I had several requests for this soup recipe mentioned in last week's newsletter. This recipe is courtesy of my friend Belinda who said use some of this and some of that. I have done my best to write down what I actually did. It turned out great. My husband said, "You can make this again!"
Cream of Chicken Soup
1 cup finely chopped carrot – 2 medium
1 cup finely chopped celery – 2 medium
1 cup finely chopped onion
¼ Cup butter
1-2 tsp fines herbs
2 large chicken breasts or 4 small cut in bite sized pieces
6 cups chicken broth (real if possible)
2 cups heavy cream
½ cup butter
2/3 cup flour
1 can artichoke hearts, water packed
salt and pepper to taste
Saute carrots, celery, and onion (mira poix) in butter in a large stock pot for a couple minutes and add cut up chicken breast.
Stir over medium high heat and add fine herbes and continue sauteing the veggies and chicken mixture for several minutes until chicken is no longer pink. Add broth. (The above pictures is when it is time to add the broth.) Simmer about 10 minutes or until veggies are soft. While veggies and chicken are simmering, melt ½ cup butter and stir in the flour in a separate small saucepan and stir for about one minute. Set aside.
Add the cream to the soup, bring soup mixture to boiling, and while soup is boiling rapidly, gradually stir in the butter/flour mixture while whisking very quickly to thicken the soup. Drain artichoke hearts, dice the hearts into fourths or smaller pieces as desired, add to soup. Adjust seasonings by adding salt and pepper to taste. Add more milk or chicken broth if a thinner soup is desired. Enjoy with French Bread.
lunes, 24 de diciembre de 2007
miércoles, 19 de diciembre de 2007
Enstrom's Style Toffee
This recipe was given to my daughter by an employee where she works in Grand Junction. Enstrom's toffee is world renowned for being the best and manufactured in Grand Junction and shipped around the world. We are honored to have this recipe and share it with you!It will cost you about $7.50 for butter, sugar, chocolate and almonds to make this recipe. The finished recipe makes about three pounds of toffee, enough for several generous gifts.
Enstrom's Style Toffee
2 3/4 Cup sugar
1 pound salted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup slivered almonds
1 - 12 oz pkg milk chocolate chip
3/4 cup whole almonds, chopped very, very finely in a blender- almost a powder
Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan - about 3 quart size over medium to medium high heat. Add the salt. When the butter is almost melted, add the sugar in quickly. Stir slowly, using a figure 8 motion with a wooden spoon. The sugar will not immediately dissolve or mix in, this is normal.
When the sugar absorbs into the butter the mixture will look more homogeneous and smooth. This takes 5-10 minutes. Then add the slivered almonds. This is what it will look like when you add the almonds. A would call this the blonde stage.
Continue to slowly stir the mixture in the saucepan for about another 10-15 minutes until the mixture reaches the hard crack stage. This is 290 ° F on a thermometer. (I use the instant read thermometer with a probe which I also use for bread.) You will notice that the sugar mixture is turning a darker more caramel color and it is almost starting to smell like burnt sugar. You can also drop a small amount of the mixture into iced water to test for the hard crack stage. Do not under cook. This picture shows how much darker the mixture becomes.
If the mixture has reached 290 or hard crack, pour the mixture onto a large cookie sheet and allow it to spread out. Place the cookie sheet on a cooling rack NOT ON A COUNTER because the mixture is so hot it could warp your counter.
After the toffee hardens, about 30 minutes, melt half the chocolate chips in a double boiler and spread over the toffee in a thin layer. Sprinkle with finely diced almonds. When this is cooled, flip the toffee over and repeat. Spread the other half of the chocolate chips, melted over the toffee and sprinkle with finely chopped almonds. When it is totally cooled, put portions into cellophane bags tied with a ribbon to use for gifts.
Enstrom's Style Toffee
2 3/4 Cup sugar
1 pound salted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup slivered almonds
1 - 12 oz pkg milk chocolate chip
3/4 cup whole almonds, chopped very, very finely in a blender- almost a powder
Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan - about 3 quart size over medium to medium high heat. Add the salt. When the butter is almost melted, add the sugar in quickly. Stir slowly, using a figure 8 motion with a wooden spoon. The sugar will not immediately dissolve or mix in, this is normal.
When the sugar absorbs into the butter the mixture will look more homogeneous and smooth. This takes 5-10 minutes. Then add the slivered almonds. This is what it will look like when you add the almonds. A would call this the blonde stage.
Continue to slowly stir the mixture in the saucepan for about another 10-15 minutes until the mixture reaches the hard crack stage. This is 290 ° F on a thermometer. (I use the instant read thermometer with a probe which I also use for bread.) You will notice that the sugar mixture is turning a darker more caramel color and it is almost starting to smell like burnt sugar. You can also drop a small amount of the mixture into iced water to test for the hard crack stage. Do not under cook. This picture shows how much darker the mixture becomes.
If the mixture has reached 290 or hard crack, pour the mixture onto a large cookie sheet and allow it to spread out. Place the cookie sheet on a cooling rack NOT ON A COUNTER because the mixture is so hot it could warp your counter.
After the toffee hardens, about 30 minutes, melt half the chocolate chips in a double boiler and spread over the toffee in a thin layer. Sprinkle with finely diced almonds. When this is cooled, flip the toffee over and repeat. Spread the other half of the chocolate chips, melted over the toffee and sprinkle with finely chopped almonds. When it is totally cooled, put portions into cellophane bags tied with a ribbon to use for gifts.
martes, 18 de diciembre de 2007
Mrs America's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies - 1956
This post and recipe is for lovers of anything vintage. Last year, our local paper carried a story about a vintage Nebraska Cookie Cutter purchased in an antique shop that included Mrs. Carl Dietemeyer's Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookie recipe tucked inside the box. Apparently Mrs. Dietemeyer was crowned Mrs. America 1956, after her husband and son entered her into the local contest sponsored by the American Gas Association. After winning the local competition, she then moved on to the national competition held in Daytona Beach.
According to this fascinating article, "Mrs America credits her husband's writing ability with her winning the award for the best dinner menu. For example her roast beef dinner became "Cornhusker Roasted Beef accompanied by Seaside Ambrosia" and so on.
After being crowned Mrs America 1956, her other prizes included a complete set of state-of-the art kitchen and laundry appliances, a new car, and a six-week trip to Europe with her husband to meet with European housewives and discuss domestic arts.
We made this recipe last year and found this sugar cookie recipe was superior to our tried and true sugar cookie recipe and MUCH EASIER to roll out. If you need something fun to do with your children, bake Mrs. Dietemeyer's cookies.
Ingredients:
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp sour cream
Preheat oven to 400. Sift flour and salt together. Cream butter; add sugar gradually. Add eggs and flavorings; mix thoroughly.
Dissolve baking soda in sour cream; add alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Chill dough for two hours. Roll 1/8-inch thick on lightly floured board and cut with a floured cokie cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 7 minutes.
This recipe was Mrs America's mother's recipe. It is very vintage and very good.
According to this fascinating article, "Mrs America credits her husband's writing ability with her winning the award for the best dinner menu. For example her roast beef dinner became "Cornhusker Roasted Beef accompanied by Seaside Ambrosia" and so on.
After being crowned Mrs America 1956, her other prizes included a complete set of state-of-the art kitchen and laundry appliances, a new car, and a six-week trip to Europe with her husband to meet with European housewives and discuss domestic arts.
We made this recipe last year and found this sugar cookie recipe was superior to our tried and true sugar cookie recipe and MUCH EASIER to roll out. If you need something fun to do with your children, bake Mrs. Dietemeyer's cookies.
Ingredients:
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp sour cream
Preheat oven to 400. Sift flour and salt together. Cream butter; add sugar gradually. Add eggs and flavorings; mix thoroughly.
Dissolve baking soda in sour cream; add alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Chill dough for two hours. Roll 1/8-inch thick on lightly floured board and cut with a floured cokie cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 7 minutes.
This recipe was Mrs America's mother's recipe. It is very vintage and very good.
Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls - Pictorial
You might like to try this recipe for Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls with a step-by-step pictorial tutorial. The recipe comes from my book Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms.
The roll-making tutorial was posted by Melody who says "I also want to add- this was only the second time I made rolls in my whole life- it is EASY anyone can do it!"
Here is the recipe:
Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup dry powdered milk
2 Tbsp yeast
2 eggs
1 cup unbleached bread flour (optional- can use all whole wheat)
1/4 cup gluten
6-7 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil
Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms is also available as an instantly downloadable ebook.
The roll-making tutorial was posted by Melody who says "I also want to add- this was only the second time I made rolls in my whole life- it is EASY anyone can do it!"
Here is the recipe:
Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup dry powdered milk
2 Tbsp yeast
2 eggs
1 cup unbleached bread flour (optional- can use all whole wheat)
1/4 cup gluten
6-7 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil
Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms is also available as an instantly downloadable ebook.
miércoles, 12 de diciembre de 2007
10 Fun and Frugal Things to Do Before Christmas
1. Read one Christmas, holiday, or winter-themed book each day for the week leading up to Christmas. You could wrap the books up, in tissue and have one child unwrap one book per day starting around December 17th. The same books can be re-wrapped from year to year. This tradition can be expanded by borrowing library books or purchasing Christmas books at thrift stores.
Our favorite Christmas stories are The Night Before Christmas, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Story of Holly & Ivy, The Real 12 Days of Christmas- The story behind the Song and A Little House Christmas Volume 11 which contains the Christmas stories from the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My favorite Little House Picture Books with wintery and Christmas Themes are Christmas in the Big Woods, Sugar Snow, and Winter Days in the Big Woods. I think any of these books are available in the library.
2. Pray for friends, neighbors, or relatives you have received Christmas Cards from or whom you will be sending cards to. A good time to do this is during devotions or Jesse Tree Devotions.
3. Attend a Christmas Cantata, Parades of Lights, or Christmas Eve Service in your community. Check your local paper for details. Then drive around the neighborhoods to view Christmas lights and well decorated homes on your way home. In our area, the addresses of the best lit homes are organized by neighborhoods and listed in the newspaper. When you get home have hot chocolate and home made cookies.
4. Have a family slumber party or movie marathon in the family room or living room. Pull out sleeping bags. blankets, afghans, pillows. Turn out the lights except for Christmas lights or candles. Enjoy popcorn or a snack with a Bible story, book or Christmas movie. Our favorite Christmas movies are The Nativity Story, Christmas with the Kranks, and The Christmas Story.
5. Make package opening time special by allowing only one gift to be opened at a time. Start by having the children give out their gifts first.
6. Set up a card table or coffee table to do a jigsaw puzzle together during the holidays. Work at it every now and then with family, relatives or neighbors until it's done. Do a different puzzle every year. Inexpensive puzzles can be found in thrift stores.
7. Bake rolled out sugar cookies cut into Christmas shapes and decorate. My children, now older, still enjoy making sugar cookies together every year without my help. OR make candy. Our favorites are fudge, peanut brittle, and toffee. OR make a Gingerbread House. Kits are inexpensive in craft stores. I usually buy one in the after Christmas sales for the next year.
8. Cut your own Christmas tree. In Colorado you can buy a permit to go to a designated place in the forest to cut a tree for $8.00. My children absolutely insist on having a real, live tree preferably one they cut themselves with Dad every year. The oldest is now 23!
9. With small children you can make a paper chain with colored construction paper to count the days until Christmas. Alternate green and red construction paper. Take a link off the chain each night before bed time.
10. Hold a Holiday Open House or invite some friends or family over for dinner. My favorite company recipe is Beef Burgundy. Your event can be simple and casual. Have everyone bring a dish or appetizer to share. Enjoy the company and tell about favorite family traditions or memories.
I think my favorite memory was the year we gave the two younger children a trampoline and rolled it down the road Christmas Eve from the neighbor's house to our yard. The expressions of surprise and excitement from the children are priceless memories for the whole family.
BONUS IDEA: Make a special Christmas breakfast with homemade Pecan Sticky Cinnamon Rolls. You won't even need to get up early to do it. All the Christmas breakfast recipes and stress free instructions are complimentary.
Remember to slow down, enjoy the season, take lots of pictures and enjoy the memories.
New Contest: I would love for you to post some of your family's most favorite holiday traditions or memories at my blog to encourage other families to build up memories and traditions. Three winners will get a copy of The Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision and three winners will get a copy of Continuing Education for Moms- Volume 1 which contains over 12 hours of listening. If your favorite tradition or memory revolves around a recipe, be sure to include the recipe to be considered in the judging!
You must also leave an email contact to be considered in this contest.
Announcing the contest winners: 1-7-08
The following ladies won a copy of Continuing Education for Moms – Volume 1 - Tina in Alabama, Lydi, Lora, and Michelle Johnson.
The following ladies won A Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision by Doug Phillips: Amanda Robinson, Donna Jackson and Debbie Sifford.
Our favorite Christmas stories are The Night Before Christmas, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Story of Holly & Ivy, The Real 12 Days of Christmas- The story behind the Song and A Little House Christmas Volume 11 which contains the Christmas stories from the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My favorite Little House Picture Books with wintery and Christmas Themes are Christmas in the Big Woods, Sugar Snow, and Winter Days in the Big Woods. I think any of these books are available in the library.
2. Pray for friends, neighbors, or relatives you have received Christmas Cards from or whom you will be sending cards to. A good time to do this is during devotions or Jesse Tree Devotions.
3. Attend a Christmas Cantata, Parades of Lights, or Christmas Eve Service in your community. Check your local paper for details. Then drive around the neighborhoods to view Christmas lights and well decorated homes on your way home. In our area, the addresses of the best lit homes are organized by neighborhoods and listed in the newspaper. When you get home have hot chocolate and home made cookies.
4. Have a family slumber party or movie marathon in the family room or living room. Pull out sleeping bags. blankets, afghans, pillows. Turn out the lights except for Christmas lights or candles. Enjoy popcorn or a snack with a Bible story, book or Christmas movie. Our favorite Christmas movies are The Nativity Story, Christmas with the Kranks, and The Christmas Story.
5. Make package opening time special by allowing only one gift to be opened at a time. Start by having the children give out their gifts first.
6. Set up a card table or coffee table to do a jigsaw puzzle together during the holidays. Work at it every now and then with family, relatives or neighbors until it's done. Do a different puzzle every year. Inexpensive puzzles can be found in thrift stores.
7. Bake rolled out sugar cookies cut into Christmas shapes and decorate. My children, now older, still enjoy making sugar cookies together every year without my help. OR make candy. Our favorites are fudge, peanut brittle, and toffee. OR make a Gingerbread House. Kits are inexpensive in craft stores. I usually buy one in the after Christmas sales for the next year.
8. Cut your own Christmas tree. In Colorado you can buy a permit to go to a designated place in the forest to cut a tree for $8.00. My children absolutely insist on having a real, live tree preferably one they cut themselves with Dad every year. The oldest is now 23!
9. With small children you can make a paper chain with colored construction paper to count the days until Christmas. Alternate green and red construction paper. Take a link off the chain each night before bed time.
10. Hold a Holiday Open House or invite some friends or family over for dinner. My favorite company recipe is Beef Burgundy. Your event can be simple and casual. Have everyone bring a dish or appetizer to share. Enjoy the company and tell about favorite family traditions or memories.
I think my favorite memory was the year we gave the two younger children a trampoline and rolled it down the road Christmas Eve from the neighbor's house to our yard. The expressions of surprise and excitement from the children are priceless memories for the whole family.
BONUS IDEA: Make a special Christmas breakfast with homemade Pecan Sticky Cinnamon Rolls. You won't even need to get up early to do it. All the Christmas breakfast recipes and stress free instructions are complimentary.
Remember to slow down, enjoy the season, take lots of pictures and enjoy the memories.
New Contest: I would love for you to post some of your family's most favorite holiday traditions or memories at my blog to encourage other families to build up memories and traditions. Three winners will get a copy of The Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision and three winners will get a copy of Continuing Education for Moms- Volume 1 which contains over 12 hours of listening. If your favorite tradition or memory revolves around a recipe, be sure to include the recipe to be considered in the judging!
You must also leave an email contact to be considered in this contest.
Announcing the contest winners: 1-7-08
The following ladies won a copy of Continuing Education for Moms – Volume 1 - Tina in Alabama, Lydi, Lora, and Michelle Johnson.
The following ladies won A Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision by Doug Phillips: Amanda Robinson, Donna Jackson and Debbie Sifford.
miércoles, 5 de diciembre de 2007
The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath
"A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2: 11
Every Christmas wreath is more than just a decoration...it's a special reminder of Jesus, the reason for our celebration. The circle of a Christmas wreath is a never-ending ring, a reminder of eternal love from our Lord and King. The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome, inviting all to enter in...a reminder of Christ's invitation for all to come to Him. The middle of a Christmas wreath is a bare and empty space, a reminder of what life would be without Christ's love and grace. So each time you see a Christmas wreath hanging from a door, may your heart rejoice in the One that Christmas is truly for!
CLICK HERE For instructions for making a simple Christmas wreath.
Every Christmas wreath is more than just a decoration...it's a special reminder of Jesus, the reason for our celebration. The circle of a Christmas wreath is a never-ending ring, a reminder of eternal love from our Lord and King. The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome, inviting all to enter in...a reminder of Christ's invitation for all to come to Him. The middle of a Christmas wreath is a bare and empty space, a reminder of what life would be without Christ's love and grace. So each time you see a Christmas wreath hanging from a door, may your heart rejoice in the One that Christmas is truly for!
CLICK HERE For instructions for making a simple Christmas wreath.
martes, 4 de diciembre de 2007
It was the Month Before Christmas and all through the land...
One of my favorite Christmas stories is the poem written around 1840 called The Night Before Christmas and all through the House... Well here is an updated version with quite a bit of sad truth in it. Read on:
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your
'Dream Tree' Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your
'Dream Tree' Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !
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