Supper Menus
October 20th-25th

Monday
shepherd's pie, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Tuesday
king ranch chicken, ranch style beans
Wednesday
out for supper
Thursday
baked potato soup, country white bread
Friday
kung pao chicken, white rice

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 14

"Walking: the most ancient exercise

and still the best modern exercise."

~Carrie Latet

I unexpectedly had to leave town today right after worship and didn't return home until after dark, so I didn't get my walk in. I really missed it and am looking forward to a long one tomorrow! How did everyone else do? We're not done quite yet, but I am really feeling the habit setting in, are you?! :-)

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Gingerbread

12 servings

"This was one of Laura's favorite recipes. There is nothing quite like the aroma of gingerbread baking. Serve this warm or at room temperature. It is delicious with applesauce or with cream that has been whipped to soft peaks and sweetened just a little."

~from The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup molasses

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup boiling water (measured in a 2 cup or larger measuring cup)

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground gloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x10x2 inch pan. Blend sugar and shortening; mix in molasses. To the boiling water add the baking soda and mix well. Combine the flour, spices, and salt. Combine the sugar and molasses mixture with the flour mixture and the water. Mix ingredients well and pour into prepared pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until center of gingerbread tests done. Enjoy with a glass of cold milk!

Also from the cookbook...

"Laura Ingalls Wilder, like other celebrities, was sometimes asked to share a favored recipe. To such requests, Laura invariably supplied her gingerbread recipe, a lifelong favorite. The gingerbread became widely known when it was published in a special Laura Ingalls Wilder issue of the Horn Book Magazine in 1953. In the years since, Laura's gingerbread has been the feature of thousands of celebrations held in her honor all over the world."

Sun Rise...Sun Set

I am anxiously awaiting the time change. Are you? I'm ready for the sun to get up when I do. ;-) I enjoy knowing when the sun is going to rise and set each day, so I print out a calendar each month to track the times. You can go to the site below to print out a customized calendar for where you live. :-)

Sunrise Sunset

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 13

"Thoughts come clearly while one walks."

~Thomas Mann

It was a busy day for my family today! Both children played two soccer games each, so we were at the fields for quite awhile. Then a special 85th birthday celebration for Giggle's grandmother. :-) Home for a steak dinner ;-) and then my walk! I had to walk tonight because...it's becoming a habit! :-) Yeah! Who else walked today? :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 12

"After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value."

~George Macauley Trevelyan

Day Number 12...who's walking on sunshine?! The weather outside my home is just beautiful today - during my walk I really did feel like I was walking on sunshine! ;-) Have a great weekend Sunshine Walkers! :-)

It's Friday! :-)

Enjoy your day! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"American Homestead Autumn" by Currier and Ives

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 11

We had perfect walking weather today were I am! Fall is here. :-)
How did every one do? We're on the down-hill slide now!

Johnny Cake

Johnny Cake

12 servings

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/3 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease thoroughly an 8 inch square cake pan. Combine cornmeal and milk; set aside. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Stir together the egg and milk; set aside. Cream shortening; blend in sugar. Stir flour mixture and egg mixture alternately into creamed mixture. Blend in cornmeal mixture. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm, with butter and enjoy!

This is a sweet, light corn bread. Perfect to cool the tongue after a bowl of spicy chili! :-)

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it
either for the first or last time."

~Betty Smith

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 10

Sunshine Walkers I have failed you! :-( The weather and my schedule got me today and I didn't get my walk! I pledge to walk twice tomorrow...

Can you ever forgive me?! ;-)

If you walked today, please post your progress!

And welcome to one more sunshine walker - Regina! :-)

Guess what? Tomorrow we'll be half-way done! :-)

A Simple Little House

"I like a simple little house

With flowers by the door,

An ample larder for my needs

And not much more in store.

I like a window toward the sun

And doors that open wide,

The trickle of a bath for birds

With feathered friends beside.

I like a tidy nook inside

Where my books and slippers lie,

A cup for tea, a magazine,

A warming hearth nearby.

I like some trinkets on the sills,

White ruffles at the panes,

The comfort of a sturdy roof

To shelter me from rains.

I like the cozy ambiance,

A place of sweet retreat

Where life unfolds along the way

And each new day's a treat!"

~Virginia Borman Grimmer

Sweet Kelli, at There Is No Place Like Home, shared this poem and pictures of her cozy home on Monday, with an invitation for others to do the same. Thank you Kelli! I love this poem and enjoyed putting pictures of my "simple little house" with it! :-)

Please leave me a comment, and let me know, if you share the poem on your blog, too!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 9

It was 2 miles for me today. How did everyone do?! :-)

"The little farmhouse is waiting

Beneath the maples' rich yellow;

Corn shocks stand with pumpkins near,

And frost-nipped apples are mellow.

The red barn is filled with grain,

Cellar shelves hold treasures;

Oh, I am thankful to be living,

To share in autumn's pleasures!"

~Earle J. Grant

from Ideals magazine

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Days Gone By" by Jim Hansel

Farmhouse Hamburger Soup

Farmhouse Hamburger Soup
8 servings

oil
½ onion, chopped fine
1 pound ground beef

2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 can green beans, drained

1 can baby peas, drained
2 potatoes, chopped
1 cup baby carrots

1 small can tomato sauce
2 cups chicken stock
salt to taste
lots of freshly ground black pepper
cheddar cheese, grated
sour cream
tobasco sauce

Cook onions in oil until tender; add ground beef and cook until beef is done. Place onions and beef in a large stock pot (or crock pot). Add tomatoes, corn, green beans, peas, potatoes, carrots, tomato sauce, chicken stock, and seasonings. Simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender. Top with cheese, sour cream and tabasco sauce to taste. Serve with cornbread and enjoy!

I am trying this in the crock pot since it is soccer practice night. I am hoping four hours on high will cook the potatoes and carrots. :-)

Edited to add - four hours was just right!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup, Jam Hands Recipe Roundup August.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

I've always thought the color of hot cocoa

was the loveliest color in the world! ;-)

Hot Cocoa
4 servings

2 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons sugar
¾ cup water
3 cups total of milk and/or cream to taste

Mix sugar and cocoa. Add water and whisk until smooth. Place over low heat until mixture boils. Add milk; heat until scalded. Do not boil. Just before serving, stir smooth. Pour into a favorite mug and enjoy!

Country Oatmeal

There really isn't much decision to make, 

as far as what to have for breakfast on a rainy autumn morning... :-)

Country Oatmeal
2 servings

1 cup water
¾ cup milk
1 cup quick oats

Bring water and milk to a boil. Add oats and cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Cover, remove from heat and let sit 2 to 3 minutes. Serve with your choice of butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon. Curl up in a cozy chair and enjoy!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 8

Who's out there walkin' on sunshine? I'm going to leave the doggie at home tomorrow and try to get 2 miles in. :-)

Happy Columbus Day!

Activities -
Enchanted Learning crafts - Columbus
We chose to do the color-by-number, alphabet code, and map activity.

Books -
Monday
I, Christopher Columbus
by Lisl Wiel
Things to Make and Do for Columbus Day
by Gail Gibbons
Tuesday
1492 Year of Columbus
by Genevieve Foster
Wednesday and Thursday
Columbus
by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
Friday
I, Columbus My Journey 1492-1493
edited by Peter and Connie Roop

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
24 servings

for filling
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
for muffins
2 1/4 cups flour
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon all spice)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup oil

For the filling, beat cream cheese, egg and sugar until smooth; set aside. Combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Divide half of the batter among 24 greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Drop filling by teaspoonfuls over batter. Top with remaining batter. Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks and enjoy!