9-25-2018 Pumpkin Patch and more

Thoughts and Quotes: Then summer fades and passes, and October comes. We'll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure.

                                                                   Thomas Wolfe

My little good luck fairy from My Girls up north has moved inside for the coming winter.

Thrifting: While running errands, I stopped in at Goodwill. The pitcher came from a thrift shop across from Bass Pro.

6 for 25 cents each

Salad plates - 6 for 25 cents each

Dessert plates - 50 cents each

4 bread and butter plates - 50 cents each

3 berry dishes - 50 cents each

50 cents - thought I might need him for the Pumpkin Patch table

About 6" tall - $1

On my late cousin's birthday, I went to have a cheeseburger (see below) and discovered Neat Repeats (our battered women's thrift store) had moved to a new location, and they were having a wonderful sale. Everything marked $1-$5 was $1; everything $6-$25 was half off.

$1 items

Perfect for lemon slices to go with the June tea dishes

Perfect for a teapot trivit

Love this cake stand

Butter pats or used tea bags

If it isn't too tall, I'll add it to the Ivy Tablescape when I don't have roses.

Remember the peppers tea set? 

Now I can add these

Cutting dies 

And, of course, cookbooks and more cookbooks. Most are for friends.

Keeping these

This one's for Chosen Niece Terri because this is where she went to high school.

Not a cookbook, but scrapbooking for My Girls up north.

And there's a story behind this one. I've told you stories about the feathers, butterflies, and cardinals I feel are signs from my relatives who have passed. Years ago my departed cousin gave me a sweet little book of recipes from bed and breakfast places all over the USA. It's called Cinnamon Mornings, and it's the only book she ever gave me. This is the cousin who was having a birthday and for whom I had just eaten a cheeseburger (see below). And I found this.

In all the dozens of book sales I've attended over the years, I've never seen another copy. You'll never convince me that we don't get signs.

And also in my $1 finds were four tablecloths. 

Then I went across the street to Goodwill and found all these treasures. My lucky day!

$1.50 in perfect condition

Quiche baking dish for $1.50

$2, but I wanted it. Perfect for butter and jam or clotted cream and curd.

New in the box, marked $6 from Dillards, but green tag week, so I paid 25 cents.

I gritted my teeth and passed on this beautiful set for $75.

When Martha and I went to lunch at Little Blue Danube, we decided to go to Goodwill. Am I on a roll or what?!

Each piece was 50 cents, but red tag day, so half price. Each set was 50 cents, so $2.50 for all five sets.

More green for my June tea. Divided dish was $1.50; cream pitcher was $1.

Just wanted this and it was only 50 cents.

Smaller than a saucer. Will work well for butter on the Lazy Daisy table. 50 cents.

Small 50 cents each for Easter or Cabbag Patch table. 

Remember the peppers tea set? Another pepper find. It was $2, but I wanted it.

Tasting (Restaurants): We love the chicken-fried chicken so much, we went to Rosie Jo's three weeks in a row. I like cream gravy, Steg likes brown.

I believe I told the story of how I honor my relatives who haved passed on their birthdays. My cousin had cancer of the esophagus and couldn't eat. She told me that she wished she could have just one last cheeseburger before she died, and I promised I'd eat one every year on her birthday. This year's cheeseburger came from Gramma D's in Sparta. It was exactly how I like it, and I added hand-cut fries. Delicious.

Tasting (Recipes): If you need to make a quick cake for a coffee lover, try this mocha cake. A white cake mix makes it more coffee flavored - fudge or chocolate cake mix makes it more chocolate flavored.

MOCHA CAKE

1 white, fudge, or dark chocolate cake mix

1-1/4 cups brewed strong coffee (divided)

1 small chocolate instant pudding mix

1/4 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup milk

1 8 oz carton Cool Whip

Heat oven to 350°.

Make cake mix according to directions, replacing the one cup of water with one cup of coffee. Pour batter into two 8” or 9” round cake pans which have been greased and lightly floured.

Bake according to times directed on package.

Put powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl, whisk in the pudding mix, then milk added to the remaining 1/4 cup coffee and mix well.

When pudding has set, fold in the Cool Whip and frost the middle, top, and sides of cake.

Chosen niece Terri gave a surprise birthday party for her BFF who doesn't care for cake.  I made quick breads instead. Here are the recipes.

BANANA NUT BREAD

5 large very ripe bananas

4 eggs, well beaten

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

3-1/2 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease and flour two regular-size loaf pans (8” or 9”).

Beat bananas with electric mixer or beater until liquid.

Beat in eggs, sugar, and oil.

Whisk dry ingredients together and add to banana mixture. Do not overbeat.

Pour into pans and bake about 1 hour or until done.

Let cool in pans a few minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks.

LEMON POPPY SEED BREAD

3 cups flour

2-1/2 cups sugar

1-1/2 tsps salt

1-1/2 tsps baking powder

2 Tbs poppy seeds

3 eggs

1-1/2 cups milk

1 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbs lemon juice

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp lemon extract

1 tsp vanilla

Glaze: Juice of 2 lemons plus 1 cup sugar

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease and flour 2 regular-size loaf pans (8” or 9”).

Whisk together all dry ingredients. Add lemon juice and flavorings to milk; then add everything but glaze ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Mix 2 minutes on medium with an electric beater or mixer.

Pour into pans and bake 50-55 minutes or until done.

While bread bakes, mix glaze and warm in microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat to dissolve sugar.

Leave bread in pans a few minutes; then turn out on cooling racks over waxed paper. While still warm, brush tops and sides of loaves with glaze.

ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 tsps vanilla

2 cups grated zucchini

1 8-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

3 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda

1 tsp salt

1-1/2 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease and flour two regular-size loaf pans and set aside.

Mix eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.  Stir in zucchini and pineapple.

Mix dry ingredients together in another bowl and then stir into zucchini mixture.

Pour into prepared pans and bake 1 hour or until done.

Note: This is a nice quick bread to slice for afternoon tea or for making zucchini bread-cream cheese finger sandwiches.

For Banana-Pineapple Bread, replace the zucchini with 2 small ripe bananas. 

Trips: A day trip I missed. Remember the fund raiser for Clinton Museum where there was a vintage clothing presentation?

Carolyn gave a presentation on Edwardian clothing at her clothing museum in Seymour with an expanded cream tea. Bev, her daughter, and two friends attended and took photos. Unfortunately, most photos have people, and I don't publish recognizable people. A couple were okay, so you can get the idea. Looks like fun.

Theme Dining: Finally, Pumpkin Patch is finished. (Ahhhhh - sigh of relief).

The Invitation

The Menu

The Table

Remember the little guy I bought thrifting and said I might use him? I did.

And this little cutie came from My Girls Up North

The Food

Or you might want to serve soup instead of or in addition to salad.

The Recipes

PUMPKIN VINAIGRETTE

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup white or rice vinegar

2 Tbs maple syrup

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/3 cup salad oil

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Put all ingredients into a blender, shaker, or jar with a snug-fitting lid. Blend or shake until well mixed.

Pork chops are dipped in flour, then egg, then cracker crumbs, and fried in oil.

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Adapted from a recipe which appeared in the paper as President Reagan’s favorite macaroni and cheese

8 oz macaroni

1 tsp butter

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry mustard

1 Tbs hot water

1 cup milk

1-1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1-1/2 cups shredded mild Cheddar cheese

Additional 1/4 cup shredded cheese for topping.

Heat oven to 350°. Butter a 7” x 11” baking dish and set aside.

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water to al dente; drain.

Stir butter and egg into macaroni.

Add both kinds of cheese to macaroni and pour into buttered baking dish.

Stir salt and mustard into hot water and add to milk.

Pour milk over macaroni and sprinkle on remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Bake 45 minutes or until custard is set.

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

1-1/2 cups milk

1 small box butterscotch instant pudding

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp allspice

1 cup Cool Whip, divided

Nutmeg to garnish, optional

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mix together until totally blended.

In a small bowl, add the spices to the pumpkin and then add it to the pudding.

Fold in half the Cool Whip.

Use the balance of the Cool Whip to garnish the top of the pudding.

Note: You can substitute Reddi-wip if you wish. Sprinkle with a light dusting of nutmeg (optional)

PUMPKIN COOKIES

2-1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1-3/4 cups (15-oz can) pumpkin

2 Tbs orange juice

1 tsp orange zest of 1 tsp orange extract

 Frosting (optional):

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

3 Tbs orange juice

1/2 tsp orange zest

Heat oven to 375°.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Put butter and both sugars in a large mixing bowl and beat until creamy.

Add egg, pumpkin, orange juice, and orange zest and beat until well combined.

Gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined.

Drop level tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. I use my melon baller.

Bake 8-12 minutes. Cookies are soft – not crispy. Remove and cool completely.

Combine frosting ingredients. Spread a thin layer over the centers of the tops of cooled cookies.

PUMPKIN SOUP 2

4 slices bacon

3/4 cup chopped onion

16-oz can sliced peaches in juice

15-oz can pumpkin

14.5-oz can chicken broth

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbs + 2 tsps tomato paste

1/4 tsp ground sage

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup whipping cream

Chopped chives or sliced green onion tops for garnish (optional)

Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Reserve grease.

Cook onion in bacon grease until soft.

Whirl peaches (with juice) and onion in blender. Pour into a large saucepan.

Whisk in all remaining ingredients except the cream.

Bring to a boil over medium burner. Remove from heat and whisk in the cream.

Return to low burner and reheat.

Crumble bacon to garnish, if desired. Additionally, garnish with chives, if desired.

And if you're looking for the Pumpkin Biscuits recipe, it's not here. I'm not happy with the two recipes I've tried so far. Still working on it.

Party Favors

PUMPKIN BREAD

2/3 shortening

2-2/3 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 15-oz can pumpkin

2/3 cup water

3-1/3 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda

1-1/2 tsps salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

2/3 cup raisins

2/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease and flour two regular-size loaf pans.

Cream shortening and sugar thoroughly.

Add eggs, pumpkin, and water.

Whisk together and add all dry ingredients except nuts and raisins.

Stir in raisins and nuts and divide dough between loaf pans.

Bake 60-65 minutes or until bread tests down with a toothpick.

  

The Pepper and Pals Report: Why is it that every time you open a door, a cat goes in?

Or when you need to work on the computer, a cat wants to be in your lap?

I'm still trying to trap BJ. She's been absent for days, showing up for dinner occasionally, after the vet was closed. She actually came for breakfast one weekday morning, so I fixed the trap with deli turkey. I caught Ginger. After I turned her out, BJ started nosing around the trap, so I thought I'd better get dressed to run to the vet in case I caught her. When I got back, Hercules (a cat who lives one block over), was eating the cats' dry food. All the kitties are afraid of him, so they'd scattered and BJ was long gone. 

Talented People: Someone made this display for the local thrift shop to promote the sale of vinyl records.

There were handouts

Friend Nancy made this birthday cake for a little boy who wanted turtles. Now that's what I call talent!

Same friend who made my birthday cake this year. Remember this?

And Cooking Club buddy Mim's apple cake. She said it was easy, but I'm not convinced.

Tidbits: If you need a good laugh (warning, you might also be repulsed), click HERE.

Things I've wondered about: And I thought maybe you had as well. You might need a tissue.

Click HERE.  And then click HERE. And finally, click HERE. If you want to see more, click HERE. And HERE.

WORK ON YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME

CONSIDER A FALL PICNIC

ATTEND AN APPLE FESTIVAL

DRINK LOTS OF WATER

DON'T FORGET YOUR GREENS

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE