~Strawberry French Toast and A Cookbook Winner~

I'm sharing another one of my cookbook recipes with you today.  I started making Strawberry French Toast for our B&B guests after it became an instant hit with my family.   It's one of those dishes that you prepare the night before and then all you have to do is stick it in the oven in the morning!  Those types of dishes work really well for me as I'm not really a morning person.  What?  Yeah, hard to believe, huh?  A non-morning person getting up at the crack of dawn to prepare a gourmet breakfast for B&B guests.  It was definitely God working in me to be able to do that and, I must say, it brought me great joy.

 This is one easy-peasy recipe but it is so yummy!  It's pretty self-explanatory so I won't bore you with more details.  Though I haven't tried it, I'm sure any type of berry could be used.  And the recipe could easily be cut in half if necessary....but who would want to? lol

And I have a really scientific method for choosing the winner of my Breakfast & Brunch Cookbook.  You'll be impressed ;)  I haven't figured out how to number my comments (someone help me?) and I don't have that random generator thingy downloaded either, so I just had my hubby, Mr. Bill, choose a number and I had him verify his choice...

Impressive, huh?  Thank goodness there weren't a hundred jillion comments and I only had to count down to #11.  I found that it belongs to Kerin, one of my dear blogging friends, from Always Fixin', Never Sittin'.  Kerin said..."I'd have to say, I'm both a baker and a cook.  I love to do both, and do both on a regular basis.  Nothing like a home cooked meal!"
Congratulations, Kerin!  I'll send you an email so that I can get your mailing address.
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Thank you for all of those who entered.  If, by chance, you would like to purchase one of my cookbooks, you can do so at the My Store page on this blog.

 



 It's a beautiful day today.  I pray that you are able to find a little beauty in your day as well~

 

~DIY Detergent Recipes~

Have you started making your own soap detergents and cleaners yet?  My youngest started on the bandwagon about a year or so ago searching for safer ways to keep her family and home clean.  She is the one who brought to my attention how UNsafe many of the ingredients are in products that I have used for years.  So, I've been changing the way that I clean.

 

 Laundry Detergent.  There are lots of recipes out there, for both dry and liquid concoctions, with slight variations here and there.  So you may want to do a bit of Google searching to see which one would work for you.  This is the recipe that I found some time back and have been using it for several months now.  Ingredients needed:
4 lb. 12 oz. box of Borax
4 lb. box of Baking Soda
3 lb. 7 oz. box of Super Washing Soda
4 bars of Ivory soap (or any natural soap such as Fels Naptha, Castile or Zote), grated
3 lb. container of OxyClean**

**Our clothes weren't quite as bright as I would have liked, so I ended up adding OxyClean.  An ingredient seen in many of the soap recipes I've found.  Much better!!

Note:  I have a front-loading washing machine and this is perfectly safe to use.  I use about 2 to 3 Tbsp. (little less than 1/4 cup) per load.  I haven't found anything that says to use more for top-loading machines.

I had a couple of bars of the Castile soap and decided to use it along with the Ivory.  Some soaps are easy to grate and some are not.  Ivory is a softer bar and grated very easily while the Castile bar is harder and took a little bit more effort to grate.  I found that using a regular ol' cheese grater was actually faster and easier than using my mini food processor.  Could have been my machine, I don't know.

Fabric Softener.  We use well water out here in the country and it is a very hard water with lots of mineral content.  To a large bottle of regular ol' vinegar, I add at least 30 to 40 drops of lavender oil (for fragrance).  Add about one-half cup to the rinse section of your washing machine.
You could use any essential oil but I use the lavender because of its calming effect.  This particular oil is not overpowering and I could probably add more oil if I wanted a stronger fragrance.  I just order mine on Amazon.  The vinegar is not only great at softening our clothes but to clean the gunk out of the washing machine!  I need to do a post about all the different uses for vinegar.

 Dishwasher Detergent.  I've finally used up my stash of over-the-counter dishwasher pods and am able to use this recipe that I found on Pinterest; first posted on  Liz Marie's blog.  Needed ingredients:
4 lb. 12 oz. box of Borax
3 lb. 7 oz. box of Super Washing Soda
Large container of Lemi-Shine (citric acid or Fruit Fresh has also been recommended)
1 cup of regular or Kosher Salt (works as a softening agent)

 Pour all your ingredients into a large trash bag.  Close the top of the bag with one hand and use your other to, basically, knead the ingredients together mixing and breaking down any clumps.  This also helps keep 'dust' particles from floating around in the air that you don't want to be breathing.  You don't want to be digging your hands into the mixture as it can be a little hard on the skin.

 Hold the bag over the large container that you'll be using for storage and cut a slit close to the bottom of the bag.  Much easier than trying to pour it from the top! ;)

 I am using one of my cherished enamel pots to store my soap, which is about 8 inches tall so you can see that it makes quite a large amount.

 Now all I need to do is create a cute little label to put on the front!

 

 My dishes went from this (can you see the cloudiness on the glass?)....

 

 ...to this!  Look at that shine!!

I didn't figure up the cost of what I spent on ingredients for my soap recipes but I can guarantee you that it's a whole lot cheaper than the name brands...and much safer to use, too.  Plus, a little goes a long ways!  I'm a believer.

How about you?  If you've jumped on the bandwagon, I'd love to know about your recipes.  If not, I encourage you to at least make a small batch to see what you think.

Oh, don't forget!  The giveaway for my Breakfast and Brunch Cookbook ends tomorrow, November 15th.  If you haven't entered yet, you've still got time.  Go here to get your name in the drawing.

Have a sparkling, sunshine-y day today!!
Blessings~

 

~A Breakfast and Brunch Cookbook~

In my post earlier this week, I shared with a recipe from this Breakfast and Brunch Cookbook that I created for guests who stayed in our home when we had a Bed and Breakfast.

I am having a giveaway for one of my cookbooks (more about that in a bit) but I still have several left from my Bed and Breakfast days and am offering them up for sale.  But, first, I want to show you some of the features and photos of some of the recipes.  Please note that there are NO pictures included in this cookbook!! Years ago, when saving recipes from various magazines I would also clip the photos.  I have no idea where those recipes came from so I can't give credit where it is due.  Most of the recipes are from my personal collection with many being family favorites and others are from various family members who helped make this cookbook possible.

So, let's take a look shall we?

 Six categories with about 245 different recipes...quick and easy to yummy and gooey. 

Banana Brunch Punch.  I served this beverage concoction at a shower several years ago and it was a big hit.  It serves 16 to 20 but can be frozen in smaller batches.

Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes.  I have served this dish MANY times for either breakfast or supper.  So, so good!!

Sausage Brunch Casserole.  I shared this recipe with you the other day.  Another one of our family favorites.  All it needs is some fruit and maybe a quick bread...there are many to choose from in my cookbook! ;)

Russian Krendl.  Many years ago, this yeast bread became a family tradition on Christmas morning.  I would prepare the bread the night before, store in the fridge and then pop it in the oven to bake while all the presents were being opened!  A bit of extra work but SO well worth it.  My husband is half Russian, which made this dish all the more special.

There you go!  A peek at some of the many recipes (minus photos).  Just in time for the holidays and for gift giving.  The cost is only $10.00.  Shipping is included in the price for U.S. citizens only.  UPDATE:   If you would like to purchase one, please let me know and I will send you a PayPal invoice.  I have just added the cookbook to the My Store page where you can just click and make your purchase through PayPal.  If you have any problems, please let me know so that I can get it corrected.

Don't forget.  I'm giving one of these cookbooks away.  If you would like a chance to win one, enter the giveaway here...it ends on November 15th!!



Thank you so much.

Happy cooking and baking~

Sharing at these blog parties:
Etsy Cottage Style
Sunny Simple Sunday

 

~Mountain Men and Apple Pull Apart Bread~

Yep, mountain men and Apple Pull Apart Bread.  They do have something in common.  What...you didn't know that?  Well, they kinda, sorta have something in common.  You'll see.  I promise.

Mr. Bill and I took off in our RV for a few days this last weekend up to near Bartlesville, OK.  It's less than two hours away but it still allows us time to unwind and relax.  Earlier this summer, I shared with you our trip up to Woolaroc where we learned that the preserve hosts the Mountain Man Rendezvous several times...in the Spring and Fall.  Well, the Fall event is here and we couldn't wait!  A major cold front was coming through but that didn't stop us from enjoying a fun time.

We were surprised to see so many canvas tents and teepees set up in this valley area that we visited during the summer.  Everything, and I mean everything, had to represent the era when the mountain man lifestyle was at its peak....around the 1840s.  The log style cabin in the top photos was the only one there..  Of course, an exception was made for the "Porta-Potties" to be used by the campers and visitors alike.  Thank goodness!! 

 

Everyone shows their wares...clothing, cooking/eating utensils, bedding, weapons.   Everything has to be "authentic" meaning they must represent the 1840s or earlier.  All modern conveniences (such as ice chests) had to be covered up.  Many of them had the folding wooden chairs shown above but they claim that they weren't comfortable at all.  Just gave them a place to 'set a spell'.  And they are able to have campfires to cook their meals and especially to stay warm during this cold snap. Thankfully, these people were very careful and attentive to the fact that we have been in a drought for the last two years.

During the time they are there, competitions are held for not only the men but women and children, too.   We were able to see the women participate in the bow/arrow and hatchet throwing events.  They even participate in the musket shooting events!  The women in the lower picture have been attending these events for anywhere from four/five to fifteen years and more.  Obviously, they truly enjoy this hobby lifestyle.  The one with the white scarf on her head is working on her loom making decorative belting to sell.  Many of the people sell or barter their wares to help each other out.

 

We saw a variety of clothing styles...frontiersman, Englsih, French and then the true mountain man attire.  These guys are really serious about their stuff!!  Reminds me of our favorite movies, "Jeremiah Johnson".  All clothing had to be made of leather, fur, wool and heavy linen held together by leather strips, leather/wovenbelts, wooden or bone buttons, heavy-duty safety pins (from that era) and shoes were either leather boots or moccasins.  The guy in the lower corner just shot off his muzzle loading flintlock rifle (according to hubby).

 

It truly was a fun time listening to the people talk about the things they had made; we saw the pride they took in creating things that may have been used by the mountain men; why they love participating in these rendezvous' and even listening to some pretty good yarns.  That's half the fun of their get-togethers, I think!

These were the wares that I bought....brass and silver scissors, brass thimble, wooden candlesticks and this lovely, tarnished but decorative silver pitcher.  I couldn't resist!  After all, I felt it my duty to help these mountaineers sustain their habit. ;)

 

Well, as much as I love camping, even learning how these people were roughing it, and, as much as I would love to learn how to bake over a campfire pit, I'm not quite ready to give up the modern conveniences we have in our RV.

 

So, I followed my original plan of putting together a batch of homemade Apple Pull Apart Bread in my handy-dandy oven that bakes at an even temperature without me having to tend to it all the time.  At the time I was making this bread, I realized I forgot the memory card for the camera and tried to take pictures with my I-phone but they didn't turn out too well.  This photo comes from the pic I had pasted in my recipe book.  This recipe reminds me of Apple Fritters but without the frying.  And, being the kind soul that I am, I want to share my recipe with you....

 

 

So, here you have it...Mountain Men and Apple Pull Apart Bread.  All in the same weekend.  See?  I told you they had something in common.  ;)

 

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday ~

Participating in these parties this week:

Stone Gable's On the Menu Monday

Etsy Cottage Style's Autumnal Goodness

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

 

~Just Peachy Keen~

First of all...woohoo!!  I'm still waiting for my favorite computer to be fixed but the power adapter came in for my other computer.  Thankfully, that was the problem making it an easy fix.  Now I'm up and running!!   I feel better now. :)

One of my all time favorite summer desserts (or any time of the year actually) is peach crisp or peach cobbler.  I can't decide which I like better.  When it's not peach season, I've made many a recipe using canned peaches that have turned out really, really well.  Several weeks ago, I had a hankerin' to make a cobbler and did some internet searching for a new recipe...

 Quite a few years back, I had the most delicious recipe for cobbler that became a family favorite but I lost it.  I lost it!!  I haven't been able to find one that was exactly like it but this one, that came from Tasty Kitchen, I think is a new favorite.

The crust is out of this world.  Look closely and you can see that it's like having a fresh sugar cookie on top of your peaches!  Speaking of peaches, it called for fresh but I used canned.  Not quite the fresh peach taste but it'll do when you've got a hankerin' that needs to be satisfied.  I've found that the better brands use the more firm, fresh-type peaches and the ones canned in a lighter syrup work best.  If all I have is the heavy syrup variety, then I will rinse the peaches and cut back on the sugar just a bit.

 No cobbler is complete unless there's a nice dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.  Oh my.  Ice cream, a sugar cookie crust and peaches.  What could be better?

Note:  The original recipe calls for nutmeg but I prefer cinnamon.  I never skimp on the cinnamon and always use a nice, heaping amount.

Peach harvest is just about in full swing here in Oklahoma.  In a couple of weeks, my daughters and I are going to a peach festival in Stratford, a small town about 75 miles south of us.  The peaches are so well known that everyone in these parts call them "Stratford peaches".  That's how good they are.  Oh, happy day!  I hope to be able to buy a couple, or three, bushels of wonderful, fresh peaches.  I plan to do some canning and even make some peach butter...doesn't that sound heavenly?  I've never made peach butter before.  Have you?  If you've got a recipe that is to die for, would you share it with me?  I'd be so ever grateful.

I pray you have a wonderful, peachy keen kind of day~

Participating in these blog parties: