If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

Friday, January 7, 2011

Pyrex baked bread




My grandparent's bread recipe makes 4 little loaves that fit perfectly in my 4 little Pyrex loaf pans. 

You can still use this recipe even if you have not collected Pyrex. Just bake it in 2 regular loaf pans and it will be just as delicious.  It might not be as cute, but then everyone does not always care if their bread is cute, do they? 
we will be having some tomorrow at breakfast,  toasted with crockpot apple butter.  yum!

Crock pot apple butter

I bought 2 bags of cooking apples this fall and planned to make apple pies with them.  Then Jeff got several bags of apples from a coworkers yard and I made pies with those apples.
Those grocery store apples have been sitting in the fridge just waiting.... and they were not getting any fresher. 
So I looked up how to make crockpot apple butter to use them,  and it was very easy.  I used THIS as a guideline -  my way  used a little more than 5 pounds of apples, peeled and chopped,  2 cups sugar, 3 t cinnamon, 1/2 t cloves and a dash of salt.  It cooked on high most of the morning until the apples all broke down, I mashed them with a potato masher to help them along.  Then they cooked on low all afternoon until the juice cooked out and they thickened up. 
I put the apple butter in 1/2 jars - it made 7- and then put them in the fridge.  They will get eaten pretty fast here.  The recipe talks about freezing it and I am sure it could be canned. 

and you sure don't need scented candles or potpourri when apple butter is cooking,  it smells wonderful!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"new" Pyrex

Growing collections are so fun!  I've been using and collecting vintage Pyrex for awhile and my family knows it is what I like.  This holiday season expanded my Pyrex collection - so much that I moved it to a new home.
Jeff found this set at our local antique mall, on Black Friday weekend and everything was 20% off!    I used them Christmas for the Strawberry Pretzel salad, deviled eggs and corn casserole

Jimmy gave me this set for Christmas - little loaf pans bake bread so nice and the covered dish is perfect for small casseroles and leftovers.



My brother found this set of classic mixing bowls in New Boston, TX and surprised me with them on my birthday.   If you ever watch I Love Lucy,  you will see this set on the shelves of  her TV kitchen. 


Most of my Pyrex in this bigger cabinet - a few pieces are in the fridge -but I think there is still room for even a few more pieces..... this used to be the cabinet that held the baking supplies and I moved them to a smaller cabinet - see that little blue bowl on the bottom right, in that stack?  That was my first piece of vintage Pyrex.  Actually it is Jeff's.  We lived in his grandparents farmhouse for 18 months.  That little blue bowl was there, under the kitchen sink catching the water from a drippy pipe.  After Jeff fixed that leak, I washed and kept that bowl.  Jeff liked to eat his cereal and ice cream from that bowl.  All our children refer to it as "Dad's blue bowl"     So,  Jeff really started this collection!

these Pyrex bowls are on top of some of the cabinets


The new baking cabinet - the baking things actually fit better and seem more organized in this smaller cabinet



My collection is not just for dust catching - I use multiple pieces of it everyday and I am always on the look out for more.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!


hmm.. what is this thing on my head? 


The grown-ups had blackeyed peas with rice and cabbage for their traditional New Years day lunch,  I just had a bottle and got to wear these stars. 

Happy 2011 everyone!

a few Christmas day pictures

My mom and brother have been asking for Christmas photos,  but I just did not take very many that day.  it was pretty quiet in the morning, then not quiet at all in the afternoon and evening.  But here are the few pictures that I did take.   Jeff took a few movies and he will make a disc for family later
Christmas morning,  Jeff reading his Kindle

Jimmy texting

Later Christmas Afternoon - Elizabeth in her holiday tu-tu opening her first purse
little dog Fletch trying some silly sunglasses with Bridgette

Nina modeling her Christmas jammies with houseshoes to match.  She said they were all very comfy. 
Christmas Menu
cinnamon rolls for breakfast
snacks for lunch
supper - Jeff smoked a prime rib
also rolls, baked potatoes,  a big salad, deviled eggs, corn casserole
desserts for the day- chocolate sheet cake and cherry pie and cinnamon rolls