Kelley's Cottage

This is the easiest cheese to make and there are so many wonderful things you can add to make a really taste spread…
Vinegar Cheese
2 quarts milk
1/4 c. vinegar or lemon juice
Heat milk to 185, or close to boiling
Add vinegar slowly, while stirring. The milk will start to separate as soon as you add the vinegar..
Pour into colander, or cheesecloth.
Let drain for several hours.
Add garlic/garlic powder, or onions, and chives.
You can also use ranch dressing mix.
You can use your own imagination.
Good on crackers or in salad.

Yummy Addition: Use 2 Tbsp. sundried tomatoes, 1 Tbsp. chopped green onion, 1 small can
sliced black olives, 1 -2 Tbsp. of salt, black pepper to taste.
Add just before pouring curds into cheesecloth.

We are so enjoying the much-needed and rare rain that we have received all week…it finally seems like winter! *Ü*
This weather has made for lots and lots of cozy food and evenings…we have enjoyed heart casseroles, warm and fresh from the oven rolls, mugs of steaming drinks~hot chocolate, tea, etc…
This has been the perfect week for snuggling up under our throws and quilts and reading, loom knitting and watching favorite movies or television and even the occasional but glorious nap *Ü*
Oh to be sure there have been occasional problems with all this rain but we are all enjoying it…

Today I have finished much of chores here at my little cottage and now I am enjoying the Road to Avonlea series on DVD.
I absolutely love these dvd’s and never seem to tire of them!

In a little while, I will head to the kitchen and make some rolls for tonight’s dinner and a cake for dessert.
I have several soups in mind for tonight’s dinner and I will chose one shortly.

This weekend looks to be a quiet one so far with more rain and cold weather and so most likely it will be spent inside…
I have several garden catalogs to drool and dream over and some magazines and books to keep me company and there is always something wonderful to bake or cook!

Wishing you a winter weekend full of sweet and simple joys! ♥

 

IF

Rudyard Kipling’s Verse

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;

If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And-which is more-you’ll be a Man, my son

but a couple of my posts haven’t shown up….

Anyways, I am still alive and things are a little difficult but I am relying on God’s grace and mercy and know that everything happens for a reason! Even if I don’t understand and can’t see the big picture He can and He knows what is best for me and I am relying and trusting in that.

I am looking forward to this New Year and all that it holds…Like many I am working on simplifying and using what I have and getting rid of things that I am not using by either donating it to Good Will or the Rescue Mission or to someone I know that will use it or appreciate it!

I am really into loom knitting right now and learning so much…However, I didn’t know that I could become addicted to yarn…sound silly? Next time you are at a craft store look down the yarn aisle or the people in line next to you~ seems everyone is buying yarn! *Ü* I have to confess that I have enough yarn for several projects so I am imposing a yarn moratorium but I know that I am going to be sorely tempted…

I really need to get some soap made and use up all oils before they go bad so that they don’t go to waste… I think know that I have some real OCD tendencies that I need to get under control!

Well there is laundry that needs doing and bread that needs baking and grocery lists and menu plans that need making so I am off to do that!

Promise it won’t be so long for the next post!

Wishing you a blessed weekend

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

I am in a really down place right now…

Make a “Big Batch” to save time when doing holiday baking 3 cups per loaf.
Servings: 60 servings total
Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 30 to 45 minutes depending on size of pan
Total time: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Ingredients:
12 cups all-purpose flour
6 cups granulated sugar
12 teaspoons baking powder
6 teaspoons soda
6 teaspoons salt
When mixing you will add:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla or other flavoring (butter,rum, lemon,etc.)
1-2 teaspoons spices (cinnamon,ginger,nutmeg,etc.

Directions:
1. Mix thoroughly flour,sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. Store in an air tight container.
(Can be stored on shelf for months.)
2. Mix 3 cups baking mix, oil,eggs and 1 cup vegetables or fruits. Add flavorings,nuts, apricots,apples,apples,raisins,dates,etc.if desired. Add appropriate spices to compliment fruit or dried fruits of choice. Pour into one 8&1/2X4&1/2 inch or two 7&1/3X3&1/2 inch greased loaf pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 45 minutes depending on size of pans.
Use 3 cups of mix per loaf.

These are oh so good and make wonderful gifts!
Here’s the recipe:
2 egg whites
2 T water
4 c walnuts
1 c sugar
2 T cinnamon
1 t allspice
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Combine egg whites and water & beat until foamy.
Add walnuts & stir to coat. Pour through strainer. Let drain for 2-3 minutes.
Combine spices & put spices into a large ziptop bag.
Shake to mix & add walnuts.
Line a cookie sheet with foil & spread nuts on cookie sheet.
Bake for 1 hr~check on nuts every 15 min. and stir nuts.
Remove from oven & let cool on cookie sheet.
Gently break apart any nuts that are stuck together.
Enjoy!

Refiner’s Fire
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

This is the cry of my heart this morning as I seek to go about my day…
There is much to do and I have alot on my mind.
I am so glad that today is a fresh start and another chance to bring glory and honor to the Lord!
I fail so often and I am so glad that the Lord never gives up on me.

I am working on so much right now and feeling the Christmas crunch…
I really am working on enjoying this time and not worrying so much.
I sometimes wonder if I am the only one who worries so much?!
I know that worrying is sin and that God will and does truly care about every detail of our lives and I need to focus on that!

I can’t believe that Christmas is 22 days away, where does the time go??
I am still working on baking plans, can you believe it?
I bake so much that I want to make some really wonderful treats for friends and family that aren’t same-o same-o and boring.
Speaking of baking, I recently came across a WONDERFUL recipe for crescent rolls.
Now mind you they don’t exactly like crescent rolls but they delicious nonetheless! *Ü*
It comes from Fresh From the Farm, it’s a wonderful blog filled with lots of
yummy recipes!

Farmchick’s Crescent Rolls
3 tsp yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup butter, room temp.
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
6 cups flour (sometimes you need 1/2 cup or so more!)
————————————
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Pour into mixing bowl.
I use my kitchen aid but you don’t have to…this can all be done by hand.
Add the butter, sugar, potato flakes, milk powder, salt, eggs and half of the flour. Beat until smooth.
Stir in the remaining flour a little at a time….until you have a firm dough. (don’t overmix–you want light flaky crescents)
If it is still really sticky add a little more flour. Turn out dough onto floured surface and knead 8-10 times.
Divide dough in half.

Roll each half into 12 inch circles. Cut each circle into 16 wedges with a pizza cutter.
Roll up wedges starting at the wide end and place point side down on parchment paper lined sheet.
Curve ends to form crescent shape.

Now, if you want to save them for future use like I am doing today.
Arrange rolls on baking sheet-stick in freezer until frozen.
Throw them in a ziplock bag and put back in the freezer!
To bake the frozen rolls–
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Arrange rolls 2-3 inches apart on parchment lined sheet.
Cover and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Let rise in a warm place for about an hour or doubled in size.
Bake until golden brown–aprox. 15 minutes.

Well my computer time is quickly coming to an end so I need to finish this and start my day.
I am counting my blessings and focusing on God’s mercy, kindness, grace and extending and showing that to my friends and family.

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”  ~Psalm 100

Wishing all a most joyous and blessed Thanksgiving!
God is so good and we all are so blessed…
I am so grateful for many things:
♥ The Lord~because He never gives up on me and His unconditional love, grace,mercy & forgiveness never waiver
♥ My husband & children~ they are my joys
♥ My extended family & friends~ they too are a joy and make life so special
♥ My trials~wow! I can’t believe that I am counting them a blessing but they are and they are meant for my growth and betterment
♥ My computer~ it helps me connect hearts with other kindred spirits I would never get to meet otherwise
♥ My health~ although not perfect, it’s pretty good and I am grateful for that
♥ My home,food & clothing~ I think you get the picture~nuff said
I feel so blessed!

It’s early here at the cottage and I am enjoying the quiet and stillness of it all!  It’s so nice…
Soon it will be bustling around here with cooking and cleaning and preparing for our day of gratitude tomorrow!
This will be a quiet Thanksgiving for us and that is ok…
It will be cozy and comfortable and relaxing.

Tomorrow’s Menu here at the Cottage:
Roasted Turkey
Barb’s Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Homemade Rolls
Deviled Eggs
Spring Breeze Cheese Cake
Cupcakes

Well I need to wrap up my computer time and get busy!

Wishing you all Thanksgiving’s sweet and simple joys…

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