Pie Day Friday

                                Welcome to Pie Day Friday!!!!!!!!!!!


Our lovely little hens are delivering eggs almost every day...we love to make and eat homemade pie and Pie Day rhymes with Friday...so... here is a new blog feature for 2014.  Now I'm not saying this will happen every Friday.  Even we can't guarantee being able to bake & eat pies every week, but we do love them for our breakfasts and actually, for the most part, home made pies can be pretty healthy.  This one, for instance is made with fresh eggs...

                       These are the photo's I was telling you about, Jan!


Whole Wheat flour, 2% or fat free milk, oatmeal and our homegrown  Sweet Potatoes...

We're almost out of our homies and getting ready to start the new ones for this year.

I started out with the same recipe for the pie crust as for the Blackberry Pie that is in the Blog archives for 2013, Reaching the Destination.  Just check that post out where you will find the recipe or use one of your own special pie crust recipes.  Here is a picture of the crust (and berries) before they were baked)

As usual in my life...the filling recipe has a history of which I will only tell you a little of so I can share this post with you while it is still Friday!  It was originally made with Butternut Squash, white sugar and whole milk.  When we moved to Frogville, Oklahoma, we lived off the grid with literally NO electricity or running water.  We had a tiny range top with stove for a camper that we used small bottles of propane to do our cooking.  Since there was no refrigeration, we used powdered milk and retrieved our drinking water from a pure spring.  That 6 years is loaded with many stories that will get shared from time to time!
Now that we live a little more civilized... just a little more :), I've re-vamped the recipe.

Custard Filling:

2 Cups Sweet Potatoes...steamed and smashed
1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 teaspoon Ginger
1 teaspoon Cloves
3 Beautiful Eggs from Joyous Hens
1 1/2 Cups Milk...whole, 2%,powdered,rice, whatever is your choice

Mix all of the above together stirring and beating as smooth as you desire.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
Pour the Sweet Potato Custard into the Pie Crust
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes depending on your own ovens temperament (yes I said temperament NOT temperature).

It will be Puffy when you get ready to take it out

Your pie will settle in a little as it cools but this is to be expected.

You'll probably want to let it cool at least an hour to set the filling, but it is great still warm and Awesome for breakfast tomorrow.

Please join Daniel and myself for our afternoon...Friday Pie Day!!!!

Thanks for stopping in and visiting this afternoon, we'll see Y'all the next time you come around!

Joy & Love!
Diane

January is Half Over ...I can't believe it!!!!!

Everything has been moving soooooooo fast since my last post.  I'm afraid that the colder weather here has kept me from being on the computer very much and my mouse is looking for a warm place to hibernate.
Right before Christmas was my last post...much has happened since, however, if I tried to catch Y'all up, we would be lost in the past...
Sooooo, I'll shoot some photo's out with a caption or two of what has been going on as I prepare to keep up with what is going on now.

For those of you wondering about the pastel pet portrait, I will get back to it.  The studio is tooo cold to do any lengthy work and the house is not good for pastel work.

Let's relive some of the Holidays at home in Cypress Inn Tennesse!

 

Daniel prepared our scrumptious Christmas Dinner feast of Vegetarian Lasagna.  Now he is a Lover of Pizza, so his lasagna was kind of like a pizza with lasagna noodles instead of crust.  I had given up meat to protest the slaughter houses last year, that is why there was no meat.  But as you can see from the ingredients...no meat was needed.  There was enuff lasagna left for 3 more meals...one meal awaits still in the freezer.

 

 

New Years Day I always cook.  We started a traditional dinner for this many years ago when there was an article  in the Twin Falls (Idaho) newspaper.  Daniel and I incorporated several different dishes to bring Good Luck and Abundance to our New Year.

We always have my version of "Hoppin' John" for the black eyed peas and rice.  Greens vary each year (that's probably why I never have any of the greenbacks in my pocket!Haha)...this year it was spinach with tomatoes & cucumber.  The dressing was homemade mayonnaise from our dear hens eggs...it's the yellow stuff in the yellow bowl, no food coloring, our hens yolks are so orange & sunflower oil is darker than some other oils. Yum! 

Instead of cornbread I made a Cornmeal-Sweet Potato casserole, celebrating the South once more.  The meat is a Pork tenderloin.  Eating the pig is to ensure going forward (there is a rumor that pigs can't go backwards) with your nose in the dirt (lots of good garden work)!!!!!

 

That was our holidays!  All the Santa's have been put to bed to rest until it's time to deliver gifts again and now I start to plan on Spring.  I've been busy distributing manure and dirt from the barn into the planter boxes for the veggies and flowers.

 

Next up...some of the Awesome winter sunsets right here in Southern Middle Tennessee!

 

Until then, I wish you Joy & Love and please visit with me again!

 

Diane

 

One more thing...if you would ever like recipes for my dishes...comment, or email me here

Winter Holidays...Santa Claus...Dixie Peanut Brittle!

Just thought I'd share a little of our "beginning of Winter Holidays" in our magical place that we live.  I'm a big fan of being outdoors, so when the weather gets too cold...too rainy...too cold & breezy, I tend to spend too much time indoors.  Especially when Winter Solstice is coming and we're about to experience the "Longest Night"!  No matter how early I get up...there is never enuff time to take care of all of the children.  You know, the furry, hairy, feathery, muddy, hungry, wet, cold ones.  I spend too much time inside because it is dark outside...so I try to make it as comfortable as I can.  I've decorated the living room with Christmas collections and handmade items.  I love vintage & antique & I'm always crafting some art thing too.

Just for a little clarification....the baby on the left may be the only photo you ever see of me...I was much cuter then and prefer to remain that way.  The people on the right are my mom and her husband ( I called him Papa...my Daddy died when I was young and Mama remarried after I grew up and moved away from home).  That photo is also from quite a few years ago.

This next photo I have titled:
              "The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care"
                

  They didn't get all dry hanging outside with the rest of the laundry and it was the best place to make sure that I had dry socks in the morning!!!

So...You're saying OK...we've covered Winter Holidays, Santa Claus, but Hey!!! What about the Dixie Peanut Brittle?

I'll just grab a piece and munch on it while I give you the recipe!  I wish Y'all could come and visit and we could make it together...what a good time we could have.  For now this will have to do...Here Goes...

You will need:

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
4 cups raw peanuts with the skins on
2 Tblsp butter
2 tsp baking soda

Lightly butter a cookie sheet:

Heat sugar, syrup & water in a large saucepan to a rolling boil. 
Add peanuts and reduce heat to medium, medium low and stir.

And Stir...and stir.  You don't have to keep a constant stir on...but don't leave it alone for too long at a time.  It's going to take from 1 hour to 1 hour & 15 minutes to reach it's high temp of 290 degrees... so have a beer, cup of tea...and stir every so often.

As it cooks and you stir...you'll notice that it is getting thicker and darker and smelling cooked and brown.  Have patience until you reach 290 degrees.
When your candy has cooked enuff...turn off the burner and take the pot off the heat.
Add your butter and then the baking soda and beat with the wooden spoon!

Pour as best you can...it will be thick as it cools...onto the cookie sheet and try to spread it evenly.  Be careful!!! the cookie sheet will get hot!!

Cool until brittle and cold...break into pieces...give some to your postal delivery person... put a little out, out of the dog & cat reaches...and hide the rest to be doled out!

Enjoy...enjoy...enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas!!
Diane

After the colors of Autumn turn to brown, black & white of winter

The time after Thanksgiving (for those of us in the U.S.) or the first day of December, is, to me...the beginning of Winter.  We've had cold temperatures and rain and frost and a tiny bit of snow.  The leaves now all cover the ground and when it rains or the animals & birds walk thru them, they crackle and rustle...lovely sounds that you can only hear at this time of the year.  The only bright colors are in the sunsets...now that the leaves are mostly gone from the trees, the winter sunsets are fabulous.  I think that is Mother Natures way of brightening up our world when all the outdoors is resting, some in a very deep sleep.

Since it is December, I can "correctly" begin my "holiday" decorating.  I like to bring the bright colors of the season that we only get a glimpse of into my home.  The reds of the berries and the beautiful Cardinals and Finches.  The greens of the evergreens, winter vines, and duck feathers.  The rainbows and golds after a rain and the sun comes out.  In keeping with the "holiday" season...I LOVE Santa Claus and have begun making a collection of this most magical being on Earth.

 

 

 

I plan to share often in this Quiet...Restful...Meditative time. 

Filling our home with the wonderful fragrances of home cooking & baking is another joy of my husband's and mine...Sharing them with you will be part of the Merry Season!

 

Thank you for letting me share!

Love & Joy!

Diane

 

A FEW AUTUMN PLEASURES

The season that I love the most!  When the dry, hot, late summer days are leaving and the cooler, damper beginnings of autumn are here.

 

I love to heat up the chilly early hours with the oven and something wonderful baking in it.  The Sweet Potatoes are just about ready to dig up here in Tennessee, so I share this wonderful recipe that will have your mouth watering!

These are the beautiful plants that you can start from a sweet potato in your own home.  I remembered doing this in school as a child.  Have any of you done it?

After the vines were growing well, I broke them off or cut the potato and buried them into the ground to root.  Be careful not to do this too early, your sweet potatoes do not like it too chilly!  Not only will you have Sweet Potatoes to eat, but beautiful vines with gorgeous flowers (you may also eat the flowers and leaves in a salad...they are part of the morning glory family, NOT nightshade like white potatoes!)

Now, if you so desire...just shop at your local store and pick some up from the people that grow Sweets for a living!

          Here is a preview of what you will be enjoying in the morning!

                               SPICY SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

Your sweets have to be cooked and mashed before you add them to the rest of the ingredients.  I usually use about 3 to 4 good sized taters and simmer them in a pot covering the potatoes with water.  I simmer them for about 20 to 30 min., then gently poke them with a meat fork.  You want them soft, but not falling apart.  When done, remove them from the water and allow them to cool just long enuff so you don't burn yourself while holding them to peel.  Cook first and the peels almost fall off!  Sometimes I will cook the sweets a day ahead...just one less thing to do in the morning :)!

Ingredients:
1.     2 cups whole wheat flour
2.     1/2 cup packed brown sugar (dark brown is best)
3.     1 Tablespoon baking powder
4.     1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5.     2 teaspoons cinnamon
6.     1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
7.     1/2 teaspoon cloves
8.     1/2 teaspoon ginger
9.     1/2 cup raisins (optional)
10.   1/4 cup walnuts / sunnies (optional)
11.   1 1/2 cups cooked, mashed yams
12.   3/4 cup milk
13.   1 egg...beaten

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees & oil muffin pans ( I use 2 mini muffin pans, great for snacks & small hands)

In a medium large bowl, combine ingredients 1 thru 10 and toss with a fork.
Add ll thru 13, and stir until mixed.  Your batter will be thick almost like drop cookie dough.

Fill the cups until all the batter is gone.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly pressed.  Your house will be filled with the wonderful fragrance of the spices and mouths will be watering!

After they come out of the oven, they'll be easier to release from their pans if you let them sit about 10 to 15 minutes.

Have the butter & milk standing by so the first ones are still warm for discovery!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!! I CAN SMELL THEM WHILE I'M SITTING UP HERE IN MY ART STUDIO!!!  MY MOUTH IS WATERING !!!  GOTTA GO MAKE SOME NOW!!!