Lynd's Fruit Farm

         

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

After a Sunday afternoon of take out Chinese food while putting together two major items like the coffee station (successful) and a new router (which was NOT successful), we decided to go to Lynd's market in the country to pick apples--well, not pick -pick, but to buy picked apples.  Well it was a hootenanny that greeted us. The one- counter simple outdoor/indoor market had been replaced and a new large arena greeted us.  Lines of people every where (and they said this was not a busy Sunday...we just don't know busy at Lynd's.) People sitting at tables and eating and picnicking on the small hills of still green grass.  Kettle corn a-poppin, and apples of every kind.  Have you ever seen a red fleshed apple, well here it is!

The apple peeled and unpeeled.  It is sharp and crisp.  I've just put it in a tart, with walnuts and yellow delicious apples to see how it turns out. The suggestion is to use it for candied apples. Note:  My family does not care for these red fleshed apples.  The tart was only half gone.  I will make applesauce from the rest of the apples and use that in cakes.  I would not buy them again.

 Also, in this picture is a squash a bit like the acorn but with another name, which I forget, and a subtle difference in taste.

 Ahh, the mustard shown here (new product too) which I get at Stalin's in Cincinnati for $7.29 a tube but now I have found it on line for around $5. to $5.95 a tube.(Never mind, with shipping it comes out more than the cost from Stalin's) Love these tubes of this very spicy mustard that we are now craving on everything and which is inserted in many of our hearty dishes. Spelled: Superscharfer senf.   Delicious.  And, look at the peppers.  We thought we were good at growing peppers, but, really...these are peppers!

Our new marble topped coffee station.  Beth put it together.  Thank you, Beth.

LikeTake soft white bread, cut off the crusts.  Roll out each slice to make it very thin.  Lay a slice of cheese on each piece of bread and roll up tightly.  Smush down the end of the roll to keep it in place or use a bit of egg wash or water to keep it sealed,  Use a skillet to make these rolls the same way you would normally make grilled cheese.  Think of the possibilities: use with salads, chili, tomato soups...endless.

Seasonings, jams, and girdles all at TJ MAXX

 Here is my coffee station.

Beth and I have been shopping for a coffee station for the kitchen.  We didn't find one at the stores where we shopped (but I have one coming from on line) but good old TJ Maxx had several selections of seasonings and imported jams and jellies.  I went nuts.  I have been using Victoria V Taylor's products for some time, buying on line.  Very expensive.  When I spotted the same items from the same place at more than half the price, I grabbed several to try and I like every single one of them very much.  On line directly from the dealer a 3.6 oz jar is $9.50 plus tax and shipping.  At TJ Maxx a 6.2 oz jar  is $4.99 and many had additional savings.  In the seasoning line I have: Sicilian seasoning for pizza and tomato sauce, herbs de Provence, sesame teriyaki toasted sesame ginger, 7 seed crust, honey aleppo pepper (great) zesty lemon herbs seasoning (great in egg salad with avocados on brick bread from Carfagna's.) We had just gone to the Penzey's shop last week and the prices there are out of sight too. (Frankly, I don't know how that store stays open, but it does.) So do try TJ Maxx or Home Goods where you can get 15 oz of Braswell's fig preserves for $4.99.)

  The Jams and jellies come from different countries and are simply delicious.  I use the fig jelly with apples for a tart.  Here are some others: Habunero pepper jelly, Braswell's peach, apricot preserves, the same company's fig preserves, Favorite Swiss peach and mango, Sarabeth's raspberry orange marmalade.

Andy's brother, Jim, is coming for the football game today.  He and Andy are making a day of it.  But first, brat patty sandwiches with hot German mustard and bread pudding. 

A couple of blogs ago I showed a cute picture of a coffee station for the home cook's kitchen.  We entertain so much that I need two or three kinds of coffee makers to suit the occasions.  Beth and I are working on a station set up beside the French baker's rack in my kitchen and if it turns out well, I will picture it.  This 'cart' has a wire drawer where the K cups for the single brew tea or coffee can live, a tray that can be removed or used as a second shelf for cups, saucers, sugar creamers, and another shelf for coffee or tea related items.  It has a marble top which would be good when we are doing baking that needs a cool top on which to work.  I bought an interesting coffee sign to go over the set up.  Any way, when it comes someone is going to be busy  putting it together... I hope it will all be functioning by Thanksgiving when we have a large group coming for the night before and for the day.  

This is so delicious that I've made it two days in a row:  Egg salad with fresh herbs, avocados on brick bread.



Coffee stations for the home:

An old dry sink refinished and made into a coffee station.

coffee station

Coffee station.

 4  1

RECIPES FOR EATING CROW~

 50 QUICK BREADS !

It's no secret I have had it in for the Food Network for a couple of years.  I once loved it, but when it became 'more than chicken' by not backing its stars the minute there was a hint of mis-doing, then I left them for a long time while missing some of the shows that I liked. Today I was roaming CVS.  I do adore drug stores and luckily I am healthy so it is a rare treat to get to shop while waiting for a prescription.  I found a cart load of goodies: 2 off the press paperbacks that I had been waiting for, magazines that drew me in, and make up of all sorts...oh, and the newest thing soft caramels. It's the magazines that I want you to know about.  You must run out and get the newest Food Network magazines.  It is wonderful.  I admit I had bucked and bulled and never picked one up, but leafing through this one today, I had to break down and support those chickens. There are so many good recipes and so much information I could not possibly type it all in for you, so grab your $4. and head for the store before they run out. These pictures will help you on your way. (I may even buy a subscription.  Ouch!) Grab a couple of bags of Lancaster crèmes caramels on you way to check out.)  

DIPS OF EVERY KIND: Click on each picture to get a clear and dangerous view of goodness.

 Hot cheese dips.  I am doing the one in the iron skillet.

Thanksgiving 2014 ideas~

It was Thanksgiving in Canada yesterday and in the Lechler households it is today.  Glenda, my sister-in-law, had great news from the doctor after months of pain and suffering.  She is healed and able to go to Florida with us in January. Andy and I are beside ourselves thinking of the company and the beach. I am mentally packing as I write. LOL

  Mennonite Girls Can Cook has many ideas and here they are, with pleasure and thanks to their bloggers for the recipes and pictures. Visit their site.  They also have cookbooks which I intend to look in to.

   
This TART just came out of the oven...unlike the so called tart from Whole Foods which was really a coffee cake. 

Now that I know it works I will arrange the apples or pears more artfully next time.  The apples were tossed with the above fig preserves with no sugar.  Preserves on the base crust and warmed with the apples for a  bit on the stove,  When everything was cool again, into the oven at 400 for 10-15 minutes and 350 until done...about 30 minutes more.

Now to the Thanksgiving ideas.

I am glad I thought to go to Mennonite Girls Can Cook's blog.  These ideas and pictures are from that blog.  I had not visited it in a while and those creative women have been busy! Isn't this an nice idea for the holiday meal. (Tied with wilted green onion strips or leek strips.) Think of these caramelized maybe with a bit of sugar under the broiler. Just a thought.

Yeast Dough for onion rolls:

• 2 cups very warm water
• 1/4 cup potato flakes (instant mashed potatoes)
• 2 tablespoons yeast (instant, fast rising)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
• 6 - 6 1/2 cups flour

1. Stir together the water, potato flakes and sugar. 
2. Add eggs, softened butter, and yeast mixed with 3 cups flour. 
3. Beat with mixer on high speed. 
4. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until a soft but knead-able dough is formed. 
5. Knead well. 
6. Place in a greased bowl.
7. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk. (About an hour in a warm place.)

Filling:

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

 Directions:

1. Punch down dough, and divide in half.
2. Roll each half out to form a 16 x 12 inch rectangle.
3. Brush each piece with half the melted butter; sprinkle each rectangle with half the cheese and poppy seeds.
4. Beat egg, and brush lightly over long edges.
5. Starting at one long side, roll up tightly, pinching seam to seal.
6. Cut thick slices (about 1 1/2") and place on parchment lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. 
7. Press buns to flatten to about 3/4" thick.
8. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
9. Brush lightly with beaten egg.
10. Top each roll with onion slices. 
11. Add a dollop of mayonnaise on top of each bun (about 1 teaspoon).
12. Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Cool on racks.

Yield: 20 large cheesy onion rolls.

*  It is a wonderful refrigerator dough...and keeps well for several days in the fridge in a sealed container.  It is a simple thing to use half the dough for cheesy onion rolls today...and refrigerate the rest to use for cinnamon buns or more onion buns tomorrow (or the tomorrow after that!). 

I need to keep the turkey(s) wrestler happy, so I may serve George this for staying power: avocado egg salad on dark bread.

Here's a delicious way to dress up mashed potatoes.

• four medium potatoes (Of course more for a crowd with all the ingredients.)
• 4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces and fried until crisp
• 1 large leek, white and pale green part only, washed, halved lengthwise and sliced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced 
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• warm milk
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Partially peel potatoes. ( I like having a bit of the potato skins peeping through the creamy white.)
2. Place in a pan with cold water and salt to taste, bring to a boil and simmer until tender.
3. While potatoes are cooking, place bacon pieces in a fry pan and cook until crisp.
4. Remove bacon to a paper towel with a slotted spoon.
5. Add sliced leeks and minced garlic to bacon fat and saute over medium heat until leeks are soft and beginning to brown.
6. Drain potatoes and mash, add sour cream and butter and enough warm milk to make a rough mash.  For these potatoes, a rougher mash with a few lumps is desirable.
7. Add bacon, leeks, garlic and some of the bacon fat to the mashed potatoes and mix well.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve. Serves 3-4

Apple raisin bread 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon or rind of 1 lemon
• 4 – 4 ¼ cups flour, divided
• 2 Tbsp instant yeast*
• 2 1/2 – 3 cups raisins (rinsed with hot water) 

* about the yeast - the original recipe calls for 1 pkg yeast, letting it proof in warm water first. If you use water, adjust the milk or flour. 

Method:

1. Melt butter and add milk to a combined warm temperature.
2. Beat eggs and sugar, adding salt, cinnamon (or zest) and gradually the liquids.
3. Stir in 2 cups flour mixed with instant yeast.
4. Add rinsed raisins and then the rest of the flour, mixing until dough comes together. This works best with the dough hook attachment if you are doing it in a mixer.
5. Dust with extra flour if necessary to shape. Cover with tea towel and plastic bag and let rise at room temperature for about 1 –1 ½ hours.
6. Divide into two or three parts. If you are only making raisin bread, simply shape each part into a loaf. This will make two medium or three small loaves.
7. Cover and let rise until dough comes near the top of the loaf pan, about 45 – 60 minutes.
8. For a glossy look, beat an egg white with a fork and brush it over the tops, just before baking.
9. Bake in pre-heated 325 F oven for 30 – 45 minutes depending on size of loaf pan. Remove from pan to cooling rack while hot.

The love of books and things~

I've just started A Paris Apartmentt by Michelle Gable, her first novel, and I like it very much.  It's a fiction story that winds between the past and present, between two passionate women and their lives and loves and fortunes AND it has Paris and antiques to boot.  No one had been in the Paris apartment since 1940, not even the Germans found this booty and it is there to explore and assess. Ms. Gable is new to Women's fiction and she started off well. (I finished the book, with pleasure.)

The above book is completely different from the last forty or fifty books that I just read.  I have been in to Stuart Wood's forty books and finished them off.  I liked them all.  There were two or three that were not up to par, but I kept at it and they grew on me.  He is a bit like my other hero, Lee Child but Mr. Child seems to be running out of steam.  His last book Personal is bad.  The one before that, really good.  The one before that BAD.  All of his others, eighteen or so, were really good.  It's as though someone else wrote the two bad ones.

I like the Patterson books that he writes alone.  I can tell not only from the cover but when a co-author takes over.  Patterson's premise draws me in and the writing of the other author closes me out.

Several in the family enjoyed John Grisham's Sycamore Row which takes place in the same town with some of the characters from A Time To Kill.

I've just started Gone Girl.  I can already see this is not going to end well. Apprehension is cast from the start. But, interesting so far.

Andy and Beth are fans of UNBROKEN, a true story that is coming out in movie form in December.

Our family has enjoyed most of John Grisham's books but I fear his latest comments will not do him any good.  I expect his popularity is about to take a big hit in the pocket.

Can you spot the third dog in this picture? These three are best friends.  Posy does not like the camera, so she missed out.

This is where I keep a lot of the loose or hand written (or typed) recipes that I have tried or intend to try.

But today, I am not cooking at all and maybe not tomorrow.  I sent out Thanksgiving invitations yesterday, so my mind is on that holiday... while I am taking a kitchen holiday.

This is a great idea.  We have two different coffee makers and just the spot to make this happen in the kitchen. (Idea on Pinterest.) Pronounced Pin-trest  or Pin-ter-est.
Beth and I went shopping for the coffee bar, but came away with nothing.  This is not going to be easy.  One place had one like the picture below with a marble top, but it too was white and I have no white, to speak of, in the kitchen . We will keep looking.

LOVE this coffee bar!

George and Pam come here the day before Thanksgiving to wrestle the turkeys and help with menu.  We will have lots of help this year. Yea! This casserole will be good to keep everyone happy and busy...sugar high.

Cinnamon Roll Casserole    

Rating: 51

Serving Size: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of melted butter or baking spray
• 2 cans (12.4 oz each) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing (icing reserved)
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup chopped Pecans
• 1/4 cup maple syrup + 1 teaspoon

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Pour melted butter into a 3 quart baking dish that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray.

Separate both cans of dough into 16 rolls; set icing aside. Cut each roll into 6 pieces - place the chopped cinnamon rolls over the melted butter.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, cinnamon & vanilla until combined. Drizzle the mixture over the cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle with pecans; drizzle with 1/4 cup maple syrup.

Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove covers from the icing; microwave for about 15 seconds or until thin enough to drizzle. Stir in 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. Drizzle over the cinnamon roll casserole.

via Mrs Happy Homemaker

This site is worth viewing.  She also has many ways to enhance your coffee right at home. At least 20 recipes for coffee.