Kentucky Derby Pie

Oh yes, sinfully delicious ! I first tried this pie at a cute little place in Chester, Vermont called Raspberry and Thyme. Sweet and nutty adding a bit of extra omp pa pa myself...:)

Two different versions of the recipe below!

For the over 21 crowd!
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1 stick of butter ( melted) add to a good sized mixing bowl and blend in
1/4 cup of white sugar
3/4 cup of packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup of maple sugar
1/4 cup of saplings maple liquor ( made near my home town in Putney Vermont!)
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

Mix this well until its well blended and frothy.

chop up pecans and measure 1 and 1/4 cups
pour into mixture along with  3/4 cups chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into a prepared pie crust
bake at 350 for about one hour or until set well.
(set meaning center won't jiggle when you shake the pan a bit ..:)

For some extra flair melt 1/2 of chocolate chips and drizzle on top of the pie, serve warm with vanilla ice cream..mmmm



For the under 21 crowd just basically replace the saplings with another 1/4 cup of maple syrup...:)
Very tasty both ways!!!



Also can be made with out a crust and served like a thick pudding cake...:) Also Delish !!!

Home made Mayonnaise

I am trying really hard to remember how this came about. Me attempting to make things instead of buy them at the grocery store.  I think it might have been when we started getting "home grown" Chickens from my daughter. The more we thought about it the more it made sense , we have a big garden why not work at trying to avoid those "pre packaged" foods that come with all those ingredients I can't spell or pronounce!  So it started I put up jars and jars of tomato sauce last fall that I've been making, spaghetti sauce , tomato soup and ketchup with. Making our own breads, rolls, muffins, cookies , granola bars.  Make our own vanilla ( easy, put a sliced open vanilla bean in a pint canning jar filled 1/3 up with water , the rest with rum or vodka , cover and put away. Shake it when ever you open your cupboard and see it there and its ready to use in a couple months. I try to have a couple so that I never run out, its so good in not just baking but in hot chocolate, waffles , drinks!  Any how so I'm feeling really good about the fact that our trips to the grocery store are sure different since we don't go down even 1/2 the aisles! Next I think I need a pasta maker.... :)

So this was my newest experiment and my Husband gave it his sign of approval so here is the recipe!
I used my food processor but I'm sure a blender would work just as well.

blend slowly :
1 egg
1 tsp dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
and 1/4 cup of oil
while the machine is still blending add another
1/2 cup of oil
3 tablespoons of vinegar

then add another 1/2 cup of oil
blend till smooth and add
a bit of cayenne pepper

This recipe makes about 2 cups.
tasty!

Recipe time! Home made Poppycock

Hate going to the store to buy one of my favorite treats, spend $4.00 on this little bag.....soooo

pop yourself 8 cups of popcorn, I used two bags in the microwave.
put that in a really big bowl and mix in a couple cups of your favorite nuts ( roast them first if you like)

melt two sticks of butter (or Margarine) in a pan on the stove.
Add  1 and 1/3 cups of white sugar, 1/2 cup clear corn syrup and  1/2 tsp cream of tarter.
heat this while stirring constantly to 255 or a hard ball stage.
remove from heat add 1/2 baking soda and 1 tsp vanilla stir well and pour over
the popcorn.

Mix well and pour on greased cookie sheets ( or I use waxed paper) when its cool break it up and store in airproof ziplock bags or plastic wear.  It is sooo good!

Mrs Captains Chewy Blonde Brownies ..mmmmm

These brownies are moist and chewy and have a really nice butterscotch flavor. Its fun to switch up the tidbits added to them as well!  The recipe fills an 8" square pan but I admit to doubling to most often as they go fast!






1/4 cup CABOT No salt added Butter
1 cup Domino Light brown Sugar
1 farm fresh egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract ( oh yes I make my own and its so good!)
3/4 cup King Arthur Flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Melt butter over low heat on stovetop. Removed from heat and add brown sugar, stir until well blended and cool. Add egg and vanilla and mix well.  Stir in dry ingredients than add 1 cup of mixed goodies, the picture shows a mixture of milk chocolate chips, sliced almonds and Heath Bar Bits.
Bake in a well greased 8 in square pan in a 350 oven for about 25 minutes. Cool in pan.
So good!

Donnas Maple Oatbread

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water (70 to 80 degrees)
1/3 cup maple syrup 
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

The recipe was originally for a bread maker but I use my Kitchen aid mixer and it comes out so very good!

1. take 1/2 cup of warm water in a small bowl sprinkle the yeast on top and let set for 15 minutes 

2. add the oats, flour and salt to the bowl mix and then make a well in the center , 
add the dissolved yeast and water to the well . Gently stir incorporating a small about of the flour to make a sticky dough, cover and let set for 20 mintues ( the dough should rise by then )

3.add the remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs water
the maple syrup and oil

mix well , sometimes I find I need to add just a sprinkle more of flour as you just want the dough to be dry enough that you can touch it and form it in a ball with out getting your hands all sticky..ha!

cover and let rise for one hour.

punch down ( I put it back in the mixer) then grease a bread pan , add the dough and let rise again until doubled.

bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

By Request - Mrs Captains Flat Bread (Pizza)

I started a search for homemade flatbread after visiting "American Flatbread" in Burlington , Vermont.  They have the best flatbread I've ever tasted and there I learned to NOT call it Pizza..ha! The crust is just what they call it flat and its crisp. So going along with my make it myself mode  this is how I make it.

Take 2 Tablespoons of yeast and mix with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Add 1 cup of warm water, stir and let that sit for about 5 minutes, this should give you a nice foaming mixture. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

In another bowl add 2 1/2 cups of flour and 2 teaspoons of salt add the yeast mixture to this ( I use my kitchen aide mixer with dough hook for this ) kneading the dough until I have a nice consistency. You may need to add more flour this is critical you need a soft dough that is smooth and elastic but not tough. I sometimes add a much as 1/4 cup more of flour during this kneading process.

Since I like my flatbreads to fix on my pizza stone I cut this dough in half  each half will make a small 12" flatbread.  take each half  and form into a ball by kneading in at the edges. Place on a pan which has been coated with olive oil and let the dough rest for about 20 minutes , you don't need to cover it.

After it has rested form it into a 12" round which is no more than 1/4" thick. Now I know that using a pizza stone your supposed to heat it first but I don't have one of those neat big wooden things to transfer it so I just dust the stone with cornmeal and place the dough on the cold stone.   add your toppings and bake for about 15 minutes.

Now toppings on a flatbread , less is better, you want the crust to be crispy and not soggy.
The photo I took of my flatbread is just asiago cheese with italian herbs, sundried tomatoes and pineapple.  no sauce.. I love it!

if you add sauce just use it sparely! Enjoy!

Its Pickle Time!

Okay , so my Greenhouse has taken a break since the last time I worked on it I dropped way to many things on my head.  I took a break and built a new center island in our kitchen....

Its not totally done yet, I still need to add a layer of cement board, some wood trim and some neat ceramic tile on top.  Then put a few coats of poly coat on the wood.  No, I haven't forgotten about the greenhouse but have to admit I got a bit discouraged, or frustrated the last time out there.  Hopefully Sunday I'll take another crack at it.

Meanwhile the vegetable garden is doing well, I've put up beets, peas and beans into our freezer and now the cukes are coming fast and furious. I do love eating them but the majority of them are going into pickles.  PICKLES...mmmmm 

This is how I go about doing ours....

Onions, Cukes and Sweet Red Peppers.

First you gotta go out in your garden and gather up some nice cukes long and slender.  I am also lucky enough to have some nice onions growing too, but admit to having to buy the red peppers.

Before I do anything I fill the canning pot with water and start it going. It might start boiling before I'm ready, if so I just turn it off or turn it down depending on how much longer before I'm ready for it. Course from now until the cukes are done I'll leave the canner on the stove full so it won't take long to warm up , plus I'm not wasting water refilling it. 

wash those veggies

Wash all the veggies really well, nothing worse then dirt in your pickles!

Nice clean veggies

After you've got them cleaned up slice them all up no thicker than about 1/4" I usually cut up about 3 cukes, then layer some sliced Onion and Peppers then sprinkle about  some pickling salt on top, then another 3 cukes , onions and peppers and more salt using about 1/3 cup for that quantity.

After you got the amount of veggies cut up you need then you need to cover the bowl with Ice.

Leave the ice on there for about an hour and a half. ( this is a good time to make a few loaves of Butter Honey Bread !)

Now you need to rinse the veggies off, drain them and rinse them again.
In a big pot on your stove, put 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of vinegar and 1 tablespoon celery seeds. ( lots of time I double this to be sure I'll have enough if I cut up extra cukes) boil the mixture and once its boiling good, add the veggies and bring to another boil. While your waiting get your jars ready.

Its always nice to have a kitchen buddy with you while your cooking. Even if your buddy is just sleeping on a dish towel. :)

Wash your jars in hot hot water or if you prefer heat them in the oven at 250 for about 15 minutes. I usually wash mine and leave the lids and covers in the hot water until the jars are filled.  Fill the jars full with the pickle, onions and peppers then topping off with the liquid til 1/4 inch from the top, slide your spoon or knife around in the jar to remove air bubbles top off the jars with the lids and cover, usually I have a towel in my hand since the jars are quite hot now and it helps to be able to tighten the covers.

After all the jars are filled put them in the boiling water canner and process for 10 minutes.

Be careful  when removing the jars. You'll want to use some good rubber coated tongs. While the jars are cooling you should hear the "pop" of the lids and before storing the jars away push the top of the lids and be sure all have a good seal. You should be able to remove the cover and give the lid a gentle pull and it not come off.

Store jars in a dark place. They won't last long though these pickes are awesome!

The pickes I just made are on the left.  I like the bright clear brine for these versus the bread and butter pickles to the right that have some different spices which makes the brine more a yellow color. Both are good but I really like these tasty ones better, crunchy and sweet! 

Go make some pickles! :)

Tasty BlueBerry Muffins( Sparkle Muffins)

2 cups King Arthur flour

1/3 cup Domino sugar

1 tbls baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 Farm fresh egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup oil

1 cup blueberries

additional Domino sugar ( I prefer brown)

1. add dry ingredients to a large bowl and mix well.

2. in a smaller bowl add egg, milk and oil mix well.

3. add egg mixture to flour mixture , don't mix this too much just enough to mix in all

the ingredients.

4. gently fold in 1 cup of blueberries

5. add to oiled muffin tins or lined with papers...

6. sprinkle with sugar

7. bake at 400 for 25 to 30 minutes

8. remove from muffin tins

9. eat and enjoy! Oh yummy!

as a further note, these muffins are tasty I'm not OVERLY fond of the nutmeg in them though, next time I think I will add vanilla or cinnamon instead..:)

Honey Butter Wheat Bread - can you say MMMM???

ingredients:
1 cup water
2 Tbs butter
2 tbs honey
2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup dry milk powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast ( or one package)

1.add yeast to warm water in a small bowl, let set for 5 minutes and stir to dissolve.
2. add flours, dry milk power and salt to large bowl stir to mix and then make a well in the center, add the water/yeast mixture to well and stir lightly pulling in some of the flour mixture to form a soft dough. Cover and let this set for 20 minutes.
3. add softened butter, honey, and mix, I use a kitchen aid mixer for this with a bread hook, you should have a nice soft dough that is slightly sticky but not TOO sticky. Add small amounts of water ( tbl at a time) or if its too sticky add small amounts of flour.

4. cover and let this rise for 90 minutes.
5. punch down and add to bread pan and let rise again for 60 minutes.
6. Bake at 400 for 35 minutes, I like to butter the top to make a nice soft crust.

this is a great sandwich bread with a sweet flavor, its slices beautifully.

Yummy English Muffins...mmmm mmmmm Good!

Ingredient List:
1 cup warm milk
2 tbls white sugar
2 1/4 tsps yeast ( or one package)
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup melted shortening
6 cups flour
1 tsp salt

Warm the milk in a saucepan til it bubbles around the edges. Mix in the sugar until it disolves then let it cool some.  In another small bowl dissolve the yeast in the water and let stand about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, yeast mixture, shortening, and 1/2 the flour, beat until smooth then add the salt and enough flour to make a soft dough. I use a Kitchen aid mixer but if you don't have one, knead the dough then place in a greased bowl , cover and let rise til doubled.

punch down the dough, I made the dough into a long cylinder and then cut slices but I think if you want them more uniform rolling it out and using a biscuit cutter is the way to go although they taste good even if they are perfectly round..:)

lay out some waxed paper and dust with cornmeal, lay the rounds on top then dust with cornmeal again, cover and let rise JUST 1/2 hour , you don't want them getting too puffy.

heat a greased griddle using medium heat , cook the muffins 10 minutes per side,
Oh my goodness these are so very tasty, you'll never want to buy the store bought version again!

I made about 18 using this recipe.

Tomato Soup can you say MMM Mmmm Good?

Taking in my new style of living I am learning from my son and daughter I have decided if I can make it then I am no longer going to buy it.  So I've started making my own soups, sauces, bread you name it. The garden has been started so even better, sometime this fall I'll be putting up my very own tomatoes to make this soup! OH I am so excited about this, its a great feeling ! Anyhow the soup !

I start of with about:
10 Good sized tomatos quartered.
              ( I've tried several types so far I have no favorites so I think any kind works fine.)
 Get a good sized soup pot and put about 1/4 cup of water in the bottom then add the tomatoes, I usually take a chopper at that point and chop them well so they cook down a bit quicker or you can do that before you add them to the pot too whichever works easier for you!  Boil the tomatoes until they are soft the juice is boiling well.
I take them off the stove and put them through my blender at this point, and then strain to remove the seeds.  Of course if you don't want to go through this process you can buy a couple cans of tomatoes but you'll be surprised how much salt is in that can.

Get another large pot and add :
2 tablespoons of Oil.
 1 Large chopped Onion
 2 chopped garlic cloves
 1/2 cup of chopped carrots
 1/4 cup of celery
your tomatoes or 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
1 quart of vegetable broth
1 tablespoon of worcester sauce

simmer this for about 1/2 an hour or until the vegetables are soft.
Removed from stove and blend with your blender or food processor until smooth.

Add:
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
and a few drops of Franks Extra Hot

Pour into a cup and mmm mmm good!

Jack Daniels Glazed Salmon - can I say MMM mmmm Good?!

Combine :
3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
3 Tablespoons Jack Daniels
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
4 minced garlic cloves
dash of pepper

Add some olive oil to a frying pan and preheat
add the above ingredients then add to that
4 salmon fillets ( best without the skin unless you eat it , you won't want to waste this
glaze!)

Cook fish 4 minutes per side and wha la you've got dinner!

in the photo you will also see beans ...to make.

take some seeds and put them in the ground...water regularly , weed occassionally.
When you see beans growing , pick them! Cut them up, add them to some boiling water and cook just enough...I like them crispy...mmm

Dinner for one today but 5 weeks I'll make this again for my sailor guy.:)

Peanut Butter Granola Bars - Yummy

1 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup coconut

stir together then add 1 1/2 cups of your favorite ingredients:
sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts , chocolate chips, raisins whatever you want thats small and tasty.

press hard into a 13x9 greased pan and bake for 20 -25 minutes at 350 degrees, I cut them when they are warm as they tend to get a bit crumbly if you don't.

Mrs Captains Pumpkin Bread

 Mrs Captains Pumpkin Bread

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 Today at 8:10am | Edit Note | Delete

Occassionally I intend to share some of my favorite recipes with you !  I love making bread! This reciepe makes two yummy loaves , one for now , one for later!

3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
3 cups white sugar
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin
2/3 cup water


Preheat oven to 350 grease two loaf pans

combine flour, soda, salt, baking powder and spices and set aside

in large bowl blend sugar , applesauce and eggs, stir in pumpkin, mix in flour mixture while adding water. Pour the batter into the pans and bake for 90 minutes.

let cool at least 10 minutes before removing from pan .

This bread is soft and very tasty heated up in the toaster and then spread with cinnamon butter!