A Soggy, Soggy Day

Ugh, need I say more?

It was a good day for ducks, if we still had some.  They are calling for rain all day tomorrow, and temps of SIXTY!

It seems to me this happened two years ago - temperate temperatures, and then wham!  A blizzard on Christmas Eve.

That was the only time I have ever missed church on Christmas.

These guys didn't like it much either:

These guys mostly hung out inside

Except for one or two, and, I suspect, this little guy, Rooster One, is probably not getting along with Rambo.

That's either a ghost or a big ole water spot in the middle of the picture.

I did a lot of this:

Unfortunately, this experiment did not come out so well.  The candy cane kisses burned on their tips. It was also the first time I used parchment paper to line my cookie sheets, and I won't do that again.  One batch was in just a minute too long, and the other, just perfect, but, as I said, the tips of the kisses darkened.  I know they'll get eaten anyway.

I made a lot of chocolate covered pretzels, and will have to make a lot more before Saturday, since everyone loves them.

I made another batch of chevre, and it came out so very well this time.

I let it stay a little bit wetter than before, and packed it into plastic containers after I had salted and seasoned it.  I am using a garlic grinder and an onion and herb mixture I found at T.J. Maxx.  For those of you near one of their stores, they have a great gourmet food aisle with lots of unusual spices, etc.  This garlic is seasoned, and makes the cheese taste so good.  I made a container for Jill, who saw me start the cheese yesterday, and a container for our party (which I've gotten into three or four times this afternoon!). 

Friend Roxanne of Screamin' Oaks Dairy down our road tells me that she has only one doe milking at this point, and four mothers of newborns are buying her milk, so I may not have any more to use for several months. 

When I ran down to the thrift store/food bank this morning to take the eggs and some other things, I found this lovely tray downstairs with the regular china, not in the "Christmas Room".  It's perfect to use for the pretzels this weekend, and cost me a whole $1.25, what a bargain!

Stanley Steemer came this morning!  Now if we can just keep the carpets looking good til Saturday!

And here's the output from both henhouses today.  Roxanne told me Saturday that out of all her hens, large and small, she is getting only one or two eggs a day.  I'm glad to get these.

Baking Sunday

The complaint going around the office last week finally got me Friday, so I spent most of yesterday (after the grocery run) resting. 

This morning I felt better, though I have only been outside once, to check on the birds.  I have been watching Food Network and vegging with the pugs, while the big dogs snooze in the kitchen and the kittens in their warm places.  Keith has left for four days, for an emergency response excercise in another county, 3 hours from here. 

Right before he left, I decided to bake another apple dessert so he could take some with him.

In our family, we have a little joke about apple desserts.  You see, once we went to Ames to see the folks, and decided, since the whole family would be there, to stop at Lamoni at the Welcome Center for treats.  There was an Amish lady selling cinnamon rolls and pies on a long table in front of the Welcome Center, and her horse and buggy tied up under a roofed hitching post nearby.  As Keith's family was Amish two generations ago, we decided to get our treats from her.  We bought several trays of cinnamon rolls, and an apple pie.  When we got to Ames, the cinnamon rolls disappeared in short order as soon as the kids saw them.  (the whole family had gathered, which is rare).  The pie was set aside to enjoy at breakfast the next day. 

The next morning, Ralph, Keith's dad, sat down at the table, and asked for a piece of the pie.  He bit into his piece, and didn't say anything, so Keith asked how he liked it. "It would be great," he said... "If there were some apples in it!"  It turned out that the pie was simply apple pie filling from a can, with no solid apples!  We have always joked about it since.

So, we make apple desserts frequently, and always make sure there are real apples in them.

I found this dessert on a blog, and if you are reading this, and see it.... please identify if for me!  I forgot to write it down the night I printed it six weeks ago.  I do not think I found it on Farm Bell, as it would have printed out below, but it could have been.  It is called "Mom's Raw Apple Cake", and it is wonderful.  Keith does not really like iced cakes, so this kind suits him fine.

Here are the first ingredients, mixed in a bowl by hand:

3 cups chopped baking apples (I used 3 Granny Smiths)

Add 2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups oil, 2 eggs, well-beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla

And get this:

Looks yummy already!

Next, sift together

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

And then mix together with the wet ingredients, getting this:

The batter will be VERY thick.

Spread in a greased 9 x 13 pan, and bake at 350 degrees for an hour OR until a toothpick comes out clean.  (It may take longer than an hour, depending on your oven). 

I only baked mine about 35 minutes, and it was done. 

Here is what you will get:

There is a note on the original that this is a cross between a coffee cake and a cake, that is perfect for dessert or with coffee in the morning.  The cake will keep up to three days, covered.  After that, it will get too moist.

Here is a bit out of  piece:

This was, hands down, the best coffee type cake I've made in years.  Keith did not get to taste it, as he had to get down the road before it was ready to be cut, but let me tell you, it is moist and good, and I'll make it again next weekend so he can have some.  The cake is going to work with me tomorrow so that my co-workers can have a treat in the morning.

As I sit here typing this, the fog is so thick that I can't see past the llama shed.  I am going to pull my boots on and go slosh in the mud and melting snow, putting more feed out for the wildings, and checking on the henhouses.  The starlings have been invading the big henhouse daily, eating and drinking everything.  At least warmer weather is coming, which will stop that.  I'm going to load the llama's hay buffet up, too, as we expect storms tonight. The weather around here is on a wild ride!

Have a peaceful Sunday evening at the Oscars, everyone!