A Week in Canada

Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19

My Grandparents from England were visiting Canada so I popped down for a few days to see them Granddad celebrated his 84th Birthday and we all reconnected. David and the children survived without me and the weather was decent. All in all a lovely visit.

GranyAnn Grandad Reg and Me

Mom and I thought this old brick wall had so much character. It speaks of the past and of remembrance.

Isn't she beautiful?

My Mother

Pie Crust Recipe

I think I'm going to have to start a blog just for food!!

Here is the pie crust recipe that I took straight from http://www.foodwishes.blogspot.com/ Chef John is so fun to watch (even though he's never in the videos). His sense of humor is great!

The Recipe

Ingredients: (makes enough dough for one 9 or 10 inch double crust pie)


12 ounces flour (about 2 1/2 cups)

2 sticks (1 cup) ice cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 teaspoon salt

7 tablespoon ice water

1 tablespoon cider vinegar


Cut butter into 1 inch pieces and freeze. Pour flour and salt into food processor and add frozen butter. Pulse till resembles course crumbs. It is important that you do not just turn the thing on and let it run - the friction will cause the butter to warm too much. Then add your vinegar and half the water. Pulse again. Add the rest of the water and pulse till dough just starts to stick to itself. Do not pulse it into a ball or you will have tough crust.

*that sounds like a good alternate saying to tough luck doesn't it? Tough Crust Buddy!

Ok moving on.

Dump crumbly, slightly stuck together mess on lightly floured counter and press into round ball. Resist the urge to kneed. Cut in half and wrap each part in cling film. Refridgerate for a good hour. Turn out on floured surface and roll into 1/8 inch thick.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - the day after!

I think you can take it from there eh?  Check out John's blog for a fun video!

Fall Photo Shoot

"The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." Psalm 115:14-16

Every year I torture my children by making them pose in the leaves for a photo. Of course, the foster children get the short end of the stick as I have to blur their faces. "Mom, what's wrong with my face" she cries! The real photo may make it to the family christmas card...

Appetizers and Desserts

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart

Psalm 104:13-15

I love serving appetizers and desserts to my company but I hate making them, particularly desserts. Maybe it's because I don't like to measure - too reminiscent of science class or something. I've always been a bit of a free style cook. Actually, I like to do almost everything free style. This is probably why I never get much done. Ah well.

Yesterday I pulled out all the stops. I don't know why. I think the rainy weather was getting to me. Comfort food (even if you have to measure it) is worth the effort if it's raining. Actually, I'm not sure either of these were really "worth it".

Stuffed Zucchini Rolls

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

This may have been the best pie crust I've ever made. Notice I did not post pictures of the horrid key lime pie. I finally found a method for pie crust that is fool proof. Now, if only I liked pie...

Tea for Two

Last year Grace received a beautiful Royal Albert tea set for her birthday. It has been sitting in packaging just waiting for the perfect opportunity. Yesterday it finally came. We hosted another mother and daughter for tea, cookies and strawberries. Then we made flowery headbands and sparkly scepters. The Dad's and brother's joined us for dinner. All in all, it was great fun.

Crab Apples

Ok, so they aren't in mine. But don't they look fabulous?! Plus I got to practice my upclose fruit photography!

A Trip to the Farm

We are part of a local food co-op. We buy shares of a nearby garden in the spring and pick up whatever is harvested each week. My new foster daughter has been looking forward to going to the farm since Monday when I told her that if she'd eat her veggies, I'd show her where they were growing. She's been talking about it ever since. "Can we go to the farm today?" "When will you take me to the farm?" "Puuullleeeeeeze can we go to the farm now?" So today was the big day.

I was grateful that the neighboring farm had their horses out, especially after I realized that the poor child thought we were going to a farm with animals.

"Where's the cows?" She asked impatiently. Her disappointment didn't last too long. Thankfully, she LOVES flowers which are in abundance at the end of each row of veggies. She ran around happily sniffing flowers and asking "Did Jesus make this one? What about this? Did Jesus make ALL these flowers???" "Did Jesus make the veggies too???"

We soon had our share and were headed back to the car heavy laden with farm fresh garden fresh goodies. It was a good day and a near success at persuading a reluctant veggie eater that green things are in fact super cool.

Or so I thought.

"What are we going to do with this stuff" She asked me on the way home.

"Eat it" I replied cheerfully.

She wrinkled up her cute little nose and said

"Yuck!"

:-)

Heavy Veggies

For the Love of Fennel

Garden Fresh Rhurbarb

It's been harvest time. Well, let me rephrase that. We're hauling in the Moose's leftovers. :-) Moose don't eat Rhubarb. God has programmed them to avoid the poisonous leaves.

We have successfully discarded the leaves and are busy chopping, freezing and canning. My neighbor gave me the cook book "The Joy of Rhubarb" so I am not without some excellent recipes.