. You might want to show them how you feel about that by not buying their products. The list also shows companies we thought were OK, but it turns out they are just subsidiaries of larger companies:

Many of the products that seem so good are actually just subsidiaries of the companies that were most complicit in blocking GMO labeling, aided and abetted by everyone’s favorite purveyor of death, Monsanto. (Monsanto, incidentally, donated $7,100,500.00 to the fight against the labeling of GMO-containing products.) Don’t forget that Monsanto is now above the law due to the Monsanto Protection Act, a traitorous rider that Senator Roy Blunt managed to attach to a bill that was subsequently signed into law by President Obama. (you know, that guy in the White House, who made the labeling of GMOs one of his 2007 campaign promises?)

In addition, there is a list of the good guys. Here is the link for the complete article:

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/the-grocery-store-blacklist-12-food-companies-to-avoid-and-95-sneaky-aliases_042013

Spring!

A Prayer in Spring 

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Robert Frost

 

Happy Spring! I am trying to get into the season, another words - spring cleaning. I have decided to clear away things I've been saving - just in case; give away some books I have been holding on to, but will never read again; sort through the pantry, that sort of thing. I am also tending some new plants and creative endeavors, making lists, planning, organizing, and dreaming it will all get done. Well... we shall see!

Tangled in threads and flowers and dreams...

Mrs. K.

Sherlock, The Ripper, and Potato Peel Pie

Earlier today I finished "Dust and Shadows" by Lyndsay Faye, an excellent Sherlock Holmes pastiche. It is a story of Holmes and Watson chasing down Jack the Ripper. This is a very credible tale about the Ripper and who he could have been, as well as being an excellent story about Holmes, true to Conan Doyle's characters. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to you if, like me, you are a bit of a Sherlockian, as well as have a morbid interest in old Jack.

We were having a very lazy Sunday, my dear husband watching television, lying in bed, and occasionally dozing, me in my chair reading my Nook (for a change from my Kindle) finishing Dust and Shadows. When I did finish, I browsed through some non-fiction that has my attention at this time, stitched a bit, and drank too much coffee for my belly's comfort. I went off and took a nap, contemplating what novel next to read.

Upon arising from my nap, feeling a bit worse for it, I browsed through my Nook and stumbled upon "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, a story about a writer who receives a letter from a member of said society just after World War II, about a book he has, formerly hers, and its author. During the war, Guernsey was occupied by the Nazis, which I never knew. It is told, so far, as I haven't finished it, in a series of letters. I know this novel was published in 2009, but I just never got around to reading it. I vaguely recall my mother recommending it to me. I must have thought about it because it has been there, in my Nook, for some time, but I did not look at it until today. And I must say, I am enchanted by it!!!

I am ambling through it, savoring all the stories the various characters have to tell, and becoming rather attached to them, well most. The letters are wonderful to read, the stories interesting, delightful, and sad. I am trying to go slowly, but of course I want to know what happens.

There are a few dishes in the sink, my empty and aromatic coffee cup sitting beside me tempting me despite my tummy, and my needlework hanging off the sofa, while I continue to read. As a side note, I am rather cold and will have to wrap myself up in an afghan while I sit here. The temperature has dropped in South Florida - tonight heading to the 40s!!! For those in the more northern climes, I am sure you are snickering, but my blood is thin from the constant heat. Even at this time of my life, perpetual hormonal summer, this is too cold. I did not venture out into the cold today and will remain, with my needlework and books, hidden in my lair, tomorrow as well!

Tangled in threads and words,
Mrs. K.

Roses

...I am distracted by beauty. Parked right in front of me is a teal vase containing a garden bouquet of twenty roses, a bright spectrum of colors: fuchsia, blue-red, talcy pink, peach, yellow-white (the Swan), purple-and-white stripe (Purple Tiger), orangey-cream tinged with pink (Abraham Darby), and a hot pink that verges on red (Leonardo da Vinci). They all have names, of course, such as Intrigue, Autumn Sunset, Lasting Peace, and Fame. Some open simply, others are densely ruffled. Some roses seem to be tumbling from the squat round vase, tumbling yet stopped in midair. Others are braced by the lip of the vase, chins resting. Most are fanned out at different angles. But for the green foliage giving them a context and weave, they would seem to be floating on clouds or a rose iceberg of different hues. The whole effect is beautiful enough to make one cry out, not in pain but in beauty. Wow!

         -  from "Cultivating Delight, A Natural History of My Garden" by Diane Ackerman 

The language of roses: 

love, grace, purity, charm, simplicity.

Rose Petal Tea

2 teaspoonfuls of fine black tea

1 teaspoonful dried, organic rose petals

2 cups boiling water

Pour the water over the tea and flowers, steep 5 minutes.

Strain and enjoy with honey and cream.

Wandering through gardens in books,
Mrs. K

           

Books, Books, and More Books!

Well, I just blew through that Regency Romance challenge in a bit more than a week; read 6 books and enjoyed every minute! Didn't get much else done around the house and drank pots of tea! It's all good.

I have one of those big chairs, called a chair and a half. We call it the Queen's chair - the queen being me, of course. On one side is my Ott floor lamp and an antique contraption that holds my stitching. I would post a photo of it, but it is a real mess with fabric and threads piled high and spilling over the sides. It is quite an interesting piece which I stole purchased with a mess of old sewing items. I'll just have to wait until I sort it out and share it with you. On the other side of the chair is one of our bookshelves - well, my bookshelf. There is one shelf of ancient history and the rest are gardening, flower lore, herbs, field guides, etc. I love to reach over and grab a book to browse through, it is truly a pleasure. Here are a few favorites.

Probably my most favorite little garden book with the sweetest illustrations.

So interesting, I love this one too. It has so much history and wonderful illustrations and photos.

Plenty of Victorian ephemera in this one.

I love the Brother Cadfael mysteries and have a very large collection, just about all of them, so when this was published, I grabbed it. A beautiful book.

If a garden or plant was painted or used in poetry, novels, etc. it is likely here.

This is from 1936, a little collectable scrapbook issued by W. D. and H. O. Wills cigarettes, a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland. I guess when you bought a pack of their cigarettes, it came with a little card with a botanical illustration. The cards were glued in where appropriate, the name of the plant and information about said plant below the little box where the card was to be placed. Here are a couple of photos of the inside. My copy has all the cards.

Diane Ackerman is a favorite writer, her prose is just beautiful. This book was one I just took my time with, I didn't want to finish it. It is such a delicious journey through a year in her garden. If you've never read it and love a garden, nature, the outdoors, I highly recommend it. I've probably read it several times.

One portion of a shelf with some old flower and garden books, as well as a couple of pieces of Fulgurite. Do you know what Fulgurite is? Just in case you don't, it is sand that has been struck by lightening. That traumatic event fuses the sand into these wonderfully interesting looking tubes, smooth as glass on the inside and rough on the outside.

So there we are, some books I love. I hope you enjoyed this mini tour of my bookshelf.

 From Sarah Midda's In and Out of the Garden.

Dreaming of gardens and flowers, tea and radishes with bread and butter,

Mrs. K.

Regency Romance Reading Challenge 2013

Good grief, here it is, the 24th of January, and I haven't checked in since the New Year. I have been very busy with various projects, including searching for the Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. This adventure was written by me many years ago, before personal computers, and is typed on a couple of sheets of paper, in a file somewhere. It is a humorous, if I do say so myself, account of my first attempt at making a traditional Christmas pudding. I wanted to share it here over the holidays, but alas, it will have to wait for next year.

Alas? Yes, alas! As you can see I am jumping right back to the Regency as I am prone to do when immersing myself in that period or rereading Jane Austen. One of the JA blogs, Austenprose is sponsoring a reading challenge featuring the work of Candice Hern. Although I have not read Candice's work, according to reviews she writes in the style of Georgette Heyer. I adore Georgette Heyer's novels and so I've decided to jump right in. 

The challenge is to read a number of Candice's novels between now and September 30, 2013. One to two novels and short stories bestows upon one the title of Neophyte, three to five - Disciple, and six to nine novels and short stories, Aficionado. There are prizes to be awarded and the sharing of reviews which each participant will be posting to their respective blogs.

So... I begin my quest with "Miss Lacey's Last Fling." It looks to be an amusing read. Review to come. If you are a lover of the Regency romance genre, why not join in? Click on "Austenprose" above which will take you to the page with all the information. 

Wading through scattered pages, books, and threads,

Mrs. K.

   

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

May all good things bless you and yours in this new year.

Looking Forward

May this new year find you

healthier and happier,

peaceful, content, satisfied,

looking forward

to fresh, revitalizing interests,

a variety of pleasures,

interests and new people,

material and personal successes

to make this new year

the best one yet.

Happy New Year!

(author, Joanna Fuchs)

Yours in friendship,

Mrs. K.

Have Yourself A Merry Christmas!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a wonderful day

filled with love and laughter,

good food and good cheer,

and whatever else makes you happy!

We were supposed to have a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas day, however, friends came last night for a little while, and other friends are joining us for our traditional lasagna. Dinner, of course, to be preceded by the usual good appetizers; not a real antipasto, but close enough.

It's been a busy December and I am looking forward to a peaceful and quiet New Year. This Christmas sure did come upon us quickly, didn't it? I do suppose, though, if you're five, ten, or thereabout, it took an awfully long time. I certainly don't remember the days flying by when I was a child as they seem to today.

Well, off to the kitchen. Have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Deliciously yours, 

Mrs. K.

 Yeah, right!!! ; )

Happy Birthday, Jane!

Happy Birthday to Jane Austen, born in 1775. I thank her for many, many hours of delightful reading, watching movies interpret her stories, and feeding my soul. For Jane, that old saying about living on really is true - she does live on in her novels, the movies, and thanks to the Jane Austen Society.

Favorite Jane novel: Persuasion

Favorite movie version: 1995

Favorite Anne actress: Amanda Root

Favorite Captain Wentworth actor: Ciaran Hinds

Favorite Quote from Persuasion: "I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me that I am not too late, that such precious feelings are not gone forever." Capt. Frederick Wentworth to Anne Elliot.

I actually have many favorite quotes from this novel, but this one, well, it is quite romantic and I do love it. The Sampler Girl ( click here) designed a cross stitch pattern with this quote and naturally I purchased it. The Sampler Girl has a whole series of designs inspired by Jane and her novels, so if you enjoy stitching, take a browse. I have yet to stitch this particular design, but it is in my new collection of projects that I recently put together for the next year's stitching. I always do this around Christmas time.  Another little cushion, perhaps, for the connubial couch.

Tangled in threads,
Mrs. K.

Stitching Ornaments

To be honest, by this time of my life, after years of collecting and stitching, I have enough ornaments and more! However... that doesn't stop me from stitching new ones or, at least one new one every year. I have a stash of ornament designs to choose from and now.... The Stitcher's Village, click here, will have a free ornament each day until December 1st. This began yesterday, so there are two ornaments so far.

Yesterday's ornament, Colorful Christmas Trees is from Rosewood Manor, a designer who's work I really like. It is very pretty and looks like a quick stitch. Today's design is by Moonflower Designs, Linked Hearts. She stitched it on silver perforated paper and the colors do not appeal to me at all, but stitched on linen in either one color, or some others, it has potential. I prefer more primitive and traditional designs, so other's milage may vary.

If you sign up for the newsletter, you will have access to the designs. Who can't use free designs? Many thanks to the designers for donating their design freebies and Stitcher's Village for hosting this ornament design give-away!!!!

Now... back to my holiday cleaning marathon, tearing apart our little condo and scrubbing it down within an inch of its life!!!

Tangles in threads and dustballs,
Mrs. K.

After Thanksgiving!

Well, I certainly hope your Thanksgiving was as lovely as mine. That nasty stomach virus I had been dealing with finally let up and I was able to enjoy my dinner. I made sure not to over-indulge. Although the wine didn't sit well, otherwise I am back in fighting form! Yay! I don't do sick well.

Our Thanksgiving was spent at my husband's cousin's club (what a mouthful!) which included very moist and delicious turkey, naturally, but also excellent ham, apple cider glazed salmon, and prime rib that didn't require a knife to cut. Along with these, there were traditional fixings, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, a wonderful salad table that included a sauteed mushroom and Brussels  sprouts salad with bits of bacon that was out of this world. I will be figuring out that recipe, for sure. There was plenty of breads; cornbread, rolls, sliced breads of all types, butter and honey butter. Then there was dessert... two rooms worth, traditional pies and everything in between and around, including a sugar free table that I don't think anyone touched, hehe. The chef even made his own truffles and white chocolate covered almonds. OH...... delightful. However, with my tender tummy, I did not over indulge, enjoying a few little bites of this and that along with a lovely cup of tea. Best of all, Mike's cousin and his wife, Aunt Harriet and her friend, Arlene, were there to share the day. We sat a good long time, chatting, laughing, and remembering. My own mother was home with my nephew and a few friends. She said she cooked up a feast that she hasn't done in years when we talked on the phone. Thanksgiving, a wonderful day!

How appropriate that Common Sense Homesteading had this post today - all about natural remedies for.... you guessed it, upset tummy! See the post here. Good information to add to one's housekeeping book or file.

Do you remember those old Victorian housekeeping books? I have a number of them, including Mrs. Beeton's, of course. My edition is probably early 1900s, but there were many editions. I also have a copy of A Jane Austen Household Book, which includes Martha Lloyd's receipts; not an antique, but most interesting. I do have many actual antique books which I love to peruse and even attempt the recipes - adjusting measures and ingredients as needed. There is a lot of advice about remedies too, which Laurie's post at Common Sense Homesteading reminded me of.

Folks are  so quick to take a pill when, most of the time, a cup of chamomile tea with a just a pinch of mint will do the trick for the upset tummy. A tea of crushed fennel seeds also relieves the, pardon the expression, burps. Herbal tinctures are also very good - melissa, passionflower, chamomile, all relaxing when stress is about to overwhelm or you can't sleep. Of course, there are good medicines today, so I like to utilize the best of both worlds; the ultimate tummy soother: Pepto Bismol! Works for me, LOL!

Moving along, it is now officially THAT time of year, the countdown to the holidays! On the agenda for me, finishing handmade gifts, candy and cookie making, cakes, homemade eggnog, and, of course, decorating. I like to have my tree up on December 1st so I can enjoy it all month. Last year, I was way behind getting my decorating done and that definitely will not be happening this year. I am ready to go!

We, in this household, celebrate Chanukah as well as Christmas, Mr. K being Jewish. I love it!!! Getting a little Chanukah gift takes the edge off waiting for Christmas, LOL! (oh, I have to stop with the exclamation points! Argh, there I go again.) After all these years being married, we curb the gift giving to just little goodies, but still, it is the excitement of a sweet little something wrapped in pretty paper. So, in addition to the Christmas food making, there will be LATKES!!!! And no latke incident as happened a few years ago - I will post that another day, a funny story, just before Chanukah which begins the evening of December 8th. Out with the menorah and blue paper!!! Onward potatoes, onions, applesauce and sour cream!!! The smell of frying will permeate my home for a few days, but it IS worth it. Nothing like homemade potato pancakes!!!

What about all of you? Ready to decorate? Recovered from the wonderful gastronomic indulgences of Thanksgiving and plotting those for Christmas? My Christmas pudding fixings await me!

Did I say Christmas pudding???? I certainly did. Today is Stir-up Sunday, the Sunday before Advent or the Sunday after Thanksgiving, according to some. In any event, mine is not a traditional plum pudding, but a dried apricot pudding. Each and every Sunday after making it, I unwrap it and douse it in rum, wrap it back up and leave it in the fridge to do its thing. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, that baby is potent! And quite delicious with a lovely, buttery rum sauce drizzled over it. Lights up like a torch too, hehe! Yes, we set it alight in the traditional manner. Fun, fun.

So, off I go, because in addition to the pudding and some ham steaks for supper, there is stitching to be done.

Tangled in threads and deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you be blessed with plenty and more;

lots of love, plenty of delicious food enjoyed with abandon,

family and friends who love and treasure you.

Thanks so much for reading my blog, 

Tangled in threads and deliciously yours,

Mrs. K (and Mr. K. too)

Remembering Thanksgiving

When I was a child, Thanksgiving was a very exciting time. Most years, family joined us for dinner, but sometimes, it was just the immediate family, my parents and us kids. My dad always cooked breakfast for us on Sundays and holidays, pancakes! He made great pancakes and we ate piles, literally. He would just keep cooking until he could see we were full, then he'd sit down and have his breakfast.

There was one thing my dad, who's gone now three years as of October, did for us on Thanksgiving when we were kids, that I always remember with such sweetness. We'd come to the breakfast table, waiting for those pancakes, and there was a little gift at each of our places; just small things, a little mini tea set, a little girl's make-up kit - not really make-up, but the play stuff. My brother would find Match Box cars, little tools, those sorts of little toys and goodies one found in the Five and Ten, or in our case, the Hopewell Pharmacy. We could never wait to see what he got us. Small things, big memories.

Yesterday, as I am just getting over a stomach virus from hell, I made a pot of homemade chicken soup. I had a large pack of chicken thighs in the freezer, so I used those. I cooked the chicken with some onions, garlic, celery with leaves, and a couple of carrot. When the meat was cooked, I removed it, but threw the bones and skin back into the pot, cooking another couple of hours. I then strained the broth and put it back into the pot. Along with more fresh onion, lots of garlic - all told, about 8 cloves, carrots, and celery, I threw in a leftover half bag of frozen spinach, some barley, about a third box leftover ditilini macaroni, and finally, some cheese tortellini. That is the best chicken soup I have ever had, and I consider myself a connoisseur. Love chicken soup.

Wasn't sure how Mr. K. would react to such a mixed pot, but he ate three bowls and told me I better make it again just that way. He said I could always add matzoh balls too! As I've mentioned before, we mix it up in our home and it's all good.

Tomorrow we are off to Mr. K's cousin's club, as we have been doing for the past few years, joining relatives and friends. They put on an incredible spread, so it will be a wonderful meal. For leftovers, I've got that pot of soup in the fridge, but who knows, maybe Sunday, as I stir up my Christmas pudding, I'll make a little turkey dinner just for the two of us. As for the pudding, I'll share the adventure of the first one I made later in the week.

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.  

A Mega Candy Bar!!!

You must visit Cakespy for the directions/recipe for the above - it is an amalgam of mini candy bars melted into one large one. You've got to take a peek, I almost fell into a diabetic coma just reading about it. It looks quite scrumptious as one could add all one's favorite candy bars!!! A fun treat.

Here's the link:  CakeSpy

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.

Whole Foods Sells Organic Food From CHINA?

Take a look at this! If you shop at Whole Foods, you will want to take a closer look at what you are buying and where it comes from. READ THE LABELS! Whole Foods brand California Blend Frozen Organic Veggies are from China! While California is shown in large type, the "from China" note is in very small print. It isn't only these vegetables, either, it is other foods as well.

I found out about this from The Healthy Home Economist blog. I highly recommend this blog for keeping informed about traditional, healthy foods and how to cook them.

There are problems with products from China all the time. Remember all the dead pets? Why would anyone want to buy so-called organic food from them? Why is any market supposedly dedicated to organic, local, sustainably grown food buying produce from China in the first place? 

Watch this and learn, then let Whole Paycheck Foods what you think. 

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.

Happy Halloween!

May no goblins catch you, and don't eat too much

candy, but do have a fun and

Happy Halloween!

Deliciously yours,

Mrs. K.

Leaf Bowl

I thought this was really nice when I saw the photo on Facebook. There is a great tutorial and the bowl is easy to make. Thought I'd share, so take a look!

http://www.hellolucky.com/wordpress/2012/10/25/diy-autumn-leaf-bowls/

Tangled in threads, at the moment!

Mrs. K.

Canning Label Giveaway at Canning Granny

On Facebook, I always keep up to date with everyone's canning by reading Canning Granny's page. She also has a  great blog - Canning Granny - click and it will take you right to the page about her canning label giveaway. Here's her FB page, just in case you'd like to follow her there - Canning Granny FB - people post photos of all their wonderful canning stuff, a great page.

I don't know about anyone else, but I never seem to have enough labels - I like to put them on my canning jars, of course, but baked goods, seasoning mixes, etc. Check it out and enter for a chance to win some nice labels!

The photo above was nabbed from FB - a WWII poster.

Off to bake some cornbread!!!

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K.

Catching Up & Brussels Sprouts

Good grief, I haven't even said Happy October, so first... Happy October!!! This is a favorite month as I love autumn and Halloween. I have been busy finishing up my fruit butters, making pomanders, giving my home a good cleaning, and decorating for the season. Busy, busy.

We are not visiting North Carolina this month and I am so disappointed! It just can't be done, so onward and forward. I look forward to getting away into some real autumn weather every year and I feel rather sad, sort of a deep ache and longing. Oh well, I'll survive. Surely no one ever died from not being able to make their autumn pilgrimage.

I have been consoling myself with plenty of tea, stitching gifts for the holidays - I am even weaving a little bookmark for a friend - and browsing through favorite books. One favorite is Sara Midda's "In And Out of the Garden." No matter how many times I look through this beautiful book, I never tire of Sara's charming and whimsical illustrations. It is filled with old garden lore, recipes, quotes, and other wonderful things, including poetry.

Within this book I found a very sweet little poem about brussels sprouts that I just adore; I am known for reciting it whenever the urge strikes! For many years I didn't like these little cabbage-like vegetables, in fact I didn't like cabbage much, nor onions. Now however, I love all three. Brussels sprouts still require special treatment in order for me to enjoy them though and, over the years, I have found the perfect way to cook them so they are just right for me.

First, I choose baby sprouts if they are available. Second, I toss them with plenty of butter, Celtic salt, and maple syrup. Yep... maple syrup. Brown sugar or honey works well too; that bit of added sweetness just does something to enhance the flavor, but the maple syrup, that makes them extra special. Most important, I roast them at about 350 degrees until they are tender. I don't like my veggies barely cooked, I prefer them well cooked and, according to Bee at Healing Naturally By Bee, it is best for one's digestion. All I know is that MY digestion is happiest with well-cooked vegetables.

Back to sprouts... I make sure I keep an eye on the sprouts, stirring them often, and watching so they don't get charred. I don't like charred veggies. Sometimes, I toss in a couple of apples or pears, which is quite delicious, or even a sliced Vidalia onion. If I use apples, I might even add a splash of Calvados or apple cider, very good indeed! One thing is for sure, after roasting, more butter is added, seasoning adjusted, and none are left! Mr. K. is quite fond of brussels spouts.

Do you like brussels sprouts? How do you cook them? Love to hear how you prefer yours... or not. I shall leave you with the brussels sprouts poem from Sara's book.

Sprouts for dinner, 

Sprouts for tea,

Sprouts for you

and sprouts for me.

Sprouts at Christmas,

Sprouts at Fall.

Whether large

- or whether small,

Sprouts enough to fill us all!

I say, hurray for brussels sprouts!

Deliciously yours,

Mrs. K.

Do you like

So long, Andy

How sad, I read, earlier today, that singer Andy Williams passed away. He was 84 years old. I've always loved his music. As I mentioned in other posts, my mom played a lot of music, all kinds, so I tend to have very eclectic taste in music. There's something about listening to Andy that just brings memories of good times. His wonderful voice relaxes me too.

Moonriver, Canadian Sunset, Days of Wine and Roses, Autumn Leaves, Born Free, Three Coins in the Fountain - all favorites. I'm listening to his wonderful voice right now.

Well, I hope he's meeting up with all the terrific crooners that have gone before, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin. So long, Andy, we'll miss you.

Tangled in memories,
Mrs. K.

Apples, Memories, and Johnny Appleseed

Well. I'm about to get on with making apple butter, and there's also my favorite apple cake, which I am baking for Mr. K. this afternoon. He's fasting for Yom Kippur today. That cake will make a lovely dessert for breaking his fast, while making my home smell wonderful! 

Anywho ... I was buzzing around the internet and found an interesting tidbit about Johnny Appleseed. It just so happens that today is his birthday.

Jason Mankey, a blogger over at Patheos.com , had this to share:

In 1948 The Walt Disney company released a series of shorts as the movie Melody Time. The most well known of those shorts tells the tale of Johnny Appleseed, assuring his place in the pantheon of North American Folklore. I have mixed feelings about the Disney short. In some ways it captures Johnny’s love of the natural world, and in most other ways it, predictably, paints a completely romanticized and cleaned up picture of the man John Chapman.

Chapman was born in Massachusetts in 1774, and by the time he was twenty had already moved “West.” West in 1794 meant Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where he began his carrer as a somewhat successful nurseryman and unsuccessful land speculator. Disney portrayed Chapman as someone who picks apples, but what Chapman really did was grow apple trees. Chapman’s business model was simple: go where you think the next wave of settlers will be, and set up a small apple orchard near by, usually just a few acres surrounded by a fence to keep livestock out. As the Frontier moved westward, Appleseed moved with it, living most of his long life (he died at age 70) in Ohio, before making it as far as Illinois.

Apple trees were not quite currency in the frontier lands of Ohio, but they were necessary for most homesteaders. The U.S Government required settlers to plant (apple and pear) trees on their property to prove they weren’t land speculators. That requirement is how Chapman made his living. While most of us think of apples as edible, Johnny Appleseed’s apples were often just the opposite.

All of Chapman’s trees were grown from seeds, making the fruit they produced more like crab apples than the Golden Delicious and Macintosh varieties we eat today.

If the fruit from Chapman’s trees was inedible, what were they good for? The easy answer is booze, most specifically hard cider and apple jack (which is a super concentrated cider).

You can read the entire blog post, which is very interesting, by clicking the link above It is worth reading. It seems old Johnny was rather what we might call a mountain man today - unkempt, barefoot, and homeless. I thought this was pretty interesting, because I grew up in upstate New York and we went to a nearby orchard every year to pick apples - bushels of them. They were kept in our cellar through the winter. My mom spent days preparing many apple pies, only one or two went into the oven, then she froze the rest so she could just pull one out and bake it up fresh whenever we wanted one. She also made plenty of apple sauce. We, my brother and sisters, ate our way through those bushels, we just loved apples. I am still overly fond of them and will choose apple desserts over chocolate every time. Of course, there's nothing like a fresh, crisp apple, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to receive a box of fresh apples from home.

Even those apples I grew up on were unlike what I find in the grocery store today. They weren't perfectly shaped, but they sure weren't crab apples either. We had plenty of crab apple trees around our neighborhood, but the apple trees were wonderfully gnarly and great for climbing. We ate as many apples as we picked - no nasty pesticides, thank goodness. I have really fond memories of those times and the apple scent that filled our basement. Nothing makes me feel more homesick and nostalgic than the scent of fresh apples; add the scent of cinnamon and clove and I just want to go home. I must be honest here and say that I've lived longer in South Florida than I did in New York, but once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker. I have discovered, in my visits to North Carolina, that they have some pretty good apples too, so I like to bring home a bushel when we get up there each autumn.

Oh well, it seems to be a day of memories. I better get that cake into the oven, but first I'll have a nice cup of apple spice tea! Have a lovely day!

Deliciously yours,
Mrs. K. 

A Blessed and Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Happiness, love, good health, prosperity,

and an abundance of goodness and sweet blessings

 is what I wish for you in the New Year!

Deliciously yours,

Mrs. K. 

Plum Butter, Yum!

Yesterday was a busy day as I finally got my plum butter made; I had planned to do it Sunday, but got sidetracked with other things... reading a couple of good mysteries and stitching. I just needed a lazy day, so I gave myself one. However, those plums were ready to go and so I had to get busy.

This jam is such a gorgeous color in addition to being SO delicious! I used a mixture of dark purple and red plums, sugar, cinnamon, and just a touch of cloves. Perfection, if I do say so myself. ; )

I always begin by selecting the most luscious looking plums I can find. I needed about six pounds. I wash them  and let the soak a bit in a tub of water to which I've added some vinegar; this is to clean them really well. I then rinse and quarter them, removing the pit. I add a bit of water, just enough to keep them from sticking, cover and cook until soft. Plenty of checking and stirring is needed. Sometimes a bit more water needs to be added, but these were very juicy so I didn't have to. When softened, I put the cooked plums through a food mill, measure, so I know how much sugar to start with, and put back into the pot. Peels were disposed of and I was ready to make the fruit butter.

Sugar, I started this batch with half a cup of sugar per cup of fruit puree, then the spices, a tablespoon of cinnamon and a half teaspoon of cloves, were stirred in. I slowly brought to a boil, then reduced the heat a bit. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, I taste and make any adjustments in sugar and spice. This batch needed a half cup more sugar, but the spices were perfect.

Bubble, bubble, simmering away, stirring with my lovely, handmade, heart-shapred wooden spoon. I bought it last year at the Southern Highlands Craft Fair in Asheville, NC. Puts a bit of extra love into all this goodness. When I think the consistency is just right, I check my fruit butters by placing a bit on a chilled saucer that has been waiting in the freezer. I put the saucer back in the freezer for a moment or so, then check. Perfect timing yesterday!

Into the jars, edges wiped, lids and screwbands placed, I try not to burn my fingers on the hot, sterilized jars, but, ouch, they are hot!

I use the water bath canning method for 15 minutes. Boiling away!

 The end result... ooh deliciousness! The color is so pretty too. As the jars are removed from the canner, I wait for that "ping" as they seal - love that little sound! Naturally, Mr. K. couldn't wait to sample some, and since there was one jar that was only about two thirds filled and didn't go into the canner, he helped himself. There's always one of these left that goes right into the fridge, after the taste tester has done his job, of course!

Today... pear butter, which I've not made before. I found some lovely pears so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm rather partial to pears. I checked through my cookbooks, but couldn't find a recipe, so I checked on line and found one. I was concerned about the canning method, wanted to be sure there wasn't any issue. The recipe I found adds a little orange juice. Sounds good! I'm also going to get my pomanders done tonight and get them to curing. You can imagine how wonderful my home smells with all this going on.

Next week is apple butter time. Apple butter is my favorite. There is just something about that taste, the apples, my favorite fruit, and all those spices. I love the scent of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, along with apple and orange. I make a simmering pot pourri that keeps our little place smelling lovely with these ingredients for when I'm not making fruit butters!

Oh well, off to the kitchen!

Deliciously yours,

Mrs. K

Farewell Marilyn

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum, in the garden

Such sad news! I just heard that Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum, the wonderful cross stitcher designer, passed away on August 12th. She was the creator of many beautiful designs. I first became acquainted with her work years ago, the late 1980s, I believe. The stitching group I belonged to decided to have a special meeting night just to stitch the Told In The Garden designs, which are very country-style, Amish inspired designs. We were just crazy about them; I still have a very large collection of the designs. We even called the group Told In The Garden. This is one that I stitched and finished in 1990:

The Quilting

The words, "The Quilting" were designed to be stitched under the quilters, but I decided to leave it out. I think the large, blue quilt has over 3000 stitches, LOL! Marilyn went on to create many other designs, under the Butternut Road, and Lavender and Lace, design names; all beautiful. She was a prolific designer.

Spiritdancer, Butternut Road

 Celtic Banner, Butternut Road

Firefly Fairies, Lavender and Lace

My favorites, though, are the Told In The Garden designs. These designs have a special place in my heart, as does the group I stitched with, and as does Marilyn. 

Farewell Marilyn, stitch away in the stars above.

Tangled in threads,

Mrs. K.