I cannot find a written version of the orange liqueur recipe we made for Christmas gifts last year anywhere.
For those of you hoping to make some of your own, here's what I *think* we did - to the best of my recollection.
Orange Liqueur
peels of three organic oranges, cut into small strips
1quart brandy
1quart vodka
1 cup honey
Soak orange peels in alcohol for 4-6 weeks. Strain, and add honey to alcohol. Shake well and often. When honey is thoroughly dissolved in alcohol, pour into individual bottles.
The only part I feel unsure about is the amount of honey. This is totally up to your taste anyway, so go for it, and let me know if you have to adjust it a bit.
This is nice over ice cream or in raspberry sauce over ice cream and/or brownies. Some of you have assured me it is also a cure for the common cold!
Vanilla
10-12 vanilla beans
1.5L vodka (the cheap kind)
Open vodka and remove the plastic thing on top. Pour a little into another container, and drop vanilla beans into bottle. Cap and set aside for at least a month and up to a year. Pour into individual bottles, and top off with more vodka. The beans can be used more than once but will need more time to give the same flavor after the first use.
Tarragon Vinegar
2 large sprigs of fresh Tarragon
1quart of distilled vinegar
Boil vinegar. Place tarragon in mason jar, and pour hot vinegar over it. Set aside for 6-8 weeks. Pour into individual jars and include small sprigs of fresh tarragon.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Mushroom Soup
When we arrived home, we had a new crop of mushrooms waiting on us -
portabellas
and the first button mushrooms.
Owen helped harvest them and spray the soil with water, and I made a really yummy cream of mushroom soup for dinner.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2c ghee
1 onion, chopped
3 large portabella and 5 large button mushrooms, chopped finely (I'm going to venture a guess that these were about 3 cups of chopped mushrooms)
1t thyme
1 small bay leaf
1c beef stock
2c yoghurt or milk
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onions in ghee. Add mushrooms, thyme, and bay leaf, and cook until mushroom liquid is mostly gone. Stir in stock and bring to a boil. Add milk or yoghurt, and heat but do not boil. Salt and pepper to taste. You may thicken a bit with corn starch, flour, tapioca flour or the like before adding milk if you desire.
This was super quick and very yummy!
portabellas
and the first button mushrooms.
Owen helped harvest them and spray the soil with water, and I made a really yummy cream of mushroom soup for dinner.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2c ghee
1 onion, chopped
3 large portabella and 5 large button mushrooms, chopped finely (I'm going to venture a guess that these were about 3 cups of chopped mushrooms)
1t thyme
1 small bay leaf
1c beef stock
2c yoghurt or milk
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onions in ghee. Add mushrooms, thyme, and bay leaf, and cook until mushroom liquid is mostly gone. Stir in stock and bring to a boil. Add milk or yoghurt, and heat but do not boil. Salt and pepper to taste. You may thicken a bit with corn starch, flour, tapioca flour or the like before adding milk if you desire.
This was super quick and very yummy!
Christmas Card -> Picture
Christmas cards often have nice pictures I just hate to throw away. There are lots of projects you can do with them. One of my favorite was an ornament like these that we made in Girl Scouts one year. They were a bit tedious but turned out well.
Here's a project I did today that was a lot quicker:
I got a pack of sample cards free in the mail a while back, and this cardinal one caught my eye. Murmur likes red birds, and I thought it would make a nice Christmas decoration to make and send to her. I picked up a 2-piece mat set at the craft store for about $3. I used the darker green one and saved the lighter one for another project. I glued the picture to the mat, and taped two pieces of raffia on the back near the top corners. Then I glued a piece of plain white card stock over the back.
I tied the raffia at the top, and it was done. I hope she'll enjoy seeing those cheery cardinals marching in a line.
Here's a project I did today that was a lot quicker:
I got a pack of sample cards free in the mail a while back, and this cardinal one caught my eye. Murmur likes red birds, and I thought it would make a nice Christmas decoration to make and send to her. I picked up a 2-piece mat set at the craft store for about $3. I used the darker green one and saved the lighter one for another project. I glued the picture to the mat, and taped two pieces of raffia on the back near the top corners. Then I glued a piece of plain white card stock over the back.
I tied the raffia at the top, and it was done. I hope she'll enjoy seeing those cheery cardinals marching in a line.
Postpartum Meals - A Good Thing
So, this is the season of having babies!
They are coming right and left and don't show signs of slowing up yet.
I really appreciated it when my friend Dianne cooked me a meal and brought it all the way to Esmont from Orange, VA (a 45 minute drive). I was also lonely, and she stayed to eat with me and hang out a bit. In those early days of nursing and nursing and nursing and crying and shhhhhhhhhing and walking and little sleep, it was nice to have a well-balanced meal cooked with lots of love to nourish me so that I could in turn make good milk for Owen.
I think it is a great idea to bring a new mama something good to eat and make a short visit. It is really easy to double up a meal and cook for your family and hers at the same time.
Here are a couple of PP meals I've recently made to share.
Pork chops stuffed with cranberries, Waldorf salad, and pumpkin soup with thyme.
Irish beef stew with Waldorf salad (not pictured).
Pork Chops Stuffed with Cranberries
8 pork chops
1/4 c butter or ghee
4 stalks celery, diced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 c dried cranberries
1t salt
2T orange juice (about 1/2 a small orange juiced)
pepper
butter, ghee, or lard for frying
Saute celery and onions in butter or ghee until onions are translucent. Combine with cranberries, salt, juice, and pepper. Cut a slit into each pork chop and fill with mixture. Pan fry chops 2 minutes on each side to sear. Place chops in baking dish and bake at 350 F for 40 minutes.
Waldorf Salad
4 apples, chopped
4 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2c walnuts
1/2-3/4 c mayonnaise
juice of 1 lemon
Mix and chill. Serve over greens.
Pumpkin Soup
1/2c butter or ghee
1 large onion, diced
1 quart pumpkin, baked until tender and scooped out of shell
1 quart chicken stock
2t. thyme
1/2c coconut cream concentrate
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onion in butter or ghee in a large pot. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Blend until smooth.
Irish Beef Stew
olive oil or lard for frying
4 lbs beef cut into 1-2" cubes
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves of garlic
6 bay leaves
2t thyme
2t rosemary
1 1/2c beef stock
1 1/2c beer (I used a GF sorghum beer)
2T parsley
1 lb carrots
salt and pepper
Brown meat in batches in a skillet with oil or lard. Tranfer to a large oven-proof pot. Brown onion and garlic and transfer to pot. Add remaining ingredients and bake at 275 F for 2 hours or more, stirring 2 or 3 times.
They are coming right and left and don't show signs of slowing up yet.
I really appreciated it when my friend Dianne cooked me a meal and brought it all the way to Esmont from Orange, VA (a 45 minute drive). I was also lonely, and she stayed to eat with me and hang out a bit. In those early days of nursing and nursing and nursing and crying and shhhhhhhhhing and walking and little sleep, it was nice to have a well-balanced meal cooked with lots of love to nourish me so that I could in turn make good milk for Owen.
I think it is a great idea to bring a new mama something good to eat and make a short visit. It is really easy to double up a meal and cook for your family and hers at the same time.
Here are a couple of PP meals I've recently made to share.
Pork chops stuffed with cranberries, Waldorf salad, and pumpkin soup with thyme.
Irish beef stew with Waldorf salad (not pictured).Pork Chops Stuffed with Cranberries
8 pork chops
1/4 c butter or ghee
4 stalks celery, diced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 c dried cranberries
1t salt
2T orange juice (about 1/2 a small orange juiced)
pepper
butter, ghee, or lard for frying
Saute celery and onions in butter or ghee until onions are translucent. Combine with cranberries, salt, juice, and pepper. Cut a slit into each pork chop and fill with mixture. Pan fry chops 2 minutes on each side to sear. Place chops in baking dish and bake at 350 F for 40 minutes.
Waldorf Salad
4 apples, chopped
4 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2c walnuts
1/2-3/4 c mayonnaise
juice of 1 lemon
Mix and chill. Serve over greens.
Pumpkin Soup
1/2c butter or ghee
1 large onion, diced
1 quart pumpkin, baked until tender and scooped out of shell
1 quart chicken stock
2t. thyme
1/2c coconut cream concentrate
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onion in butter or ghee in a large pot. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Blend until smooth.
Irish Beef Stew
olive oil or lard for frying
4 lbs beef cut into 1-2" cubes
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves of garlic
6 bay leaves
2t thyme
2t rosemary
1 1/2c beef stock
1 1/2c beer (I used a GF sorghum beer)
2T parsley
1 lb carrots
salt and pepper
Brown meat in batches in a skillet with oil or lard. Tranfer to a large oven-proof pot. Brown onion and garlic and transfer to pot. Add remaining ingredients and bake at 275 F for 2 hours or more, stirring 2 or 3 times.
Last Minute Trip to TN
At the last minute, we decided it would just be too sad to stay here and eat our 12 pound turkey alone so we decided to drive to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. Abram didn't have any Tuesday classes, so after he picked up our turkey from the Central Market on Tuesday morning, we all headed out of town (including the turkey).
We were very glad to see Grandma Sharon and Pa Billy, Lauren, Steve, Electra, Carter, Will, Alison, Roman, Keiko, Ma, Jesse, Rossitsa, Rosa, Kristiyana, Kalina, and Iliyah and play some games. Poor little Carter wasn't feeling well and had to go early. Owen enjoyed playing with the other Ring family cousins who were there
and got a second dose of fun and excitement on Friday.
Tuesday Owen had a something on his gum, and fearing an abscess, we called around to see if anyone would see him before the holiday. Dr. Peter Shelton met us at his office (with his wife and their 2 year old grandson, Owen!) Tuesday night around 8 to check what appeared to be a perfectly healthy gum. (I had looked at it three times, once after brushing his teeth, and prodded it with my finger. I'm sure it wasn't just a bit of gunk.) He suggested it might have been a clogged salivary gland that eventually popped and gave us his home phone to call in case anything else came up over the holiday. We really appreciated his kindness.
It made us even more homesick for Tennessee! When we called the dentists in Lancaster, they all had 6 week waits but urged us to see someone (else) that day.
We were very glad to see Grandma Sharon and Pa Billy, Lauren, Steve, Electra, Carter, Will, Alison, Roman, Keiko, Ma, Jesse, Rossitsa, Rosa, Kristiyana, Kalina, and Iliyah and play some games. Poor little Carter wasn't feeling well and had to go early. Owen enjoyed playing with the other Ring family cousins who were there
and got a second dose of fun and excitement on Friday.Tuesday Owen had a something on his gum, and fearing an abscess, we called around to see if anyone would see him before the holiday. Dr. Peter Shelton met us at his office (with his wife and their 2 year old grandson, Owen!) Tuesday night around 8 to check what appeared to be a perfectly healthy gum. (I had looked at it three times, once after brushing his teeth, and prodded it with my finger. I'm sure it wasn't just a bit of gunk.) He suggested it might have been a clogged salivary gland that eventually popped and gave us his home phone to call in case anything else came up over the holiday. We really appreciated his kindness.
It made us even more homesick for Tennessee! When we called the dentists in Lancaster, they all had 6 week waits but urged us to see someone (else) that day.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday - Meeting Baby Martin and a Trip to the Zoo
Yesterday we drove down to meet baby Martin, Ben and Tracy's beautiful new little boy. Although Martin is very cute and oh so squishy, Owen was not as impressed as I was. I hung out at Tracy's and took a short walk with Tracy and Martin. He seemed to love being all squished up in the Ergo carrier with his mama. While Tracy and Martin napped, I did a little baking (of Carolyn's granola bars which smelled really yummy) and then tried to play a new game with Ben. Agricola seemed fun, but proved to be a game that would require more time and attention than we had to spend yesterday.
Meanwhile, Owen and Abram took a train to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Owen took his VERY FIRST ride in a stroller. Yep, you read that right. He has tried to sit in the doll strollers at the LLL meetings but has never actually ridden in a stroller. They report that the zoo stroller was lots of fun and Owen would like us to get one of our own. Hmmm. . .
Owen reported that they saw, "ELEPHANTS," and "lions fighting with their paws."
According to the pictures they brought back, they must have also seen cheetahs
and a tiger.
We missed most of the large cats the last time we visited, so I'm glad they got to see them. Tracy told us that the lionesses recently got a thrill when a baby deer jumped into the exhibit - bad for the deer, but I'm sure exciting for the cats who must dearly crave hunting.
When Owen (who had no nap and was bouncing off the walls with delerium) and Abram returned, we left Ben, Tracy, and Martin in peace to head back home.
Congrats, Ben and Tracy! Martin is precious!
Meanwhile, Owen and Abram took a train to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Owen took his VERY FIRST ride in a stroller. Yep, you read that right. He has tried to sit in the doll strollers at the LLL meetings but has never actually ridden in a stroller. They report that the zoo stroller was lots of fun and Owen would like us to get one of our own. Hmmm. . .
Owen reported that they saw, "ELEPHANTS," and "lions fighting with their paws."
According to the pictures they brought back, they must have also seen cheetahs
and a tiger.
We missed most of the large cats the last time we visited, so I'm glad they got to see them. Tracy told us that the lionesses recently got a thrill when a baby deer jumped into the exhibit - bad for the deer, but I'm sure exciting for the cats who must dearly crave hunting.
When Owen (who had no nap and was bouncing off the walls with delerium) and Abram returned, we left Ben, Tracy, and Martin in peace to head back home.
Congrats, Ben and Tracy! Martin is precious!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday - Market Day
After an adventure getting three cartloads of toys up two stories in a passenger elevator at Tot Spot since the freight elevator wouldn't work (and an hour of playing with those fun things once they made it to the gym), Owen and I headed to the Central Market to pick up a few things. Although the tomatoes are mostly gone and there are only a few lonely squash, fall is a great time to shop at the market for locally grown foods. Here's Owen with our take from today:
turnips (Owen is holding a fine example)
Stayman apples
ground beef
pork breakfast sausage
beef roast
lettuce
chestnuts
walnuts (from a grandma's yard and tediously picked out by her and sold for $2.50/ half pound)
thyme (dried)
herbal tea
goat feta
goat colby
goat cheddar with chives and garlic
celery
All the items except the thyme and tea were grown/raised locally. From these items, I will make (among other things) a beef stew (with the roast and thyme), Waldorf salad (with apples, celery, and walnuts), breakfast (from the sausage along with some local eggs), a snack (of roasted chestnuts - peel your own or let mama peel your own), and a gift (the tea).
turnips (Owen is holding a fine example)Stayman apples
ground beef
pork breakfast sausage
beef roast
lettuce
chestnuts
walnuts (from a grandma's yard and tediously picked out by her and sold for $2.50/ half pound)
thyme (dried)
herbal tea
goat feta
goat colby
goat cheddar with chives and garlic
celery
All the items except the thyme and tea were grown/raised locally. From these items, I will make (among other things) a beef stew (with the roast and thyme), Waldorf salad (with apples, celery, and walnuts), breakfast (from the sausage along with some local eggs), a snack (of roasted chestnuts - peel your own or let mama peel your own), and a gift (the tea).
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