I hope you're all having a fantastic week. Mine has been quite busy, but a very good exciting one too since after many years, my husband bought me a new vehicle and it's a BEAUTY :) I'll have to show you pictures later.
I can't wait to slow down and be able to post more, thing is, we're at the end of the school year and are finishing it up this week, so we're on the go go go go. Feels good to see the end in sight though :)
On to today's recipe:
If you want to use the picture, just click here for the original.
Today's recipe is one which you have to try. Homemade Cheese Crackers, and I tell you, they are so much better than the stuff you buy at the store.
Homemade Cheese Crackers
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (or substitute 1 tablespoon unsalted butter)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons ice water
Combine the cheese, butter, shortening and salt in a food processor
or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Add the flour and pulse or mix on low speed until the mixture is combined.
Add the ice water slowly with the mixer or food processor running.
You may need to add a few more drops of water, but go slowly so you
don’t overdo it. Gather up the dough and pat it into three disc shapes.
Don’t knead it or mess with it too much.
Wrap the discs tightly in waxed paper or parchment and refrigerate
for at least an hour, or until you’re ready to bake the crackers. The
dough can be refrigerated like this for up to 5 days.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Let the dough sit out at room
temperature for about 20 minutes, and cut a piece of parchment paper to
fit your favorite baking sheet. Gently begin to roll the dough out
directly on the parchment paper. At first it may seem a little
unyielding, …but just take your time and press the cracks back together
as you go.
Keep persevering, and roll the dough quite thin, to a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
Now it’s time for the fun part! Cut the crackers into 1 inch squares.
You can use a pizza cutter, a sharp knife, or a fancy pastry cutter to
do this.
Poke a hole in the center of each cracker with a skewer. Along with
being decorative, the hole allows the steam to escape which helps your
crackers bake up nice and crisp.
Use a sharp spatula to separate the crackers gently on the parchment
paper and transfer the whole paper (scraps, too – perfect snacks for the
chef!) to a baking sheet. Bake the crackers for about 12 to 13 minutes,
or until lightly browned around the edges. (Depending on how your oven
cooks, your baking time may be more or less so watch the first batch
carefully.)
Cool the whole sheet on a wire baking rack and repeat with the
remaining dough. You can serve the crackers warm, or cool them
completely and store them in a container with a tight fitting lid. This
recipe makes about 8 dozen crackers.
With some apprehension, the Torrington family is about to celebrate the twentieth birthday of Emerald, the second of three children. Their housekeeper, Florence, plans an elaborate dinner for the family and a few close friends. Charlotte and her children—the romantically handsome and callow Clovis; nine-year old Imogen, known as Smudge, who plots a “Great Undertaking” for the evening; and Emerald herself—are disconsolate at the thought of losing Sterne, their beloved family home.
Originally purchased by Horace Torrington, Charlotte’s first husband and the children’s father, Sterne has become too expensive for the financially strapped family to maintain.
Since Horace’s death and Charlotte’s remarriage to Edward Swift, the house remains an important link to the past, a symbol of the family’s position that is intertwined with their sense of identity.
As Edward sets off for Manchester in hopes of obtaining a loan, the rest of the family begins preparing for the dinner party. An evening unlike any other awaits them.
Little can the Torringtons imagine, that more than just a few intimate friends are about to arrive at Sterne . . .
**************************************
About Sadie Jones
Sadie Jones’s first novel, The Outcast, won the UK’s coveted Costa First Novel Award and was a finalist for the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. She lives in London.
**************************************
Imagine if you will a cross between Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs but set in a decaying manor in the English countryside.
The main characters in the book are Charlotte, her new husband who is an Irish one armed barrister, and Charlotte's children, Emerald, Clovis and Imogen.
From the get go, I was completely enamored with this book, there really is no other word perfectly able to describe it. I received the book a few days ago and upon opening the first page, I knew that this was going to become one of my favorites and would have it's place on my bookshelf amongst other treasures that I refuse to part with.
As a lover of anything English, the fact that it's very much set in an era that appeals to me, would have been enough to keep me entertained, but when paired with an outstanding author such as Sadie Jones, it just takes it to a whole new level.
Her vivid descriptions of the scenery, of the manson Sterne's atmosphere and surroundings is like none other. You literally feel pulled into the book, it's almost as if you can see, touch, feel and taste everything within it's pages. A sure treat to the senses.
As if the crumbling building and family is not fodder enough for a good read, we get some strangers thrown into the mix, courtesy of a nearby train accident.
And THAT is when the real goodness begins in the story.
The Uninvited Guests is like a little bundle of all the good stuff you could want in a book, you have your Victorian ghost story, you have romance, you have mystery.
I love that the author brings it all full circle, that she not only indulges the reader in some comedic scenes, but throws in the usual romance, jealousy, wariness. We are mere spectators watching this already crumbling family deal with these weird, strange uninvited guests.
Loved this book, can't say it enough, and I think I'll read it again which is a sure sign that I enjoyed it, I don't often do this, I'm more of a "read once, set aside" kinda gal.
Oh Blogger, it's been such a nuisance to me the past week.
Anyway, hope you all have a great weekend and here's wishing for a wonderful week ahead :)
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The weather:::
72 degrees right now and it's only 6:30 am LOL It's already warm here in AZ and it's going to continue getting warmer. I don't mind it that much yet, but I'm sure I'll be crying "Uncle" when we get to 120.
On my reading pile::: Joyce Meyer Devotional Joseph Prince Devotional Bible The Uninvited Guests (for a review on Wednesday)
On my TV:::
Watched The Awakening yesterday, it was a great movie. Also watched the new Underworld movie with hubby, we love all the movies but were bummed to see that Michael Corvin wasn't included. Today I hope to watch The Victorian Garden and Kitchen.
On the menu for this week:::
Monday - Chicken Curry Tuesday - Will be at the car dealership so will get something while we're out. Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Homemade Pizza with Garlic Crust Saturday - Sunday -
Have to finish Menu Planning today, so not sure yet what the rest of the week looks like.
On my to do list:::
Some ironing Mop the floors Math tests for the kids Homeschooling Menu Planning/Grocery List
What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Almost finished with the ripply cushion, just need 2 more rows then I can put it together.
In Homeschooling:::
Have some Math tests to administer to the kids. Nicholas will be working with magnets, friction, force, gravity etc in Science. Jasmine is also learning about Motion in Science. We're down to the crunch and will be finishing off the school year this week, we're so excited :)
Looking around the house:::
Hubby is on the computer checking his Castleville before leaving for work LOL
I'm sitting on my recliner with the laptop on my legs, typing this post and trying not to move my neck much, I pulled a muscle while watching the movie last night because I fell asleep with my neck all twisted and it's really bugging me this morning. Kids are still asleep.
The back door is open and I'm hearing the birds chirping outside, it's a beautiful morning.
Something fun to share::: I love YouTube. I love the fact that I can find pretty much anything on there and I have a few Channels bookmarked for some of my favorite shows. Here are some of my favorites:
Homesteading Today - Homesteading, do it yourself, self sufficient. Imperial War Museum - Lots of videos from wartime England, Make do and Mend, Dig for Victory etc. Victorian TV Series - Victorian Kitchen, Victorian Garden Shazzandfred's Channel - A lot of the River Cottage Episodes, which I really enjoy Supersizers - All the Supersizer episodes, Wartime, Ancient Rome, Medieval etc
On my prayer list:::
After so many years, and both vehicles being paid off, this week we have to get a new one for me. My 1998 Durango is no longer running so we've been relying on my husband's truck. Problem is that it's a 1998 as well and it's starting to fall apart. He has to drive to Texas soon and we really need a reliable vehicle. I'm praying that the Lord helps us find the perfect one at a good price.
Bible verse, Devotional:::
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
As someone who loves cooking and experimenting with ingredients at hand, I have always been fascinated by the Wartime kitchens and rationing.
I won't say that I wish I had gone through that, but sometimes I wonder if we are just too used to having everything at our fingertips, to having life be so easy that we have become lazy.
As with everything else that I go into, I like to research and read and watch as much as I can about certain periods in time, different eras, different ways of doing things. Why? Because I yearn for a simpler time, for a time where we may not have had everything readily available, but family came first, neighbors helped each other and really opened their homes to everyone around them.
Unfortunately nowadays, and I'm speaking from my own personal experience, I've noticed that it's every man for themselves and how can we make a quick buck with the least work possible. Honestly, it seems that if there was a robot that could do everything for us, many would jump on that bandwagon pretty quick.
But back to the topic at hand. The Wartime Kitchen, rationing and surviving through it.
Rationing was introduced in England on January 8, 1940. Here is a little info about it:
At the beginning of World War II, the UK imported 55 million tons of
foodstuffs per year (70%), including more than 50% of its meat, 70% of
its cheese and sugar, nearly 80% of fruits and about 90% of cereals
and fats.
It was one of the principal strategies of the Axis to attack shipping
bound for the UK, restricting British industry and potentially
starving the nation into submission.
Each person would register with their local shops, and was provided
with a ration book containing coupons. The shopkeeper was then
provided with enough food for his or her registered customers. When
purchasing goods, the purchaser had to give the shopkeeper a coupon as
well as money.
Rations were the fairest way to ensure people had enough to eat, and
many poorer families had the healthiest diet they ever had. Children
benefited greatly from this. For example, the number of children in
Scotland who died before they reached 1 year of age fell by 27 per
cent between 1939 and 1945. In Glasgow, the average height of 13 year
olds increased by almost 2 inches (5 cm) by the end of the war.
Weekly ration for 1 adult
Bacon & Ham 4 oz
Meat to the value of 1 shilling and sixpence (around about 1/2 lb minced beef)
Butter 2 oz
Cheese 2 oz
Margarine 4 oz
Cooking fat 4 oz
Milk 3 pints
Sugar 8 oz
Preserves 1 lb every 2 months
Tea 2 oz
Eggs 1 fresh egg per week
Sweets/Candy 12 oz every 4 weeks
In addition to
this a points system was put in place which limited your purchase of
tinned or imported goods. 16 points were available in your ration book
for every 4 weeks and that 16 points would enable you to purchase for
instance, 1 can of tinned fish or 2lbs of dried fruit or 8 lbs of split
peas.
Here is the Food Minister talking about the food rationing in 1939....
He explains what the Ration books are and how to use them.
Women really had to become inventive, they had to learn to make do with the little they got and food was stretched as far as it would go.
Aside from the ingredients, there were ways to save on fuel as well while cooking, things like "cooking two at a time", which meant covering a cooking pan with a biscuit tin lid then standing a second pan on top. I don't know how safe that would be or how well the food would turn out, but I think in those days and time, it was a matter of survival.
From 1942, there was no more white flour available, so that meant that everyone was consuming the National Wholemeal Bread.
There were no supermarkets, so shopping for groceries would mean going to different stores, such as the butcher, grocer etc.
Actually, growing up I remember that is the way we did food shopping too, we went to the butcher, we went to the market and the bakery etc.
Eggs were extremely hard to come by, so most people used powdered eggs. One packet would be equal to 12 eggs and those had to last you at least 8 weeks, as even the powdered eggs were rationed.
One of the items not rationed and available probably most of the time, were potatoes.
The Government even came up with a "Dig for Victory" campaign, encouraging everyone to grow vegetables in their gardens or on any spare piece of land they could find.
The Ministry of Food organized local cookery classes and demonstrations to teach people how to cook with what they had and how to use the vegetables they grew in meals.
It was hard to come by food. Once you registered with a certain shop, you couldn't really go anywhere else to get your rations, so it usually meant standing in long lines for a very long time just to get your food.
It was about this time that the Black Market came into play, and even though if you were caught you were punished with huge fines, people still risked it in order to get butter, sugar and even cigarettes and often times at exuberant prices.
Rationing officially ended July 4, 1954.
I've often thought about trying to cook just Wartime recipes for a pay period, and seeing how we do. I think the only thing that has held me back from trying, is the family, I'm not sure my husband and children would be interested in this sort of experiment.
I may just come up with a menu anyway and introduce a few meals here and there, might be easier to do it that way than shock them into it LOL
When it comes to wartime cooking and depression recipes, there are a few places online you can go to. I think one of my favorite YouTube Channels is the Great Depression Cooking with Clara. Love it :)
You can find many on Clara's videos and by googling for wartime recipes.
I think if anything, after all the reading and the video watching I've done, it's taught me that I need to be more flexible in the kitchen, to really push myself to use what I have on hand and not just ignore the ingredient because it doesn't fit into a specific dish or recipe.
I don't know about you all, but I will admit that I have stuff in the freezer, refrigerator and pantry that tends to just sit there and not get used, and yes, I've even had to throw something out because it's past it's due date.
In a day and time where everything is getting so expensive, I want to be able to use what I have available and not be wasteful. Will I succeed every step of the way? Probably not. But I am determined to give it a good try.
I'm going to continue researching, applying what I have learned and strive towards a more self sustainable way of life. Growing some of my own vegetables is definitely a step in the right direction.
I do hope you have found some of this information interesting, matter of fact I'm using it with my kids for homeschooling and they find it just as fascinating as I do. Though with them, we're not just concentrating on the cooking side of the wartime and depression eras, but on everything else too.....the war itself, air raids, etc.
I'm off to watch The Wartime Kitchen and Garden. It is quite an old series that unfortunately was never made into DVD or sold to the public (much to my chagrin). I managed to find a few episodes on YouTube so you can watch too if you would like :)
Good morning everyone.
Here I thought that once we were done with the testing last week, this week would be much easier and quieter. Ummmmm, nope haven't had much of a chance to do anything, I haven't even had a chance to go buy and say hi to the HHM participants.
I will try to do that this morning....try being the key word here.
Anyway, onto today's recipe:
If you want to use the picture, just click here for the original.
Today I'm sharing the Iced Mint Tea recipe. Hope you get a chance to try it :)
Iced Mint Tea
4 cups of water
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice (I use fresh lemons)
4 tea bags
About a cup of loosely packed mint leaves (I use a mix of spearmint and peppermint)
4 cups of cold water
You can do it on the stove, but I make mine in the microwave just to be quicker.
Using my Pampered Chef mixing bowl, I add the first 4 cups of water,
pop it in the microwave for about 6 minutes or until boiling hot.
Remove, and add in the cup of sugar. Stir it up until the sugar is
dissolved.
Then add the tea bags, lemon juice and mint leaves.
Pop the lid on and let it sit for an hour.
Remove the tea bags from the water and discard. Strain the tea
mixture into a 2 Quart pitcher. Stir in the 4 cups of cold water, then
cover and refrigerate for another hour or so.
Pour into mason jars and add in a few ice cubes and a small leaf of peppermint, if you wish Enjoy!!!
Enjoy!!!
