Counting our blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I hope your Thanksgiving is a very happy one. I hope you will be with the ones you love, and if you can't, that love will fill your hearts.

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean

My Goodness!

This is one of my favorite "old" cook books.................As you can see, it is well used...

Copyright 1963.........

My favorite recipe from this book is this one:


Banana Bread...............

I've made many variations of this recipe...............

By adding other ingredients to it.........

I doubled this recipe and added tiny little pieces of 2 fresh apples, old-fashioned rolled oats, and some spices to it.......

You still get the moistness of the banana and the flavor is enhanced by the apple and spices........

I'm so glad the recipe made three loaves, it is so delicious........

With all my enhancements, it may even be good for you!

The recipe is:

Banana Bread

This is the basic recipe:

2 C. sifted all-purpose flour

1 t. soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 C. butter or margarine

1 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 C. (2 medium sized) mashed bananas
1/3 C. milk (I use skim milk)

1 t. lemon juice or vinegar

1/2 C. nuts (optional)

Oven 350 degrees

Sift flour with soda and salt. Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, creaming well. Add eggs and bananas; blend thoroughly. Combine milk and lemon juice. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Blend well after each addition. Stir in nuts. Grease bottom of 9 x 5 x 3 inch pan. Pour in batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes, until bread springs back when lightly touched in center. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.


To make this a spiced variation, add

1/8 C. molasses

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/8 t. ginger

1/2 C. raisins

1/2 C. walnuts

I've also lowered the sugar to 3/4 C. and I have mixed it with half brown sugar. This gives a nice flavor.

I have used 1/2 C. white flour, 1 C. wheat flour, and 1/2 C. old fashioned oatmeal. This gives a nutty texture. When using the wheat flour, use 1/2 C. milk. The wheat flour needs more moisture than white flour.

I've substituted the butter with Olivio margarine in the tubs. This has no trans fats or hydrogenated fats in it.

I have also made a white glaze to ice it with. I make this with powdered sugar and enough milk to make it pourable, and just drizzle it over the loaf.

Just use your imagination, this recipe can be adapted to any of your ideas. I have tried many dried fruits, cranberries, blueberries, etc., and any kind of nuts, and it all works. I want to try dried pineapple next, I think that will be spectacular!

So experiment and enjoy the process, you may come up with something even better!

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean

A Fabulous Giveaway!

Paula over at Castle and Cottage is having a fabulous giveaway. She is giving a $40.00 Gift Certificate to her Etsy shop. All you have to do is become a follower, leave a comment and tell her your favorite decorating color for Christmas. You'll get an extra entry if you announce her giveaway on your blog.

The drawing is going to be held on November 14 at noon.

So, go on over there and enter! Her blog is full of beautiful decorating ideas!

And please tell her that Jean sent you!

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean

Happy Veteran's Day!

My sincere appreciation to all those veterans who mean so much to our country. Thank you!

Fruits of the Season.....

Take some apples from the orchard.........

Cut them up into pieces and cook them for about 5 minutes.........

Use this gadget. It's called a Foley Food Mill. It separates the skins from the fruit. It makes instant applesauce.
Here is what it looks like..............

Here is the finished product............

I'll tuck it away and we'll have it this winter. Yum, so good!

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean

All Better!!!!

This is my sweet little Dusty and I wanted to let everyone know that he is all healed and back to normal. He had a nice bath today and looks so nice and clean and he smells so sweet again. It's 4 1/2 weeks since the surgery on his tail and he is acting like his old self again. Thank heavens!

He had a rough time of it and I'm so glad he's feeling better now. I wanted to take that pain away from him. I want to thank everyone for their concern and for sending all the good wishes for my little buddy. He wants to say "Thanks" to all of you for asking about him. And NO he does not share the remote, especially when "Animal Planet" is on!

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean

I have been cleaning out my attic and I find that I had some beautiful items packed away. Admittedly, lots of stuff went to my favorite charity, Salvation Army, but some items I decided were too good to give away. So, I have added lots and lots of stuff to my Etsy shop, Sweet Girly Things.

Here is a little preview of some of the items that I have listed:

Lots of beautiful decorating pieces, all reasonably priced to move them fast. Any of these pieces would make beautiful holiday gifts for a loved one. So, hop on over to Sweet Girly Things and check out all the great things that I have listed.

'Til next time, Love ya, Jean