Almond chewy chocolate cookies

8 oz	semi sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp	butter, softened
2 lg	eggs
1/3 c	granulated sugar, plus more for decorating
3/4 c	ground almonds or almond flour

These cookies are gluten free but who needs to know. Everybody will enjoy these.

1  Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2  Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave
3  Stir softened butter into chocolate
4   Beat eggs and add sugar
5   Continue beating until egg mixture is light
6   Gently stir egg mixture into chocolate mixture
7   Add ground almonds, combining very well, but gently
8   Cover and refrigerate overnight
9   Form into 1 in. balls and roll in bowl of granulated sugar.
10  Place on lined cookie sheet
11  Bake for 8-10 min. or until set.


Enjoy

I Scream for sherbet.

August 1, 2011
 

Where did the summer go and where did the year go.  Ever get the feeling that you stood still and time fly by.  Well let us stop time and do something good for ourselves and our families.  What you don’t know what you can do?   How about some ice cream?  Get out that old ice cream maker in the back.  Make some fresh ice cream or sherbet for the family.  Never did it?  Still in the box?  Well then, you need to open that box clean it out and get the bowl or mixing part in the freezer ASAP.  It needs to be frozen before you begin.  Then after each use, clean it out and stick it in the freezer in a plastic bag so you don’t  get freezer burn.   Once it is frozen you are ready to begin. 

Now you will need some sugar about a cup and 7 tablespoons of water.  Gently boil until the sugar disappears.  Next add the juice of a lemon or lime, or lemon oil or some mint leaves 3-4.  If you used the leaves, when they wilt pull them out and send to the compost heap.  Cool the syrup.  Now add 3 ¾ cups of a juice, orange is what we like.  Lemon juice or some citrus will work well.  Nectarine would work as well.  Yes it is very liquidly.   Now take the bowl or center piece out of the freezer and place in the machine. Add your liquid and turn on.  It will mix very slowly.  Yes it looks like it will not pull together. Wait wait. About half an hour it will be ready to eat.  If still to soft for you place the container in the freezer until solid enough.  Enjoy!

Pine cone feeders

We are in October already. The air is crisp and clean. The leaves are starting to turn. What is there to do? Well I start making my pine cone feeders.

What you will need:

Pinecones,

Either: lard, suet, peanut butter

oatmeal, cornmeal

string

(Optional) High energy feed: dried fruit cut up in tiny pieces, chopped nuts, sunflower or milet



What to Do

First place string around pine cone, leave enough to hang on a tree.
Mix fat (not the Peanut butter) with equal parts oatmeal or cornmeal.
Spread this mixture on the pinecones. If using peanut butter spread without adding anything at this point.
Pour seed on a plate or cookie sheet with edges. You can add the High energy food if you like.
Roll the pinecones in the seed mixture until covered.
Hang the cones outside and enjoy the feast.

What are some of your projects?

Egg Shell Gardening

Why should I even bother to plant in an egg shell? The answer is quite simple:

1. it is a cheap pot and very good for the soil. You can have pots that go right in the soil lessoning the transplant shock to the plants.
2. Egg shells provide calcium which is needed for fast growing plants. It is quickly depleted from the soil so egg shells are a good way to keep the balance.
3. Egg shells can be used on the bottom of pots to help with drainage instead of stones. They are lighter and give nutrients back.
4. Egg shells also deter the slugs and cutworms that love tender plants such as; peppers tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage . Just place the egg shell around the stem of the plant.
5. Tomatoes, these are fast growing plants who tend to suffer from blossom end rot. Egg shells help prevent the end rot. Either grow the plant in a shell and then add more egg shells near the soil .

Where do we start?

1. When you bake, make eggs, save the shells. You can use them one of two ways in the garden , either as pots or an additive.
2. Wash the shells out well with water. VERY IMPORTANT
3. Moisten the starter soil or medium. It is easier to work with this way and less is loss. I use GreenSoil’s tea listed below since it gives the seeds an extra boost.
4. Fill the shell with the medium and press one or two seeds down to the depth the package recommends.
5. Finally mist with the water or “tea”.
6. Place the eggs in an egg carton and cover with a clear top. Plastic bag or cover or glass work well.
7. Place in an area where you can control the temperature and light the seeds will receive. The closer you match the recommendations on the seed packet the better.
8. Make sure that the soil is moist but not water logged. Look for signs of life.
9. If two seeds have sprouted in your container remove the smaller one and plant in its own container. I use one seed and if nothing sprouted I plant another seed and mark the date. I try to have seeds started 10 days apart to extend the growing season, when one ripens another is still a wk away.
10. I use the “tea” every 10 days to ensure proper growth.
11. Transplant your seeds when you see three sets of leaves. Water your plants. Carefully squeeze the shell. You want to break the shell but not the membrane. The membrane will help keep moisture around the seed. It’s okay if it breaks. The broken shell will break down easier into the soil. Place at the proper depth in the soil wither in a garden or a pot.
12. Crush up other shells for you tomatoes plants.

There is how you do it. Leave me a comment please. What other info can I give you?

St. Valentines Day is on the Way

Winter is upon on and we long for a bit of warmth. So February brings in St. Valentines Day . In many cultures, the day is not only for love but also for friendship. It is a day when acts of kindness towards friends are often done.

So you have little ones and they want to do a craft. My all time favorite is to get plain pink cards with envelopes. Cardstock would work well but for little ones the pre-made cards are easier. Then I buy glitter pens in bright colors and a package of foam or paper hearts.

Clear the table and put down newspaper or brown paper. I get mine from the boxes of product that I order. Let the little ones go and watch as they decorate the cards each with a special person in mind. This can keep them busy for quite a bit of time depending on how many cards they want to make.

My daughter has a special teacher and she wanted to give her something as a keep-sake. She wanted to make the perfect gift. I had a little red clay left over from Christmas. With that she made a beautiful heart and made a design on top. This went into the oven to harden and now the teacher has a home- made paper weight for the classroom.