Elmer and His Girl

Hi everyone,

I just have to share this funny photo with you. I walked into our henhouse a few nights ago to check on our "girls" , and this is how I  found our rooster, Elmer, and one of our Black Australorp hens..

I hope this gives you a smile to start your day.  :)

Lilac Muffins

One of my favorite things about spring is breathing in the lovely fragrance of lilacs.

Unfortunately,  we had to do some major pruning on our lilac bush last fall because some type of disease had almost killed it. So, when I wanted to make Lilac Muffins last week, I wondered where I would get the blossoms.

No problem. My sweet mom had just what I needed.  And since I wanted to surprise my children with something new (again!!), I began my lilac-muffin-making adventure in secret - while they were playing with Legos.

But it's hard to keep a secret in this house, especially when the "secret" is baking in the oven, and giving off a wonderful aroma.  :)   So, gradually they wandered into the kitchen, following their noses to the source of whatever it was that smelled so delicious.

When I told them what I was baking, they gave each other the oh-no-mom-is-making-something-weird-again look. 

But when it came time to eat the "weird stuff",  there were very few left-overs. :)

So here's what you will need:

 1 cup of lilac blossoms and buds, rinsed and all green pieces removed. Set aside.

Mix the following in a large bowl : 1/2 c. butter, softened,   1/2 c. sugar,  1 egg,  and   1 c. milk.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine:  2 c. flour,  3 t. baking powder,  and  1/2 t. salt.  Add to above ingredients, and mix well.  Then gently fold in lilacs.

Fill greased or lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400 for 25 - 30 minutes.

Cool on wire racks, and glaze, if desired. I used a glaze of powdered sugar and milk.

Here's how they looked without the glaze...

...and with the glaze and a  lilac blossom for a garnish.

For more muffins recipes, head over to my friend, Lisa's blog @ Happy In Dole Valley.  She does a muffin post every Monday and you will love all her recipes. But be warned: you will become completely ravenous looking at the photos of all those delicious muffins!

Happy muffin making!

linking up this week @ Deep Roots At Home
                                        

He Is Risen!

 

 

"But the angel answered and said to the women, 

'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.' "

 - Matthew 28:5-6

Redbud Jelly

Last year about this time , or a little later, I was in the midst of a jelly-making frenzy.

I made Rose Petal Jelly,  Honeysuckle Jelly, and Lavender Jelly,   But I never got around to making the one I really wanted to try: Redbud Jelly.

 So I made up my mind to give it a try this spring. And it's as delicious - and beautiful -  as I hope it would be. Although the Redbud is a member of the pea family, I promise the jelly does not taste like peas. ;) So if you have Redbud trees in your neck of the woods, give this recipe a try.

Redbud Jelly

Gather 4 c. Redbud blossoms, rinse them slightly, and place them in a heat-proof dish. 

Cover the blossoms with 4 cups boiling water. Cover the dish with a tight-fitting lid.

Let stand 24 hours.

Strain out flowers and squeeze out excess moisture to make 4 cups. You might have to add a little more water to make 4 cups.

Pour liquid into Dutch oven, and add 2 pkgs. powdered pectin and 8 T. lemon juice.

Bring to a boil.

Add 8 c. sugar all at once.

Return to boil and boil hard for one minute.

Ladle into clean jelly jars. 

Skim the foam.

Wipe rims and adjust lids and rings.

Process 10 minutes in a hot water bath.

Makes 8-10 jars.

And here's how mine turned out.....

Have a blessed day, friends!

linking up @ Deep Roots At Home

                       Raising Mighty Arrows
                                          A Wise Woman

Queen of the Home 5

"The Bible gives her place of majesty and dignity in the domestic circle - the heart of her husband and the heart of her family.

It is the female supremacy of that domain, where love, tenderness, refinement, thought, and tender feeling preside.

It is the privilege of making her husband happy and honored, and her sons and daughters the ornaments of human society.

It is the sphere of piety, prudence, diligence, in the domestic station, and a holy and devout life.

It is the sphere that was occupied by Hannah, the mother of Samuel;

by Elizabeth, the mother of John;

by Eunice, the mother of Timothy,

and by Mary, the mother of Jesus.

It is the respect and esteem of mankind."

-  John Angell James

Have a blessed day, friends!

Dandelion Bread

Last spring for the first time I made Dandelion Jelly. It was a big hit with my family.

 And yesterday I tried a new dandelion recipe: Dandelion Bread.  Another big hit.

Here's the recipe: 

4 c. flour

4 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1  1/2 - 2 c. dandelion petals**

1/2 c. vegetable oil

3/4 c. honey

2 eggs

2  2/3 c. milk

Preheat oven to 400.

Combine dry ingredients, including petals.

In separate bowl, mix oil, honey, eggs, and milk.

Stir in dry ingredients and mix well.

Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes.If not done, lower temperature to 350 and

continue baking, checking every 5 minutes.

Cool on wire rack.

**Remember to wash the blossoms before trimming the petals and make sure you gather blossoms that have not been treated with weed killer.

Here are some photos of how mine turned out...

                                                     ...the petals.

                                  You can see yellow flecks in the batter.

                                                 Just out of the oven.

                           The inside is a pretty golden color.  :)



Have a blessed day, friends!



                            

linking up at the The Modest Mom

More Spring Scenes

(You can read my first spring scenes post here. )
After today's lessons were finished, we headed outside to enjoy the beautiful sunshine.  We  worked in the garden..

..and weeded the broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and peas. Don' t they look great?

The girls gathered clover..

..to feed the turkeys..

..and chickens.

And if these photos aren't enough to convince you  it's spring, this photo definitely will... 

It's time to break out the dirtbikes!!  :)

Hope you're having a blessed day, friends!