PIE CRUST AND POPOVERS

       I have had several request wanting to know how I make my pastry for pie crust.
Very simple. The trick is not to over mix the pie dough, and to let it set at least 30
 minutes in the refrigerator, even overnight, but not longer.
                                          PASTRY FOR PIE CRUST
       2 cups sifted flour...use a good brand, the results are much better
       3/4 cup of shortening...I have tried less shortening, even half butter
  but was not satisfied. with the texture of either.
        2 pinches of salt
        Ice cold water.....about 1/4 cup
 Scoop flour into measuring cup. Add salt. Using a medium sized bowl, cut shortening
 into measured flour until it resembles small peas.
 Slowly, adding a small amount of cold water at a time, mix to form a soft dough
 Turn dough onto floured board. Pat with hands to form a ball, then flatten into a circle
 and wrap in plastic wrap
 Refrigerate. When ready to make pie crust, cut dough in half, roll with floured rolling pin
 from the center outward. Rotate dough to roll out evenly.This makes a 2 crust 8" pie shell.

                                              POPOVERS
       If you never had, let alone made POPOVERS, you are in for are a treat!!
 POPOVERS are the American version of Yorkshire Pudding.
 The name POPOVER comes from the fact that the batter "pops" over the muffin
 tins when baking.
 These POPOVERS are an especially perfect accompaniment to serve with
  seafood chowder, some soups and stews,  pot roast and steaks!
       I have made these, using this recipe and was successful.

 Preheat oven to 425*       Grease muffin tins [or spray ]
  Mix together   .....all at one time, so as not to over beat
      1 cup flour
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
      2 eggs...room temperature
      1 cup of milk
  This should be beaten together quickly. If you have a blender, excellent!
  Pour batter into every other muffin tin,[ unless you have a popover pan]
  because these swell and do pop over  .Makes 6, can be doubled.
   Bake 30 minutes [without opening the oven door]. Serve while hot. Yum!

           That is all for today friend, this is Jenny

PREPARING FOR TURKEY DAY !!!

       I know....I admit it......my plate is full [figure of speech]!! I am having some of my family,
only eight, coming for TURKEY DAY! I am preparing everything myself. Ordinarily, that
should be really easy, right?!
       Well, after  48 years of family get togethers, my husband died [5 yrs.ago] my family
always had me over their houses for Thanksgiving Day. This year I felt it was time for me
 to smarten up.
 I asked some of them to come for Thanksgiving dinner! [3 families are out of state
 and cannot come, 2 other families had other commitments]
      I am doing OK for an old GRANDMA.!
      I have yeast rolls baking, pie crust,[ home made], waiting to be filled, one
 CHOCOLATE VELVET,one LEMON, one PECAN. Stuffing, cranberry sauce all made,
 even butternut squash ready to be reheated on the big day!
Oh, I also made an APPLE BREAD and a PUMPKIN BREAD, PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE,
and ROCKY ROAD FUDGE! No one is dieting THANKSGIVING  DAY!!
   As much as I really like blogging and reading other blogs I not finding time to do either.


   I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving day is a good time to give
thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives
   I will rejoin blogging the last week of November.

  Until then this is Jenny.

     

IMPORTANT SUBJECT

   This is not a subject I usually deal with on my blog, but it is an important one. I am hoping
all of you readers will take a few minutes to thank the men and women that have served,
and those that are still serving, in our armed services. We  have our freedoms because of
the sacrifices they have made. Beginning with the wars of  early years , our men and women
have given their lives for us
Please take some time today and and give thanks for them..

My husband served in the AIR FORCE during the KOREAN WAR
He always regretted not reenlisting when he had the chance. He made STAFF SARGENT
and came home April of 1957.

Have a great day everyone.
Until the next time friend, this is Jenny

I ADMIT ........

        Years ago I, along with my oldest daughter, ran a small bakery. It had seats and tables.
  We made breakfast and lunch. We also baked bread, muffins, cookie,  cakes, many
 pastries  and often made things by order to go.
         The name of the bakery.......guess.??....  the name was...."FROM SCRATCH"!!  
         Those of you that have read my previous posts, know I try to bake from scratch.
 I have found now that most  every mix on the market seems to have really improved
 Don't get  me wrong, anything you make is much better when you use a recipe and know
 what the ingredients are!
         When a  working parent needs to bake something for a function, it is darn nice to have
 these mixes on hand to count on. Know that a number of these mixes, whether it be a cake
 cookies, bread, scalloped potatoes, flavoring packets for anything you need, etc., etc.,
 endless choices. tastes as good and require less time to prepare .
         I admit, on occasion used mixes myself, and have found the difference to be nominal .
         I still like to make my own pie crusts, though the refrigerated kind is OK,
I prefer home made!

         Here is a recipe using a cookie mix that I have found to be equally as good as the home-made
  cookie and took half the time to make and bake.
 
                                                    PEANUT  BUTTER BLOSSOMS
      1 pouch peanut butter cookie mix  [I used Betty Crocker]
      3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
      1 Tablespoon water
      1 egg
       36 Hershey's Kisses unwrapped --set aside
       2 to 3 Tablespoons sugar in a separate  bowl
 
        Heat oven to 350*.  In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, oil, water, and egg until soft dough
        Shape into 1 Inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
        Bake 8 minutes. Press one milk choc. candy in center of each cookie immediately.

 That is all for today friend, this is Jenny. Have a comment??? I like hearing , thanks

  

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK OF CHOICE.....?

     I neglected to mention, on my previous post, I have a Keurig coffee maker.
  I can have any coffee or tea one cup at a time. I love it. I often have flavored coffee,
  a cup of green tea, without wasting a potful. I also can make myself a  hot chocolate,
  hot or cold apple cider The  assortment of  K-CUPS  available is unbelievable.
      We, in this country, have an abundance of choices. There are bottled waters in any
    gas station, convenience store, supermarket, and big box store. One can get
    flavored water, any soda, beer, even the big selling "energy" drinks , not to mention
    coffee and tea!

        Brands of beer are numerous also.Some imported, some brewed in your home state.
   Home brewers are very popular too.
        Of course then there is alcohol. There are too many drink combinations to even
   begin mentioning.! Gin, Bourbon, Vodka, Brandy,Whiskey, and........phew!

       Do you have a specific drink that you "gotta" have?
       Maybe a drink you had when you were young that you really like?
       Perhaps one you haven't had for a while?

       Leave your comment. I read all and appreciate them. Thanks

              That is all for today friend, this is Jenny