Makeup and The Tomboy

Like so many things lost in the modern world the art of jam and jelly making without pectin has almost been lost. It doesn't need to be this way though! Yes, yes a little more time is needed to cook these old fashioned style delights but it is well worth the time.  I will admit I have never used plums before. I in fact went to the orchard for peaches (which I got 1 1/2 bushels off) but when I saw those plums, so ripe I could smell them, well, about a bushel of them came home. So of coarse I had to pull out my vintage recipe books and look around for some to uses. Some are drying, some are canned and some are jammed.  In an old church book I found a simple recipe I could put my own spin on. The one I found was a simple, just 3 ingredients,  plain Jane nothing added jam and from there I took off.  With a little knowledge from experience I knew by adding a liquid in this case vanilla I would want more acid so the amount of lemon needed to be adjusted. So it...

Did your Grandmother bake bread at home? Does your Grandmother bake bread at home? I don't ever remember mine doing so though I am sure she can ..lol  I do remember a woman my mother was in the local women's club with who not only baked the best breads and cookies but made everything still on her wood burning stove. I found this recipe in a Grange Cook book from 1969.   The recipe it's self is pretty simple but the flavor of a good yeast bread is nothing near simple. This one gets a nice earthy sweetness both from the oatmeal and the molasses used to help feed the yeast.  If molasses isn't something you like or have in your home honey is just as good as is maple syrup.  This hearty bread is an all purpose loaf. Good for everything from toast to sandwiches or sopping up soups and sauces.  If you like Jam try one of the following favorites. Nectarine Jam or  Vanilla Plum Jam with Chia Seeds . Follow me on  Pinterest ,  Google ...

Sometimes old fashioned recipes are really the best especially with jams. Pectin is good, don't get me wrong, I use it, but when I can get away with not using it I do. Why bother? I mean I know it takes more time but the flavor is just better. The slow cooking just changes the taste during the breaking down of the fruits bring forth flavors lost in the quick cook methods so popular today. Slowing down and enjoying the process can be relaxing as well.  I had my kiddo #2 slow down and take her time to make this recipe for a FFA project through school. She won 1st place for this one at the local fair! (the FFA kids had to enter for a grade) There are a few important notes to remember with this one. 1. Have clean, sterilized jars and lids. 2. Use only non waxed fruit. 3. Give fruit a vinegar bath to remove all dirt and chemicals, skins are used in this recipe. Nectarine Jam 7 cup clean, pitted and chopped nectarines 4 cup Zulka Sugar (use whatever you have) 2 lemons j...

Served with Butter and nectarine jam Old recipes can be made new! This is an old fashioned recipe that was created to use up leftover mashed potatoes, waste not, want not and it is still a great recipe. I have found that this recipe is easy to make gluten free just by exchanging a good gluten free flour for the wheat flour and doubling the baking powder used, end of changes. A couple quick notes: An important part of any scone recipe is very cold butter. To do this and make it easy to work I freeze the butter and then give it a quick grate before putting it in. Super easy and much faster then trying to cut firm butter into the mix. Sweet potato can be substituted if that's what you have left over. Potato Scones 2 cup all purpose flour (can use gluten free version) 1 tbls. baking powdered (double for gluten free) 1 tsp. salt 1/2 stick of ice cold butter 1 cup mashed potatoes (prepared with milk and butter, leftovers are perfect) 1/3 cup milk 1 egg In a ...

Many of these very old recipes are quite simple. I like this. Easy to make and tasty is really all we need.  Serve with butter or jam . Follow me on Pinterest , Google and Facebook ! To become an Avon Rep please click here for more info and to sign up.

Stainless Steel Canning Funnel found in our Avon living book is a must have for your canning needs. Keep your jars clean while using this funnel that importantly is easy to sanitize with boiling water that may in fact melt plastic versions.  No leaching of plastic chemicals or odd tastes will touch your food. Avon has the tools you need right here! This funnel is made of stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. Related posts: Vanilla Plum Jam , Sweet Pickles , Chicken Soup Follow me on Pinterest , Google and Facebook  or the blog ! To become an Avon Rep please click here for more info and to sign up. There are links in my blog posts. Some lead to affiliate pages or my Avon shop. Monies/rewards may be earned off any purchases or sign ups done through these links

Going through books at a garage sale and the lady had no problem letting me take pictures of the clippings falling out of her grange cookbook from one of her finds.  This is a down home corn pancake, naturally sweet from the corn but perfect to serve with savory dishes from breakfast to dinner or in between as a snack.  They can be covered in gravy, stew,  chili, butter and or jam. A big batch can be reheated or served up cold. Follow me on Pinterest , Google and Facebook  or the blog ! To become an Avon Rep please click here for more info and to sign up. There are links in my blog posts. Some lead to affiliate pages or my Avon shop. Monies/rewards may be earned off any purchases or sign ups done through these links

This basic dough is the start of many a delicious treat.  Rolled out and spread with a favorite jam and rolled up is a favorite in our home. I usually break the dough up and let each kid fill their own. We haven't  done this in a while. Also a good homemade dough for monkey bread! Ingredients: Milk shortening sugar flour yeast egg Follow me on Pinterest , Google and Facebook ! To become an Avon Rep please click here for more info and to sign up. There are links in my blog posts. Some lead to affiliate pages or my Avon shop. Monies/rewards may be earned off any purchases or sign ups done through these links.

My how 4th of July food has changed! Some where along the road we went from fancy ham dishes for our picnics to burgers and hot dogs! Now most of us do not even thing of serving a pre cooked or canned ham at a picnic but they did back in the day. It was simply scored in the fat, slathered with apricot jam and broiled. Ok that doesn't sound bad, Take note of the JULY squares... these are pretty interesting.  The letters are pimento cut into the shapes and placed in the bottom of square molds with a touch of lemon gelatin and chilled. Once gelled enough to hold it's place finely shredded cabbage is pressed in to fill half the mold and again topped with the lemon gelatin only to fill mold half way. Once again, once firm enough to add another layer, this time of tomato aspic , recipe calls for your favorite. I am not sure if you would call those squares a salad or not.... Articles of interest ~ Lamb Burgers with bacon Follow me on Pinterest , Google and Fac...