Maple Syrup Time!!!

Here is Paul tapping the maple trees, and the jars are the finished products!! Maple Syrup!!
From approximately 25 gallons of sap, we have 6 pints of syrup.

So, we've started tapping the maple trees. We started boiling down 14 gallons of sap and have gotten 3 pints. Lots of time consuming work, but well worth it!! All the kids love it. This is the third year that we've done it. The first year was costly, mainly because we didn't quite know what we were doing. Now, I believe we have it down pat!! We will continue to tap the sap till the middle or end of March.

Baked Beans with Maple & Rum
4 cups dry navy beans

1 lb. salt pork or ham

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup maple sugar

3 qts. water1 large onion

1 tbsp. salt½ cup butter

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. dry mustard

4 apples, cored & unpeeled

½ cup dark rum Optional
Rinse beans, cover with cold water, soak overnight. Pour beans and water into large pot. Add baking soda and more water to cover beans. Bring to a boil uncovered and boil until some of the skins fall off when you blow on them. Line a bean pot with thin slices of the pork or ham, pour in beans and water. Roll onion in dry mustard completely and bury it in middle of the beans. Pour maple syrup and salt over top. Bake at 325°F for 4 to 5 hours. At the start of the last hour, place whole apples on top as close together as possible. Cream maple sugar and butter together and spread over top of apples. Pour rum over top just before serving.

Maple Apple Pie
5 cups sliced apples

½ cup sugar

2 tbsp. flour

½ tsp. cinnamon

dash of salt and nutmeg

¼ cup maple syrup

½ cup sour cream

pastry for double crust 9" pie
Combine dry ingredients and sprinkle 2 tbsp. of it over bottom of pie

crust. Add the rest to apples, along with maple and sour cream and stir. Turn into pie and cover with lattice top. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then bake at 325°F for 45 minutes longer or until nicely browned. Remove from oven and cool.

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Completed Science Project

This is the end result of Maryssa's Science project. She put her pictures of her making goat milk soap, listed the steps in making the soap and told what the scientific formula was of making soap.

She did a wonderful job and also gave out samples of the soap she made.
Here are some more maple syrup recipes:
Maple Syrup Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Crust:
1-1/2 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs
5 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoons sugar
.
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
.
Topping:
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup water
1 egg, beaten
1-1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preparation:To make the crust, combine the graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs, sugar and butter. Mix well. Press into a 9-inch pie pan. Chill the crust while you make the filling. To make the filling, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Beat well. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Chill for several hours. To make the topping, bring the 1 cup maple syrup and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Mix together the egg and cornstarch. Add a little bit of the boiling syrup to the mixture so the egg does not cook before before incorporating it all together. Stir and cook until the syrup is thickened. Spread over the cream cheese filling. Garnish with the chopped walnuts. Keep refrigerated until served. Yield: Serves 8.
Maple Syrup Oatmeal Bread
Ingredients:
1 package (1/4 ounce or 2-1/4 teaspoons) dry active yeast
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1-1/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon very warm water (105F to 115F)
Preparation:Load the yeast, oats, bread flour, salt, maple syrup, canola oil, and water into your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select the white bread option and start the machine. Yield: 1 loaf

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Old, Old Family Pictures!!

I was going thru some old pictures, putting them into my husband's family tree for a relative of his. The top picture is of his grandparent's wedding in Germany. The second is of his grandmother and child, that was used as her passport picture. The bottom is is mother and her sister after coming to America. I have enjoyed putting together my husband's family tree, as my own.

Since they are from Germany, I found this recipe for Rouladen to share.

German Rouladen


Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Servings: 6
"Meat rolls filled with bacon, onions and pickles.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds flank steak
German stone ground mustard, to taste
1/2 pound thick sliced bacon
2 large onions, sliced
1 (16 ounce) jar dill pickle slices
2 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups water
1 cube beef bouillon
Directions:
1.
Cut the flank steak into thin filets; about 1/4 inch thick and 3 inches wide.
2.
Generously spread one side of each filet with mustard to taste. Place bacon, onions and pickle slices on each filet and form into a roll. Use string or toothpicks to hold the roll together.
3.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Place the rolls in the butter and saute until browned.
4.
Pour in 2 1/2 cups of water and add the bouillon cube; stirring to dissolve the bouillon cube. Simmer the rolls for about an hour.

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See No Evil, Hear No Evil......Ten Years Later!!!

SAME BOYS, SAME POSE, TEN YEARS LATER!!! CODY, MATTHEW AND TREVOR!! NOW, CODY 15, MATT 14, AND TREVOR 13.

WE'VE STARTED TAPPING THE MAPLE TREES. WE STARTED OUT, THE OTHER DAY, WITH 14 GALLONS OF SAP AND ENDED UP WITH 3 PINTS OF SWEET, SWEET SYRUP!!!

THE WEATHER IS NOT COOPERATING, BUT SOON AS IT DOES, WE WILL BE BOILING DOWN TONS MORE SAP!!!

Here are some copy cat recipes. I haven't tried them out yet, but they are for Boston Market!!

--Boston Market Cranberry Sauce--
1 Pound Can jellied cranberry sauce
10 Ounce Jar Smucker's Simply Fruit Orange Marmalade
1/4 Teaspoon Ground ginger
2 Cup Fresh cranberries; each sliced into
2 or 3 pcs1/3 cup Walnuts, chopped fine
In 2-quart saucepan, over medium-to-low heat, use rubber bowl scraper tostir together jellied sauce, marmalade and ginger until melted, about 6-8minutes. Add the sliced cranberries, keeping sauce on low. Stir often.Continue cooking and stirring often until cranberries are no longer whiteand taste tender to the bite (not soft, but not too crisp). Stir in walnuts.When cooled to lukewarm, refrigerate, covered and use with a week to 10days. Should freeze well to be used within 4 months.
--Boston Market Creamed Spinach--
10 3/4 can cream of celery soup
1 tbs. flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine or canola oil
1/2 tsp. garlic salt or to taste Salt to taste Pepper to taste
20 oz. frozen chopped spinach, cooked accordingto package directions, well drained
OR 2 pounds fresh spinach, cleaned, stems removed,chopped, cooked and drained
1 tblsp dry onion, chopped,
OR1 small onion, peeled, ends removed, diced
In a large saucepan over medium heat, whisk together celery soup, flour,butter or margarine or canola oil, garlic salt, salt and pepper until smoothand piping hot. Add cooked and drained spinach, dry chopped onion or dicedonion. Serve.
--Boston Market Chicken Macaroni & Cheese--
3 Cups Dry spiral-shaped pasta, Cook al dente, drain
2/3 Cup Milk (2% or regular)
1 Pound Velveeta cheese, light orCubed small
1/4 Teaspoon Dry mustard powder1/2 Teaspoon Ground turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste
Place into top of double boiler over gently simmering water milk, cheese,mustard powder, turmeric, salt and pepper in that order. Stir with whiskoccasionally until melted and smooth. Stir pasta into hot cheese mixture andkeep hot until serving time over hot water, up to an hour. (If it begins to thicken up too much, dilute with a little milk). Never put into oven or over direct heat as it will scorch and change the texture to a sticky mess.

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You've Got to Be Kidding!!

Here is a picture sent to us from Brooklyn of a Great niece, Alexandra!! She was having a great time at her Aunt Kim's wedding!!!

Ok, today, again, we get a check in the mail. This one also is for $4,000 and change!! THIS IS THE 3rd check in a couple months. Each for around $4000. All postmarked Canada, and all with the same instructions. Go shop with about $100, send $3500 by moneygram to someone or another, and keep the rest. This totals about 300. WHAT A DEAL!!!!!!! Keep the stuff you bought for the $100 and $300 is yours for "secret shopping". WOW!!!!

Now, here's the deal, deposit the check, don't wait for it to clear, send them $3000 in moneygram, and wow, the rest is mine.

Problem: The check will never clear, you are out $4000, and they get your hard earned money!!!! You must send them the money immediately!

All I can say is "only in America"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is another recipe I love. I like the recipes that you keep the base in stock and then just add to make pancakes, bisquick, cake mixes, etc.

"Instant" Pancake Mix
Serves:
3 batches of pancakes
Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (check expiration date first)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix.
Use the mix within 3 months.
"INSTANT" PANCAKES:
2 eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups "Instant" Pancake Mix, recipe above
1 stick butter, for greasing the pan
2 cups fresh fruit such as blueberries, if desired
Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350 degrees F. Heat oven to 200 degrees F.
Whisk together the egg whites and the buttermilk in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the melted butter.
Combine the buttermilk mixture with the egg yolk mixture in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the pancake mix. Using a whisk, mix the batter just enough to bring it together. Don't try to work all the lumps out.
Check to see that the griddle is hot by placing a few drops of water onto to the griddle. The griddle is ready if the water dances across the surface.
Lightly butter the griddle. Wipe off thoroughly with a paper towel. (No butter should be visible.)
Gently ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and sprinkle on fruit if desired. When bubbles begin to set around the edges of the pancake and the griddle-side of the cake is golden, gently flip the pancakes. Continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the pancake is set.
Serve immediately or remove to a towel-lined baking sheet and cover with a towel. Hold in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes.
Yield: 12 pancakes

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Remember!! Start the year out right with Hand Made Goat Milk Soap!!!!Please pass on this blog to your friends and family!! Let them know about our blog and Burlap Babes Soap!!! :)
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Pre School Pictures

Top picture is Mitch's Son, Owen,5.

Bottom picture is Dan's daughter, Emilee, 5.

These are their pre-school pictures.

Both such sweet pictures , Both such Boogers!!!! LOL

Here is another copy cat recipe for biscuit mix. I like this one better!!
--Bisquick--

8 Cups Flour

1 1/4 Cups Nonfat Dry Milk Powder

1/4 Cup Baking Powder

1 Tablespoon Salt

2 Cups Shortening

Combine flour, milk, baking powder, and salt in a very large bowl.

Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Store in tightlyclosed covered container in a cool place. Makes about 10 cups.

Please take some time to look at our soap web site!!! Remember:

Start the year out right with Hand Made Goat Milk Soap!!!!Please pass on this blog to your friends and family!! Let them know about our blog and Burlap Babes Soap!!! :)

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See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil!!!

Cody, left, never could just do what he was told!! See him peeking?? Matthew, looking at someone telling him what to do, and Trevor, holding his hand over his mouth.
We didn't have a date on this, but figure the boys were: Trevor, about 1 1/2 years, Matt, about 2 1/2, and Cody a little over 3. Soon I will be putting this picture on with an updated one of the same boys, doing the same thing!!

Here are some more copy cat recipes. I haven't tried these out yet, but plan to start with the fish.

--Arthur Treacher's Fish Batter--
3 Pounds Fish Fillets
2 Cups All-purpose flour
3 Cups Pancake mix
3 Cups Club soda
1 Tablespoon Onion powder
1 Tablespoon Seasoned salt
Dip moistened fish pieces evenly but lightly in the flour.Dust off any excess flour and allow pieces to air dry on waxed paper,about 5 minutes. Whip the pancake mix with the club soda to theconsistency of buttermilk- pourable, but not too thin and not too thick.Beat in the onion powder and seasoned salt.Dip floured fillets into batter and drop into 425 oil in heavy saucepanusing meat thermometer. Brown about 4 minutes per side.Arrange on cookie sheet in 325 oven until all pieces have been fried.
--Bailey's Original Irish Cream--
1 cup light cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.)
1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend at high speedfor about 20 seconds.Transfer to a clean bottle with a tightly fitting cap.Store, refrigerated, and shake well before using.

Remember!! Start the year out right with Hand Made Goat Milk Soap!!!!Please pass on this blog to your friends and family!! Let them know about our blog and Burlap Babes Soap!!! :)

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More Oldies, but Goodies!!

Look at my babies!! Top picture is my biggest baby!! (He's quit smoking about 4 years ago) Middle picture is my babies that grew up way too fast, and bottom picture is Catherine and her cutie, Trevor!! Two brown eyed babies!!

Hey, you have to check these out. I found these recipes and made the dry cake mix. I made a batch, it's in the freezer. It made 3 cake mixes. I like cake mixes to use in a pinch. This recipe has several recipes to use with the dry cake mix.

BREAD WITH JIFFY CAKE MIX

1 box Jiffy (white or yellow) cake mix

1 pkg. dry yeast

1 1/4 c. warm water

2 1/2-3 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 egg
Mix cake mix, yeast and salt. Add water. Work in flour. Let rise 1 hour or double in size. Make into rolls. Let rise and bake.


Homemade Dry Cake mix
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
7-1/2 cups sifted flour
1 Tbsp. salt
4-1/2 cups sugar
4 Tbsp. double acting baking powder
3/4 cup cold butter
Preparation:In very large bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar and baking powder and mix well to blend. Cut the butter into small pieces and place on food processor bowl along with 2 cups of the flour mixture. Cover and process until mixture is very fine.
Divide the cake mix into three equal portions (about 4 cups each) by lightly scooping the mix into measuring cups and leveling off with the back of a knife. Place each portion into a quart glass jar or heavy duty zip lock plastic bags. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to a month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Each portion of cake mix will make two 8" cakes or one 13x9" cake.
RECIPES
Yellow Cake
4 cups cake mix

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 eggs

1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour 2-8" round cake pans and set aside. Pour one portion of the cake mix into a large bowl. Make a well in center of mix and add vanilla, butter, eggs, and milk. Beat mixture 1 minute with electric mixer at low speed until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl and beat 2 minutes longer at medium speed until batter is smooth.
Pour into prepared pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed lightly in center and begins to pull away from edges of pan.
White Cake
Use 4 medium egg whites in place of 3 whole eggs. Do not beat whites separately, just add them to the mix along with the milk and vanilla.
Spice Cake
Add to the dry ingredients:
1 tsp. ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon allspice1/4 teaspoon cloves
Chocolate Cake
Add to the batter after initial blending:
2 Tbsp. milk

3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
Homemade Bisquick Mix
Ingredients:

2 cups flour

3 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoon shortening

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients. Blend until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Use as a substitution for Bisquick mix. Store in a dry cool place.
Yield: 2 cups

Remember!! Start the year out right with Hand Made Goat Milk Soap!!!!Please pass on this blog to your friends and family!! Let them know about our blog and Burlap Babes Soap!!! :)http://burlapbabessoap.com/store/

Oldies, but Goodies!!!

WOW!!! People just keep sending me old, sometimes ancient pics!! But, I love it!! Top picture is some of my kids, some of my nephews, and a neighbor! I just can't help saying time sure does fly by. They grow soooooooooo fast!!!

Here are some more copy cat recipes:

--Ben & Jerry's Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies--

1/2 cup Butter, room temperature

1/4 cup Granulated sugar

1/3 cup Brown sugar

1 Large egg

1/2 teas Vanilla extract

1 cup (+ 2 teas) All Purpose Flour

1/2 teas Salt

1/2 teas Baking Soda

1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Coarsely Chopped Walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. Beat the butter and both sugars in a large mixing bowl until lightand fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.

3. Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda in another bowl. Add the dryingredients to the batter and mix until well blended. Stir in thechocolate chips and walnuts.

4. Drop the dough by small scoops 2 to 3 inches apart on an ungreasedcookie sheet. Flatten each scoop with the back of a spoon to about 3inches in diameter.5. Bake until the centers are still slightly soft to the touch, 11 to14 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transferto racks to cool completely.Makes 12 to 15 cookies.--

Big Boy's Strawberry Pie--

1 cup All Purpose Flour

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 stick butter

1 1/2 Tbsp. shortening

1/8 cup Ice water

Put flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Cutthe butter, and shortening into the flour. Process afew seconds until the mixture resembles a coarsemeal. Drop by drop add the water, processing briefly.The whole process should take about 20 to 30seconds. Wrap and chill for an hour. Remove fromrefrigerator, and let stand 15 minutes before rolling.You can double this up for a top and bottom crust.Filling:1 cup Sugar3 Tbsp. Corn Starch1 pint Strawberries1 12 oz. can 7-UPWhipped creamIn a medium sized sauce pan combine sugar,cornstarch, and 7-UP until creamy. Cook over amedium to a medium high heat until the mixturebecomes thick. When this mixture becomes thick, coolto room temperature, and add a couple of drops of redfood coloring. Wash, and cut strawberries intoquarters, or smaller depending on how large they are.Sprinkle a teaspoon or two of sugar on thestrawberries, and place them into the shell. Pour thecooled 7-Up mixture over the strawberries. Allow thisto set for a few minutes. Serve with plenty of Whipped Cream.

Remember!! Start the year out right with Hand Made Goat Milk Soap!!!!Please pass on this blog to your friends and family!! Let them know about our blog and Burlap Babes Soap!!! :)http://burlapbabessoap.com/store/