Showing posts with label Herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herbs. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Some Last Minute Goodies for You!

Scarecrow


Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Glaze

Makes 3 dozen

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease baking sheets.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

For Glaze:

Combine 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.



Pumpkin Bread Pudding With Brown Sugar-Yogurt Sauce

Makes 15 servings

12 slices cracked or wholewheat bread, cut into cubes (12 cups)
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
2 cans (12 fluid ounces each) Nestle Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
1 can (15 ounces) Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup refrigerated egg substitute or 4 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt

For Bread Pudding:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Combine bread and cranberries in large bowl. Combine evaporated milk, pumpkin, egg substitute, sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice and salt in medium bowl. Pour egg mixture over bread mixture; stir. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish; let stand for 10 minutes.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm with Brown Sugar-Yogurt Sauce.

For Brown Sugar Yogurt Sauce:

Combine 2 containers (6 ounces each) or 1 1/2 cups nonfat plain yogurt and 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar in small bowl.

(These recipes are from our little local neighborhood newspaper. More pumpkin recipes can be found at The Very Best Baking.)
***

Get cozy with cranberries. The cranberry is an herb—but you already knew that, didn't you? For the latest word on the medicinal qualities of this favorite holiday fruit, check out the Encyclopedia of Herbs. And for some berry good cranberry recipes, there's Cranberry Cooking for All Seasons, featuring such delectables as Cranberry Maple Syrup, Cranberry Tangerine Loaf Cakes, Shaker Cranberry Pie, and (oh my goodness!) Nantucket Roast Loin of Pork with Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing. ( Cranberry information from All About Thyme: A Weekly Calendar of Times and Seasonings by Susan Wittig Albert.)




Friday, May 15, 2009

Potpourri


It's Friday so it must be Potpourri Time!
I'll start out with the latest journal page.
I call it prayer.
In many ways, very simple - no writing by me.



I finished Beautiful Ghosts by Eliot Pattison. This is the fourth novel in the series featuring disgraced Chinese Inspector Shan Tao Yun. I suppose mystery reviewers would call this a suspense thriller. Shan was sent to a work camp in Tibet for taking on corruption of his superiors - a very dangerous thing to do. Shan is released from the camp, but without papers of any kind, no status, official identity or the freedom to return to China. He lives with Tibetan lamas where he has learned about Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. In Beautiful Ghosts, a murder in a ruined monastery in Tibet and an art theft in Beijing are linked. The same officials who exiled Shan are asking for his help.

I love these books. Pattison brings alive the Tibetan people, their old way of life, their life under the Chinese, their hopes. It is heart breaking and hopeful at the same time. I had been saving Beautiful Ghosts to read. I don't want the series to end. I have one more tucked away.


Wormwood: A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert is the latest in this long running cozy mystery series. China is an ex-lawyer and an herbalist. In Wormwood, China has decided to assist her friend, Martha, with some herbal workshops in a historic Shaker village in Kentucky. It seems like a Garden of Eden, but is far from it. The restored modern version of the village is plagued with misfortune and strife - some of it sabotage. Martha, a member of the board and a relative of a Shaker who left the fold long ago, is hoping China can get to the bottom of it.

I do enjoy the China Bayles mysteries. I love the herbal lore. I'm always learning something new. In Wormwood, Albert has added lots of Shaker history. More things to learn! And, as in all good cozy mysteries, there are some delicious sounding recipes at the end. Also, at the end, lists of herbs for Shaker Gardens: A Medicinal Garden, Tea Garden and Culinary Garden.


The grand opening of the Arts of India Gallery is tonight.
YeeeeeHaaaaw!
Finally!
And I have to leave you with a little something I found on another blog.
(Did I make a note of where I found it? If I did, I can't find it! I apologize!)



Smile!
Joy to You!


Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Wabash Antiques And Feed Store

Wednesday is our day to do errands and just play around in Houston. We call Wednesday our adventure day. It is our no computer day. (Try that one on for size!)



The Wabash Antiques and Feed Store: Bees Buzzing, Pigs Flying, Spring is Here! YeeHaw! We've driven by the Wabash many times on our way to and from the parking for the Bayou City Art Festival that is held in Memorial Park in the spring. We decided our adventure for last Wednesday would be to stop and visit the Wabash.




This had to be a very quick picture as cars were coming and going the entire time we were there. Folks knew what they wanted (everything from pet food to fertilizer to plant seeds to animals), got it, got back in their cars and off they went. The Wabash had lots to pick from including chicks, hens, roosters and kittens. Oh, the kittens. Mr. Dragon just shook his head. I knew he was thinking three fur babies are enough!




They did have *flying* pigs ... made of scrap metal.
They had lots of scrap animals.



A very large chicken of scrap metal.






Beautiful swans-
They really didn't want their pictures taken.
One would bob and the other weave as the photos were taken!
Perhaps it was a game for them.
Let's drive this woman nuts!



Amongst the pots and other outdoor accessories we found
the fish, crab and behind the fish is a scrap metal swan in the water.




The herbs were an herb gardeners dream!
They also had fruit and citrus trees just for our area.

We haven't decided what our adventure will be for tomorrow.

Think you know all there is to know about where you live?
Try an adventure day and find out!


Thursday, April 23, 2009

Pay It Forward


Look at the surprise Pay It Forward the postman delivered.

I wish we all had smell-a-vision!

This beautiful heart was stitched by the lovely and talented Sharon
at Wild Flower House and stuffed with lavender.

How she knew what to put on the heart, I'll never know!
She got four of my favorite things:
the heart shape, lavender, the music note and sea shell.
All things I love.

Thank you Sharon.
Be sure you go and visit Wild Flower House to see her beautiful work.

My first Pay It Forward will go to its new home the beginning of next week.
Lori, be on the look-out!