Holidays

Holidays. This single word is capable of stirring up memories and emotions from years, even decades gone by. Many of our most vivid memories center around holidays and the traditions that go with them.

We love holidays at the Homestead. Whether it is a large family gathering, or Thanksgiving dinner for the two of us, holidays and the celebrations and gatherings that go along with them are a big part of our lives.

Join us as we celebrate. Let’s make every day a holiday!

Cheesecake in Eggshells ! Bless you Molly Yeh!

March 17, 2016 Leave a Comment

So, of course you remember that I suggested you save the egg shells from the soft-boiled eggs you made a few days ago? You have all made them – right?!

Well, you will want to now when you see what Molly Yeh has done with them. .. . She has done a no-bake cheesecake egg with a marmalade yolk – and so cleverly put them into egg shells!

Genius!

Can you say Easter dessert? We are so doing these this year! The link to her website is below – Just click on her name. Now hop to it, make those soft-boiled eggs so we can get to the good stuff – CHEESECAKE!

Enjoy,

Kathy

Here’s the link. . .

Source: Molly-yeh

Dyeing Naturally – Eggs that is!

March 10, 2016 Leave a Comment

What would Easter be without beautifully colored eggs? Hard-boiled eggs dyed to perfection – each a thing of beauty. But, have you ever considered what your eggs are being dyed with?

We try very hard to avoid food dye in our home. For years, I have wanted to try using natural substances to color our eggs. . . . The problem is, our eggs come already colored! Although our eggs can be dyed, it is best to use white eggs when using natural dyes.

The internet is filled with links to sites with instructions on how to tackle this project – and although it takes a little more preparation, the results are stunning – not to mention non-toxic. I have sifted through countless numbers of sites and included links for several of my favorites. The process is quite simple. The results will be limited only by your imagination. A few simple supplies – rubberbands, wax crayons, electrical tape, and a few fruits, vegetables, herbs, and vinegar – and you are ready to roll.

If these gorgeous eggs – from Martha Stewart – don’t convince you that you need to give this a try, I don’t know what will.

Here are several links. Happy Coloring!

Martha Stewart

Green Child Magazine

Better Homes and Gardens (a tutorial on adorable gingham eggs!)

thekitchn

Get those eggs boiled and dye naturally this year!

Kathy

For My Valentine

February 13, 2016 Leave a Comment

It’s no secret that I love breakfast. I love it so much that I could eat it any hour of the day – or all day, for that matter…. So, when I came up with this recipe for sourdough crepes, it was a double whammy! A delicious crepe – and a use for the sourdough starter that seems to grow exponentially at our house.

So, for Valentine’s Day this year, I am serving Crepes. (It’s as close to a trip to Paris as we are going to get this year!) The last time I made these – the aroma wafting through the house woke Dave – and he came into the kitchen very excited about whatever it was I was making. After having them for breakfast, I thought about them for the entire day. . . . .I am still thinking about them!

These beauties are spread with orange cream cheese – and drizzled with heated homemade orange jelly, but they can be filled and topped to your liking.

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It was Perfect

January 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Our beautiful Christmas tree is coming down.

When shopping for our Christmas tree this year, we found this near perfect 9′ Silver Tip Fir tree. I just had to have it. It was the tree of my dreams!

I had grand visions of how it would be decorated – all of which were breath-taking….the stuff that magazine covers are made of…… and then, our little people arrived – anxious to decorate it and make our tree beautiful.

And that is exactly what they did. With Christmas music filling the air and little eyes filled with excitement, the tree was decorated. Six little hands carefully placed even the most fragile ornaments on every branch within their limited reach. Clusters of beautiful trinkets and mementos of places and times past adorned sturdy limbs…..all within 5 feet of the ground. It was perfect! No magazine covers here. They could never have captured the magic that happens when little hands and loving hearts decorate a Christmas tree. The last ornaments were meticulously hung. Crystal icicles were carefully placed on the tips of the boughs. A few candy canes were suspended from the branches, and then the lights were lit. It was time for celebration; glasses filled with homemade eggnog – wonderful music filling the air – It truly was perfect.

And now, it is coming down.

I can’t remember exactly how I imagined this tree being decorated. I have tried to recall my grand plans and magazine cover ideas….to no avail. All I know is that this was the perfect tree. Beautifully decorated by little hands that I love beyond words…and it and they will be missed. The little decorators have returned to their home up north. The ornaments and icicles have been carefully packed away. The grand specimen of a tree is leaving it’s place of honor.

Until next year, farewell dear Tannenbaum. Thank you.

Kathy

Where has November gone?

December 1, 2015 Leave a Comment

Can it really be December already?! What has happened to this year!

November is always a busy month, but this year found the Homestead exceptionally busy. . . .

A mid-month wedding,

The birth of a beautiful new granddaughter,

And then there was the bird. Not the biggest we’ve ever raised, but at 37 lbs. – dressed out – we were wondering how in the world we were going to get him to our final destination – and then, if the oven would hold him – or if he would be finished cooking in time for dinner. We loaded him up in the biggest cooler we could find – and off we went to spend the holiday with family from near and far.

Brined, seasoned, stuffed with onions, apples, celery, and rubbed with butter, he made it into the oven and cooked as we had planned and was delicious. Whew!

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Holidays

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