Jam Packed Post ~ Please Read!

I am going to cover a lot of subjects this morning so hang on to your hats! I have a lot of irons in the fire at the moment and I would like to drag you all down with me!!

Shout Out #1: Rachel over at Neat Things.  You have to take a look at the cake she made for a going away party.  WOWZERS! That’s my girl! Her paternal grandmother (the best cake decorator in the world) would be so proud of her.  I have often wished she could have lived to see how her granddaughters followed in her footsteps. Hint:

International Overall Day: is coming together.  I doubt very seriously (VERY seriously) if we can get any sort of proclamation but who cares?  I am however working on contacting companies that sell overalls to donate gift certificates so that we might have a GRAND giveaway sometime in the future.  In the meantime if you wear overalls, love overalls, love someone who wears overalls, join the fun. Leave a comment or email me and we will start a flickr group soon.  Sound like fun? And here is your picture of the day:

This is Rachel on the phone with my mom about a month before Ben was born.  She had been folding baby clothes and getting things ready for Ben’s birth.  I wish you could see the stacks of baby shirts and diapers on the bed with her.  She has always been quite the little organizer.

Friday Baking with NotQuiteJuneCleaver: Will begin again this coming Friday June 5th.  I told you it wouldn’t be long!  If you plan on participating please let me know.  I will make a post specifically pertaining to this event tomorrow (Thursday) with all the new and improved rules and regulations and then on Friday you will find the recipe for the week’s challenge.  Hint: if you don’t have berries of some sort, plan on getting some And YES, there will be prizes involved!

Next Holiday: Fourth of July and all the great food that brings!  The last week of this month (June) I will devote to recipes, menus and decorating ideas for the 4th.  For all my friends who live outside the US, bear with us…this is a big deal around these parts!

Cookbook Update: Well, the first agent I approached with my idea(s) passed so that’s not great news.  However, I believe all things in their own time.  In the meantime while I am waiting on a real deal, I am going forward with self publishing my little series of cookbooklets.  Pies will be first and hopefully within 6-8 weeks I will have them in my etsy shop for sale. But don’t hold me to that date  ’cause I tend to over estimate what can be done in a 24 hour period.  But I am finishing it.  It is to the proofing stage…so that is progress.

Crafty: One of our all time favorite librarians is leaving our local library for bigger and better things.  We will miss her.  Today is her going away party (the cake Rachel made is for that party).  I made her a Housewarming Basket for her new home.

(Isn’t that the cutest broom handle you ever saw???)

This is a little part of the note (the pink paper tied with rickrack) I wrote her explaining the components of the basket…thought you might like the info in case you ever had occasion for such a gift.

First of all the broom.  And what a pretty broom it is!  My granny taught me that you NEVER take an old broom in to a new home.  You are supposed to start your new life with a clean sweep!  So now you can!  In  the basket you will find two cloth bags that will do just fine to take to the grocery when you need just a couple of things or to keep your potatoes and onions fresh.  They are sturdy and should last a long time.  Inside those bags are flour, hoping you will always have food and friends to share it with.  Salt so you will always have spice in your life!  Honey to remind you of the sweetness of life and friends, both new and old.  Olive oil for good health all the days of your life.  A wooden cutting board representing stability, peace and harmony in your new home and candles so you will always have light.  The apron is just because.  Just because I wasn’t sure you had one, and if you do…well now you have two! The lavender plant is on of my favorite plants.  I thought you might like it too.  She will need lots of sunshine so you will want to put her outdoors at your new home.  The soap and rag are for your new kitchen sink.  Enjoy the gifts.  You will be missed!

What could I have possibly left out of this post?  If you have gotten this far…THANK YOU!  Oh I suppose I could give you a recipe, that should be about enough.  This is from the Pie booklet…

Yogurt Pie with Granola Crust

1 1/2 c. granola (reserve 1/4 c.)
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. margarine
1/4 c. honey
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. lo-fat yogurt
2 tsp. vanilla
fresh fruit (optional)

If granola is very coarse, grind to medium-fine in blender, doing 1/2 cup at a time. Blend granola, brown sugar and margarine. Press onto sides and bottom of 9-inch pie plates. Chill well before using. Soften cream cheese to room
temperature. Beat until fluffy with electric mixer or wooden spoon. Blend in yogurt. Beat in honey and vanilla. Turn into pie shell, spreading evenly. Chill overnight. Before serving, top with fresh fruit (strawberries, bananas or your favorite). Sprinkle reserved granola crumbs on top. Cut and serve.

HAVE A LOVELY WEDNESAY!

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~April’s GREEN SPRING Giveaway~DAY 3

We have arrived at DAY 3 or better yet, GOODY 3 of NotQuiteJuneCleaver’s April’s Green Spring Giveaway! Just so you know ahead of time, I am waiting on one of your goodies to arrive by post so you may or may not know what it is before the giveaway on Monday.  But it will be worth the wait!  It is being donated to this giveaway by my dear friend Tina over at My Victory Garden…so you know that will something special, and Springy and green! But for today’s addition: Think retro, think cooking, think collectible…should I show you a picture???  Oh, okay, here you go:

I mean, come on, is that a great cover or what?  Man, I want that table and stool!  Used to have both! Jessica when you read this you will remember the kitchen stool I am talking about.  We just discussed it recently when we were looking at old photos.  I have to find another!  SO Retro!

Okay, you know what to do here! Want another chance?  Leave another comment.  This time tell me about your first memory of baking something ALL BY YOURSELF.  Here is my memory.  I was in high school we lived in the house I live next door to now, commonly referred to as “the yellow house” – no longer yellow, no longer in the family.  Anywho, I decided for some reason, maybe to try to impress my boyfriend, whose mom might have rivaled any baker I had ever heard of, I decided to bake bread.  Yep, crazy for your first baking project, but I like to jump right in!  Anyway, when The Boyfriend who happens now to be The Husband came over he was VERY impressed.  And for good reason, that might have been the finest loaf of bread I have ever baked.  It was perfect.  Beautiful!  We ate the whole loaf that evening.  As far as I remember I never baked another thing until after we were married for a while.  That was pretty much the only entry in my Kitchen Resume at the time.  I couldn’t boil and egg when we got married.  But after I had my own kitchen I quickly got the hang of it. With his help.  I think he was just born with the “cooking gene”.

Alrighty, see you happy people later.  Happy Spring Holidays, whichever you celebrate!

I have to get rolling this morning.  We have company coming for supper this evening.  Homemade waffles are the menu.  With the traditional syrup or whipped cream and a variety of fresh berries.  YUM.  I will try to snap a few pictures if I remember.

I know this weekend will be a busy one for everyone, so if I don’t see you around before, I will talk at you Monday and announce the winner.  Boy, this mason jar is getting full!

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Que Sera, Sera. Pie anyone?

You folks have no idea how long and hard I have tried to motivate myself to finish even ONE of the 12 cookbooks I have outlined.  NO IDEA!  I think maybe nearly 1o years now.  Good grief.  Anyway apparently it might be another 10 before I am finished.  I get really angry with myself because I really, really want to finish them and I can’t seem to get to the end.  And then of course move onto another set.  I have gone thru titles and themes and back again.  No I have not been diagnosed with any sort of disorder.  Not that I don’t have one, or five, but I have not been diagnosed.  It isnt that I expect to ever be rich and famous or have my own cooking show or a real publisher.  But I would like at least one of those things.  A publisher.  But, frankly, I am not even to the point that I could send in an inquiry.  I would however, like to finish them for posterity’s sake.  I have so many, many recipes that I know when I am gone, my children will want.  Wish for.  Need.  I know there are so many things I would love to make if I had taken the time or had the foresight to ask for the recipe.  My mom,  aunts and grannies and great aunts and great grannies took so much knowledge to their graves.  I don’t want to do that.  This whole weekend I spent reflecting and grieving and thinking, made me even more anxious to “get ‘er done.”

As you may or may not remember we call our little house Rose Cottage.  Shouldnt you name your house?  I thought so too.  Anyway,  I have so much of A Year at Rose Cottage written, only to get side tracked and start a series I hope to complete one day…eventually.  I have much of  NotQuiteJuneCleaver Bakes a Pie! written.  Yeah…I have changed the name a half dozen times, but this has a ring to it don’t you think? I know what I want it to look like.  I have all the recipes together.  I just have to keep testing them, retesting them, proofing them, reproofing them.  And then what?  I don’t know.  Print out a hard copy and send it in.  Send it in where?  I don’t know.  Or just make a copy for each of my kids and call it a day.  Or a decade as the case may be.  Then maybe go on to NotQuiteJuneCleaver Makes a Cake!  NotQuiteJuneCleaver Bakes Cookies! NotQuiteJuneCleaver Bakes Bread! Sit Down to Supper with NotQuiteJuneCleaver! NotQuiteJuneCleaver Celebrates!

I guess I feel I can share these dreams and ideas with you and you not think I am any crazier than you did before you read this post.  So I will keep plugging along…que sera, sera.

Oh…and in honor of Pie Day tomorrow (come on bake a pie people! – it’s National Pie Day!), here’s a little something you might like:

 Freezing Pies and Pie Crusts Timetable

Baked and unbaked pie shells…………3 months
Fruit Pie Fillings……………..……….6 months
Savory Pot Pie Mixtures……………..6 months
Unbaked Pies……………………….. .4 months
Baked Fruit Pies……………….……6-8 months
Baked chiffon pies and lemon meringue pies without meringue topping can be frozen for up to a month.
Also Note: Don’t cut steam vents in top crusts before ready to bake.
Brush top crusts with egg glaze just before baking rather than before freezing.

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Retro Cookbook Finds!

I told you a few posts back I would share my latest retro cookbook/magazine finds with you. Here they are! Now tell me WHY do people who obviously know they are collectibles put those dang white stickers on the covers????? GRRRR.

I LOVE this image…Dad (or grandpa maybe!) is grilling…inside…in a suit!!!!

How cute is that??? Now Husband has grilled in work clothes, swim trunks, insulated coveralls (too cold for grilling but it sure was good!), pajamas…but never a suit!

I am not ignoring the tags! I will get to them…maybe later today. Got a full plate today…been under the weather now for what seems like a very long time…I hate colds! So I am up and running again. I think I need to be 24 hours without Nyquil before I attempt them!

Oh I and the little retro cookbooks have some pretty interesting things in them…I will get them posted as well.

So its how long till Christmas???? 25 days??? Are you kidding? Nope…25 days! Right now I am listening to Christmas with Dino. I have always LOVED Dean Martin. Grew up listening to him, watching his TV program. I felt like an uncle died when he passed.

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Day Six of Give Away and another Autumn Recipe

Autumn is my very favorite time of year.  I love it when the temperatures drop and the skies are so blue.  Granted, a deep South Autumn really isnt what most view as Autumn.  The leaves just turn brown here.  Not too many hardwoods.  There are a few Chinese Tallow trees around my little town and I enjoy those like you wouldnt believe.  But it is usually nearly December before they completely turn.  So in honor of Autumn…a book goes in the box…a book titled…AUTUMN.  Autumn by Susan Branch, one of my very favorites!

I thought I would share a photo from my pumpkin harvest last year.  With my mom’s illness I didnt plant this season.  Maybe next year.  I have had so many people ask about them – I hated to disappoint but it just wasnt doable this year.   

And now for a lovely Autumn recipe!  

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk, heated to lukewarm
7 to 8 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1 large whole egg, beaten lightly
16-ounce can pumpkin                                                                                                                                                                               an egg wash made by beating 1 large egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water

In a small bowl proof the yeast with 1 teaspoon of the sugar in the milk for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is foamy. In a large bowl combine well 7 cups of the flour, the nutmeg, the salt, and the remaining sugar and blend in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the whole egg, the pumpkin, and the yeast mixture and stir the dough until it is combined well.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it, incorporating as much of the remaining 1 cup flour as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking, for 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball, transfer it to a well-buttered large bowl, and turn it to coat it with the butter. Let the dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it is double in bulk. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, divide it into 14 pieces, and form each piece into a ball. Place in a 10″ cake pan that has been well greased. Cover and let them rise, covered with a kitchen towel, in a warm place for 45 minutes, or until they are almost double in bulk. Gently brush the rolls with the egg wash and bake them in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Let the rolls cool slightly in the pan, remove from the pan, and serve the rolls warm.

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Day Four, a Recipe and More!

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Day Three of “A Few of My Favorite Things” Giveaway!

Day three has rolled around.  Here is today’s addition to the box! A vintage cookbooklet!                                                                   
I will be scarce today…computer problems…slow internet due to weather last night (or so they say), and keeping my little grandson.  I will be back tomorrow with a RECIPE!! Can you believe it?  Or that is the plan anyway!  And of course, Day Four’s addition to the giveaway.

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Cookbook Question Answered-UPDATE

UPDATE: If you live anywhere other than the US, you may certainly order a cookbook.  The shipping will be more of course UNLESS you are willing to wait 4-6 weeks.  If so, just go thru paypal and order.  Thanks! If you any other questions email me at notquitejunecleaver @ gmail dot com , removing spaces and replacing a . for the word dot. 

Erica asked about purchasing my cookbook and I am assuming she is asking about Christmas Traditions.

I do have some copies left and would love for you to have one…or two…or five! You can follow this link to purchase a copy. Thanks so much for your interest! I am working on a series of cookbooks as well…but as you all know my life has not lent itself to such things lately. But I will eventually finish them…I promise!

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Day Two of “A Few of My Favorite Things” Giveaway

Here you go…this is added to the box!

Actually I will be adding TWO copies of MaryJanesFarm magazine.  This one (be sure and check out the article about MOI!!) and one called Artists in Aprons!  How appropriate is that?

Okay…now I said I would tell you about the BIG ol’ red wall in my living room.
This isnt a great picture I realize.  And no my sofa is not that close to the door!  But anywho…Rachel is making black and white photos for me to hang on that wall.  One will be of the heart shaped tree trunk in our yard.   It will be the biggest – probably have it enlarged to 11 x 17 or maybe a little bigger.  Then smaller b & w photos around it.  Like the sweetgum ball I posted yesterday.  And these are in the running.   

She’s working on some for me.  I think they will look beautiful in B & W, framed in black.  Then I plan to have B& W photos of family displayed in frames on the book shelves and the top of my sofa table (yet to be purchased – picked out – not bought) will have a piece of glass with vintage (copies) of photos displayed underneath the glass, “collage like”.  What do you think?

I have often said that I didnt know if our marriage would withstand building a house (I hear it is VERY hard on a relationship), because I falsely assumed we had completely different tastes.  Kinda like I was married to this man for 25 years before I got up nerve to ask him about his political views.  I assumed based on the fact that he lives his life in such as way as to lead one to believe he was ultra conservative when in fact the man is just slightly left of Gandhi! WHO KNEW??? But back to decorating.  I just stepped back when we started talking about redoing the living room.  Husband has really good taste and is amazing with colors so I just decided I would let him run with it.  But no doing.  He wanted to know what I liked.  If I liked this?  Or would rather have that.  Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, we meshed perfectly with what we liked.  The colors, the contrasts, the plans for the entertainment center and bookshelves/cabinets, right down to the hardware.  Not one disagreement .  I really cant wait to share the finished room with all of you.  It is going to be lovely.

Renee asked back in the comments on this post what I liked for bedroom colors. Well as much as I love LOVE LOVE rich colors for living rooms and kitchens and even bathrooms (our bathroom is Granny Smith Apple Green with black and white and red accents), I prefer muted colors for bedrooms.  I think we are going to paint ours the palest of blues.  Granted that will cause me to have to get new linens but that’s not a bad thing, right?  I want pale PALE blue walls, white trim, white curtains (sheers) and add some color in the linens.  Probably some red since it is my favorite color. But only a touch of red.  I can see it in my mind…mostly white/very pale blue with a splash of red and yellow.  So I suppose Renee, my thoughts are pastels, muted colors, calming, soothing.  I will try to find a picture to explain better.

So now some not so pleasant news from home: Benjamin is in all likelihood, getting his tonsils and adenoids removed first week of November.   We have an appt next week with the ENT dr to finalize the plans.  It is long over due and we all will be happy to have the procedure over and done with.

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More Vintage Cookbooks!

I ran across these when I was looking thru my closet for fabric this week. These belonged to Husband’s mom.  Treasures!!!  Handwritten recipes are so precious!  And the  book to the right contains her recipe for Hassenpfeffer.  Not my favorite dish but must make if for Husband every now and then.

I am about to head back over to my mom’s.  You all have a great Sunday and I will see you soon.

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