1999 it was NOT....

I am currently on the hunt for a new coffee table...
In my travels and search I forced myself into a
Antique Barn...And I do mean..
Forced!

I have not been one to walk around for hours looking at
someone's "old junk" that
others will claim as their new found
"treasure"!!

It's just something that does not appeal to me..
I do understand you can find some great finds?
However, I am usually not that
"Lucky" person;)

I did find a stand with NEW Prim Stuff...
Now your talking my language...!!
I found some awesome handmade items for Christmas Gifts
and a Birthday Gift for a good friend.

So the walk around this huge Antique Barn was not a total
loss for me....

As I did MY quick meandering around I suddenly
was taken back a bit as I realized I could relate to
almost everything in this building..!!
OMG...am I getting THAT OLD..??!!

I was very impressed with the very Retro Tables on display..
WOW...Now your talking my childhood!!

I think..YES! I know each of the tables shown was a part of
my childhood, weather at a relatives or a friend's home...

As I recall, my parents had the White table with those little black
speckles all over the table top and chairs....
Explains why I love the White/Black coordination.

This table set is one that was very popular in the 50 and 60's...
I remember this pattern as being a favorite by many.

This table set was one you could find in many
restaurants back in the day and are still used in some older
Diners today...
The expandable sides make it very convenient and versatile
for adding room when additional seating is needed..

This awesome table set would look fabulous
in a cottage...
Don't you just love that color..!!?




I can now say I visited the Antique Barn
and actually purchased a few things...

Have a great week!

K

Making Every Minute Count....

While sitting and waiting this morning at an appointment
I did as most do and picked up the Magazine that
catches your most interest.

Of course for me, that would be a cooking/craft magazine.

After a very few short minutes of paging through,
I found this recipe for a...

~~Chocolate Fudge Pie~~

I know I must give a try...

I thought the easiest way to copy the recipe for my
collection of many, was to take pictures using my
cell phone and sending them to my email...

A very dear friend from High School works
where my appointment just happened to be,
when she discovered what I was doing,
She all but busted a stitch,
but wasn't surprised in the least..:/

Cookies In A Jar...

I found a great way to make baked goods
and keep for future use and or for
Gift Giving...

I have been searching for a "fun" way to send my homemade
goodies I make from my home
in Pennsylvania...
to my brother's family in Texas.


At last I have found it..!!

Cookies in a jar...
A Mason Jar that is!

You make your favorite recipe and follow
this simple and easy way of making your own
cookies in a jar..

I used half pint regular mouth size jars for my
cookies in this post...

Wash and dry jars. Boil the tops and leave in hot water until
you apply them to the jars after baking...

Pre heat oven to 325
Spray inside of jars with your favorite non stick baking spray..

Fill jars a little more than quarter full
Place on jelly roll pan or baking pan and place in oven.

Bake for approximately 7-10 minutes or until the center
springs back when slightly touched..


Remove from oven and immediately place flat top onto
jar and close tight with outer ring.
The jars will be very hot and the lids will become hot when they come in
contact with the jars, be careful when handling and applying lids.

You will hear a popping sound as the jars cool, this indicates
the jars are sealing as they should.
After the jars are cool,
tighten them again.

Store in a cool dry place until your ready to serve
or give as a gift.

~~

Because the jar is sealed, the cake keeps indefinitely.
It can be made well ahead of the holidays..



Pictured below in the jar, is my favorite Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
~~
Decorated with a Fall Pumpkin Design
and
I created and printed out a label
which I attached to the outside of the jar using a glue stick
~~
I also included a tub of Betty Crocker Icing
and sprinkles in fall colors so each can
create their own master piece..

So Much Pumpkin....

Pecan Pumpkin Cheese Cake...

I am having dinner guests tonight and decided to
make use of some Pumpkin I had frozen.

I made a double layer cheese cake with a
Pumpkin and Pecan topping drizzled with
some of my own homemade chocolate sauce.

I can not wait to dive into this baby...
If my dinner wasn't all my favorite things, too..
I think....I would skip the meal and eat only dessert!

Recipe on request...



Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful Fall we are having....

The Perfect "ONE"...

Yesterday was Pumpkin Pie time....

The weather here in PA has taken a sudden turn
into Fall...
We still had high Summer like temperatures which I can
honestly say, I was enjoying with each and every
extended day of the sunny warmth...

I am a big fan of Fall,
However, I am not a fan of what follows....

So, I got the itch and my mood changed just as
quickly as the temperatures did...

Friday evening I went on search for the "ONE"...
My Mother has instilled in me her corky
little tricks and "this is what you look for OR this is how you do it"


(This is the Lady who would travel on the plane
with her favorite 5 pound bag of flour to make "her" Pot Pie while visiting my brother and his family in Texas..!!)

With that said,
Mother always went on the hunt every Fall for that
perfect Neck Pumpkin..
The "Neck" of the Pumpkin had to be one
of much thickness, very straight(as much as possible)
and the largest and longest in the pile..

The Neck of the pumpkin is where you get the most
Pumpkin from. There are no seeds in the neck.

If you haven't noticed...
This year the Pumpkins are very plentiful and Huge!

I immediately found the "ONE"

It weighted in at 17.81 pounds..!
Mother would be so proud:))

At check out, the sweet and oh so young gentlemen
questioned what one does with such a pumpkin
other than have them for decorations.
I think all my other "baking" items among the
groceries tipped him off that this particular pumpkin
was not being purchased for "decorations"
Well....this youngin got quite the education on
Neck Pumpkins and their importance of use...!


Final product...

Pumpkin Pie


The Recipe I use every year is also credited to my
Mother and Grandmother...
Its a very simple and oh so good recipe..
The pie has very little spices in the ingredients.
I am not a fan of the Pumpkin Pie that is so
filled with spices, your not able to taste the Pumpkin..

Here is the "ONE"
It's so large, I did not have a baking sheet strong enough that
was also large enough for it to entirely fit.
However, we managed..

Barely fit in the oven:))

I now pre-bake my pumpkin rather than
cut into pieces and cook on the stove top like my
Mother. I have found baking the pumpkin keeps all
the natural juices intact and keeps the flavor of the pumpkin.
Cooking the pumpkin stove top leaves the pumpkin
tasteless and so much extra water content that requires the pumpkin
to be drained for hours before your able to use in a recipe.

After baking, let the pumpkin cool..
When your able to handle without burning your fingers,
peel the skin away, which by the way removes very easily.
You can also use the "ball" of the pumpkin,
in this area you will find the seeds.
Carefully scoop or scrape away the seeds, the pumpkin
in this area is good to use as well.
(You can save the seeds and bake them for a treat.)

Place your pumpkin in a glass container for further cooling.
You'll want to mash the pumpkin before measuring, so your amounts are needed are accurate according to your recipe and also for storage if your freezing some.

Pumpkin freezes very well.
You may have to drain frozen pumpkin in a colander
before using in your favorite recipe.
Freezing adds extra moisture in the pumpkin,
when baking or cooking with pumpkin you do not want that extra
moisture/liquid added to your recipe and have your master piece flop...


I was able to make 5 pies with this one batch of
pumpkin I used...

I froze about 20 cups of the remainder of pumpkin and refrigerated
some for cookies and bread to be made
in the up coming week...
All of which freeze very well after baked.

Fresh pumpkin after cooked/baked before used in a recipe
can be stored in an air tight container and refrigerated
up to three days.

I think I'll go have me some pie:/

Have a fantastic week....!
K

Whoppie!!!.....

Yesterday Hubs and I spent part of the day in my favorite County...
Lancaster County, PA

We attended the Annual
Whoppie Pie Festival at the Hershey Farm.




World's Largest Whoppie Pie on Record....



After our wondering of the festival grounds,
we found our way to the very popular and busy Hershey Farm Restaurant.
Here you will find the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Food, Lancaster County
is well know for. Let me say, the buffet lives up to the standards...!!
I have gotten away from cooking the traditional foods I grew up on,
only making them on rare occasions. So, when the opportunity presents itself, I take full advantage. Only problem is, my eyes and taste buds are
always way too big for my appetite....
But, I give it my best shot..!!This was my one and only plate of Fried Chicken,
Two different types of baked corn, green beans, broccoli, Mac n Cheese,
stuffing and mashed potatoes...
Did I finish my plate....
NO!
However, I did taste and enjoy every item I chose.
Not one disappointing bite...!!

Sitting up on the hill behind the Farm,
is the Sight and Sound Theater.
This theater is one of the most amazing theaters, which shows live biblical
plays, interactions with the audience and live animals.
If your in the area visiting, this theater is a "must do" to add to your list..!!





History of Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies are considered a New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition. They're one of Maine's best known and most loved comfort foods. Mainers will even claim that they were weaned on whoopie pies. In Maine, these treats are more like a cake than a pie or a cookie, as they are very generously sized (about hamburger size). they're so hug that you'll want to share one with a friend. A big glass of milk is almost mandatory when eating a whoopie pie.

A whoopie pie is like a sandwich, but made with two soft cookies with a fluffy white filling. Traditional whoopies pies are made with vegetable shortening, not butter. The original and most commonly made whoopie pie is chocolate. but cooks like to experiment, and today pumpkin whoopie pies are a favorite seasonal variation.

The recipe for whoopie pies has its origins with the Amish, and in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, it is not uncommon to find roadside farm stands offering these desserts. Amish cooking is about old recipes that have fed families for generations, with no trendy or cross-cultural fusions or mixtures. These cake-like whoopie pies were considered a special treat because they were originally made from leftover batter. According to Amish legend, when children would find these treats in their lunch bags, they would shout "Whoopie!"

The question of how the Amish dessert got to be so popular in New England probably is addressed in a 1930s cookbook called Yummy Book by the Durkee Mower Company, the manufacturer of Marshmallow Fluff. In this New England cookbook, a recipe for Amish Whoopie Pie was featured using Marshmallow Fluff in the filling.

Recipe

Whoopie Pie Recipe -

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
Whoopie Pie Filling (see recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together shortening, sugar, and egg. In another bowl, combine cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a small bowl, stir the vanilla extract into the milk. Add the dry ingredients to the shortening mixture, alternating with the milk mixture; beating until smooth.

Drop batter by the 1/4 cup (to make 18 cakes) onto prepared baking sheets. With the back of a spoon spread batter into 4-inch circles, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cake. Bake 15 minutes or until they are firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Make Whoopie Pie Filling. When the cakes are completely cool, spread the flat side (bottom) of one chocolate cake with a generous amount of filling. Top with another cake, pressing down gently to distribute the filling evenly. Repeat with all cookies to make 9 pies. Wrap whoopie pies individually in plastic wrap, or place them in a single layer on a platter (do not stack them, as they tend to stick).

To freeze, wrap each whoopie pie in plastic wrap. Loosely pack them in a plastic freezer container and cover. To serve, defrost the wrapped whoopie pies in the refrigerator.

Makes 9 large whoopie pies.

Whoopie Pie Filling:
1 cup solid vegetable shortening*
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups Marshmallow Fluff**
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* Butter may be substituted for all or part of the vegetable shortening, although traditional Whoopie Pies are made with vegetable shortening only

** Marshmallow Creme may be substituted.

In a medium bow, beat together shortening, sugar, and Marshmallow fluff; stir in vanilla extract until well blended.

Have a fantastic week...
K

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.....

I just had to share this card I received from my
Dear and Bestest Friend, Kathy....

We both are card givers and in my mail yesterday
I received this singing card playing the old familiar tune of
Cyndi Lauper's,
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

I played the tune over and over yesterday so much so,
my hubs made comments he wanted to
hear "that" song when "that" song was not playing....
After a while, I had him singing the tune...!!!


You may be familiar with my friendship with Kathy..
I have shared many good times with Kathy and her family.
Many think we sisters...
We most definitely are sisters at heart..!
Our friendship goes back many years
and continues to grow with more admiration,
respect and silliness as we grow into this
adult stage of our lives....

Yes, many days I ask myself..
How did this happen..?
I'm now at the age my Mother was once at
when I considered her
"OLD"...?!

However.....
This roller coaster ride of adulthood has been so sweetened
by the wonderful person I am so proud to call my friend..!!

Thanks for your many years of friendship,
Kathy..!!

Changing Of The Tide...

So many new and exciting happenings with the change
of season for me....

I am still on the search for a property to lease,
we sold our rental property and had settlement this past week
which we obtained in
March for the business.
We were met with a zoning issue which blind-sighted us,
so we decided to sell and move forward.
Fortunately, the property sold very quickly after we listed it on the Market...
Yesterday I received a call from our one elderly tenant whom we have come
to know and is a real sweetheart. She was very sad and upset we sold the
property and has much concern.
I must say, I was very sad after our conversation, but as I reminded her
we are still only a phone call away...

This week we are looking at property in my hometown of Lititz...
Now that is very EXCITING news for ME..!!
We have made the decision to sell our home
and downsize a bit...
Seems our lives have gotten so busy and everyone is moving in all
different directions. The current upkeep is just too much.

Our son starts back to college full time this coming week
after a hiatus of two years.
That is very good and exciting news for us...
Although he has done very well for himself the past two years
working full time in the retail world of technology during a time
companies are downsizing and have a hiring freeze,
He understands he must get the degree...Praise The Lord!!

So as we come to a close this favorite time of year for me,
I am hopeful and excited for what new changes are just
around the corner....

Have a great week...
K

There's A Rooster In The House.....

Rooster Day

I had more Roosters than I thought I did......

Barbs Good Life
is hosting a
"Rooster" Day Today...
SO
Cluck your way over to Barb's Blog
And
Check out the Roosters


http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/2009/08/show-us-your-rooster-blog-party.html

Some Pretzel Trivia....

Did you ever wonder how those soft, warm and just the right
amount of salt creations called a
Soft Pretzel came from...??

If your like me,
I can not turn down a freshly baked soft pretzel...
Even if I only have one little sliver to satisfy my fix...
I gotta have me some..!

Here are some links explaining the history of
one of God's greatest creations..
A Soft Pretzel...

Food History

SuperPretzel

Fun History

Recipe

Today is Cookies Tuesday
with
This Southern Girls Nest


Today's Feature Cookie...

"Gone Fishin"

They look Oh So Yummy....

*Special Friends*

I was surprised to be given this
Beautiful Picture Frame
for my Birthday from my Long Time
and
Very Good Friend, Laurie...

I was wondering why it was so important
for Laurie to have our picture taken together.

I am usually the one who
has the camera in everyone else's face....
I totally LOVE it!
Thank You, Laurie....!!

This next picture is one of a gift also for my birthday....
My "new" friend, Judi hand crafted this very unique
and
beautiful Chinese Star Book,
with all my favorite colors..!!

The book is used to hold blank labels within their own pocket...
Others write their own words to you on the labels.
The book becomes a very special
and
memorable keepsake..

I will be toting this book with me for a while,
so beware every one...

A warning though...
Only nice words are to be written:/


Judi started with
"Happy Birthday" wishes....

Thank You Laurie and Judy,
for thinking of me on my Birthday
and
for the very special and memorial gifts
I will cherish...FOREVER

Wow...what a busy weekend, again!

I have not been posting much,
due to a very busy summer and schedule
I hardly get time to check my messages
and keep up with my Facebook friends...
Do you ever go through your email and just hit
the "delete" button for ALL messages..???
I am so tempted at times..LOL
but, I do read and comment when necessary..

It started on Friday with appointments and errands.
Saturday was just as busy, I think my brain totally shuts down as soon as my
head it's the pillow. I wake feeling so rested and ready to go.
Sunday morning I was treated to my Favorite Mocha Coffee.
My husband went to the Coffee Shop before the door was unlocked
and lights were turned on.

Sunday afternoon was spent honoring my Husband's
Aunt and Uncles' 60th Wedding Anniversary..!!
It was so awesome to be a part of a very special day.

It was so nice to see so many of husband's family and friends
of the family, whom we do not get see very much any more.
Seems we all are going in different directions but
all find the time to come together when a special celebration
is in order.


Lititz Springs Park..

Sunday evening was then spent in my favorite place,
my hometown..
Bumping into friends and family,
strolling in the park
and listening to the awesome message and music
provided by different church worship teams
from the community. All the while savoring
every bite of my PB Gelato....

It was a good weekend...
Now back to the reality of life....

Have A Great Week...!!

Blogoversary

My Blogger Friend, Jen over at
Tatertots and Jello

Is having her first Blogoversary...



Click on her blog title or Pic below to enter
Jen's First Anniversary Blog Contest

Good Luck...!!

Another Year Wiser...

WOW........What a birthday it was this year..!!!

My celebration started on the Thursday before my Tuesday Birthday...

Thursday I went out to dinner with my Best Friend Kathy,
Kathy's Birthday is the day after mine.
We always get together and exchange gifts and then out to
dinner for some alone "Girl" time...

Kathy gave me this awesome wood plaque,
depicting a screen door you find in many homes
at the back door here in Pennsylvania..
She also gave me two ornaments to hang
on the two pegs at the bottom of the plaque...

The entire Plaque is shown in my header



Below I am with some very good friends whom I have know for a very long time.
Linda, Judi(newest friend) Me and Laurie

We met up Friday night for some more celebrating at one favorite place in my hometown...

Sunday my husband and I left for the much needed vacation to
the beach in Ocean City, MD....

There we met up with Kathy and her family on Tuesday (my birthday),
for dinner at our favorite spot in OC...
Sneaky Pete's

Below is Kathy and her husband, Scott,
Me and my husband, Bob...



After dinner the four of us went down the bay a bit
to another favorite play ground,
Seacrets...on the bay

I am so grateful and blessed with the friends I have in my life...
Each one is unique and different...
And I love each and every one..!!