Pumpkin Pie and Remembering Grandma

My husband has been hinting several days that it's time for pumpkin pie.  I have to agree with him.  As I am writing this, the smell is so wonderful I can't wait to get a big slice and a big dollop of whipping cream.  I guess that means an extra several laps around the pool this evening.  :(

I never make a pumpkin pie that I don't think of my dear sweet grandma.  I make my pumpkin pie just the way she did.  I can still see her little chubby hands holding a knife and slicing three slices of butter to put on the top of her pie.  I always put butter on the tops of my pumpkin pies for no other reason than in rememberance of her.  I loved watching her cook and she was a wonderful cook.  I loved spending weekends with her because she would play with me and she always made me something wonderful to eat.

I made an extra pie for our vet.  He has helped us so much with our animals.....just a little thank you gift.  Well, the timer is calling me and I must go.  :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Caramel Apple Cake

Just a reminder.  In May, I posted a recipe for Caramel Apple Cake.  It's my first post for May.  I would just like to encourage to make this cake, and be sure and greased the bundt pan, so it won't look like mine. :)  This cake is so wonderful and has all the flavors you want to taste this time of the year. This is a great Sunday dinner dessert or you would love it for the holidays too.

I can already smell it.  This Sunday, pot roast, cauliflower salad and this wonderful caramel cake.

Last Baling of the Season

I know I have posted this probably too many times but I love bailing. I love looking at the tractors, the hay bales, the pasture freshly mowed,  the whole process.  I have on our barn the quote "Barnes are the shrines of a good life and they ought to be remembered." So farming and baling hay is another part of the good life that I think should be remembered.  So, I suppose I will continue to post these pictures as I see them from time to time.  It so moves my soul I can't help myself. It's my hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.

These are pictures of our neighbor once again getting the last bit of hay for his cows. He was here at the crack of dawn working.  My pictures don't capture the beauty of the rising sun on him as he does his labor.

Thomas Jefferson's Home and Garden

Southern Living had a wonderful article on Thomas Jefferson's home and garden.  The man who had rebuilt his gardens and found seeds he had probably used in his gardens was retiring from his job of 30 years.  This is one of the places on my "Bucket List" that I hope to get to visit some day. I tried to copy the photos from the magazine.....not the greatest but it looks beautiful there.

Believe me,  I have a long bucket list!

Beautiful Kale - Great for Juicing

These pictures don't do this kale justice.  It is so beautiful...the colors are just amazing.  The kale almost died out during those 100 degree temperatures.  But with the rain and the cooler temperatures they have come back to life once more.  Great for me! I'm getting ready to juice all of these greens and I have an apple I'm going to throw in, a couple of carrots and I think I have some celery too.



Green drinks are wonderful for your body.  They help eliminate inflammation from your body if you drink enough of them daily.  Do your research.....almost all disease starts from inflammation in your body.

Oriental Snack Mix

I'm sure we all have the chex mix snack recipe that we make for the holidays but I ran across this one several years ago and I love the twist.  It is still made with chex mix and nuts but it has an oriental flare and I love wasabi covered peas.  This is a great snack while you are watching the football games.  :)

4 cups Corn Chex cereal
4 cups Bugles, original corn snacks
2 cups chow mein noodles
1 cup pretzel sticks
1 cup salted peanuts
6 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 package (1 oz) chow mein oriental seasoning mix
1 cup wasabi coated peas

In a large bowl mix cereal, corn snacks, chow mein noodles, pretzels and peanuts.

In a medium saucepan melt butter. Stir in garlic powder, soy sauce and chow mein seasoning with wire whisk until well mixed. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

Preheat oven to 250.  Pour cereal mixture into a large roasting pan.  Bake uncovered 50 to 55 minutes stirring every 15 minutes until mixture looks dry and crisp.  Spread on paper towels, cool 15 minutes.  Place in serving bowl and stir in wasabi coated peas.  Store in airtight container.

About 28 servings.