Ina Garten's Apple Crostata

A friend suggested "The Barefoot Contessa's" Apple Crostata...

we loved it! Thank you Kristi! :-)

Shhh... please don't tell the Contessa -

I cheated and used a prepared pie crust!

Oh the shame... ;-)

Autumn Chowder

Autumn Chowder
6 servings

1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, chopped
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
12 baby carrots, quartered
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1 bag frozen corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon flour
4 tablespoons water
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the potato, carrot, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are almost tender. Stir in the milk, corn, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes longer. Combine the flour and water until smooth; gradually whisk into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Stir in bacon. Serve up big bowls and enjoy!

Yum...yum...yum...and oh did I say yum?! :-)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~for today~
November 10, 2008

Outside my window...
the sun is rising behind lots of clouds.

I am thinking...
about plans for the day.

I am thankful for...
an unchanging God.

From the learning room...
we'll be starting the chapter on plants in our Science curriculum and reading about the pilgrims.

From the kitchen...
Starbucks Thanksgiving Blend coffee this morning! :-)

And our menu -

heritage schoolhouse supper menu

I am wearing...
my pajamas and favorite pink robe.

I am creating...
a paper Mayflower replica with my son (hopefully!)

I am going...
to the grocery store, Wal-Mart and a 4H meeting today.

I am reading...
cookbooks (as always!)

I am hoping...
it rains all day!

I am hearing...
the clock ticking and that is all!

Around the house...
I'll be putting away summer clothes and getting out winter things.

One of my favorite things...
Thanksgiving!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
include the last week of soccer practices and games, some shopping, and Thanksgiving planning.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Please visit The Simple Womans Daybook!

Neat New Book

"One Year to an Organized Life - From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good" by Regina Leeds

The author divides getting organized into 12 monthly sections with four weekly tasks. The first week of every month is devoted to journaling and understanding the psychology of disorganization. The remaining three weeks of every month are for tasks like creating a bedroom sanctuary, packing wisely for trips, and creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Full of useful information for everyone, from the person who needs simply to clean a messy desk to the person requiring a whole new approach to life; highly recommended for all libraries.

Yay! Organizing by the season - I love it! I am SO starting this in January! :-)

Morning Maple Muffins

Morning Maple Muffins

(from Taste of Home magazine)
12 servings

2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
for topping
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons chopped nuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons cold butter

Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine milk, butter, syrup, sour cream, egg and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. For topping, combine flour, sugar, nuts and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400° for 16-20 minutes or until muffins are done. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Enjoy!

Supper Menus
November 10th-15th

Monday
autumn chowder, country cornbread muffins, apple crostata
Tuesday
pinto beans and rice, venison sausage, jalapeno cheese cornbread, chocolate peanut butter cups
Wednesday
tomato soup, sweet autumn salad, Mrs. Wilt's saucy chicken sandwiches
Thursday
individual meatloaves, mashed potatoes, peas, dinner rolls
Friday
oven fried chicken, homestyle macaroni and cheese, lettuce and tomato salad, big daddy biscuits
Saturday
out for burgers after soccer tournament

Please visit Menu Plan Monday for more menu planning ideas.

Love This Quote! :-)

"Shut the door. Not that it lets in the cold,

but that it lets out the coziness."

~ Mark Twain

Found in a thrifted book I bought last week entitled "Welcome Home - Tips for Creating a Haven for Mind, Body, and Spirit" by Elizabeth Knight.

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Comfy Kitchen" by Erin Dertner

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

Aunt J's Spicy Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce
8 servings

1 pound spicy sausage (or ground beef)
1 pound regular sausage (or ground beef)
3 onions, chopped
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 14.5 ounce cans tomato sauce
1 12 ounce can tomato paste
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Cook sausage, onions, mushrooms and garlic over medium heat for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to slow cooker. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover; cook on low 8 to 9 hours. Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy!

Aunt J served this before trick or treating...and we all had seconds!

Time for School

My children never hear me when I need them to come to the table for school work. They don't hear me that is, unless I holler! I don't like to holler. It's unladylike. :-( I have discovered that they can hear this! It sounds so much nicer than Mama hollerin'...and I get to feel a little like Laura Ingalls ringing the school bell! ;-)

Do you have a little bell around the house you could use to call the children?

Moments of Awareness

"So much of life we all pass by
With heedless ear, and careless eye.
Bent with our care we plod along,
Blind to the beauty, deaf to the song.

But moments there are when we pause to rest
And turn our eyes from the goal's far crest.
We become aware of the wayside flowers,
And sense God's hand in this world of ours.

We hear a refrain, see a rainbow's end,
Or we look into the heart of a friend.
We feel at one with mankind. We share
His griefs and glories, joy and care.

The sun flecks gold thru the sheltering trees,
And we shoulder our burdens with twice the ease.
Peace and content and a world that sings
The moment of true awareness brings."

~Helen Lowrie Marshall

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com
"Autumn Afternoon" by Tin Yan

Decorating with Thankfulness

It's time to hang our thankful chain and add more links this year!

I love to look back at what the children were thankful for when they were small and I look forward to what they will add as they grow older. I keep red, orange, yellow, and brown strips of paper handy.

Look what Kelli does at her house - a thanksgiving tree!

What a great idea! I would love to make one, wouldn't you? :-)

This World Is Not My Home...

one of my favorites from our songbook

This World Is Not My Home

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord you know I have no friend like you.

If Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know.

My savior pardoned me and now I onward go.

I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord you know I have no friend like you.

If Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally.

The saints on every hand are shouting victory.

Their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord you know I have no friend like you.

If Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Watching and Waiting...

"If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land."

II Chronicles 7:14

Baked Apples

Baked Apples

4 servings

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
4 large baking apples

4 tablespoon chopped walnuts

In a saucepan, bring brown sugar, water, butter, and spices to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Core apples and place in an ungreased baking dish; fill with walnuts. Pour sugar mixture over and around apples. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Braised Autumn Pork Chops

Braised Autumn Pork Chops
4 servings

2 boneless butterflied pork loin chops
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 onion, thinly sliced
1 celery rib, thinly chopped
1/2 cup apple cider
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon rubbed sage

Season pork with salt and pepper. In a skillet, cook pork in oil on each side until browned; drain. Remove; keep warm. In same skillet, cook onion and celery until tender. Stir in the apple cider, vinegar and sage. Return pork chops to skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve pork with onions and celery on top and enjoy!

This was delicious! The most well received new recipe I've tried in a long time. The whole family gobbled it up!

Pumpkin Oat Muffins

Pumpkin Oat Muffins
12 servings

1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 cup oats
for topping
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon oats
1 tablespoon butter

Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Combine egg, pumpkin, milk and oil. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Stir in oats. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Combine brown sugar, flour and oats, cut in butter. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

"For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Thanksgiving Friends :-)

They're back.

I love them.

I would keep them out all year long -

but my family would frown.

So, for this month,

I will enjoy them...a lot!

Supper Menus
November 3rd-8th

Monday
braised autumn pork chops, oven roasted potatoes, green beans, biscuits, baked apples
Tuesday
tortilla soup
Wednesday
hamburgers, baked beans, spicy potato wedges
Thursday
out for sub sandwiches
Friday
Aunt J's spicy spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread, apple dumplings
Saturday
supper at the ranch