Baking Aunt Hilda's Boston Brown Bread...

Hello my friends.. 

I thought I would share my day with you today...

I went to bed last night with a plan.. 

I decided that I would spend all day today just baking.. 

I was so anxious to get at it that I didn't sleep that great and while still dark this morning I got up and came out to the kitchen..

I spent a little time with the Lord and then drank my coffee and dug out my cookbook.. 

You know the kind I mean.. 

All handwritten and a bit grubby.. smile.. 

I usually only make a few things since the kids have all their own homes now but this year I thought I would make extras and give some away.. 

A very good intention, don't you think?  grin.. 

Well, I started on making a favourite but also an easy one as I thought that would be encouraging to see something all made and baked sitting on the counter so early in the morning.. 

These are so easy and delicious.. 

Our daughter-in-law gave me the link for the recipe.. 

CHEWY SUGAR COOKIES.

You can find the recipe HERE

They make a good sized batch.. 

Very good so far.. 

I love my little pantry because as you can see .. 

I am a messy cook.. 

I made up my mind though that today was going to be different !

I bought a cook book from a thrift shop this week and one of her great tips which I have tried repeatedly to do but usually fail at is ,, 

clean as you go... 

Good advice, eh?  

And I did.. 

After the bowls, cups and such were washed in soapy water I moved on to recipe #2.. 

My Aunt Hilda's Boston Brown Bread... 

You start out by boiling up fruit for 15 minutes then cooling... 

So while that was going on my sweet hubby made my breakfast.. 

Two over easy fried eggs... 

and a glass of tomato juice... 

I sort of went over the recipe book a bit more then decided I needed to get my shortbread made and put in the fridge for an hour .. 

Got it made and put in the fridge then started on my aunt's recipe.. 

Got the ingredients all together and then decided I needed to call my Aunt Eleanor because I didn't think all the dough would fit into just 1 tomato juice can and I needed her advice.. 

These two aunts are my Dad's sisters.. 

Aunt Hilda has passed away but I knew Aunt Eleanor would know and of course, she did.. 

It would be better to use 2 cans which I had washed and ready.. 

They turned out rather well but I think I could have cooked them a few minutes less.. 

Here is her recipe.. 

AUNT HILDA'S BOSTON BROWN BREAD.. 

Boil for 5 minutes.. 

2 cups of water

2 1/2 cups of raisins ( used golden, sultanas and current mix)

Cool 15 minutes 

Add.. 

1 cup white sugar

1 egg beaten

1 tsp. vanilla 

Sift together.. 

2 3/4 flour 

2 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt.. 

Mix together and add 1 cup cherries and 1 cup of walnuts.. 

* Spray Pam into two large juice cans and line with parchment paper.. 

This is not in the recipe but my aunt remembered that her sister used cans.. 

Just draw a circle on parchment for the bottom and fit some around the sides.. 

Divide dough into two parts and put into the cans.. 

325 degrees 1 hour and 15 minutes.. 

This made 2 good sized breads.. 

I don't think it would work in just one as it might run over.. 

I made up the shortbread cookies and a batch of nut toffee ... 

I also made lunch for us and a big batch of chili to freeze .. 

Besides chatting on the phone to my sons, my sister a couple of times and my Mom that is all I accomplished.. 

But I did clean as I went.. smile.. 

I am just soooooo slow..

I want to make a couple pans of squares and a few other things..

But I have next week.. right? 

This is a dear little enamel tray that I found at the thrift store..  

Hand painted, too.. 

This is what our countryside looks like... 

Mild temps but a bit of snow overnight... 

We may have a green Christmas as mild temps are called for.. 

That is fine with me as our 3 children and their families are to come for Christmas day... Yeah!! 

I love that they will be here on the big day... 

Usually, we do Boxing Day together but some of the grandsons need to work on that day but everyone is off for Christmas Day.. 

Lovely, eh?  

By the way...

I have another issue with my blog.. 

If it is not one thing like being hacked it is another.. 

Just today I lost 16 or so followers from the Google followers on the widget on the sidebar.. 

What is with that I wonder.. 

If you cannot see yourself there then please follow again if you don't mind.. 

Hopefully, it will get fixed and this too shall pass... 

If your thumbprint pic is missing then you won't see the posts on the Reader... 

Anyway.. 

There are more important things to worry about.. 

This is just annoying is all.. 

Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks for your sweet comments on my kitchen redo.. 

Have a great weekend and enjoy the Lord's Day.. 

So thankful for the gift He gave.. 

Himself... 

God bless...