The Barn Sale 2015

If you've been here awhile I'm sure you have heard me mention the Barn Sale at Spring Creek Roller Mills. Well, it's happening again this weekend!

Previous posts can be found here 2012, 2013 and 2014.

I decided to craft something a bit diffrent this year and make 'real' food with my husband and a good friend, Wes. We are doing gourmet burgers & fries. Oh, and caramel apples, because you have to have those with fall weather. 

So if you are local come on out to this great community event!

 For more details visit the Barn Sale FB page!

See you soon,

Hope

 

Grape Juice

Today I canned grape juice with my mom. It was easy as pie. Wait!? Pies are hard to make... where in the world did that saying come from? ha.

We canned 56 quarts from the little vineyard in our front yard. It was the first year they really produced well. Josh trimmed them two years ago and that must have been just what they needed. Thanks honey.

We just used stevia to sweeten the juice. It makes you feel so much better than dumping in all that sugar.

Here are some photos to document the process.

Grape Juice

 grapes

stevia

water

Pick grapes from stems. If they are in nice bunches you can place the 

whole bunch in the jar. Mine were organic so they weren't perfect. 

Wash only if needed.

Place 2 cups of grapes in a quart jar along with a scant 1/4 tsp. stevia.

Fill jar with water up to 1/2 inch below first rim, 

this is so they wont run over after they are processed.

Place on lids and rings. Hot water bath for 15 minutes.

Strain grapes out before serving. Add enough water for your taste.

We usually just add ice. 
Gingerale or club soda added makes a nice party drink.

Enjoy,

Hope

Coleslaw Dressing

I love good coleslaw.

I recently went to a restaurant that had excellent pork but their slaw was just lacking. I like a creamy dressing with grated cabbage. Just enough sweet but not too sweet with some zip at the end.

I found this through a friend and love it. I just buy a head of cabbage and grate it in my food processor. Then I have a ready made slaw for meals all week.

 Coleslaw Dressing

1 small onion

2/3-3/4 cup sugar (depending how sweet you like it)

1 cup canola oil

1/3 cup vinegar

4 Tbsp. Mayo

1 Tbsp. mustard

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. celery seed

Blend well in a blender and chill until ready to toss on cabbage.

Enjoy,

Hope

 

Special Orders

Hello to all.

Just in case you live close by and you like pie.

 

Current Market Menu 

flavors change weekly

 Cream pie (coconut & PB), pound cake, chocolate cake,

scones, ham biscuits, cinnamon rolls, 

apple tarts & biscotti.

With love,

Hope

 

Mill House Kitchen

Today was our first market day for the Mill House Kitchen.

It was one of the most humid days of the year, but we survived. It was so nice to meet the community people who came out. 

We plan to be there this Saturday 7am-12pm. Stop by and say "Hi".

Here are a few captures of our products and the process of making them.

Cheers,

Hope

Cobbler Cake

Need a quick and attractive cake for guests? Try this cobbler cake. A bit more formal than a regular cobbler and can still be served with ice cream.

The neat thing is you can pair any fruits. I've used this recipe with rhubarb and strawberries. The sky is the limit!

Cobbler Cake

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2 cups flour

4 cups of fruit

1/4-1/2 cup sugar

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time, add remaining ingredients mixing just until combined. Spread in a greased (or line with parchment paper for easy removal) 9x13 pan and top with fruit of your choice. Sprinkle top with sugar. I gauge the amount by how sweet the fruit is. Bake at 350 for 45-50 min. 

Enjoy!

Hope 

A realistic photo shoot...

I've been wanting to take Caroline's 1 year photos for awhile now and this evening the sun was setting just perfect over our lawn. So I ran got my camera and few dresses for her.

I was thinking of dreamy photos with the sun just setting over the hill with Caroline perched happily on her wooden chair.

The realistic version is me sweaty from me picking her up, sitting her on her chair, running back to snap a photo before she gets up again. Josh had just mowed the lawn so we had wet grass clumps to add to the mixture.

So here are the realistic photos of a busy, one year old.

 Modern day Clifford and Emily

Blessings,

Hope