A Little Kitchen Post

Good Afternoon everyone..

So nice to connect with you all once again!

It has been awhile but am happy to get back to you.. 

Hope all is going well where ever you dwell in this big wide world.. 

Thank you for visiting here in this wee bit of cyberspace... 

We have been busy as has everyone this time of year.. 

August was such a hot month here in New Brunswick and a bit of September too.. It seems as though the cool weather has arrived the last few days though.. 

It is funny how you think you don't want Summer to ever end and then you are hit with a heat wave and you are ready for Fall, eh?

Anyway... 

I thought I would do just a little kitchen post for today.. 

The Autumn Kitchen is a very busy and fragrant spot in our homes.. 

Not only are there so many veggies to ferment, can or pickle there are all kinds of herbs and wild forage to put by... 

The first photo is of Sunny Window Dills that I have made several times, Chive vinegar, alfalfa sprouts (because I refuse to pay four dollars for a wee box when I can do my own for cents), Nasturtium vinegar, green onions and a pot of Lavender fit on one side of our kitchen window.. 

Also Rose Oil which I make into a face oil and salve which I don't want to do without.. Basil and I love the Pregnant Onion in my window like they do at Kings Landing Heritage kitchens.. smile.. 

Terry has been picking our cucumbers... 

It looked as though we were not to get many but once they started there were a lot.... 

We eat pickles for every meal and they are a lovely to give as gifts so that is why I do so many.. 

I also made these Mennonite Salad Green Beans that I mentioned last post..

Also lots of chow chow and beets.. 

I actually froze some peas this year along with corn... 

This is a pic I snapped one evening when I noticed how the lamp light made the jellies glow. I put it on Instagram so you may have seen it. 

The large jar is a floral herb hair rinse that my friend Lisa from Instagram shared the recipe with me.. 

I visited with Shonda's ladies' group and showed them how to make it... 

Lisa says to gather roses, lavender, chamomile and other herbs and flowers and cover with white vinegar... Set aside for a couple of months and then strain.. 

Use half a cup to rinse your hair ... Rinse out... 

I added lavender essential oil to mine too.. 

We had a great harvest of garlic... 

Almost time to plant it again for next year.

I made a tray of garlic scape salt...

I use this all winter on meat and such..

Mustard Pickles

A sweet group of ladies gathered here in the kitchen yesterday and we made a batch of these mustard pickles of my Mother-in-law's.. 

Such a lovely day of sweet fellowship... 

The Hydrangea are blooming.. 

So Terry picked a big bunch from our bush and some green ones from a generous neighbor..

I stick them everywhere and they dry just as they are... 

One afternoon I made this old recipe.. 

It is delicious!  

I don't put the crumb topping on though... 

Just a sprinkle of sugar... 

The top of the hutch in the kitchen.. 

Homemade bread and sliced half green tomatoes and a bit of basil are ate almost daily here this time of year... 

A creamy squash soup with cumin... 

so good!  

We love a steak with mashed and mushrooms... 

and onions and gravy.. smile.. 

A little drive to Albert County and the Bay of Fundy... 

Then I spent a morning with Shonda and her ladies' group.... 

Such a wonderful time.. 

A little testimony of God's love and mercy.. 

So the last many months have passed with Terry being laid up and sick several times... 

He would go on antibotics and be all right until it would strike again... 

We just kept praying that all would be well but to be honest I was getting pretty desperate... 

Anyone who has walked that valley knows what I mean... 

But during the last 18 months of this going on we were

 so ever thankful that we have a God who is with us during the trials of life... 

He gives a strenght and peace that we cannot understand or even expect.. 

 He is ever faithful... 

A couple of weeks ago he took really sick again. 

We were blessed that he had been in to see the specialist the day before so when I called in to say that he was really sick the doctor called him right in for an emergency procedure.. 

It saved his life...

The infection had spread to his blood so bad that the doctor said he was almost septic but he got there just in time.. 

The doctor kept saying how lucky Terry was to get there when he did..

Another day and it might have been too late.  

But we know he was blessed by God... 

The Lord was in charge and he was on time... 

He is always an on time God... 

The doctor said this procedure will work and we are trusting God that it will...

He feels so much better and we are thankful to say the least.. 

Giving God honour, glory and thanks... 

I am sorry that once again I am talking about our health problems.. 

My knee is doing much better and with Terry back to feeling good we are just so happy... 

When the Lord does something wonderful for us we want to be a witness to everyone ... 

So thank you everyone for visiting and reading or scrolling through.. 

Love having you visit... 

And as always I love your lovely notes...

May God bless you and your sweet families today !

 

Homemade Crackers and Tomato Soup...

Good Morning, my dears...

Another lovely day here in the Maritimes of Canada... We have a majority government, I see... That is all I am going to say except thank God for our country..We need to pray daily for the leaders of not only our country but this world needs prayer... 
And don't forget to pray for Israel... 

We are near the end and Jesus is going to return for His bride...

I want to waiting , listening, yearning for His return...

I am so thankful for the Good News of Salvation...

Free for whosoever will...

In Him we can put our trust, our hopes, and our plans...

He is faithful.... Thank you, Jesus.....

Now... Today.. I have a neat recipe for you.

Yesterday was election day... a cracker of a day shall we say... smile.. So I made crackers. This recipe

 came out of an old Mennonite recipe book that I have...
Here is the recipe...

Cracker Basic Recipe....

4 cups of whole wheat flour  (you can make any mixture you like of flours)

1 tsp. salt

1 T. sugar

3/4 cup shortening

2/3  cup milk or water   (more or less)

Mix dry ingredients.. cut in the shortening until it is finely blended.

Add the milk or water until it forms a soft ball like pastry.

Divide the dough into 4 parts and roll as thin as parchment.

Slide the dough onto a cookie tin and cut with pastry or pizza cutter.

into squares... Dent with a fork.

Bake in 400 degrees oven for 10 minutes or until crisp and pale...

Now here is the fun part...

Easy, eh?

DIFFERENT FLAVORS..

With each of your four balls you can make a different flavor..

After you have divided the dough into four balls then flatten it into an oval and sprinkle the topping of your choice on it and roll out as thin as you can and the flavoring will distribute throughout. 

Sometimes , I added a bit on the edge....

I made ....

SAVORY CRACKERS ...Sprinkle the dough with a savory salt..

(mine was garlic and lemon)

DILL CRACKERS... Sprinkle with dill seeds and a touch of coarse salt.... (my fav)

HERBES DE PROVENCE... Sprinkle with herbes de provence...

SESAME OR POPPY SEED .... Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds.....

Or use such things as celery seeds, minced onion, cayenne  or paprika, chives fresh or dried, garlic powder...

Just open up your cupboard and use your imagination...

from MORE FOOD THAT REALLY SCHMECKS

A Canadian Mennonite writer... Edna  Staebler...

Probably my favorite cookbook of them all..

With these crackers one needs a nice cup of homemade tomato soup... Right?

I just find it hard to eat a CAN of soup when it takes a very few minutes to make such a glorious homemade version...

I am sorry I have no recipe for this..

I just put some lovely garlic oil in a pot and simmered some chopped onion, red pepper flakes, a bay leaf  and a couple cloves of garlic minced till soft...

Then a can of crushed tomatoes that I dislike but Terry had bought a case and I needed to use them .... a wee hand of sugar and a bottle of homemade chicken broth....

Now you can use the broth of your choice... can , box, cube....

I had cooked a turkey and always use the bones to make broth...

Now... do you remember when I posted last year about

salting herbs such as basil 

Well, I have loved this... I put this into my homemade soups and pasta sauces or whatever I like basil in... The salt tastes just like basil and then you can add pieces of the herbs, too..

I will be sure and try to make more of these this year, Lord willing...

Anyway, this soup tasted so delicious... A lovely flavor of tomato and basil..

Then the wee cracker pieces that did not turn out exactly are lovely to put in your soup.... smile...

Then ... just package them however you will and you have enough for awhile... Why buy when in half an hour you can have homemade with only ingredients you trust... Right?

Well, dear ladies that is all for today..

EXCEPT...

I wanted to give you a bathroom fix up update..

The CATS are gone....lol.... So is all the wallpaper..

I am now at a standstill until I can get Terry's help..

To paint or repaper is the question right now..

So .. I need to be patient as he is working and I have to wait on him.. Will let you know when I can....

Thanks for dropping by and leaving your sweet comments.. It is nice to know who I am conversing with sometimes... smile.

May God bless and keep you all...

Hugs...

Faye...

Remember to visit the Homestead Barn Hop

So much useful info...

thanks...

Lavender Salt Scrub Recipe for your Hands....

Good Morning Girls..

We have a lovely morning here in Eastern Canada.. The sun is shining and the snow is melting.  The bank of snow in front of our family room window is quickly reducing. 

I was telling Terry last night that I thought perhaps I was suffering from cabin fever.... He thought that I meant I needed to get out of the house.   I explained that it was not that but I am tired of snow...

Although, this year I have been striving to be happy with the season and enjoy it all. 

Life is SWEET.... eh? 

 We need to be so thankful for each breath and for our daily blessings. 

Yesterday I watched a video of 6 minutes over in Japan as water came flooding from a trickle to a flood..

Those dear people need our prayers as our hearts go out to them in this time of disaster

.

This morning with the sun shining and the smell of coffee brewing over on the counter I NEED to be THANKFUL  for such sweet everyday blessings. 
 What is a bit of snow laying around when I am have the blessings of good health and peace and my house is not drifting down a street of water..

Thank you, Lord....

I just needed to say that...

I made something yesterday that I thought you girls might enjoy. 

It is a Lavender Salt Scrub to put beside your kitchen sink...

I thought you might like the recipe for it. 

Gardening season is coming and this would be so nice to use.  Although, it is so lovely on your hands that you will want to use it all the time..

Here is the recipe..

LAVENDER SALT SCRUB FOR YOUR HANDS

1/2 cup of seasalt

1/3 cup almond oil or olive oil (I prefer almond oil)

1 teaspoon of liquid Vit. E

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel (opt.)

1 tablespoon of dried lavender blossoms

15 drops of lavender oil ( more or less)

In a small GLASS bowl mix everything except the salt.  When well blended add the salt and stir.  Cover and sit overnite..

Next day place in a pretty covered GLASS dish by your kitchen sink.. Use a couple of times a day..

If you have a cut it might sting...

*You may also add a bit of clear liquid hand soap to the mixture.

* If you do not like lavender just leave out the blossoms and change the oil to perhaps Ginger or Rosemary and add a bit of dried chopped Rosemary to the blend....

*Also, you can place the mixture in a lovely little bottle and add a tag in your gift pantry as a gift. 

ENJOY... 

Thank you so much for dropping by on this Spring morning.

I enjoy so much hearing from you. 

Several girls have let me know that they were trying the Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe.  

Thank you...

Have a wonderful week...

Lord Bless....

A simple candle project.....

Good Morning....

Just a wee post to share a simple candle project with you today.

Our youngest son had bought me these lovely iron candleholders for Christmas... There is one on each side of the livingroom fireplace..

I keep forgetting to buy enough candles for both so yesterday I came across 2 boxes of  candles that you use for emergencies... I class this as one..lol.. The holders were empty and needed some candles in them...

I have some prim ones at the shop but that is a long way away..

So... I dug around and found these napkins...

No, they are not very prim but will do until I can get some prim ones made....

Anyway, all you need is a brush or sponge, candles, napkins and some modgepodge....

Just make sure to separate the napkin into two layers and just use the colored one... ok?

Measure the napkin to fit your candle.. Leave some room at the top in case you want to light them ONCE ...

These are for decor alone... I will not be lighting them but one time.

Then brush the napkin with modge on the edge and fit it good then modge the rest and roll up.  I had a few candle holders on the table to sit them in until they dried...

Then just put them in your holders...

These candles only cost 2 dollars for 10 .  I know there are nicer napkins but that is all I had here.. Or...

You can use tissue paper.. Some with crows or stars would be nice..

All according to your own tastes... 

I lit them so you could see...lol...

My livingroom is not very prim.. Lots of antiques but I have carpet.. Perhaps someday we will get a wood floor...

Sammi had been keeping me company as I am puttering..

There is my sun-sewing room over there at the end of the dining room table through those french doors..

I am AGAIN trying to organize it...

My sweet dear husband says he has never seen a woman with sooooo much stuff!!!  Craft stuff that is...

What am I supposed to do?  Of course, I have a lot of craft STUFF as I worked at it for over 20 years.. RIGHT???

I have packed up and lugged boxes to the Salvation Army but I still make crafts although I do need to get rid of more.....I agree to that...

I just wanted to mention that I posted about these pillows that I made on my other blog

Another easy winter project for you to do...

Anyway, my dears may you have a very BLESSED week ...

Reach out and help someone today and know that HE cares about how your week is going...

Praying that God will bless your Homes and bring you PEACE...