Powwow

The drum beat reverberated off the walls and ceiling, shaking the floor.  In danced the Natives in their colorful garb and feathers.  In front of them danced the Veterans of Foreign wars, followed by the women-- members of the VFW. There was a woman dressed in blue with a peacock headdress dancing in the group with Evelyn. Behind the peacock woman, the men looked like warriors. They were dancing in a different fashion than the ones ahead.  Their dances were elaborate and they spun around while dancing.  The air smelled of sage.  Standing alongside me was my boss George, and he said, “They burn three herbs.  First, they burn sage to rid the evil spirits.  The next herb they burn is an offering, and the third herb is to protect.”  The women dancers followed the warriors and the children followed the women.  There was one child who looked to be no more than three years old being led around the circle.  After a pause, where we clapped for the Veterans with their flags, the dancing circle began again.   At the end, the first veteran shook hands with the second and lined up, then the second shook hands with the third and lined up, and so on.   A huge variety for the senses was had by all who attended, from the taste of the fry bread tacos, to the scent of burning herbs, to the sound of drums and the twinkling noises from the large gold beads on the dresses clinking together, to the variety of colors and headdresses for the eyes to take in, to the feeling of the vibrations on the air and in the floor from the drums.

Minot State University Powwow 4/24/15

Eggs Benedict A La Bernaise

One of my relatives recently moved, and gave me some odds and ends from the kitchen such as tea bags, spices, ect.  One of the things was this package of Knorr Bernaise Sauce.  What am I supposed to use Bernaise Sauce for?  Well, it inspired me to make Eggs Benedict (yes, I know you use Hollandaise for that, but it is close enough).  Out in the boonies, we don’t have a store, and there were no English Muffins, so I thought I would make them myself.  Surprisingly, they weren’t too hard, and they were even more delicious than the ones you buy.  The recipes and pictures are as follows. 

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons white sugar

2-1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup melted Crisco

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour (You could just use all purpose, but this is healthier and delicious)

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.      Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until proofed, about 10 minutes.

2.      In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture, shortening and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Knead with your mixer. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 40 minutes.

3.      Punch down. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut rounds with biscuit cutter(if you don’t have one, you can totally use a cup). Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal also. Cover and let rise 30 minutes.

4.      Heat greased griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. I froze my leftovers, and they were just fine when toasted later.

Now, for the Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise

8 eggs

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

8 strips Canadian-style bacon (my husband doesn’t eat meat, so I left this off his and he still loved it)

4 English muffins (recipe above), split

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions

1.      To Make Bernaise: This was super easy, as I just followed the package directions.  I’m sure you could find a great homemade recipe online if you would rather.

2.      To Poach Eggs: Fill a large saucepan with 3 inches of water. Bring water to a gentle simmer, then add vinegar. Carefully break eggs into simmering water, and allow to cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Yolks should still be soft in center. Remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon and set on a warm plate

3.      While eggs are poaching, brown the bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and toast the English muffins on a baking sheet under the broiler or in the toaster.

4.      Spread toasted muffins with softened butter, and top each one with a slice of bacon, followed by one poached egg. Place 2 muffins on each plate and drizzle with Bernaise.

 Viola

Caramel Apples Turn Monday Into Fun Day

Although I was so tired tonight, I had to give in to my child's plea to make caramel apples.  I had told her we would, and I had purchased the ingredients at the store today.  In the past, I have unwrapped the caramels and melted them to make the apples.  However, it is ultra easy to make your own caramel, no unwrapping necessary.  You just cook 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup light corn syrup over medium high heat for about 8 minutes until it is amber colored.  Then take it off the heat and slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (the liquid kind).  Then stir in 2 tbsp unsalted sweet cream butter, 1-2 tsp vanilla, and a dash of salt.  Put the sticks in about 8 washed apples, and dip the apples in the caramel mix.  Then, put them on wax paper sprayed with cooking spray, so they don't stick.  Naughty mom that I am, I let her eat hers at 8:30 at night.  I couldn't resist though, as she was such a good helper, and there was a gleam in her eye when she looked at them.  She even shared a bite with me and I almost died and went to heaven.

4th of July Yummies

This fourth of July, my hubby and I marked thirteen lucky years of wedded bliss.  Although we normally escape together, there is nothing we like more than being with each other and our kids.  So I decorated with stars and stripes, pulled out the croquet set, and made the following yummy food and drinks:

Drinks for the kids:

I took some fruit punch and filled about 1/3 of the glass, then added star shaped ice, then drizzled a thick pina colada juice drink over the ice.  Next, I drizzled some Blue Gatorade over the top of that.

Drinks for the parents:

I made some frozen pina coladas and frozen strawberry daquiries.  I added blue curaco to half the pina colada mix, then layered the concoctions.

For some yummy sides, Potato salad and sweet coleslaw....

Potato Salad: (credit Taste of Home Magazine)

Boil about 6-8 red skinned, chopped potatoes for about 10-15 minutes.  

Make a vinagrette out of

2/3 cup oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

2 tbsp dijon mustard

dash salt

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Whisk the vinegarette and pour over cooled potatoes, then stir.

Now add the following and mix:

2/3 cup mayo

2/3 cup sour cream

2/3 cup sliced green onions

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

4 hard cooked eggs, chopped

Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Now for the coleslaw.  This is my own sweet recipe...

For the dressing I stir the following ingredients

about 1/4 sweet onion, minced

1/2 to 3/4 cup mayo (I like the kind made with olive oil)

about 1 tbsp spicy mustard

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tbsp sugar (brown sugar is even better

2 tbsp pickle relish (dill or sweet, whichever you like better)

dash salt

generous turn of fresh ground pepper

For the slaw...

1 package coleslaw mix

1 chopped gala apple

about 1 cup chopped grapes

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Mix the dressing with the slaw and refrigerate it for a couple hours.  Yum Yum.

We had a fun day, but I would love ideas and recipes to make it even more fun next year.  Please comment to let me know any fun traditions, games, or special foods you have at your house.

Picnic in the Park vs Picnic in the Yard....

This was our setup under the shade tree in our yard today.

At storytime this week, the kids heard it was National Picnic Day.  They rushed home to tell me, and asked if we could have a picnic.  I thought it sounded like a brilliant idea.  It didn't turn out so brilliant.  We brought our picnic basket, but drove through KFC to get our food (I was feeling blissfully lazy).  We got to the park, laid out our blanket and basket, applied bug spray, and took out our food.  So much food was missing from our order.  Being the hungry bear I was, I grouched at the kids for starting to eat without me and grouched at them to get in the car asap.  I later apologized for aforementioned grouching.  We had to drive back to KFC, and they gave us our missing food, but didn't say sorry or offer any discounts.  Well, at least we had our food.  Then we drove back and relaid our blanket, and resumed our picnic.  It was one o'clock by the time we finally ate, and you have never seen anyone eat so quickly as we did.  Then, I come to find out after searching the internet, National Picnic Day is actually April 23rd.  

Now, for the perfect picnic story which happened today...

It doesn't have to be National Picnic Day to have a picnic.  Every day can be a picnic day.  I have even been known to set a blanket on our living room floor in the dead of winter to have a picnic.  There is just something so unconventional about sitting on the floor or ground, eating out of a cute little basket.  Today, while enjoying the beautiful weather, I was inspired to make a picnic lunch.  It is so easy to pull together yourself as long as you have the fixings for a sandwich and some easy sides.  Or, you could do something simple like crusty bread and jams and cheeses.  Today, I decided on pasta salad and BLT's.  

 Nothing special, just from a box...

I was getting hungry while making these beauties.

In order to make it special, I did gussy up the sandwiches by wrapping them in wax paper, and tying curling gift ribbon around the paper.  Then I curled it with the scissors.  I also cut some wild roses from a nearby bush, and put them in a vase to add a touch of glamour to our picnic.

 Our spoils look pretty and yummy

 My boys are eagerly awaiting their food.

Remnants of a well had picnic...my husband and kids even took the dishes in the house for me.

In this round, the yard picnic definitly won.  It is kind of nice proximity if you forget anything.  However, I will still attempt the park picnic again.  I'll just make sure to check the contents of the food bag next time.  Better yet, maybe I will pack my own.  Have a picnic today with someone special.  It really is a fun way to brighten your day.  Also, please let me know any fun picnic stories or suggestions in the comments.  Linda

Mercury Glass DIY....Can I?

Above is the finished product. 

Picture yourself, soaking in the tub, or eating a candlelit dinner, with a flickering shimmering mercury glass candle nearby.  After seeing mercury glass on several home decor websites, I got the itch to get some for my own home.  However, it isn't easy to find, nor is it cheap.  I decided to make my own.  After seeing some how to tutorials, I decided to try it on my own.  I did not come up with the idea on how to make this, and this is the website where I found a tutorial http://www.takethesidestreet.com/2010/11/faux-mercury-glass-tutorial.html  First, I gathered and washed any gross old candlesticks, vases, and glass candleholders.  To get the wax our of the glass ones, I microwaved them for about a minute.  Then after pouring the melted wax out, I wiped the inside with a paper towel.  Watch out, they are hot.  I used potholders to hold them.  Then, I ran all of it through the dishwasher.  I set it aside for a day or two because I was doing other things.  Then, the day came for the spray paint.  I had purchased Looking Glass spray paint online at amazon.com.  I only got one bottle, but I probably should have gotten two.  Anyway, Here is a little photo with some of the jars before....

I accidentally started before taking pics...whoops at least here are a few pre paint glass jars/vases.

I painted the inside of the glass with a few coats of paint.  I also painted the exterior of the candlesticks with a few coats.

Notice in the pics there are some dull before it turns to mirror.  I loved to watch it turn like magic.

Messy

See how there is a little settlement.  I rolled it around inside the vases and jars a bit until it was mostly dry.

Once I was done painting, I hurried and got some white vinegar and water and put it in a cup.  Then I just used my fingers and flicked it onto the inside of the jars.  Then I let it sit a minute, and I took a paper towel and rubbed it gently to take off a bit of the paint.  I didn't want to distress it as much as the tutorial, so I just did a little bit.  Since I didn't have much paint left, I was scared to take too much off.

Above are the jars sitting with their vinegar water droplets.

It was a fun project, and I think they look cute.  Also, it didn't really take that much time, besides prepping the jars.  However, I did have silver cuticles for a week.  I hope no one thought I had a paint huffing problem.  I'll give you one more look at my finished project below.  They look really cool when they are lit.

Yummy Yummy PBJ Pie In Their Tummies.....

Pretty little lunch

Last week, after snowfall, snowfall, snowfall, my cupboards were getting bare. The nearest store is 20 miles away, so I hadn't braved the roads. I had to pack the kids lunch, but there was no bread to be found.  I baked a savory loaf to pack them, but it was gone in a day.  Therefore, I thought it would be fun to look outside the "loaf", and bake peanut butter and jelly inside something like bread.  I looked online, and to my enjoyment, I found the yummiest recipe on the following blog....http://www.mamaharriskitchen.com/2013/01/peanut-butter-and-jelly-pop-tarts.html

I want to make sure this lady gets all the credit for the recipe, so go to her site to see it. The only thing I did different was make my own pie crust.  We had a snow delay, so I had until 10am to get ready for school.  It was perfect to have the extra time to make these little devils.  I thought they were so cute, and the kids at school were totally envious of my kiddos lunch.  The kids liked them, but I wouldn't make them everyday, as pie crust is probably unhealthy to have every day.  Thank you Mama Harris for the creative, delicious idea.