Thanksgiving Day

Even though Thanksgiving was a little later than normal this year, it seemed to come upon us rather suddenly.  We knew that we were going to hold our Thanksgiving at Aunt Carmen's house, and that we were going to be providing the Turkey, (one that we had raised and butchered ourselves) but some of the details didn't come together till the week of!  As it turned out Faith headed off to stay with, and help Aunt Myrt and Uncle Warren on Tuesday.  Thankfully she took all the stuff for the pies with her, since she is "the pie maker".

Back at home Mom and I managed to stay rather busy. :) We had a time slot schedule up on our wipe-off board for both Wednesday and Thursday to make sure we didn't forget anything.

Wednesday included brining the Turkey, making the brine for the duck, cooking squash, making cranberry sauce, crisping 2 batches of apples, beginning the rolls and finally, before we slipped off to bed, one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving - making the stuffing.  There are few things that smell as good as onions and celery fried in PLENTY of butter, and few things taste as good as bread soaked in said butter and flavored with herbs!! (in my humble opinion)

We didn't get to stay in our warm toasty beds very long, as my alarm went off at the unheard of time of 4:30, and with the exception of an hour nap in-between putting in the Turkey and kneading the rolls, it was non-stop from there!

We managed to take off in reasonable time, and arrived at Aunt Carmen and Uncle Tim's ready to help.

Josiah, Mom and I, with the help of the kids, made fun Turkey shaped nut cups.

And Charity with more little helpers made some cute little candy Turkeys and Pilgrim Hats (Aunt Carmen's idea!)

Unfortunately our Aunt Myrt and Uncle Warren were unable to join us, but we ran a couple plates of food over to them right before we ate so they could at least join us in the eating of the feast!

As usual we had too much food, reflecting much to be thankful for.

To aid digestion before we moved on to pies, we had a quick time of singing, then an impromptu giving of thanks around the table.

Some of the many items of gratefulness were: Family, Music, Salvation, Jobs, a Godly Legacy, and the list went on and on...

We truly are so grateful for the blessing of being able to gather with family and give thanks to our Father, for our cup which runs over.

~Chs

Angel Dog and Her Person

 Sadie Rose (aka: Tadie Wose, Tadius Wobiscum, Biscum, or Tades) came in to say "Hi" the other afternoon (she is "mainly" an outdoor dog.... mainly) and we re-noticed her "person" that is plastered across her chest. :) So of course I had to have a photo shoot of her, and her person. 

 With the light coming in the window, and her looking up, it made it look like one of those angelic studio poses. :P

Silly, pretty Rose.

~Chs

Homemade Saturday: Gluten Free Hail to Harvest Cake

 Yes, it looks like winter outside but that does NOT mean you have to give up on the fall desserts yet.  Right now our garage is full of apples, and our porch holds a few pumpkins.. So for last Sunday's dessert I mixed up this Gluten Free apple chocked full, raisin studded, pumpkin flavored, super moist, glazed cake which I am dubbing the Hail to Harvest Cake.  (Cheesy I know, but a shorter name anyway) :)

For those of you that are not Gluten Free, and don't have a stash of Almond Flour laying around, I think you could easily use regular flour and have it turn out just fine!

Hail to Harvest Cake

1. Place 1 - 1 1/2 cups of cooked pumpkin, 1 cup of honey (or half and half honey and sugar) and 4 eggs into a blender or food processor.  Blend for at least a minute until smooth.  

2. Add 2 cups almond flour, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1 1/2 tsp of Baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp of cloves. Blend until well combined.

3. Grease 2 round cake pans and put a circle of parchment paper (or wax paper) in the bottom of both. DO NOT skip this step!!! If you forget the parchment paper, your cake will stick, fall apart, and you will have to squish it back together on your plate... yes this is experience speaking. :)

4. Scrape half of your batter into each greased cake pan.

5. Peel and chop 2 cups of apples.  Sprinkle 1 cup on each of the cakes, along with 1/2 cup of raisins.

With a spatula gently mix the apples and raisins into the batter.  This is slightly unconventional, but it works!

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. 

Let the cakes cool completely. Then if you like, you can make a quick glaze with 1 cup of powder sugar, a little cinnamon, and a tablespoon or two of milk. Spread some on the first layer, top with the second cake, and then drizzle the rest of the glaze over top.

As I mentioned this is a super-moist, fally-aparty cake, but oh so tasty!  And if you wanted it for more of an afternoon snack (or hey, why not breakfast!) you could put it in a 9x13, or half the recipe and use a 8x8 (like the original recipe) and skip the glaze.

What ever way you decide to do it, I do hope you enjoy!!

~Chs

First Snow

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;"

"Fire and hail, snow and clouds;

Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

For His name alone is exalted; "

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool. "

“Have you entered the treasury of snow,

Or have you seen the treasury of hail,"

 "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

"He gives snow like wool;

He scatters the frost like ashes;"

  "For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;

Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength."

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;"

November is that in-between month.  Technically, according to the calendar, the season is still known as Autumn, but if we take a glance out our window, all the signs point to winter.  So as the snow keeps coming and soon staying, enjoy these little mentions of snow in the Bible.  Some are oh so comforting, other convicting, and a few just awe-inspiring.  Personally I am so grateful that, "though my sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow....."

~Chs

Apple Party

{Yes I'm behind again! :) 

Almost 2 weeks ago now, our house was the center of activity, hub-bub, commotion, bustle, and excitement.  We were all preparing for the apple party we were hosting the following day in celebration of Josiah's academic acheivements and future aspirations.

All the food and the activities were to be apple based, which meant that for the week before we were peeling and chopping, and peeling, and chopping... and.....

We made apple sauce,

and apple cider,

and apple chips,

and apple pies....

The morning of, the kitchen was always full: Charity made gluten free apple pancakes for some of our friends that can't have gluten.

Faith made 2 dishes of baked apples.

And then I fried up a triple batch of apple fritters!

The house smelled amazing!!

The kitchen wasn't the only place of activity. Outside Josiah was setting up for our apple games, and Mom was finishing cleaning out the garage.

We had apples for decorations, apples for eating, piles of apples here, and there...

Josiah has a fascinating "museum" downstairs on his dresser, which he brought up for the party.

Rocks, snake egg shells, rooster spurs, mole, rabbit, muskrat, raccoon, and deer skins, as well as miscellaneous skulls (including a wild boar skull) and bones made up the exibit. :)

Over on the work bench was set different pictures of Josiah, his diploma, the Geneva Bible he asked for, and a slideshow of his life.

At 1:00 precisely, guests began to arrive.

There was plenty of hot and cold cider for everyone to enjoy, and because of the weather the hot cider went lickety split!

Then all the aforementioned apple foods along with Apple pickles, and German apple torte, and fried apples and onions, etc. etc. quickly disappeared as they were piled onto each plate.

In the garage we had cider making demonstrations.

One of the games involved trying to bite an apple hanging on a string. A slightly more sanitary version of apple bobbing.  :)

Josiah also had his three-man sling-shot out, and everyone took turns trying to shoot green apples at a target in the back field.  

Definitely the most popular activity; the line went around and around, and I believe only 1 person was able to actually hit the target.

{Faith had made pretty apple aprons for the 4 of us ladies}

The last time making cider.

"Uncle Dewey" and Julian.

It was a delightful day, even with the chill, and a grand time was had by all!

~Chs