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blissful domesticity and berry syrup

May 6, 2010 – 9:31 pm

I have days where I really just love being domestic, today was one of those days! I love the sound of the wind whipping the clothes and linens on the line.

MMMMMM, the beautiful red, black, and green of fresh berries.

Making berry syrup-

2 cups fresh berries
2 cups sugar

-Mash the berries into a pulp.
-Add the sugar and cook over low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture thickens (about 10 minutes).
-Store in the refrigerator in an airtight jar for up to 1 week.

Tasty with seltzer water to make a berry soda or drizzled over vanilla ice cream or pancakes.

Straining the peppermint to make jelly. I also made lemon balm jelly today; I love herbal jellies! I’m trying all different kinds this year.

Araina has figured out how to make water balloons and she can even tie them!

Fauna tending the garden and nibbling on radish sprouts.

Wonderful rosemary! One of my FAVORITE cooking herbs so I grow a lot of it.

Tonight was a big night for Fauna- she modeled the garments she made in sewing class this year. She walked the runway and everything! It amazes me how sewing lessons have boosted her confidence in her creativity.

And a friend stopped by on my kitchen window today while I was doing the dishes (he was on the outside thank goodness). I have to admit that I have a bit of a spider phobia- especially when they are this big. This guy was easily 6 inches long from tip of back leg to tip of front; I think he is a type of wolf spider. I hope not to see him again anytime soon!

Well, I’ll be signing off for a couple of days. I’m off to the Shenandoah Valley with my little ladies and my sisters to visit my grandparents. My Appalachian blood is calling me South, I love it down there, feels like home to me! See you again on Monday. There is still time to join the Outdoor Challenge Mondays and the Nature Swap by clicking here. Have a wonderful weekend!

“That’s all.”

Tags domestic bliss, our day, recipe | Permalink | Comments (41)

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violet syrup, violet cooler, and violet lemonade

May 1, 2010 – 1:07 pm

Our violets are still blooming I’m happy to say, so I’m still doing a lot of harvesting.

I’ve been making a lot of violet jelly this Spring but I also have been making violet syrup. YUM! I think the most fun about recipes using violets is the color change you experience when lemon is added to the violet water. It turns such a pretty pinky-purple color.

Violet Syrup

2 cups fresh violet blossoms
3 cups boiling water
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 lemon, squeezed and strained

-Boil the water, remove from heat and pour over violets, cover and let steep for 2 hours.
-Strain the violets *you will have a vibrant green color, it will turn purple when the lemon is added
-Put violet water back into pan, add sugar and bring to a boil
-Add lemon juice, watch color change to purple
-Reduce heat, simmer for about 10-20 minutes until the solution thickens

The violet syrup will keep for a month if kept tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Use for pancakes, angel food cake, between layers of vanilla cake, as the simple sugar for lemonade, and/or violet coolers for a refreshing drink.

Violet Cooler

Violet syrup
seltzer water or carbonated mineral water
ice
violets, mint leaves, or berries for garnish

In a large drinking glass, add the ice, spoon in 5 T syrup, add water and garnish. Use a spoon to stir and disperse the violet syrup throughout the water.

Violet Lemonade

2 cups violet syrup
2 1/2 c cold water
2 1/4 cups lemon juice or 10-14 freshly squeezed lemons
1 lime- juiced

Add the violet syrup to 2 1/2 cups cold water and lemon juice stirring well. Add a couple squeezes of lime juice (to your taste, we added the juice of 1 medium sized lime).

Add ice cubes just before serving. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with fresh violets.

Try my lavender lemonade recipe here or the dandelion syrup recipe here.

*If you want to continue the Outdoor Challenge by participating on Mondays, details are in the works. Thanks for the well wishes for Araina, she is feeling MUCH better! Have a great weekend.

“That’s all.”

Tags flowers, herbs, recipe | Permalink | Comments (33)

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candied lemon peel shortbread- outdoor challenge

April 17, 2010 – 5:42 pm

Today, we have been nibbling some local bee pollen- (photo taken by Robin)

Making candied lemon shortbread-

To candy lemon peels-

4 lemons
2 C water
2 C sugar

-After juicing lemons, scoop out as much of the inner white as possible. Cut lemon peel into long skinny strips.
-Bring the water to a boil, add the lemon peel and cook until the peels are tender, about 5 minutes.
-Remove peels from water, add sugar.
-Return to a boil, then add the peels and cook until peels are transparent.
-Drain and keep the liquid to use as a simple syrup.
-Let dry, then store.
*I keep my candied peels in the refrigerator, my friend kept hers out and ants invaded her stash.

Shortbread-

1 C butter
1/2 C powdered sugar
2 C flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons chopped candied lemon peel

-Cream butter
-Add sugar gradually while beating.
-Mix in remaining ingredients.
-Make the dough into a log and refrigerate for about an hour or until the dough is workable.
-Form the dough into a long rectangle, then slice shortbread into little squares.
-Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Admiring the crab apple blossoms-

And spending time with friends (Sybil and Emma)-

Today’s Outdoor Challenge Participant- Jen and her little boy, from Chasing Domestic Bliss, seem to be dandelion lovers too!

Visit the other Great Outdoor Challenge players- 151 so far! It’s never too late to join; people are still entering daily!

lisa, sanders, angelina, phyllis, sarah, christie, jennifer, debbie, dong dong, denise,luisa, joy, stephanie, cori, alex, dawn, kristen, catherine, tricia,becky, christy, ruth, kari, courtney,branflakes,jessica, renee, haiku,brynn, amy, clemencia, sherry, leslie, lise, renee, anet, jenn, marina, amy, ella, marcia, karen, beth,julie,kyndale,kelly,lizzie, eileen,ag, mari-ann, cindy, robin, nicole, debbie, julia, renee, anita,lisa, jenn, montessori, marita,jeannie, hallie, mandy, kangaroo, andrea, joey, carmen, teena, stephinie, gidget, elizabeth, emma, rosina, saminda, melissa, katie, becca, atouria, barbara, ariella,missy, elizabeth, sarah, eileen, lisa, stacy, jennifer, tulsileaf, lisa C, morticia, angela, rana,jamie,lisa c, luz, charley, heather, valerie, kirsten, rachel, annie, kendra, beth s, lindsey, michelle, megan, jen, jenni, gabby, renee,korina, linda, adventurekerrs, laura, melissa, eva, jenny, amber, deb, wendy, courtney, shanti, msrev, kellyi, tammy, julia , maureen,indigomum, andrea, mindy, becky, dawn, sarah,michelle, shelley, amber, nicole, cara, ginny, kris, tawnie, nancy, alex, kathi, ana, sarah m, stephanie, jen, dena, sharon, courtney, colleen, jillian

If you leave a link on the days you participate, I will know I have permission to share, for Outdoor Challenge Participant of the Day.

Tags get outdoors, recipe | Permalink | Comments (26)

homemade gifts little ladies recipe

marsupials, hummus, cheese crackers, and friends

March 16, 2010 – 10:00 pm

Not only was the weather beautiful today, but we had a lovely day with friends (and night because one is staying over). Lots of crafting, cooking, and playing!

Crafting- this marsupial monster mama had a baby! The baby loves to be carried in her mama’s pocket and go everywhere with her.
* Marsupial monster was made for Araina and will be put into her Spring basket this weekend.

Now for the cooking- I love cooking for my friends when they visit, here’s what I made to share today-

HUMMUS (recipe from here)
-Sooooo tasty and simple to make!

1 can garbanzo beans (chick peas)
juice of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup chopped parsley
pinch or two of salt
2-4 tbs. good quality extra virgin olive oil

Put all of the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor. Pulse and slowly add olive oil until you get the consistency you prefer. I only used about 2 tbs. olive oil, I like it a little on the dryer side.

CHEESE CRACKERS (adapted from here)
If you are a fan of baked cheese……RUN to your kitchen right now and bake these! They are so delicious and I can’t stop making them! These are the reason I could never be vegan!

1 1/2c. sharp cheddar cheese- the sharper the better
4 tbs unsalted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 t salt
1 tbs half and half
2-4 pinches of cayenne powder, depending on how spicy you want them

In a food processor, add the cheese, flour, and salt. Cut the butter into 4 pieces and add to ingredients. Pulse ingredients until you get coarse crumbs. Add the half and half and process until the dough forms into a ball. This takes about 10 seconds. I didn’t think a ball was even possible with such a little amount of liquid, but trust me it is. Form the dough into a log, wrap in parchment, and chill in the refrigerator for an hour up to a day (or freezer for 20 minutes).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough into desired thickness. Cut into squares or use small cutters to form fun shapes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 10-14 minutes until golden.

And of course you get 4 little girls together (and a cutie patootie 2yo brother) and there’s lots of playing going on! Playing in the ditch water was a highlight of the day; don’t let the short sleeves fool you, the water was COLD and the high today was in the upper 50′s! Maili and Fauna didn’t seem to notice though, they were splashing around and loved getting soaked. See the cute hair clips in Fauna’s hair? The owl was made by Fauna and Veda (Maili’s sister) and a little purple monster was made by Veda. Fauna wears them proudly!

HA! Araina refused to go into that cold water, she preferred to teeter on the edge!

Another great day planned for tomorrow…..a St. Patrick’s Day party! Toodles!

Tags handmade gifts, little ladies, our day, recipe, sewing | Permalink | Comments (34)

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valentine review

February 4, 2010 – 2:41 pm

I’ve been blogging a little over a year now (Jan. 24 was the year date). Some of you have been with me since day 1, but for those of you that haven’t here’s a review of Valentine’s 2009.

Valentine pocket hearts- made from sweaters; made to stuff full of sweet goodies. Cute hanging on the door of your Valentine!