MTNMAMA

MTNMAMA
The original MTNMAMA

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sunday Stash Report


It's been a Very Busy Weekend!!!



My "Big"  girls went back to Minnesota yesterday on the airplane.  We had to get up at 5:15 a.m. and get them to the airport for a 7:00 a.m. flight.  She will be greatly missed but left me her cold as a "Good-bye" present.  I hope they will be back in April or else I may have to make a trip North.  It's a long time till July when they will move here permanently.We had such a good time while they were here.  It was good to have lots of life back in the house.  It gets lonely with just me and Riley!!





Saturday night was "Winterset".  It is a black tie event sponsored by the Osteopathic Founders Foundation .  I teach Emergency Cardiovascular Care at the Foundation.  Jeff and I were the Chairpersons in 2005.  It is such a great event that  raises money for community organizations and scholarships to the Osteopathic Medical School.  It is always done very nicely....good food, music and lots of friends to share the evening.  It was hard going alone for the first time but I had lots of support.  These ladies ( I am on the far right in purple) have been so good to help me through my loss of Jeffrey.  The two on the left are physician's who cared for him during all his hospital stays.  They showed such kindness and literally kept him alive until he made the decision to stop treatment.  The lady beside me is the president of the Foundation.  A friend and co-worker, she is always helping me when I find a hurdle that I need help with.   It is great to have such support.  I must say the Osteopathic Community in Tulsa is "Family".  Good to have during the good times and the bad!!


Sunday Stash Report - Status Quo- Week 8

Total Yards Used this Week:  0 yards
 
Added this Week: 0 yards
 
Used year to Date:  46 1/2 yards  

Added Year to Date: 9 yards  

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 37 1/2 yards

There was no sewing going on here this week.  Busy with Miss Ella and Jenny's visit, Downtown Abbey girls met twice to finish the First season, we did lots of crafting with Jenny after Ella went to bed, I cleaned the house,  went grocery shopping and enjoy Saturday evening at Winterset.  It was a great week with lots of great family and friends to share it with.
 Stay tuned......Tulsa may get snow again this week!!!  I LOVE it!!

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

Friday, February 22, 2013

Food for Friday - Week 8

WOW!!! I can't believe that we are already 8 weeks into 2013!! I am loving the time I have spent with my girls these past two weeks. We have had so much fun just being together. The blessings of family shine through the darkest of days. My days have been full of Miss Ella and her beautiful smile!

 

For the past few months everyone I know has been consumed with "Downtown Abbey". I however had never watched an episode and wasn't really interested but after all the fuss I decided maybe I should check it out. We have a group of 5 ladies who wanted to get "caught up" on this phenomenon together so we meet once a week at each other's homes for "Abbey" time and lunch.We started with season 1 and now we are all HOOKED!! We watch two to three episodes at a time. Today was my day to host. We met after lunch so I decided we would have "tea". I made English Muffins , jam and tea. This is so much fun!! I can't wait till next week and we start Season 2!!

 

 

Thank you Lord for friends and family to share our lives with!! You have blessed me with so many wonderful people who have surrounded me with love. I am truly grateful. May we honor you in all that we do. AMEN!!


The recipe for this week is English Muffins. I am using a recipe I found on the internet. No featured cookbook this week. I have rewritten the recipe because I found the original hard to follow and somewhat inaccurate as it was written. Hope this version is readable and doable for you. I really encourage you to make these. English Muffins are NOT hard to make. They are a yeast bread but instead of baking them they are cooked on a griddle or iron skillet on the stove. Please try these!!! They are soft and yummy. You will never buy English Muffins again.

English Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp active dry yeast or 1 pkg
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter
3 cups flour, divided
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup cornmeal


 Directions:


Combine Water, Yeast and sugar.




Let mixture stand for 5 minutes until the yeast is "foamy"

Add 1 1/2 cups flour to a separate bowl with the 3/4 tsp salt. Mix well

 




Heat milk and butter together in microwave.  You want the butter to melt and the milk to be warm but not hot. It took my microwave 45 seconds to do the job. If the milk mixture gets too hot let it cool down before proceeding with the recipe.
Combine the Yeast mixture with the milk and butter mixture into the flour and salt bowl.

Beat with mixture paddle for 2 minutes to stretch the gluten. Then switch to dough hook.



Continue to knead with dough hook while adding the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour a small amount at a time. You can do this by hand on a board if you prefer. Stop adding flour when dough is smooth and elastic. I used only about 2 1/2 cups of flour at this point. Knead dough for 5 minutes.




Turn dough out onto board and shape into a ball.
Grease bowl with cooking spray and sit in a warm, draft free place to raise. Cover with dishtowel. Let raise until doubled about an hour.




When dough has doubled remove from bowl onto floured surface and roll out with rolling pin to 3/4 inches thick.













Cut the dough with desired size biscuit cutter.
Place on cookie sheet sprinkled with 1/2 of the cornmeal. I used parchment paper but you don't have to.

 


When the muffins have risen the second time heat an iron skillet to medium heat. Spray the pan with a light coating of cooking spray. Drop the muffins into the pan. Turn heat to low. Cook the muffins for 7-10 minutes then turn and cook another 7-10 minutes until golden brown.

 
Remove the muffins to a cooling rack. Split the muffins with two forks to reveal all the nooks and crannys inside these delicious morsels.

English Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp active dry yeast or 1 pkg
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter
3 cups flour, divided
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup cornmeal

Directions:

Combine Water, Yeast and sugar. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes until the yeast is "foamy"
Add 1 1/2 cups flour to a separate bowl with the 3/4 tsp salt. Mix wel. Heat milk and butter together in microwave. You want the butter to melt and the milk to be warm but not hot. It took my microwave 45 seconds to do the job. If the milk mixture gets too hot let it cool down before proceeding with the recipe.

Combine the Yeast mixture with the milk and butter mixture into the flour and salt bowl. Beat with mixture paddle for 2 minutes to stretch the gluten. Then switch to dough hook.

Continue to knead with dough hook while adding the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour a small amount at a time. You can do this by hand on a board if you prefer. Stop adding flour when dough is smooth and elastic. I used only about 2 1/2 cups of flour at this point. Knead dough for 5 minutes.
Turn dough out onto board and shape into a ball Grease bowl with cooking spray and sit in a warm, draft free place to raise. Cover with dishtowel. Let raise until doubled about an hour. When dough has doubled remove from bowl onto floured surface and roll out with rolling pin to 3/4 inches thick.
Cut the dough with desired size biscuit cutter. Place on cookie sheet sprinkled with 1/2 of the cornmeal. I used parchment paper but you don't have to. I got 10 muffins out of this dough. Sprinkle remaining cornmeal on the tops of the muffins and gently press into the dough. Cover with kitchen towel and let rise for 45 minutes more.
When the muffins have risen the second time heat an iron skillet to medium heat. Spray the pan with a light coating of cooking spray. Drop the muffins into the pan. Turn heat to low. Cook the muffins for 7-10 minutes then turn and cook another 7-10 minutes until golden brown. Remove the muffins to a cooling rack. Split the muffins with two forks to reveal all the nooks and crannys inside these delicious morsels. Keep in sealed bag or container for freshness.

Best eaten hot off the griddle!!! Toasted the next day is delicious too!! These are so tasty!!

Our little group really enjoyed these "English" muffins at our "Downtown Abbey" High Tea Party with butter, fruit preserves, and tea.
I hope you enjoy them as well. I would love hearing back from you if you try this recipe. It helps me to keep on doing what I do on Food for Friday!! I hope you are enjoying the recipes. Let me know if there is a special recipe you want me to highlight in the upcoming weeks.!!

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Tulsa has Snow!!



Backdoor view
 A Snowy February Day!!! 

I love snow.....at least a few times each year.  Some years we get snow in Tulsa and some years we don't.  We didn't get any last year which makes today so special for me!!  It snowed most of the day but the ground was warm and the temp about 34 so we have a couple of inches on the ground.  It is actually raining now and may turn to freezing rain later tonight.  That is what we usually get....freezing rain and ice.  We are so thirsty for any moisture that no one is complaining....even my friends who don't like snow are being kind because we need the water.
A friend who is less than thrilled with snow sent me a text early this morning.....
This the day the Lord has made for Mtn Mama!!!  Feb 20, 2013...let us rejoice and be glad in it for her!!

Thank you Lord for the snow and the much needed rain!!  The world is cleansed in a blanket of whiteness and we feel the beauty of this "clean earth" as you intended it to be.  Thank you for today!!  AMEN

Jenny has been "crafting in my garage for the past two nights after Ella has gone to bed.  I must say I love her projects.  First she took all my old vases....nothing special just from the florist....and spray painted them white (milk glass effect) and this beautiful aqua blue.  She is going to use them in a display in her new home.   


Next she took several glass candlesticks and glued them to various bowls and plates to make "pedestal" pieces.


 I love the way this looks.  So many uses!!  We bought the candle sticks in an antique mall for $3.50 and the plate for $1.00.  Pretty snazzy result for less than 5 bucks.


 We used this glue from WalMart that cost less than $5.00.  It is waterproof.  You can put these in dishwater or the dishwasher to clean them.

Two more creations using dollar store candlesticks and bowls.  I love the "crystal" one on the right!!  I can just imagine it full of berries or granola on a breakfast table.



 We just can't stop making this stuff.  

 Pretty good for less than $10.00 investment.  Of course we did "find" all the vases in the garage.  I love doing this kind of stuff with my daughters.  

We also did some baking.  This is a recipe I found on the web and tried this evening.  Just seemed like I should be baking bread on a snow day. 


Amish Country Bread

Ingredients:
4 Tbsps. sugar
2 Tbsps. butter (melted)
1 Tbsp salt
1 1/2 cups Warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp Instant Yeast or 2 pkg yeast
5 cups of Flour

Directions:



 Gather your ingredients including your mixer.  I used my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook.

 


Place sugar, melted butter, salt, yeast and warm water in the bowl of your mixer. 


 


Allow to sit for 10 minutes until the yeast has started to react and the mixture appears frothy.

 


Add the flour to the yeast mixture with the dough hook attached in small batches.

  
 Allow the dough to mix for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

 


Remove from mixer and place the dough in a greased bowl.





Cover with wax paper and put in a warm place, free from drafts.
Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to an hour.

Punch dough down.  Divide in half.  Make two rounds.  Place them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Cut decorative slits in the top.  Let dough rise again, about 30 minutes.

  
Brush the risen dough with an egg white wash.  This consists of 1 egg white and 2 tsps of water beaten together.  Sprinkle the dough with sea salt and dried rosemary.


 Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.


 YUM!!!  I will be taking a loaf tomorrow when we go to visit a friend for lunch.


It took a lot of will-power to put both loaves in bags and save them for tomorrow.  There is nothing better than bread hot out of the oven unless it is bread the next day shared with friends!!

Amish Country Bread

Ingredients:
4 Tbsps. sugar
2 Tbsps. butter (melted)
1 Tbsp salt
1 1/2 cups Warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp Instant Yeast or 2 pkg yeast
5 cups of Flour

Directions:
 Gather your ingredients including your mixer.  I used my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook.
Place sugar, melted butter, salt, yeast and warm water in the bowl of your mixer.
Allow to sit for 10 minutes until the yeast has started to react and the mixture appears frothy.
Add the flour to the yeast mixture with the dough hook attached in small batches.
Allow the dough to mix for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Remove from mixer and place the dough in a greased bowl.
Cover with wax paper and put in a warm place, free from drafts.
Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Punch dough down.  Divide in half.  Make two rounds.  Place them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Cut decorative slits in the top.  Let dough rise again, about 30 minutes. 
Brush the risen dough with an egg white wash.  This consists of 1 egg white and 2 tsps of water beaten together.  Sprinkle the dough with sea salt and dried rosemary.
 Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.


 Jenny, Miss Ella, and I say Good-night.  I love the snowman on her fleece PJ's.  So appropriate for today!!

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Joy amidst Sadness


We all find that some days are harder than others.  The good news is that God is there when the days are good or when they are bad.  He is constant, never changing in a world full of change.  These past few weeks I have been overwhelmed again with the sadness and loneliness of loosing Jeffrey. Sometimes it comes like waves from the ocean and just knocks me down.  February was Jeff's birthday month which was hard.  These past few days I have been forced to get the 2012 taxes ready to go to the tax attorney.  Jeff was very methodical and has done the "business" side of our life since we were married in 1981.  I am lost.  I say that but I have gathered everything, labeled all of it and am almost ready to drop the package off at our tax attorney's office.  God is working!!  I could never have found everything....or even known what needed to be included if He wasn't watching over me and helping me with every detail of my life right now.  I tell myself it is OK to be sad.  In my prayers I ask for God to help me where I need it most now that Jeff is gone.  There are so many things that have to be done that I have never done before. I need His Help every step of the way right now. I know without a doubt that God has heard my prayer and is guiding me step by step through every challenge right now.  Time and God will heal my broken heart.  Till then I am trusting Him to move me through the storm as He continues to uphold me with His righteous Right Hand.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you.
Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 

I am blessed to have my daughters and granddaughter visit this month.  Tonight while her mama ran to Target I got to play with Miss Ella.  She loved playing in the kitchen sink while I cleaned up the dishes.





She kept getting braver and braver.  I stopped her before she completely dived over to the other side.  We were in the process of changing our wet clothes when Mama came home.
Guess we had to explain????
The simple joys of being a child!!  Wish I could play in the dish water and think it was fun!!











 Jenny's Grains and Beans
 Roasted Garlic Heads










 For several years Jenny has been making her "Grain and bean" mixture weekly.  She makes a big pot at the beginning of the week and has it to eat for the next few days.  Depending on how many are eating and how hungry they are!!



This time we used 11/2 cup Pearl Couscous, 1 1/2 cup Quinoa, 4 cups Chicken broth, 1 can drained black beans and 1 can drained chickpeas.  You can be creative and use what you like the most!!  She varies it from time to time also.
Bring mixture to a  boil and cook covered until the liquid is absorbed.  Add salt and pepper to taste after cooking.  It is great warm in a bowl by itself.  I put mine on spring greens and ate it as a salad.  She put hers on a wrap with turkey and lettuce.  It taste great.  Has good texture.  It good hot or cold. And it is GOOD for you!!  A great source of protein and fiber.








I also roasted garlic which I love to put on my salads, in hummus, on pizzas.....just about everything I eat.
Want to know how I make it??  Very simple.  I buy my garlic at Sam's because I use so much.  You can get a bag with about 25 garlic heads for 4 dollars.

 Get your garlic.  I always to two heads at a time at least.  Tear a sheet of aluminum foil and fold it in half.  It supports the garlic better when doubled.
                                                                                                      
Slice the tops off the heads of garlic to expose the garlic inside.  Drizzle with good olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.                                                


Fold the foil packet up to the center and place in a 350 degree oven for about an hour.  The whole house will smell like garlic.  YUM!

 Take the garlic out of the oven and cool.   It should look like this.  Roasted and golden in color.
It will be soft and smell wonderful.  Squeeze the head gently expelling the garlic cloves into a bowl.  Sometimes you have to pick the garlic peel away from the clove by hand.
Now I have roasted garlic to use for the week along with my grain and bean mixture!!!  I am GOOD!!  I will be linking up to Simple Lives Thursday this week with these "Good for You" food options.  Hop over and see all the Good things happening over there!!


Happy Trials,

Mtn Mama