Home Baking Monday's

Used the Mimi's German Apple Cake recipe as a base for my Apple Pear Walnut cake tonight.

I just purchased the Rustic Fruit Desserts book and love it. Perfect for homestead baking.

The apples, pears, and walnuts were really for a deep dish winter pie, but I didn't have any cranberries.  But, this will do in a pinch.

Sunday Garden 02-27-11

Is it to early to hope wish for spring?

Back to Basics!

So, the economy is tanking, what's a girl to do?

Start baking her own bread again.

Thanks to our knitting/spinning friend, Trine.  She posted this recipe over on Ravelry for our knitting group to try.

Just took this out of the oven and snapped a photo.

I'll ask her if I can post the recipe on the blog to share with you.  It's beyond super easy!

In gardening news:  I have the three little tomato starts that I had in the kitchen window out in the garden house/mini greenhouse.  With the seedling mat and a 13w daylight bulb, they are doing fantastic.  A second set of leaves is starting to appear.

I really do feel better this year about gardening by keeping it small and manageable.

ETA:

Trine's Bread Recipe
:
Ingredients:
500g flour (any kind you like. I use 350g unbleached white and 150g rye flour) = 4.5 cups
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1 cup rolled oats or bran
2 tablespoons vinegar (mild flavor)
1 tablespoon honey
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon (I was wrong here earlier) of yeast
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 liter or 2 cups of room temperature water
spices as you wish (cardamon, cumin, cinnamon, anis, etc)
If you want you can add dried fruits or nuts to this, just take out some of the above mentioned seeds.
Mix all ingredients well in a mixer. Dough will be wet and sticky!!! I put my dough in a pyrex glass bowl, but you can just place it on a sheet if you like. Moisten the top and score it a few times. Place dough and a cup filled with water in the COLD oven and turn oven to 375 degree F for 70 min. and your done!!!
Enjoy!!!!

Sunday Garden 01-23-11

I managed a few hours out in the garden today, since the rain was holding off and I found I had the time and the energy to get out there.

I took down the greenhouse. Gone! I've been researching smaller, efficient greenhouses and need to save for one that will hold heat, automatically open a roof vent, etc.

I did have a 16' board cut at Home Depot a few weeks back. I managed to get the Mister to put it together for me. I was getting tired by that point.

I moved the standing greenhouse shelf with cover into the garden house. It is next to a very large window that I have successfully grown plants next to before.

For now this will have to do.

My plans for this year's garden are to keep it simple and small.

Tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, carrots, and zucchini.

I will be so busy with all the fiber events in my life, a smaller garden is just what I need.

Gardening January 17, 2011

Blurry-eyed view of my Farmers Market purchases.

Today was the opening day of the 2010 Puyallup Farmer's Market. I arrived just minutes before the official start time and completed my shopping within 30 minutes.

I, of all people, know I need a new camera, but I don't want to let go of the purse strings to buy one just yet.

Asparagus was available for $1.49 a pound. I purchased the soap I love, Rose and Jasmine, which is made locally. In the brown bag is a goodie I bought for myself to have later...a sweet butter pecan roll. Nummy!



The asparagus was bound for these three pints of hot pickled asparagus. It will be ready to eat in six weeks. I usually make Asparagus Roll-ups with ham and cream cheese. Another yummy. Especially with a Blue Moon Summer Beer.

The last purchase, a Black Beauty Zucchini from a vendor who lives here in Graham. Lots of blossoms on this lovely plant. The little pumpkin start is a freebie from the Puyallup Farmer's Market, 1 of 600, given away to the first 600 folks that ask. :)

Even with the wind and the cold temperatures, the market was FULL of vendors. It sure makes it feel like spring!

A moment of beauty!

Asian Pear Tree

For me, the moment a fruit tree is in full bloom is the most beautiful!

Now, if my allergies would go away!