In The Cookie Jar

This weeks "In the cookie jar" is a recipe I got years ago when I first began blogging from a friend who was on HSB with me. I have been making these ever since and they are so good.

Pumpkin Donuts

2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup shortening or 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened

Directions: 1 FOR DOUGHNUTS: In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Add pumpkin, eggs, milk, and shortening, butter, or margarine; beat with an electric mixer on low speed till mixed. 2 Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with a 1/2 inch opening. Pipe onto 2 greased baking sheets in 3-inch circles. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 10 minutes, or till golden brown. Cool doughnuts on a rack over waxed paper.

It's Hay Making Time

Yes it is that time of year again, where you find me out in the fields helping to bring in the harvest, and when I'm not needed picking raspberries along the edges of the fields.

A Tuesday Evening Stroll

After a rainy day and a whole lot of cleaning indoors, I decided to take a little evening stroll around the barn yard Tuesday evening. HB had to work at the pond as my fountain head fell off again, so while he did that I walked around.

Jill was running around chasing Justin on the lawn

 Jill loves to be silly.

Jayne was out inspecting Dad's work.(take notice of the railing in the back of her falling down. It was to heavy from my baskets. So HB has yet another job ahead of him)

HB got the fountain working again. (Thanks Hun)

Hi Brew, coming for a walk?

 Molly came for a walk as well.

First stop was over to sit awhile with the ducks. (I could spend hours sitting and laughing at the Indian runners)

 Next to see the horses at the paddock.

 Hi Charlotte, how have you been? I think you need a BATH.....

The side window box is finally filling out nicely. A little dead heading as I walked by.

 HB moved over from the pond to the tractor to get the equipment hooked up for the morning to go to the field.

There you have it. A wonderful evening I would not change it for anything. Even all the smells of the animals.

In The Cookie Jar

In the cookie jar this week is my Great grandmothers Molasses cookies

Molasses Cookies

1cup sugar
1 cup shortening
1cup molasses
1cup cold water
1TBSP soda
1TBSP ginger
1 TBSP cinnamon
about 4 cups of flour (enough to roll out)

roll about 1/2 think and cut with cookie cutter. Bake at 350 for about 10 mins pending on oven

Thursday Tib bits

Yesterday we decided to get a little cleaning done in the girls rooms until the yard dried up a bit after the night shower we had.
We took the rooms apart and gave everything a good washing. We made a goodwill box,and Jayne changed around a few things in her room and put a bug in my ear of some new things she was wanting in her room.
I made up a meatloaf for supper and made a big pan of fried rice to go with it,along with some yellow beans. We got everything done and just sat down to eat when HB got home from work.
After supper HB took off to the field right away to cut,and Justin went to cut a lawn for a new girl that moved into a friends place down the road for a year. (she is a nurse and is renting as our friend moved out west for a year with her boyfriend)
Justin also has work for the next week or so starting today on the next road for the raspberry farmer. Justin never stops to long. (Just like Dad)
Today I was up early and seen HB off. Let the ducks out and fed them along with the hens.I put bread and rolls on to rise. Did a couple loads of laundry and made pancakes for breakfast(as Justin requested them this morning)
It is a cool morning out and there was no dew at all this morning. To bad HB was working because he would have been able to go to the field early and cut this morning.
I need to pick the rest of the first crop of radishes today and make some relish and pickled radishes, before they get to big.
My kitchen floor is in much need of a good washing as well. It should have been done early this week but I hit my knee cap on the stairs in the pool Sunday night and it has been bothering me a lot. I have been having a hard time bending down the last few days and today is the first day it is not bothering me. So I can get down and scrub.
I took out some cut up chicken and a bottle of BBQ sauce out of the freezer to have for supper with some potatoes and a green salad.
Jill has been after me to help her make up a pan of brownies. If we get everything done I think I will try to make some for desert to have with ice cream.
Well I better get off the computer if I am going to get these floors done.
Have a great day everyone.

Midweek Catch Up

Is it just me or do you find the weeks of Summer just flying by? What ever happened to the old saying the "the lazy days of Summer" Last Friday I went and had nice visit with my Mother at the hospital and she was having a good day and my Dad was going to be around for the weekend and her Sister was coming from Moncton (which is about three hours away) for a visit,so we decided to try once again and go to the trailer for the weekend. We had a very hot and wonderful weekend. We went to the tiny little town about 20 minutes away Saturday morning after a big camp breakfast of pancakes, sausages, and scrambled eggs. We went to a few of the shops there and I was able to pick up a nice dip at their market for a late afternoon treat. When we got back we had company waiting for us. HB's friend and his family had came for the day. Their children at the same age as ours so they swam,played and hiked all around. We had hotdogs,corn on the cob,salads,dip and chips for supper. All in all it was a pretty great day. We came back after breakfast Sunday as the girls had birthday pool party o attend on the next road and we did not want to miss it. They had a ball , and the weather was perfect. Monday we got a lot of yard work done in the hot and humid temps. We all we ready by supper time for the pool. Where we spent the next few hours cooling off. HB helped and we worked more on the new pond I am putting in. We got the fountain running not to high, The falls working good. HB used his small crawler and we were able to spread out the gravel around the pond. Yesterday I made bread, took out some pork chops,cleaned up and did a little laundry. We picked beets out of the garden and went to the feed store to get pig,and chicken feed. We stopped by my Mother in laws and she gave us 12 fish for our pond. We came home and got them settled into their new enviroment. The sky's got dark so HB decided not to go to the field to cut hay. I made supper of mashed potatoes,baked pork chops,beets,and a loaf of warm homemade bread. We had a poor mans pudding for desert. The rain began as a light mist while we were eating. The girls cleaned off the table from supper as I went to help HB and Justin saw lumber at the mill for my new Kitchen floors. (fall Reno project) Jill and Jayne came up after they were done the kitchen. They bagged wood chips that were at the planner before the rains came. They put them on the four wheeler and we brought them to the feed room. We all got pretty wet outside but we are so happy to see the rain. We all came in and washed up got ready for bed.It rained all night as a light mist. My gardens are smiling. HB is back on day shift for the next 5 days and the weather is suppose to and humid again. He is hoping to get to the field for a hour or so each night after work to cut. I am hoping as well as the raspberries are finally ready and they grow so nice there. Well I'm off to make breakfast for the wee ones as they will be up soon. Grill cheeses,yogurt,and sausages are on the menu this morning. Have a wonderful day everyone.

In The Cookie Jar

Thank you  all for the lovely comments on my families oatmeal cookie recipe. I could not believe how many people enjoyed it, so I have decided to use my Monday posts for the next little while and decidate them to a cookie of the week that is either in the cookie jar or one of our families favorites. Every Monday I will post a recipe for them.

This weeks "In the cookie jar" is our families chocolate chip cookies. I love this recipe because it is so simple and takes no time at all. They are a soft cookie and a dear farming friend shared it with me years ago. It has been my families favorite ever since.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
mix together till fluffy.
mix flour mixture then add to first ings.

1cup flour
1/2tsp. baking soda
1/2tsp. salt
1/2 bag of chocolate chips

drop by teaspoons
Cook at 375 degrees for 8 mins.
cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to cooling rack.