One Lovely Blog Award

Boo-Bah
http://missmamievioletskitchen.blogspot.com/
http://boo-bahslittlesunshines.blogspot.com/

Boo-Bah has bestowed upon me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you so much Boo-Bah!.

Here are the simple rules for this nice award.
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who gave you the award, along with his or her blog link.
2.Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered.

Remember to contact the 15 bloggers so that they will know they have been chosen for this award. Please visit the listed bloggers to see how really lovely and inspiring their blogs are.
http://mawdot.blogspot.com/
http://homegrownhousewife.blogspot.com/
http://homesweetenedwithheaven.blogspot.com/
http://sharingheartswithanoldersister.blogspot.com/
http://mypicketfencecottage.blogspot.com/
http://seasideenchantment.blogspot.com/
http://ktebid.blogspot.com/
More to come...

Go take a look at the giveaway at Tomato Soup Cake! She is giving away a nice collection of vintage sewing supplies which includes this wonderful 1940's apron pattern! This is her FIRST giveaway, so go check it out and make it a good one! Ends June 3rd...

Creamed Corn

My mother and stepfather gave us a "mess" of corn yesterday evening, and this morning dear Mr. Honeysuckle shucked it and cleaned it for me. He fed the horses the shucks and corn cobs. Yum for the horses...they love it!
Anyway I made creamed corn for lunch. Along with turkey and rice, buttermilk cornbread and ahem....yellow squash, straight from the garden. One squash filled the skillet! A huge squash but very tender! I sauteed it with green onions for a little change from smothered...
OKay enough about squash.

Here's how I made the creamed corn:

CREAMED CORN
8 ears of fresh corn
2-3 T. butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2 t. corn starch if needed (see note*)
Shuck corn and remove silk. Trim any bad spots off. Wash corn. Warm skillet and add butter. Keep on low while preparing corn. Cut the tips of the "kernals" into a bowl, then scrape the cob (the remaining juice under the kernals) into the bowl. Turn burner up to medium. Place corn into skillet and add about 1 /2 cup water, salt and pepper. Stir and cover. You want it to simmer. Watch carefully and stir occasionally to prevent sticking. You may need to add a little more water if it does. Cook until it is slightly glossy looking and thickened, approx. 15-20 minutes.

*If it is watery or doesn't thicken then the corn wasn't very starchy or you may have added a little too much water. You may thicken it by adding 2 t. corn starch mixed in a little cold water, then stir into corn.

Taste to see if done. Turn down to lowest temp. to keep it warm until mealtime. Serves 6.

Throwing in the towel...

I don't think I ever want to see any squash again. Oh boy................We put up over 60 (I lost count) quart sized bags of squash (and zucchini) yesterday, and I think I'll go get the mower and cut down the bushes! Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for what we've got, and thankful to have put up this amount in the freezer, but I think we have enough already? My sweet niece helped me or I'd still be cutting, blanching and bagging squash! On top of that I had to do something with some of the things in the freezer and fridge to make room for all of the squash, did I mention we have squash? LOL So anyway, I boiled parts of a turkey my son killed a few weeks ago for turkey and rice that we'll have tonight, also baked a chicken with turnip roots, potatoes, carrots and onions, smothered some "squash", and I have some yummy avocado's to make some guacamole today.

I put up:

~blanched yellow squash

~raw yellow squash

~raw zucchini

~zucchini fries (dampened and coated in flour)

~yellow squash fries (dampened and coated in flour)

~yellow and zucchini sliced dipped in buttermilk and egg, and coated with cornmeal

~shredded zucchini for zucchini bread

Inevitably, I will have more squash...I'm going to be pickling it next time...Oh, and I canned 11 jars of pickles, as well.

I'm still so tired, and so sore...Even my thumb is sore from all the cutting! But we'll have plenty of squash to get us through until the year 2015 or so...well, not quite, but close.

What I've been up to today...

Two big boxes of zucchini and yellow squash from my sister.

Yellow squash from our garden.

Wrapped whole ears of corn from the freezer.

Off the grill!

My mother gave me the corn, and when it comes time to put

up corn this year I'm going to try doing it this way:

Trim the ends and leave husk on the corn and put in

freezer bags and freeze. When you're ready to cook them,

you pull back about an inch of husk, strip it all the way back,

season as you like and smear butter on them,

and you can pull the strip back up or leave it off. Wrap in foil and

bake in oven or on the grill until done.

My mother has done hers like this for years and swears by it!

Of course I'll also cream some corn...We just LOVE it creamed!

It's hard work but worth it!

For supper tonight:

Grilled burgers

Corn on the cob

Butterbeans

Squash fries

Slices of BIG white onion...

Plenty of Old South Lime Pickles!

Fresh sweet iced tea.

Case in point:

A couple of weeks ago we were at a local restaurant,

and at the table next to us was a woman and her grandson.

The grandson was a picky eater, and also picky about his tea.

He told his grandmother his tea was too fresh! LOL

His grandmother replied that the restaurant didn't let

their's sit and get nice and sweet like they did at home. ;)

Kids!

While I'm at it...Let me tell you about a delicious way to eat

tomato sandwiches!! Not my brainstorm....LOL

Tomato, mayo, thin slices of Vidalia onion!

I'd have never thought of it, but my step-father suggested it!

Delish!

Tonight may be a LONG night with all the squash to put up....

My niece said she would help me in the morning though,

and I might take her up on it and let it wait!

Ginger Tea

Ginger Tea with Teacups and Teapot

Ginger root is a natural antihistamine, among other things! My mother broke out in hives, and a cup of tea made with ground ginger helped her stop itching. Thankful for natural remedies!

Ironing Day...

The Housewife, Housewives Portraits Magazine, UK, 1914

Memorial Day

I have an interesting story about two men who were in the service together. One, who enlisted, and one, who was drafted. This was back in about 1951-52. My father is the one who was drafted. He could tell us the years, months, weeks, days and even to the hour of how long he was in the army. He got on a plane and flew to Indiana for training with another man who was from a small town near where he lived. He had gone to school with him, and knew him. Although I'm not sure they were really friends at the time, they did become close and years later they got together and told tales of their days together in the army. My father's stay was shortened because he got burned really bad and was given an honorable discharge. But if the officers had known the details of how he was burned he probably wouldn't have gotten an "honorable" discharge, as he set a can of gasoline on fire to keep warm while they were in the snowy mountains of Colorado, it slipped from his hands and set him on fire....The other guy is quick to say he covered for him, and kept him from getting into trouble about the incident. This is the guy who enlisted, and loved it, undoubtedly....LOL stayed in and eventually retired after about 25 years. Don't get me wrong, my father was as patriotic as they come....He just had a bad taste from some of the things that happened, and I'm sure he missed his family, as well, so he was happy to get to go home. After my father died in 1990, my mother went to work at a little store that had a cafe in it, in the town the other guy was from. He would come in to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich, and got to know my mother. Well, by now you might have guessed it....The other guy is my step-father now! He lovingly tells us stories about my father, and isn't at all jealous as some men might be. He even goes with my mother to put flags and flowers on my fathers grave. How nice is that??

So there's my little story! Happy Memorial Day to any and all who had loved ones, now gone, who served our country.





Me and my Dad

Pretty & Romantic Things

Sherry's Rose Cottage

1. Vintage Valentine Candy Box, 2. Sweet Pink Purse!, 3. Wire Corset, 4. Raven as a flower!, 5. Baby Granddaughter said........, 6. Vintage Corset, 7. Vintage Corset, 8. Vintage Doll Collection, 9. Vintage Doll Babies, 10. Close-up of Vintage Pictures, 11. Close-Up of Victorian Boots, 12. Vintage Pincushion Doll, 13. Vintage Pincushion Dolls, 14. Pink and Green!!!, 15. Vintage Display Cabinet, 16. Vintage Pincushion Doll

Yummy Zucchini Fries...

Your choice vegetable oil
1 lg. zucchini (10-12")
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 t. salt salt
a shake of pepper
dash of cayenne pepper (opt)
1-2 cups flour

Get oil hot on med-medium high. Mix egg with buttermilk, stir well. Dip fries in batter, then roll in flour, place in pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cayenne and fry in until golden brown, turning once or twice.

My version of Wickles Pickles...

7 pounds of cucumbers, washed and sliced.

Place in large container-no metal or aluminum. Use glass, crockery, enamel, stainless steel or plastic.

Mix 1 cup pickling lime to 1 gallon water.

Cover face with a bandana - it is very "dusty"...don't breath it or get it in eyes or on skin. Read instructions/cautions on label.

Pour over cucumbers, let stand covered for 12-24 hours. Rinse 3 times in cold water, or until liquid is clear. Put into iced water and/or let stand overnight in fridge.

Mix 2 quarts vinegar, 1 t. salt, 2 T. spices and 12 cups sugar together and bring to boil. Put in pickles and let stand overnight*, (*I skipped this since I had already waited 2 days) then bring to a slow boil for 30 minutes, put them jars that have been sterilized, wipe rim with clean wet cloth. Use seal and rings that have been sterilized.

I also added 1 t. dill, and a 1 T. crushed red pepper.

Oh my goodness...

It's already FRIDAY?? Time does get away when you're having fun, doesn't it?? You can check out my food blog HERE to see what I've been up to in the FOOD department, which covers most areas of my life....Food-Cooking...gotta love it!

My flowers are looking plum gorgeous, thanks to my sweet son who fertilized them for me a few weeks ago. Now it is paying off with big, beautiful blue, and lavender blooms!

I took this pic in the rain, and it's a little off-center, but I had to tip-toe to reach it and was holding the camera way out almost over my head...They're big! Okay, I'm short, so maybe they're not "that" tall....LOL Whatever!
Anyway....They're prettier than they have been in years!

So many things going on here on Honeysuckle Farm! Most of it deals with food, gardening, putting up, etc. Some like picking blackberries, and weeding the garden and flowers is fun too! I picked the last of the dewberries yesterday....I hated to see them gone!

And the chickens are such a delight! We still have 11 biddies! The old red fox hasn't been back....Keeping my fingers crossed it stays away!

Did I mention we also have 9 puppies? They are getting so CUTE!! They're about 6 weeks old...The mama is a Collie and the daddy is a Blue Heeler (sp?) They're spotted and have the cutest little pointed ears. We'll be getting shots and everything soon and want to find homes for all of them but three, that are already spoken for.

We've been having rain for a few days now, so I haven't been able to hang out any clohes...And it's starting to pour down again now...Great for the garden and flowers, not so good for my temperament though...hmmm

Well, my coffee/computer break is about up, so I need to get back to work with supper, pickles, zucchini, yellow squash (more than I can handle almost!) etc. in the kitchen! Wheeww! I think all of this hard work has made me lose about 4-5 pounds...Busy-busy!

Trying to replicate...

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE these scrumptious pickles, I discovered several years ago. Food Tiger (Greers) stopped selling them. The only place I have found them is at a Piggly Wiggly about 40 miles away---they are SCARCE. I buy a couple of jars when I go there, but they don't last long. They are so good on roast beef po' boys, in potato salad, and just on the side with a meal. I could order them online, but it gets rather expensive with the high shipping costs....SO??? I'm trying to figure out a similar recipe!! I've come close to replicating the recipe, but I don't think anything could be better than the original! They are truly addictive! A mixture of sweet and spicy, dill and garlic...Mmmmm Anyway, I have an old label recipe I've used for years, Lime Pickles... and I add a bit of dill, peppers, and garlic....And like I said, "It is close"...RECIPE Later...Back to pickling! I have my pickles sliced and ready to start soaking...

And I'm making Zucchini Fries in a buttermilk batter for supper.

Tonight we'll be having:
venison meatloaf
turnips
zucchini fries
baked sweet potatoes
corn bread

Also: Last night we ground up about 20 pounds of venison, with beef fat trimmings. For supper we had---you guessed it: 

venison/hamburger steaks
rice
gravy
green baby lima beans
blackberry cobbler

 
I made 60 hamburger patties which I froze on 2 baking sheets in layers between wax paper. Today I'll place them in freezer bags, about 6 to a bag.

Got a lot to do...Later!

What's For Supper?

Bar-b-q chicken, smothered squash, potato salad, rolls...

Dessert: Dishpan cookies & coffee

Smothered Squash...

Fill a skillet with sliced squash and 1/4 cup water. Place a big pat of butter, about 1/4 cup onions, salt, and pepper on top. Cover, simmer for about 20 minutes. If you like it slightly browned, cook longer until all water has evaporated and bottom starts to brown.

This recipe works with zucchini too.

Dishpan Cookies...

Dishpan Cookies

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 cup cooking oil

2 eggs

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cup oats

1 cup dry cereal (your choice-cornflakes, bran flakes, raisin bran, etc.)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I have also used orange extract with very good results)

a slight handful chopped pecans or other nuts of your choice

a slight handful of chocolate chips, or butterscotch, or peanut butter, or all

Mix sugar, oil and eggs well. Add all other ingredients, mix well. Drop a teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. (if it would make you feel more comfortable, spray slightly with a cooking spray) This is where I made some slight adjustments to this recipe-It said to bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes, and I found they just were not done enough to suit me. so I raised the temperature to 400 degrees, and baked for at least 10 minutes. They are done when the edges start to turn brown, no longer or they will be too brittle.

Taken from a local church cookbook—Or rather, “tweaked” from a local church cookbook recipe….LOL
div>

A little "out of season"?

Not really, considering that pecans keep longer "inside" the shell. I was about to make Dishpan Cookies and discovered I was out of shelled pecans---it took about 45 minutes for my son and I to get about, oh, approximately one quart of pecans, shelled that is. Inside the shell-about 2 gallons. I use these for making pecan pies, cakes, banana Nut bread, and of course, cookies! Yum! Will post pics later, if not eaten beforehand...LOL

What's For Supper?

Bar-b-que'd ribs, baked beans, potato salad, rolls...

Quick & Easy Pizza Casserole

2 boxes Jiffy biscuit mix
2 T. olive oil
Assortment of toppings

1 1/2 c. sauce

Your choice of cheese(s)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Oil pan. Mix dough according to directions; place dough in prepared 8 X 12 baking pan, pat down evenly, spread sauce on dough; sprinkle cheese(s) and then place toppings on top.

I chose a marinara sauce, mini pepperoni's, Fiesta blend shredded cheese, and sliced black olives.

since wednesday....

I managed to put up (freeze) 6 quarts of yellow squash, and bagged and froze some bulk beans, corn, FISH my husband and son caught, and other stuff. I buy bread from the outlet store when I can, and other times my mother gives me some and I freeze it. It really saves money buying it this way! I've really cleaned house this week---I had to to be organized with all of the cooking, freezing, etc....I also rearranged some furniture and stuff.

OH, I got a NEW clothesline!! Yippee!! My niece and I put it up....The first washing I hung on it, BROKE it! Shoot!! But dear Mr. Honeysuckle came to the rescue! Thank goodness he was there and seen the whole event....I was so mad! I stomped my foot and had a hissy fit, almost. He kindly re-hung it and doubled it just in case...Now that it is done right, I have about double the space I use to have, and can get more washing done, faster, without having to wait so long for it to dry. It really slowed down my washing, and I didn't like that a bit! For about two months I've hung out clothes (and waited very impatiently on it to dry so I could hang out more) instead of using the dryer, to save on the electric bill. It really helped this past month, as it went down about $50.00 more dollars! It would have been so much easier, faster, and gratifying to have thrown it in the dryer and gone on about my business...Is this a lesson in patience?? Probably. But all in all, I DO love hanging out the wash and LOVE the nice fresh smell and the crispness of the sheets and clothes...So, ahem, I won't complain any more....Now that I have more space. LOL

SUNDAY MORNING: This morning, we attended a neighboring church...Lots of old friends, and of course good preaching and singing! My husband and I were asked to sing three songs. We sang Man In the Middle, Pile of Crowns, and It Is Well With My Soul. WE were truly blessed by the good fellowship and just plain ol' nice people!

So...What are my plans for next week?? Gotta have a PLAN, don't we??

We still have plenty of dewberries and blackberries to pick and freeze and/or make jelly and a PIE..Gotta make a pie soon! I've made a cobbler, and fruti drinks, but, Mr. Honeysuckle has been waiting patiently on a PIE! So, I'll do that soon! We have yellow squash to pick, cook and/or put up; zucchini---I think I'll make some zucchini bread and freeze it; tomatoes and green onions are almost ready; grass to mow. Okay, the horses are doing a fantastic job mowing it...LOL hmmmm NOT my idea. But it saves $$$ on gas! So I guess I can tolerate it. Oh, Lord help me. I have flowers to plant; and more vegetable plants and seeds to get in the ground. I have a few things to sew, mend, and so on....Hopefully I'll get around to it this week!

I'm tired already, just thinking about it all! But it sure feels good to get things accomplished!

a long day...

No pics yet, but dear Mr. Honeysuckle took me to the stockyard and bought me nine biddies today! We actually went after a milk goat, but there weren't any good ones, and we took a liking to the aracauna biddies that an older couple had for sale on the lot...We're envisioning blue eggs in a few months!
We almost bought 37 biddies from another man! We came within a hair of it! I just LOVE those cute little things...and it was a very good price, but we hesitated because they were just hatched last night, and we knew we'd have our hands full with all the other animals and garden to look after...Maybe later! Keeping my fingers crossed!
The yellow squash are coming in by the tub-fulls, so we'll be having lots of smothered squash, casseroles, and have enough to freeze.
It's time to hit the sack. It's been a BUSY week, and I'm so sore and tired!
Recapping the week so far:
Monday we picked beans, and I stayed up until 2:00am snapping, blanching, and bagging them up.
Tuesday I cleaned house, rearranged some furniture, and more I can't even remember.
Today we went to the stockyard, went to my MIL's and had some fresh, warm banana pudding and coffee. Came home, got the biddies settled, cooked supper, and done some laundry afterward.
Mr. Honeysuckle wants to know what I'm going to dream up tomorrow!!
Before I open my eyes in the morning, I will know!
I'll let him know after he's had his coffee!! Ahem!

Spring activities...

Clifton B. & Sadie Rainey Young

My grandparents...She is the one pictured in the header. He is pictured below on the far right, in the picture of the baptism in the creek. He was a preacher, song writer, music school teacher (the old timey kind they had at churches), and also a Justice of the Peace.
We went to visit the cemetery Saturday.

Purple green beans (not sure of type), garlic bloom, basil in bloom, little bartlett pear, yellow straight neck squash, and the biddies. After I took the picture yesterday, last night a fox got three of them. Monday did NOT get off to a very good start, but it did improve, thank the Lord.

We picked about a bushel of the purple green beans at my mothers and step fathers (the green beans are waiting patiently on me to finish them...LOL ). I have already done about half of them, and had to rest a bit. They are blanching...

Anyway, I helped my mother cook dinner (lunch to us Southern folks), and we ate there.

MENU:

• venison sausage
• oven fried mixed potatoes (recipe following)
• cornbread
• steamed cauliflour
• english peas and potatoes with white sauce
• sweet iced tea

She sent us home with a flounder, fresh collards, frozen corn on the cob, new potatoes, a mess of fresh bream my step-father caught this morning (my husband cleaned them for him, and he gave them to us---he doesn't eat fish but he LOVES fishing....LOL)

Anyway, the potatoes were delicious:

Cut up 2 sweet potatoes, 4 red and/or russet potatoes, and 2 onions, all diced large. Spray cookie sheet with olive oil, place everything on the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle (or spray) olive oil over all. Bake @ 350 degrees until tender, uncovered and golden brown., approximately an hour.

My sister also brought me a half dozen big turnip roots, and 2 grocery bags full of yellow squash and zucchini. I have my work cut out for me....I'll be up late for sure!

Gotta run and check on my beans...Okay, I'm back!

Here are the beans blanching (5 min.):
I'll cool them off in ice water, then bag them up and put them in the freezer.

I hear the timer....Later!