Food For Friday - Week 5

Food for Friday - Week Five



This week's recipe comes from yet another Gooseberry Patch Cookbook.  This one is Family Favorites.  It was printed in 1997.  It has several of my favorite soup and bread recipes in it. 
The recipes are from cook's all over the world who send in their best.  I have found them to be easy to read, very accurate and favorites that I use over and over again.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.  I made this during "Quilt Camp" and everyone loved it.  Debby even called tonight to say she made it and it turned out great!!!  So YOU can do it too.


Here's How:

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:
5 large baking potatoes
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 cup flour
7 cups milk ( I use skim)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled ( I used 1 pouch of Real Bacon bits made for salads)
1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

1.  Bake potatoes until tender.  I bake my potatoes in a very hot 400 degree oven for 1 hour.  I spray them with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.  I love to use baked potatoes in lots of things so I am baking extra for the week.


2.  Melt butter in a large Dutch Oven and stir in flour to make a roux.

3.  Slowly whisk in 7 cups of milk over medium heat.

   4.  Bring to almost boiling.  Stir constantly as to prevent sticking.  Lower heat to simmer.  (Soup can burn very easily.....use a heavy bottom dutch oven or pot).

Now for the goodies:
5.  Add chopped potatoes, green cheddar cheese, and bacon.





 6.  Next chop the green onions including some of the green stems and add to soup.

 7.  Stir in Sour Cream and heat through until cheese is melted and soup is warm.  Do this on low heat or it WILL burn.

 8.  Garnish with green onion and crumbled bacon, if desired.


Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:
5 large baking potatoes
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 cup flour
7 cups milk ( I use skim)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled ( I used 1 pouch of Real Bacon bits made for salads)
1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
 

1.  Bake potatoes until tender.  I bake my potatoes in a very hot 400 degree oven for 1 hour.  I spray them with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.  I love to use baked potatoes in lots of things so I am baking extra for the week.
 2.  Melt butter in a large Dutch Oven and stir in flour to make a roux.
 3.  Slowly whisk in 7 cups of milk over medium heat. 
 4.  Bring to almost boiling.  Stir constantly as to prevent sticking.  Lower heat to simmer.  (Soup can burn very easily.....use a heavy bottom dutch oven or pot).
 5.  Add chopped potatoes, green cheddar cheese, and bacon.
 6.  Next chop the green onions including some of the green stems and add to soup.
 7.  Stir in Sour Cream and heat through until cheese is melted and soup is warm.  Do this on low heat or it WILL burn.
  8.  Garnish with green onion and crumbled bacon, if desired.



YUM, YUM!!!  You can serve this with sourdough bread and herb butter and have a great meal on a cold February night that your family will LOVE!!  It makes quite a bit but is great heated up for lunch the next day.  Hope you will try this easy, delicious recipe.  It really does taste just like a Loaded Baked Potato.

For my Friday Finishes  I have only my Baby Boy 2 quilt to show that is completely finished.  I have been working on sandwiching my flannel "Camp" quilt and Baby Boy 3 quilt.  Hope to quilt those over the weekend. 

 I did embroider Miss Ella the cutest Valentine apron this week and she has already received it and is modeling in the bottom right picture!!  I think it will fit her for a while!! I will be linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts  and Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off all the great projects that are happening out there.  Check them out!!

 

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama 

Get it Done List - January 2013 Report/ February Get it Done List

Hey there beautiful!! Only 10 days till you come to Nana's house for a visit!! Can't wait!!

Miss Ella got her "Valentine" apron in the mail today. What a pretty girl!!! She is going to be a "Cooker" like her Mama and Nana someday.

Today is the last day of January. How did that happen? I always love January as a cozy month to rest, read, and relax. It was a great month with Quilt Camp for 10 days with my good friends and lots of quilting projects completed. Now for the report!!

 

 

Get it Done List - January

1. Finishing piecing and quilt "Holy Toledo" quilt.

2. Create , piece and quilt two baby boy quilts.

3. Complete Section 1 of Comfort and Joy

4. Design a plan for a quilt using my Desden Plate Blocks

This antique Desden found by my friends Rachel Dennis served as inspiration for my current project. I love the fan border. Hope I can duplicate it.

I have 16 of these 12 1/2 inch Desden Blocks. I have a plan. I have green and pink for sashings along 9-patch blocks in the center of the quilt. Will work on the border when I get there. Would like to something similar to the antique quilt. But I do HAVE A PLAN!!!
So I am proud to say that my January Get it Done List 2013 is DONE!!!
Judy asked us if having a list helped us to complete our projects and I will say for me that is a YES!! I did several other projects during "Quilt Camp" but completed those in the list because they WERE on the list. I am a list person....makes me more efficient. I tend to get sidetracked easily. So thanks Judy....the List is working so far!!

Now for the February list!!

Get it Done List - February 2013

1. Finsh my flannel "Camp Quilt" and gift it.

2. Get the top made to my Dresden Plate Project

3 Section 2 of Comfort and Joy completed

4. Complete Baby Boy 3 quilt and gift it.

Should keep me busy since Miss Ella will be visiting during February too. I will have to balance my time between projects and the joy of my life!! Won't be hard!!!  I will be linking up today with Link a Finish Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Crazy Mom Quilts.  Hop over and check out all the great projects happening all over the web.  Make some new friends. 

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

Work In Progress Wednesday

From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations;
His Glory is above the heavens.

Psalms 113:3-4 

Work in Progress Wednesday

Not only is it Wednesday but it is almost the end of the month so I have been hard at work to finish my "Get It Done" list for January.
Today I worked on Section I of "Comfort and Joy".  I am joining with  Judy L at Patchwork Times.  This is a 12 month stitch along so it is important to stay caught up. Hop over and see those of us who have finished Section 1.
I  haven't decided if I should just stitch around the raw edges (fused) or do the blanket stitch on my machine.  What do you think?  Please let me know.  I sometimes do it by hand but on this I would use the machine and black thread?  What's your opinion?





My good friend came by today with the cutest aprons from Hobby Lobby.  We embroidered them for our Granddaughters  They came out SO cute!!  We had so much fun doing this together.  My friend loves to pick the thread colors...(Not much on sewing)!!! She does the prep work and I do the sewing.  A match made in heaven.

The pictures don't do them justice.  We used white on the ribbons and a variegated pink on the heart.  White for Miss Ella's name and lavender for Miss Olivia.  These were so much fun to do!!  They are both just 1 year so they will have these for a few years!!

This cozy flannel quilt is one that I made "Years and Years" ago and gave to my friend.  She keeps it at her lake place to cuddle up in.  I asked her to take a picture and send it to me.  I am trying to collect pictures of my quilts for a journal.  This year I am trying to be more "QUILT" responsible and label all my quilts and take pictures.  I didn't do that in the past!!  I did the blanket stitch on this quilt by hand.

Does anybody else have this gadget?  Debby gifted my with this "Grab and Go" during her visit.  I LOVE it!!  I carry it from room to room.  It goes where I am sewing.  It has spindles for thread, a pincushion, multiple scissor holders and a handle to carry it easily.  Don't know how I sewed without it!!  Thank you Debby!!

I will be linking up today with Work in Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.    Hit the button in my sidebar to get there and see all the projects being created this week.

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

Easy Whole Grain Pumpkin-Banana Bread

It's Monday Morning!!!

 I hope this week finds you recharged and ready for all that God has planned for you.

Psalm 118:23-25 (New International Version)

²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

I am linking this beautiful picture of blue with Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.  There is a lot of "blue" going on over there.  Join the fun!!

Design Wall Monday

This is the last week of January so I am trying to knockout my January "Get it Done" list.  I have completed the "Holy Toledo" quilt and am using it to stay warm on these January cool nights while I sit and stitch.  The two Baby Boy quilts are finished and gifted.  Now I have to get Section 1 of Comfort and Joy completed.

I started working on it today.

These are humble beginnings but I will have it done by tomorrow I hope.  I am using homespuns from my scrapbag.  My favorite quilts are scrappy.

I am linking up with Judy L at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the projects going on over there!

I changed the quilt in my office this week.  Here's a pix!

 This was a Thimbleberries Block of the Month many years ago.  I dug it out of my "quilt closet" to brighten the wall during this time of year.  It looks good with the gold wall and makes my students smile....and me too!!

Over the Weekend I made some great quick bread that combined Bananas, Pumpkin and whole grain flour.

This recipe is from the King Arthur Flour website. 
 Enjoy!!

Easy Whole Grain Pumpkin-Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soft butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons Honey
2 large eggs
1 cup pureed pumpkin
1 cup mashed bananas
2 tablespoons orange juice or water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup diced pecans
Coarse white sparking sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Lightly grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan.  I am using my smaller stone pans again because I love the size and I am also doubling the recipe because I had a lot of ripe bananas.

2.  In a large mixing bowl beat together the butter

Brown Sugar

Honey and Pumpkin

Bananas

orange juice or water, eggs (2) and vanilla.

Mix together with mixer until just blended.

3.  Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in another bowl.   Stir to combine.

4.  Mix in the nuts

 5.  Combine the dry ingredients into the wet batter a little at a time.  Mixing until all the dry ingredients are incorporated into the batter.

It should look like this.

6.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle with the coarse white sugar on top of the batter in the pans.

7.  Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes, uncovered at this point.

8.  Bake the bread for 55 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

 9.  Remove the bread from the oven, and cool on a rack.  When completely cook, wrap it well in plastic wrap and store it overnight before serving.

I found this bread to be moist and have a great flavor, more like banana but very moist like pumpkin.  The pecans give a great flavor boost also.   Remember I doubled the recipe and used smaller pans so I have more than the 1 loaf the recipe makes.  

Hope you give this a try and let me know how you like it!!

Easy Whole Grain Pumpkin-Banana Bread

 Ingredients:

1/2 cup soft butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons Honey
2 large eggs
1 cup pureed pumpkin
1 cup mashed bananas
2 tablespoons orange juice or water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup diced pecans
Coarse white sparking sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Lightly grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan.  I am using my smaller stone pans again because I love the size and I am also doubling the recipe because I had a lot of ripe bananas.

2.  In a large mixing bowl beat together the butter

2.  In a large mixing bowl beat together the butter, sugar, honey, eggs, pumpkin, banana, orange juice or water, and vanilla.

 Mix together with mixer until just blended.

 3.  Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in another bowl.   Stir to combine.

 4.  Mix in the nuts

  5.  Combine the dry ingredients into the wet batter a little at a time.  Mixing until all the dry ingredients are incorporated into the batter.

6.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle with the coarse white sugar on top of the batter in the pans.

 7.  Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes, uncovered at this point.

8.  Bake the bread for 55 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

  9.  Remove the bread from the oven, and cool on a rack.  When completely cook, wrap it well in plastic wrap and store it overnight before serving.

I am linking up with Stone Gable On the Menu Monday.  Check out all the great food being shared!

 

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama
 

 

Sunday Stash Report

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

 Good Sunday Morning!!
I hope this post finds all of you enjoying a day of rest and reflection before we begin another work week.  I was helping to provide "snacks" for Sunday School this morning so it was a late Saturday night of baking before I got to bed.
 















Cinnamon Rolls and Banana bread were the chosen delight for this week's "snack".  Readily enjoyed by all I might add.  I love to bake and use any excuse to do so.  So I am always the first to sign up to provide goodies.

Sunday Stash Report
After such a productive week last week I am sorry to say that I slowed way down after Debby left of Tuesday morning.  I finished quilting Baby Boy 2 quilt and bound it today.  So that's it for this week.

  

Total Yards Used this Week: 1/2 yard

Added this Week: 1 3/4 yards

Used year to Date: 32 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 10 3/4 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 21 1/4 yards

 

Show and Tell

 

Baby Boy 2 Quilt.  I practiced more feathers in the borders.  I love the way they look in the cornerstones too!!  I finished the binding after I took this pix.  All done and ready to fly to Seattle to meet it's new owner.

Before I sign off today I want to show you this amazing gadget that Debby brought to me last week.  It hooks right on the table beside my sewing machine and holds my "drink" of choice and has a bag for threads and scraps.  It is called "Sip and Snip".  I LOVE it!!!  Can't tell you how many drink accidents and spills I have had in my sewing area because I always have something to drink with me.  She checked on getting my another one since I have two sewing rooms and 4 machines set up but her quilt store was out.  Anybody know where I can get a second one of these "Little Wonders"?

 Till then I will just have to live with the one I have!!
I am linking up with Judy L at Patchwork Times for the Sunday Stash Report.  Hop over and see what others have been doing this week to BUST their Stash!!

Happy Trails,

 

Mtn Mama