Scavenger Hunt~List #2

 

I am so relieved that I have what I need for Misi's scavenger hunt this week...no giggles or running from house to house for me. I'm afraid I was stricken with a case of the vapors over the past few days. Thankfully, it seems to have passed.  

Here's the list for week #2...

 

~A Child's Chair~

As a boy, Mr. Kattywhompus sat in these chairs during Sunday school. When the new church was built, we inherited two of the chairs from his childhood classroom. Later they were used by our three boys.

 ~Blue Willow China~

 ...which inspired me to make these wonderful lemon-blueberry scones. (Thanks Jenn!)

~Tin or Metal Tree~

A little wire tree dedicated to the birds and bees(wax).

Close up of the delightful ornaments I bought from Linda.

~Wooden Toy Boat~

I rescued this toy boat from the sell pile...sure glad it's not garage sale season yet.

~Corn Dryer~

A friend made this corn dryer for me using her homegrown popcorn.

~A Colonial Print (featuring a boy and a girl)~

Even though both children depicted are wearing dresses, there are a couple of subtle differences in their clothing that tells us that we are indeed looking at a boy and a girl. The young boy on the left wears a low-neck dress, with coat sleeves and a complete front opening to the hem. The girls dress has a higher neck (which is difficult to see here) and a closed front.

And for Bero...

~A Wooden Buggy Yoke~

Not nearly as nice as his...but a buggy yoke none-the-less.

Please stop by Misi's blog to share in the fun!

Until next time...

Tuesday Display Chain~ Life is Yummy ~

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain". This week the theme is "Yummy", to be interpreted by  each participating blogger as they see fit. 

I confess, I have a bit of a sweet tooth...so of course when Misi said "yummy", my mind went right to dessert...

 ~Even my pies are a little "kattywhompus"~

As grandpa Ralph always said, "I only like two kinds of pie.

Hot...and cold."

But for a really yummy treat...you can't beat my favorite scone recipe. People beg me to make these...now they can beg you too.

 From the 1989 February issue of Country Living Magazine, 
I give you...

Chocolate Chip Scones

2 cups unsifted self rising, all-purpose flour (see note)

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease baking sheet. In large bowl, combine flour and sugar. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.

2. In small bowl, combine milk, egg, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients, along with chocolate chips and mix with fork until mixture clings together and forms a soft dough.

3. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead gently 5 or 6 times. With lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 7 inch round. Cut into 4 wedges.

4. Place scones, 1 inch apart, on greased baking sheet. Pierce tops with tines of fork.

5. Bake scones 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Note: Or add 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to 2 cups regular all-purpose flour.

Kattywhompus Tips: Knead gently, no more than needed to hold the dough together. Over handling will give you tough scones. Instead of rolling out the dough I pat it into a flat round with my hands and cut it into eight scones. Also, these burn easily. I watch them carefully and bake until lightly browned...golden brown on top means the bottoms are too dark for me. See the photo for "lightly browned".

And then there is my very favorite sweet thang. Mancake. ;)

~Yummy~

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

Tuesday Display Chain~ Homemade Granola by Kattywhompus

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain" by featuring items from their collections. Since many of us are browsing through magazines and looking online for holiday ideas such as gifts, decorating ideas & recipes, Let us give a little of ourselves here through blogland. This week's theme is "To Share".

I'd like to share my recipe for homemade granola...a huge hit at out house. My husband & sons think this is a real treat for breakfast served with fruit and yogurt. It also makes a great healthy snack. I make up a big batch at Christmas for gift giving. It looks great in a cello bag tied with a piece of homespun and a handmade tag. I've made it for fund raisers and bazaars and it is always the first thing that sells out. I hope it will become a favorite at your house too.

Homemade Granola by Kattywhompus

In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients except raisins until well blended.

2 1/2 Cups Old Fashion Oats

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Sunflower Meats

1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans

1/4 Cup Wheat Germ

1/2 Cup Flaked Coconut

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

* 1/2 Cup Golden Raisins & 1/2 Cup Dark Raisins

Of course the above ingredients can be adjusted to your taste...try a variety of nuts and dried fruit for lots of different flavors!

Melt butter and honey together and then add vanilla. Pour over dry granola mixture and toss until well coated.

1/3 Cup Butter

1/3 Cup Honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Spread granola in a thin layer on two lightly greased cookie sheets (pans with sides work best).

 

Forgive my "well seasoned" baking pan...the best kind. :)

 Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Stir frequently while baking. Pay special attention to granola around the edges of the pan. When granola turns a golden brown, remove from oven & spread on wax paper or foil to cool. Stir in raisins, and store in an airtight container. Enjoy! 

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

Uncle Louie's Apple Cake

A butcher by trade, Uncle Louie enjoyed baking in his spare time. His 'Hint of Mint Cake' was known all over Starke County as the cake to beat at North Judson's annual Mint Festival. He also came up with what we affectionately call, 'Uncle Louie's Apple Cake'. Every year at Thanksgiving, Uncle Louie presented each family with an apple cake. We looked forward to those cakes all year. Even when he was well into his seventies, he was baking thirty cakes for each holiday. Uncle Louie has been gone for over twelve years. We bake this cake every year at apple time, in memory of Uncle Louie.

 Uncle Louie's Apple Cake

 3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup apple sauce

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups of diced, unpeeled apples

1 cup chopped nuts (Louie used walnuts)

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Blend oil, eggs, apple sauce and vanilla, then stir into dry ingredients. Stir in diced apples and chopped nuts. Bake in an ungreased 9" x 13" pan at 350 degrees for one hour and 10 minutes. Great topped with vanilla ice cream or a bit of whipped cream.

Please feel free to share this recipe with your friends and family...and tell them they have Louie Ball to thank for the best darn apple cake they've ever eaten.  

Until next time...

Mercantile Gatherings Magazine Holiday Issue Giveaway!

Guess what's just arrived in my mailbox? That's right, my Mercantile Gatherings Magazines! I've been waiting rather impatiently for this issue as I am planning a special gift for my Mom based on the article I've written. It's a sort of tribute to my grandparents...remembered from stories Mom has told me over the years.

The ladies at Mercantile Gatherings do a splendid job on the magazine and I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to write for their publication. This issue is filled with all the wonderful photos, patterns and stories you've come to expect...along with a few new features like recipes and tutorials. I think you'll love it as much as I do.

With the Holiday issue hot off the press, I thought I'd share the love with a little giveaway...

To be eligible to win YOUR copy of the magazine, you must be a follower of my blog, and leave me a comment on this post by Friday, October 8th, one week from today. I'll announce the winner here on Friday evening.

Until Next time...

PS. I've found a peanut doll!!! Shhhh....don't tell!

Pppp...pumpkin

Anyone who knows me well knows that I do not “do” pumpkin. While everyone else is exchanging their autumnal recipes, featuring the lovely orange squash, I am likely to be wrinkling up my nose to show my displeasure, unless we are talking about THIS recipe. This is a soft, nutty, wholesome cookie…and as my Granny always said “I only put good things it there.” So for those like me, who usually pass on pumpkin, might I suggest?

Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl combine:

1 Cup Flour

1 Cup Brown Sugar

½ Cup White Sugar

½ Teaspoon Salt

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

Blend together:

1 Cup Butter (Softened)

1 Cup Pumpkin Puree

1 Large Egg

Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Next, fold into batter:

3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1 Cup Dark Seedless Raisins

½ Cup Coconut

½ cup Pecan (chopped)

½ Cup Walnuts (chopped)

½ Cup Almonds (Slices)

½ Cup Roasted Sunflower Meats

Blend well. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 3-5 dozen, depending on how large you make them.

Helpful Hints: I like to mix in the last ingredients in with my hands. Also I use Pampered Chef’s (1.25 diameter) melon ball scoop to give cookies a uniform size. This makes about 5 dozen smallish cookies. And lastly, I like these cookies best when they are nicely browned…it brings out the toasted flavors of the nuts. Enjoy!