THE APRON

This very snowy winter has me a little stir crazy. I cleaned out one of my bins and found this stamped apron so I started  working on it. I started looking into how this all started and found information on redwork embroidery.  So when I finished the apron I was off for another project.

BUTTERFLIES

Off on a new adventure....red work embroidery.  Like my vintage cookbooks I have also been interested in vintage embroidery.  I learned to embroider at ten.  I love intricate designs that are simple embroidery and not cross stitch.  Since red work is done on muslin or more authentic flour sack towels.  The use of red floss since it was the first colorfast embroidery floss.  Where is this taking me, who knows but floss even at 39cents is a bargain and flour sack towels at 1.00 for a 28"by29"  towel.  Let's see........

FROM PANNETONE TO BREAKFAST ROLLS

Where did December go? Baking didn't stop but got much busier. Last week I made 6 varieties of cookies, two loaves of bread, a dozen fruited sweet rolls, and two dozen whole wheat rolls.   Maybe that is why there hasn't been any December posts! well I have a New Year's Resolution  to post more and with several new cookbooks and lots of bread to try.....

Panettone

Mom has really wanted me to make Panettone. I haven't made it in about five years. I think about it and then make coffeecakes for Christmas morning. That's because Mom isn't here at Christmas as she is a snowbird of sorts. Since she is helping with my pies I am making her panettone.

MY PANETTONE RECIPE

(adapted from the Hitachi bread machine book)

1cup water

1tsp salt

3cups bread flour

1 stick butter

4tablespoons sugar

3tablespoons dry milk

4 tablespoons candied fruit

1/4 cup raisins(I like golden raisins here)

1teaspoon vanilla

2tsp instant yeast (red SAF preferable)

egg wash for the tops

I mix this in my bread machine through the first rise. I then take it out and shape it into three large or 6 small loaves. To get the traditional round shape I use baking flower pots.  I have these in two sizes.

Let's do a replay on the sizes..... because this is what happened to the three larger ones

These odd looking giant mushrooms tasted fine but what a mess to look at. I then decided that I must use all four of my big pots. So after a few hours I tried again!

Guess what is under the cloth?   Of course.......

SUCCESS!  These look more like the Pope's hats they are suppose to resemble!  And still delicious...

Pies,Pies,Pies

This week Mom and I will make pies.
 I am not having Thanksgiving at my sister's , that will mean we will make pies for her house and for mine.

We made two pumpkin,two pecan two shells for chocolate cream. and one mince.  I will make an apple pie in the morning and she will make two on Friday.  Thanksgiving is all about the pies in my family.
Ask me sometime about the time  I fell asleep while babysitting the dog and the pies......

Late fall

Earlier I was so happy that it was Fall. This year we had a great spring and summer but fall was nice too.

That was early fall......
Then we come to those long nights and chills of late fall. that is when I think we should skip this season!

Making Mincemeat with Mom and more jars........

Last week I was doing wash for my Mom when I spotted her canning jars and found a few pint jars that I wanted (see Mason Jar post)  This week I got a call from my Mom asking if I think we could make Mincemeat.
I said sure not really knowing what this meant since my try at mincemeat last year was with the Crockpot and

I didn't chop the meat fine enough.  I knew she was thinking about her way and it has been at least ten years since she had made any even though she would deny this....
Recently I have been reading posts from young mothers cooking with their kids. Guess what it really never ends. Mom had her  shoulder operated on a couple of months back so really couldn't use the old grinder(ahem the grinder is dated 1898)  but she got me right into it!

First we ground the cooked beef and then about three pounds of apples.....Sticky........
then added the sugar,syrup, candied fruit, spices and let it boil and boil. Savoring the thought of Christmas tarts.  I am about the only one I know who loves mincemeat.