Child wood rolling pin set

This is a favorite rolling pin for children. They love using this, it is perfect for little hands to work in the kitchen while Mom or Grandma are baking. The small handles are just right so they can grip the wood rolling pin easily. You may find this set at http://www.stitchthrutime.com/

Venison Stew and Cherry or Blueberry muffins

Whole Wheat Cherry Muffins or Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour

1/8 to 1/4 sugar (or you can use honey)

4 teaspoons baking powder

About 2 Tablespoons canola or vegtable oil

2 eggs

About 1 cup milk. If you use white flour only use less milk

Combine ingredients (don't mix too much).

Put cherries or blueberries into muffin cups. I use frozen cherries as I don't usually have fresh cherries around.

If you want to put blueberries in put in as many as you want into the batter before putting into the muffin pans.

Put into well greased muffin pans, should make about 12 muffins.

Bake 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

Venison Stew or Beef Stew

Brown Venison (or beef) in large pan, add garlic and cook until brown

Add

1 quart tomatoes

A few carrots chopped

A few potatoes chopped

Celery

More garlic chopped

Fresh sage (or dried if you don't have fresh)

Parsley

1/4 teaspoon cayanne pepper (you may use more or less according to taste

Water, fill up to about 2/3 of pan after putting everything in. Water is important as you need to cook the vegtables. I let my stew cook for several hours on low simmer with lid on or until done.

If you want salt you may put it in but I don't salt my food when cooking as usually people will put salt in even before tasting and I don't like a lot of salt in my food. I would rather use herbs.

Throw in any other vegtables you want, it's your stew. If you do put in peas wait until right before serving and pot in briefly so they don't overcook.

If you have any leftover gravy or drippings from a roast also include it in also.

Planting Peas

Planting Peas

Just planted the peas. Hopefully enough to put in the freezer for the long winter.

I like to plant my peas about 3 inches apart and cover with three times as much dirt as my pea is in size. It is best to plant when it is cooler, not too cold or they won't germinate. Peas prefer the cold rather than the warm.
I know this doesn't look like Martha Stewart planting her peas but I don't have the gardeners she has sigh.. Even one would be nice..

All dressed up to feed the bees.

I may not look my best, but I would rather not look so lovely and get the job done. This outfit is one that helps so the bees don't get inside my clothes and sting me while I attend to the hives.

I just gave them medicine and fed them sugar water.

Bee sugar water

I use two cups sugar to one cup water.

I bring to boil 8 cups of water

Pour in 16 cups granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Do not bring to boil again. You are not making candy and you just want to dissolve the sugar into the water.

Let cool and put into clean container.

Spring Bee Feeding

It is time to feed the bees and give them their medicine. Two new hives this year.

Tomatoes waiting for Spring

These tomatoes were planted in January from seed. It will be May when they are able to be planted outside.

Some of the tomato plants are heritage while others are not. I try to do early tomatoes although some are so good you just take a chance with them. These tomatoes are ready to transplant into bigger containers. I plant two tomato seeds per about 4 inch peat pot.

The trees are starting to blossom in the West and soon it will be time for apricot jam. If you want a good apricot and jam recipe just go to http://www.stitchthrutime.com/ for great canning recipes.

Long Hard Winter

It has been a long hard winter, the snow just melted last week (finally). Looking forward to spring with visions of a good garden this year!