enjoy!

enjoy!

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Road Trip, Farm Country.


The photo above is a total accident, so I made it into a signature picture for this story.

We went on a short road trip on a dreary day.
 I took a few pictures and I hope you find them enjoyable..

Of course I love Barns and OLD cemetery's as we fly down the road..
So their are going to be a few of them.







































You get the picture of our dreary day,
Its the last Thursday in March..
Dosent seem like Winter will ever end..
I do have more photos but I got tired of adding.
 I will add more later.

Thanks For Looking











Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Another March 2014 Snow Storm and Mini Apple Pies

Well let me tell you we have had out share of bad weather this winter and I think we are all Thur with it. at least I know I am.. Of course I took a few pictures and below are some before or should I say in between power failures and my furnace breaking down.
 All because it needed to have the switch that was hidden in the back re set because of the power failures... All in all it cost me $259.00 because I didn't renew the insurance we had for the past 10 years because I thought I was going to sell my house when it was listed and it didn't.. OH well live and learn.. I think the repair people robbed me or gouged me what ever you want to call it but what can I do but pay.

Thank you to Pete who tried to assist me by directing me over the phone  he is only 2000 miles away and of course Cindy who couldn't get over here because of the roads.... Every one has their struggles and no sense crying about it no one wants to hear it.. So thanking Pete and Cindy for caring.. Oh almost forgot My sister I know would have tried to phone assist me as well but she was stuck in a ditch.
Wow what a mess today started out to be but its over and on with the show..

 I took these in between my not so normal morning.. It sure feels good to have heat working again..




My girl Abby out last night before the next snow fall began.









These guys got a work out this year, that's a fact..


I love snow fall on the windows, I don't know why, I just do.


Ms Blackie she was out in front eating the seed I have in a holder for them, out on the tree.



The  two above are kind of blurry, because they were taken at night.
 It was still coming down with some heavy snow.


I'm so glad I didn't cut all my grasses down in the fall, because the birds always hang out in them,
 eating the seeds. although I feed the birds they still love the tall grasses.






 The one above I always love to get a few of over the snowy season. 
 It looks like a beautiful Christmas Card.


They love this weather we have 100s of them out here they fly day and night..
Really!! 
I let the dogs out in the middle of the night and I can here them going over.
 They yack yack yack.. its comical..




This one is a bit fuzzy, it was blowing pretty hard early this morning..
 I always have to have that lonesome picnic bench in my photos..


That's All Folks Thanks for looking.

Since the 14th of March would have been my Dads birthday..
His favorite was Butterscotch Pie. and I thought Apple sounded good..

Here are my Pie Share's.


Mini Apple Pies

for the crust:
1/3 cup ice water, plus extra as needed
3 TB sour cream
12 1/2 oz (2 1/2 cups) all purpose flour
2 TB sugar
1 tsp salt
16 TB (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed, frozen for 15 minutes
for the filling:
2-3 medium sized apples (I used a combo of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious)
2 TB all-purpose flour
2 TB lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 tsp cinnamon
a pinch of ground ginger
for assembly:
1 egg, beaten with 1 TB of water
a small bowl of water
turbinado sugar (optional)
Directions:
  1. Make your pie dough: Mix 1/3 cup of ice water and sour cream in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.
  2. In your food processor, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse a few times.
  3. Scatter butter pieces over the top of the flour mixture, and pulse the mixture until the butter is the size of large peas (about 10 pulses).
  4. Pour half the sour cream/water mixture over the flour mixture, and pulse until incorporated. Repeat with remaining sour cream/water mixture.
  5. Pinch dough with your fingers — if it feels dry and doesn’t stick together, add a teaspoon or two of water, pulse again, and test again.
  6. Divide dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  7. In the meantime, make your filling: Peel and dice apples, and place in a large bowl.
  8. In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, and spices.
  9. Toss apples with lemon juice and flour/spice mixture until evenly coated. Let sit for at least 10 minutes before using.
  10. Assemble your pies:  Preheat your oven to 375F.
  11. Place one dough disc on a well-floured surface. Roll out dough to about 1/8″ thickness, making sure to periodically lift up your dough and add a bit of flour underneath so it doesn’t stick.
  12. Use a round cutter to cut circles out of dough. Mine was a 4″ cutter, but use what you prefer. If at any point your dough gets too soft to work with, stick it in the fridge for a few minutes and it will firm up.
  13. Place dough circles on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
  14. Place a spoonful of apples on your dough circle…it will need to be slightly off-center so you can fold one side of the dough circle over. The amount of apples you use will vary depending on the size of your dough circles and how finely you’ve chopped your apples.
  15. Dip your finger in water, and trace along the outer edge of the dough circle. Then, fold one half of the dough circle over your filling. Crimp edges with a fork and/or your fingers to seal. I use my fingers first, and then go over with a fork to make them look prettier.
  16. Using a sharp knife, cut a small slit or two on the top of each pie.
  17. Brush each mini pie with egg wash, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
  18. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
  19. Let cool before eating…hot apple filling is basically lava.

Butterscotch Pie


Ingredients

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1 (9-inch) pre-baked pie shell 

1/4 cup butterscotch morsels, plus more for topping 

Whipped cream, recipe follows 

Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt. Slowly add milk, constantly stirring until it thickens.

In a separate bowl temper 2 egg yolks by whisking in a small amount of hot mixture to bowl. Whisk in the eggs and add the butter and vanilla. Allow to cook for a few minutes.

Pour into a dish and refrigerate, allowing to cool. When ready, fill pie shell with butterscotch mixture.

Mix the butterscotch morsels into the whipped cream. Cover pie and garnish with more butterscotch morsels.

Whipped Cream:

Using a hand mixer, whip together the heavy cream and sugar until light and fluffy.