A New Fresh Start!

I decided to start the year off again with a fresh batch of laundry detergent.  It's so easy.  This year I added a cup of oxygen cleaner to the mix of washing soda, borax, baking soda and a bar of Fels-Naptha.  you only use a small amount and it seems to work well unless there's an extremely dirty load.  Now to make a batch of liquid all purpose cleaner.  I just wish I could find one that works on hard stains.  Any suggestions?

Have a VERY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS

handy Roux or Gravy mixture

Since My DH had a heart attack he has given in to some recipe changes as long as he can still have his rice and gravy.  Since old fashioned gravy has some sort of fat, whether oil, shortening or butter, we tried to get rid of that part.  I didn't know that older cooks had already figured this out.  

I simply brown a jar of flour without the fat.    I let it brown slowly and stir frequently.

When it gets to the color I like I let it cool, then put it in the jar to use as needed.  

I did notice it takes more of the flour than it would if I used the oil, when I am making gravy, but that's the only difference I have noted.

It's Pumpkin season again

this is the simplest of all the pumpkin recipes I've tried and it's delicious.
There are several places to find it, but I got it from "the big red kitchen" http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2008/11/two-ingredients-pumpkin-cake-with-apple.html
The only 2 ingredient are a box of cake mix and can of pumpkin. (not pumpkin pie mix)
I made muffins, but the options are endless.

what a find

This jewel was in my dear Mother-in-laws house which we are cleaning out lately.  Melrose is a local plantation that was in its time an "artists colony".  The author Clementine Hunter, was freed and lived on the plantation until her death in the 70's.  She was a renowned artist famous for her simple renditions of everyday life on a plantation.  in her younger day she was the cook in the "big house".  The co-author was a family friend to both Mrs. Hunter and the home owner.  The reciepts came from her own collection that she frequently made for the house.  They are written in basic terms, i.e. 1 big duck or a bunch of collard greens.

This is my newest favorite find.

just another Sunday afternoon

First I boiled 10 pounds of ground beef, you can add onions, peppers... at this point if you want to.  Boiling so I can get the broth from it.

Then I strained it.

After I put it in the jars I covered it with boiling water.

I ended up with 8 pints of ready to use beef.  One pint holds about 2 cups which is what you get from a pound. 

this makes peeling potatoes fun again

A friend shared this with me and I love how useful it is.  The kids can actually do this.