August 14-25

These clouds actually brought us some rain for a change....just 1/2 inch but wonderful!

We have a chance of more over the next two days so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Looks like our friends in Florida are getting more than their share.  I hope  it is just rain and not the hurricane force winds.

The last  11 days have been filled with normal daily things.  I didn't blog but went back to my daily written journal.

The one thing that stands out is I finally made myself have my eyes checked (after 4 years) and got  new glasses that correct my vision up to 20/20.  I am delighted....no cataract surgery or glaucoma.   My poor Sis has one eye that is so bad they don't even try to correct the vision in it.  I feel guilty when I talk about mine but she assures me that she is thrilled for me.  She reminds me that  I have arthritic problems that she does not have....she's be best!

Gardening

The big news here is I am finally getting blooms on my pole beans and even see a tiny bean!  Maybe my persistent watering is going to pay off.

These are the Dutch White Half Runners.  They bloomed a week ahead of the Cherokee Trail of Tears and are the ones with the tiny bean.  A friend gave me the seed two years ago and this will be my first test.  Last year was a flop too.

I have two rows of the Trail of Tears and they are looking promising,

I am bragging here:   I cleaned most of all the beds of tall weeds and tree saplings!  This was a horrific job using the electric chain saw, dragging the weeds to a central location.  I even had a couple of l0 foot trees.  I will start of the rest of the back garden next week.I now have the option of just mowing the areas and not having iris, dayliliies and the odd herb and perennial if I feel I need to.....and right now that is how I am feeling.  I hope next week to finish the job in the back garden area (the berry patch).  I also have a huge kolreuteria/Golden Rain Tree sapling that grew out of my lilacs and it must go.  It has a 6 inch diameter trunk but is in an easy place to get to.


Cooking

The only thing above normal is made  the cream cheese danish recipe again.  We love it and it makes 4 so I can put the leftovers in the freezer.

I may have already posted the recipe will do it again.  *(I need to organize this blasted blog....maybe this winter).

Cream Cheese Danish Coffee Cake

===============================

Source: Home Cooking Magazine

1 c sour cream

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c butter

1 t. salt

2 packages dry yeast (4 1/2 t.)

1/2 c warm water

2 eggs beaten

4 c all purpose flour

Over low heat in a small saucepan, heat butter, sour cream , sugar and salt until warm and sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature.

In large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix sour cream mixture with yeast and add beaten eggs and flour. Will be a very soft dough. Put in fridge overnite to rise. ( May be done same day. Put in fridge for about 2 to 4 hours, and then proceed. )

Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead 6 or 7 times. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece out to 12 X 8 inches. Spread 1/4 of filling on to each piece and roll jellyroll style from long side. Pinch seams and ends to seal. Place seam side down on buttered baking sheet and cut X's in top. (About 6 X's) (Danish should be slightly flatten, and about 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide and about 12 inches long.

Cover and let rise until about double in size - approximately 1 hour Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Let cool on wire racks,

Filling

2 packages 8 oz. cream cheese

3/4 c sugar

1 egg beaten

1 t. vanilla extract

1/8 t. salt

Filling: To make filling beat together cream cheese with sugar, add egg and vanilla extract and salt.

Glaze

2 1/2 c confectioners sugar

1/4 c milk

1 t. vanilla extract

toasted sliced almonds.

Combine the first 3 ingredients for glaze and drizzle over loaves with toasted almonds.

The other thing I did was try out Ilene and Diane's  recipe for Amish Cookies.  We really like them a lot.

I wish I had remembered to try the chopped pecans because they truly do taste like pecan sandies.  I have been looking for a cookie with this texture for a long time.  Thank you ladies!

Here are mine:


They posted a link to the original recipe location.  These are certainly worth adding to your cookie recipe collection.  I added a touch of lemon to mine....wouldn't do that if I were using the pecans.

It's sprinkling again!!!!