Month is Almost Over.....

Most of our first heavier snow is all gone but some remains from the l  inch snow we got a couple of days ago.  We also got some ice.  Enough to cancel almost all schools in southwest Missouri but no power outages.  It didn't really affect us except for DH who goes out daily to chore!  I ventured as far as the back patio to broadcast salt.....so Max wouldn't take a fall.

I said I wasn't going to do resolutions except for making soap (a batch a month).  I am proud to say I have completed January's batch.



I am in a quandary about how to store these batches....maybe plastic containers all same size so I can stack them?

Soap is like my homemade breads.  Even though the recipe is the same (almost), each batch is different.

I have to show this picture, not because the quality is good because it surely isn't but I didn't realize they all had a sunflower seed in their beaks!



The are emptying both feeders daily now.

New (old) truck in action during last l inch snow:



New Purchase

I couldn't resist!  Williams Sonoma offered a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker with 2 bowls for half price.  I got it and have made one batch and can report it makes as good as the White Mountain freezer requiring ice and salt.  I am delighted with it.  I use my regular recipe, none of that cooked custard thing for this old country gal!

A New Dessert for Us

I see my header photo is already out  of date..  Today the last of the snow in the shade will be gone before another cold front arrives.  DH likes it when the soft  wet ground freezes and stays frozen.  It makes his navigating the farm much easier.  We now have new mud tires for the rear of the feeding truck (it never ends......) so that will help too.

I am waiting for a repairman to call.  My ice maker on the very new Samsung is not working.......I have learned my lesson and it is under an extended warranty until 2018!.  You have to buy them  with these new  throw-away-appliances.

It forced me to clean out the bottom freezer and I found  diced pieces of apples and bags of peelings.  I have them cooked down and will be making apple jelly soon.  Also found my last bag of strawberries and will do the same with it.

Cooking

Over the holidays I made a dessert especially for  our Honduran SIL.  It was Spanish Caramel Flan.  Turns out we all liked it very much.  It is a simple easy to make dessert.  I made it for us again yesterday.

It should be made way ahead, even the day before because it needs to be well-chilled and set.

Spanish Flan
Preheat oven 350°

The slowest and most tedious part is making the caramel syrup to pour into the baking dish.  It is very easy to burn so err on the side of very light brown not dark brown and pour quickly because it will keep cooking.  If too dark will taste scorched.

Spanish Flan

1 cup sugar

Melt slowly in saucepan and cook until dissolved and then let slowly turn golden brown.  Do not leave the stove!!!

Immediately pour into dish  and turn to coat bottom and  sides.

Let cool 15 minutes.  While cooling make filling:

Filling:

Pour into blender:

l can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz size)
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
pinch of salt.

Blend for 3 minutes

Pour into dish (with caramel glaze)

Bake in preheated 350° oven in water bath.

Some recipes don't call for a water bath but I always do with a custard type dessert.  When cooled completely invert onto serving plate  so the caramel sauce which is now more liquid runs down sides.



 



I added coconut  to the blender for this last one and it was delicious.

Winter has arrived

I tried a few  days ago to post but things interrupted.   I will try again this morning.

Granddaughter is still sleeping; DH is doing chores; bread is rising so I am hoping I can get done.  (just had to stop and punch down dough and make into loaves). 

Winter has arrived as promised.  We are in the 3 inch zone but if it keeps this up, we may get more.  It makes everything look beautiful but I don't have to be outside in it.

DH is doing his cow duties in more comfort.  We found a very clean and hopefully sound 3/4 ton farm truck with a  hay feeding bed so he can  now be warm and dry.  He doesn't want to give up the  cows so now I won't worry about him so much.


and this shows the bed,

He can either stand outside the truck and use the remote or sit inside and use it.  Until he gets more practice, I think he will stand outside.

The cows are doing great but we are feeding a lot of hay so I have my fingers crossed!

Chickens are keeping us in eggs plus enough to share now and then.

This morning I have bread going.  I can't seem to keep enough ahead with company.  This is Hodgson Mills white bread that makes three loaves.  I did add some  oat bran to it.

I don't make resolutions for the New Year because I know I will not keep them. I do have one in mind:

Make a batch of soap a month (longer cure time is always better)

Maybe take up a new hobby besides reading.....

Have a wonderful weekend.