Oven Baked Beef Ragout

Here is a hearty beef stew that is flavorful with herbs and spices. Everything is put in a casserole dish and then bakes in the oven for over two hours. Give it a try for a hearty dinner! Oven Baked Beef Ragout 2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch cubes 2 medium…

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Spicy Chicken Chili

A hearty white chili that uses Great Northern beans, chicken (I used leftover turkey), some green chilies for spice and some cheese for smoothness. A good option for a cold winter evening… Spicy Chicken Chili 1 pound dry Great Northern beans, rinsed 1 tablespoon cooking oil 2 cups chopped onions 1 4-ounce can diced green…

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Apple Butter Doughnuts

I ran across this recipe for baked doughnuts this past week. I have already fried doughnuts so this was my first time to bake them so I had to run to the kitchen store to purchase doughnut pans. I also found out that if you fill the pans too full, the hole at the top…

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Winter’s Blue

One of the joys of winter in our area is the profusion of Eastern Bluebirds. Once rare, the bluebirds have made a comeback in the last 20 years as residents construct bluebird trails and conserve natural areas. The bluebirds are year-round residents but tend to stay in the woods in the summer. Once the cold…

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Quick No-Knead Cheese Bread

“Quick” is a relative term when talking about no-knead bread but this is a shorter version than the traditional 12-15 hour no-knead process. This bread comes out with the crusty exterior and soft inside. The cheese adds a nice flavor for Italian food or casseroles. Give it a try and enjoy! Quick Crusty No-Knead Cheese…

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Quick Crusty No-Knead Bread

We love no-knead bread made in a hot cast iron pot. It tastes like bread from the bakery with a soft interior with a crunchy crust on the outside. “Quick” is rather a relative term but this method is faster than the traditional no-knead recipes. I have always used the method of mixing the sponge and…

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Applesauce Cake

As I was cleaning closets this weekend, I found a box of my mother-in-law’s recipe. My mother-in-law immigrated from Germany after World War I when her aunt, who was already in America sent her a ticket for passage on a boat to America. She eventually married another German immigrant and they settled in the Hudson…

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Nature Photos on Twitter

Do you use Twitter and enjoy photos of nature? I set up a new Twitter account this weekend that features photos of the wildlife and scenery in our area. You can follow it at @ALookatNature or click on one of the “Follow” buttons below. What are some of your favorite feeds on Twitter? Eastern Bluebird…

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Creamy Turkey Soup

Do you still have leftover Thanksgiving turkey in the freezer? Warm a cold winter’s night with this creamy turkey soup. Creamy Turkey Soup 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chopped green onion 2 cups sliced carrots 1/4 cup flour 5 cups turkey broth, divided (or chicken bouillon) 2 cups milk or 2 cups cream 2 teaspoons…

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Getting Outside

One of the joys of the grandchildren visiting is spending time with them walking in the woods or when the weather is warmer, working in the garden. Even though it was cold during the Christmas visit (but no snow on the ground this year), we still spent time in the woods and filling jars with…

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Cinnamon Rolls

Love the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven? If you enjoy working with yeast dough, here is a great recipe to try. Cinnamon Rolls Dough 1 package dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1/2 cup scalded milk 1/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg 3 1/2 to 4 cups…

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What is Your Aim?

I think this devotional by John Piper is a good meditation for the new year. In the comments, Pastor Piper says,  “God’s revealed will for you is that when you get up in the morning, you don’t drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what you do, but that you aim at…

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Split Pea Soup

A cold night and a leftover ham bone means one thing for dinner – split pea soup and a pan of cornbread. Hope this recipe helps to keep you warm during the cold winter weather. Split Pea Soup 1 pound dried green split peas 1 ham bone or smoked ham hock 1 small onion, chopped…

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Abide in Me

Daily Wisdom: December 29 What does it mean to “abide in me?” This devotional includes some sound advice to practice in the new year. We begin with faith, hope and love and then make those traits visible through daily prayer, Scripture study, denial of self, and patience. Click on the link below for the full…

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Peanut Butter Blossoms

This is a classic cookie recipe that combines the flavor of peanut butter with chocolate. It makes a very pretty addition to any tray of cookies. Peanut Butter Blossoms 1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1 egg 2…

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Mississippi Mud Cake

I was not able to make a photo of the cake until there was only one piece left after a Death By Chocolate snack party at where I work so the photo is not great. Mississippi Mud is a traditional cake in the south and every year a family friend prepares one for my brother…

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Chocolate Caramel Cookies

This is a new recipe for me this year for the Christmas cookie tray. They take a little while to make but they are very good with chocolate, caramel and nuts – a great combination! Chocolate Caramel Cookies 1 egg 1 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup…

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;…

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Habanero Jelly

We had excess habanero peppers at the end of the gardening season. I always enjoy the taste of pepper jelly spread on a cracker with a little cream cheese so decided to make a hot version of pepper jelly with the habaneros. I used around 20 peppers which makes a hot jelly but you can…

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