Ten Thousand Villages Gift Ideas and Fair Trade Brownies

We have been enjoying our visits to various Ten Thousand Village stores across Canada since our  new book Celebrations was published in April. (check the link for purchasing online)

Our most recent signing was in Calgary Alberta and we enjoyed seeing all the fair trade Christmas decorations throughout the store.  Besides many gift ideas, the store was loaded with gift wrapping ideas, Christmas cards,  garlands, ornaments and also...

food! I wanted to highlight an idea for you today.

You might want to consider ordering a gift bundle for someone and have it shipped.

Check this link for many options.

Today I am featuring some of their fair trade baking essentials in a recipe.

They had a  beautiful hand made basket with  tea towel and wooden spoon paired  with Organic Cane Sugar and Organic Cocoa Powder.  Attached to the basket was a recipe adapted from our website and so I thought I would share another version of that with you today.

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups Camino Organic Sugar
• 4 heaping tablespoons Camino Cocoa Powder
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Icing

• 2 cups icing sugar
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons Camino Cocoa Powder
• about 2 tablespoons boiling water (you may need a bit more to make a spreadable icing)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Topping

• 1 cup Camino Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup chopped nuts

1. Cream together butter, sugar and cocoa.
2. Add beaten eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Add flour and fold in nuts.
3. Bake in a greased 9 X 13 pan for about 35 - 40 minutes. Expect the top to look slightly under-baked.  It will fall in the centre.  The brownies should be moist in the centre.
4. Beat together icing while the brownies are baking and smooth over brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
5. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and chocolate chips and return to the oven about one minute or until the chocolate chips begin to melt.
6. Allow to cool and then refrigerate to help set the brownies for cutting.

Be sure to check here for free shipping and in store special sales from November 30 - December 1.

Potato Coconut Candy

This candy brings back many memories of years gone by. I was chatting with my friend last week and I know her Mom and mine made them every Christmas. I really enjoyed eating this candy together with peanuts. I would eat a few shelled peanuts and then I would take a bite of the candy. Candy was a special treat and so I tried to make it last as long as I could.
My Mom did not dip them in chocolate, just rolled them in coconut. I couldn't find her recipe so did the best of what I remembered and with the help of my friend I must say this candy tastes like I remembered. The extra dark chocolate coating helps balance the sweetness of the candy. I used potato flakes but I know my Mom did not have those around, she used regular mashed potatoes.

• 1/2 cup potato flakes
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 3 cups coconut, flaked
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 10 ounces semi sweet dark chocolate, chopped (I used extra dark)

1. Mix potato flakes, milk, icing sugar, coconut, and vanilla until well combined.
2. Roll into balls approx 3/4" in diameter, it will be sticky so you have to press and roll the dough in your hands as you form the balls. Place on cookie sheet and refrigerator for at least 1/2 hour.
3. Melt chocolate. Dip rolled candy balls in the chocolate, using a fork to push the balls around in the chocolate to coat all around.
4. Place on a parchment lined pan and put in refrigerator to firm up.
5. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool place.
6. Yield: 30

Apple Pear Harvest Crumble Pie

Apples and pears make a delicious combination for a fruit pie. The crumble topping adds a light crunch. Serve with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of warmed caramel sauce.

Happy American Thanksgiving.
Many will gather around the table today giving thanks to God for His many blessings.

• 1 9" unbaked pie shell (not deep dish)
• 4 apples
• 2 pears 
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp sour cream
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp butter

Crumble Topping:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup quick oats
• 1/2 cup cold butter, grated

1. Wash, peel and cut fruit into small pieces. 
2. Add lemon juice and sour cream to fruit and stir to coat.
3. Add flour, sugar and cinnamon and stir.
4. Melt together honey and butter. Pour over apple/pear mixture.
5. Pour apple mixture into pie shell.
6. Mix together first three dry ingredients for crumble. 
7. Using a cheese grater, grate cold butter into dry mixture and stir with a fork till butter is coated.
8. Using your hand sprinkle the crumble over the fruit.
9. Bake in 375º oven for 50-60 minutes. 

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

 

A mix of roasted and steamed vegetables tossed with orzo, baby kale, roasted pecans and dried cranberries or grapes . . . this beautiful salad may just be the perfect new addition to your thanksgiving table. Also serves as a nice luncheon salad that keeps for the following day.

 

Ingredients:

• 5 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 cup orzo
• 5 cups broccoli, chopped
• 4 cups baby kale
• 1 cup pecans, toasted
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or 1 cup grapes

Dressing:

• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

Method:

1. Toss squash, oil, garlic, salt and pepper in roaster and roast (uncovered) for 35 - 40 minutes at 400 F.
2. During this time, cook orzo according to pkg directions, drain and rinse with cold water. Also, bring broccoli to boil in salted water and cook 2 minutes, then drain and cool in a bowl with ice water.
3. In a large bowl, mix kale, cooled roasted squash, orzo, broccoli, pecans and cranberries with dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps well for the next day.



Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

We stopped by to visit a cousin in California a few weeks ago...as we were traveling through.  It felt like summer and we had lunch in the shade of an outdoor gazebo.  For dessert she brought out a moist and delicious frosted pumpkin layer cake.  I'm sharing it with you today...my version of Linda's spiced pumpkin cake dessert!   It may still feel like summer where you are or maybe winter has already hit hard...but the calendar still says autumn.  Let's enjoy the pumpkin!

Pumpkin Layer Cake:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 can 14 oz/398 ml pumpkin purée (remove two tablespoons to add to frosting if desired*)
• 1 14 oz. can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.
2. In mixing bowl, beat together eggs, sugar and oil.  
3. Add vanilla and pumpkin purée and mix until smooth.
4. Add dry ingredients and stir until combined.
5. Stir in pineapple, coconut and raisins.
6. Pour into two 9-inch cake pans, sprayed with oil and lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes...or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 15 minutes.  Then remove from pans, invert onto cooling rack.
9. Frost with cream cheese icing when cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 (250 gr) package cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin purée, optional
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups icing sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

1. Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
2. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla.
3. Add icing sugar one cup at a time, beating until smooth.
4. Add milk as needed to get desired consistency.

*the pumpkin purée adds a creamy colour to the frosting

 

Bread for the Journey

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated in October and I decided I would look for something in each day to be thankful for.

I wanted to frame those thoughts ...

and found it wasn't hard at all to see something in each day to be thankful for.

I decided to share some of those framed thoughts with you today knowing that many of you are celebrating Thanksgiving in the US this coming week.

On good days it seemed there were many things to be thankful for...

and on other days I had to remind myself to breathe...

I was always thankful that God knew what concerned me each day.

Wishing you all God's richest blessings this week as you intentionally think on those things you are thankful for.

Good Things Make Life Better

Although we live in an electronically advanced age, some things just never get old -- like receiving  letters/cards in the mail or packages delivered to your door.  

I had a package delivered to my door not long ago!  

I was expecting it. 

While we as MGCC do not endorse companies,  we will give praise where praise is due when someone comes up with something new or something better!  

When I was asked by Tamar from Catelli if I would be willing to test their new gluten free pasta, 

I almost said no, because I knew I would so hate to tell her I didn't like it!  

But, I decided to risk it, and am so happy I did!  

I have not enjoyed pasta for the last eight years that I have been gluten-free due to having Celiac. 

BUT...    I did  enjoy the Catelli GF pasta!    

Texture and flavour - perfect!  and just as good warmed up the next day! 

In fact, my wheat loving husband declared there was no longer any need to buy wheat pasta.  

He would be happy for us both just to share and enjoy the GF.  

The pasta is a blend of 4 flours including the healthy quinoa. 

( Ohh ... and if you are heading out the door to buy some... 

remember to first print out the one dollar off coupon  )  

I know there are about as many pasta recipes as there are cooks,  every family having their favourite. Throughout my growing up years,  I always enjoyed the following simple pasta dish my Mom would often serve  - I still enjoy it, modified now to be gluten free.   (my mom would not put in the cheese because my Dad didn't eat cheese - still doesn't) 

• 3 1/2 cups Catelli gluten free pasta ( or 1 box) 
• 1/3 chopped onion  
• 1 tbsp oil 
• 2 cups whole milk 
• 1/3 cup butter 
• 1 tbsp sweet rice flour 
• 2 tbsp cornstarch 
• salt / pepper to taste 
• 1/2 cup grated cheese 

1. Cook pasta as per package instructions...  drain, set aside. 
2. Sauté onion in oil until soft 
3. Add milk and butter and heat until butter is melted and mixture is hot. 
4. Add blended  sweet rice flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper .  
5. Cook,  stirring until thickened. 
6. Stir in cheese until it melts.  
7. Pour over pasta, mix and top with more grated cheese.  

 NOTE :  Catelli Gluten Free pasta is produced in a dedicated gluten free facility and has been recently certified by the Canadian Celiac Association,  

ADDED NOTE - to our American followers --   Catelli recommends Ronsoni GF pasta  sold in the US that is comparable to theirs -- same ingredients ..  here is the link  

Meringue Spice Cupcakes Gluten Free

These spice cupcakes are baked with their own meringue topping! No need to ice.
They have a great flavour and melt in your mouth texture.
This recipe makes 2 dozen cupcakes or if you prefer a cake, use a 9" x 12"  cake pan.

• 1/4 cup room temp. butter 
• 1/4 cup shortening 
• 1/2 cup white sugar 
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 1 egg yolk 
• 3/4 cup milk 
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour 
• 1/2 cup millet flour 
• 1/3 cup white bean flour 
• 1/2 cup potato starch 
• 3 tsp baking powder 
• 1 tsp xanthan gum 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

for topping 

• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• crushed walnuts 

1. Cream butter and shortening 
2. Add sugars and beat until fluffy 
3. Beat in egg and egg yolk 
4. Add milk 
5. Add blended dry ingredients Beat until perfectly smooth 
6. Divide batter into 24  muffin tins or cake pan as desired 
7. Beat egg white until foamy, beat in brown sugar until thick 
8. Smooth over top of batter -  about 3/4 tsp per cupcake 
9. Sprinkle tops with crushed walnuts. 
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Looking out the window I see a beautiful covering of snow on the trees, and so that turns my thoughts to Christmas. I love to bake cookies and will share a festive cookie recipe today. I usually make quite a variety for Christmas and I like to fill plates with cookies and give them away to family and friends. If you want less sweetness in this cookie you can omit the white chocolate chips and double the amount of pistachios.

• 1 box/468 g yellow cake mix
• 1/2 small box of instant pistachio pudding and pie filling (approximately 1/3 cup)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup pistachio nuts, shelled and chopped
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1. In mixer, combine cake mix, pistachio pudding, eggs, and oil until just blended.
2. Stir in cranberries, pistachios and white chocolate chips.
3. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and place on parchment lined cookie sheets.
4. Bake in a 350º oven for 12 to 14 minutes, until edges start to become golden in color.
5. Allow to cool in cookie sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
6. Yield: 2 dozen

Bread for the Journey

Listen to the lyrics of this song and allow His name to come alive in your heart today.

Jesus Name above all Names

Saturday in Bev's kitchen

Chopping Onions

There are a lot of different tips out there for chopping onions efficiently and without tears.

Today I thought I'd share my tried and true method.

First of all, I  have found that standing at my counter between an open window and the stove exhaust fan is the best place to chop onions.  The open window causes a draft that directs

 the onion fumes out through the exhaust fan

.

I always start by cutting off both ends of the onion, I cut the onion in half from stem to root.

The onion skin is then easier to remove.

I cut it lengthwise into strips, holding the onion together with my fingers,  
then if I want diced onions, I hold the slices together,
  turn the cut onion 45 degrees and cut it the other way forming a dice.

 As you can see from this picture, I have printed the word ONION with permanent marker on one side of my cutting board. 

 In dedicating one side of a cutting board to onion I avoid having the onion taste transfer itself to the milder fruits and nuts I might need a chopping board for later..

Just a few tips on a Saturday morning.  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day.

Spanish Rice

I always enjoyed eating at my mom-in-law's table and Spanish Rice was a dish she served often.  I've made a few changes to her recipe over the years (adding salsa for some zip and using diced tomatoes instead of tomato soup) but whenever I make Spanish Rice I am always reminded of 'mom'.  Serve with green salad and warm dinner rolls for the perfect fall meal.

• 1 1/2 cup long-grain rice, white or brown, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6-8 slices bacon*
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 398 ml can diced tomatoes (about 1 pound)
•  1/2 cup hot salsa
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1. Cook rice according to directions, adding salt if desired.
2. Fry bacon in large skillet until crisp.
3. Remove bacon from skillet and pour off all but two tablespoons of drippings.
4. Add chopped onion and green pepper to skillet; saute until tender.
5. Stir in cooked rice, bacon, diced tomatoes, salsa and pepper.
6. Cook uncovered on low heat for about 15 minutes.

Serves 4-6

*Variation: Omit bacon and add 2 cups of  cooked ham. 

Sticky Toffee Pudding

We really enjoyed this dessert while traveling in Great Britain so duplicating it for special meals here on the other side of the Pond was a fun adventure for me. It's a warm dense cake with a caramelized sauce. There are many versions of Sticky Toffee Pudding and this is one that has been successful and good. Don't let the pudding confuse you. It's not like our creamy soft pudding. This "pudding" is cake like.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Pudding:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 8 ounces dates (pitted and chopped into pieces)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups boiling water

Sauce:

• 1 cup butter
• 2 - 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups whipping cream

You will need extra whipping cream to top off the cake with when ready to serve.

Directions:

For the pudding:

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Beat in eggs one at a time and incorporate completely.
3. Fold in flour.
4. Put the chopped dates in a separate bowl.
5. Pour the boiling water over the dates and add the soda to this mixture.
6. Give the water time to be absorbed into the dates.
7. When water is mostly absorbed add the flour mixture and blend well.
8. Pour the mixture into prepared pan.
9. Bake for 40 minutes. Time may vary slightly depending on your oven.

Sauce:

1. Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat.
2. When cake comes out of the oven poke the top of the cake evenly with many holes. 
3. Pour half of the sauce over the top of the cake evenly. 
4. Allow Sauce to soak into cake.
5. When ready to serve cut cake into squares and place the squares on your dessert plates. 
6. Top with remaining sauce that is hot onto the warm cake. 
7. Top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream.

 

Filet Mignon Dinner in the Oven

 

This easy steak dinner may very well be what you'd order at a good steakhouse, but enjoyed in the comfort of your home with very little preparation. The best guarantee for a very tender steak is a tenderloin, priced accordingly, but  well worth it when you consider the price of a dinner out.

Ingredients for a dinner for two:

• 2 medium baking potatoes or yams
• olive oil for brushing
• 2 tenderloin steaks
• 4 - 6 slices ready-cooked bacon
• spinach caesar salad

marinade

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 large clove garlic
• 1/2 Tbsp Montreal steak or chicken spice

Method:

1. About 75 minutes before dinner, mix up the marinade and pour under and over steaks. Let sit at room temp. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Brush potatoes/yams with olive oil. Prick with fork and place on parchment paper lined oven safe plate to bake for one hour.
3. About 20 - 25 minutes before dinner: wrap steaks with bacon. Secure with toothpicks.
4. Pre-heat cast iron or heavy frying pan. Spray pan with a light coat of cooking spray and cook steaks one to two mintues on each side until browned.  One option:  when turning steaks over to do second side, place on top of extra bacon pieces.
5. Turn oven down to 375 F and place steaks in ovenproof  pan alongside potatoes. Bake 12 - 15 minutes for medium to medium well doneness. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
6. Toss salad and enjoy dinner!



 

Remember

We must never forget the profound sacrifices of those who have died...

 those who are serving....

and the families that love them.

Today we wear a poppy on our lapel and we remember.

For your sacrifice..

for our freedom..

we thank you.

Lest we forget.

Looking forward to that day when all wars will cease.

Bread For The Journey

 The Necklace 

I was a young girl, I'm not sure how old but definitely under the age of ten. 

I was shopping  with my mother in the local 5-$100 Store. 

This was long before the popular dollar stores but it was a store filled with a great variety of goods.  

There was so much to look at.   

Not that I expected to be allowed to have anything.

 I knew that was not why we were in the store, but I loved to look! 

My mother was at the till paying for her purchases conversing with the owner's wife. 

I stood waiting, admiring the jewellery that hung from a stand at the end of the counter.

Daring to reach out and touch, I fingered the stone in a necklace pendant. 

To my horror as I pressed my  thumb across it, the stone fell out of its setting. 

My heart racing, I looked around to see if anyone was watching! 

It seemed no one had. 

If I told what I had done, what would happen?  Would they be angry ? 

Would they take me away from my family?  

My heart pounding, my stomach in a knot , I made my decision.  

I slipped the stone out of sight under the hanging jewellery and said nothing. 

I walked out of the store with the guilt and shame of what I had done. 

I spend a sleepless night, fearing that someone had seen me and even if they hadn't, would figure out it was me that had broken the necklace. The police would be called..  would I go to jail?  

Was the sin of hiding my crime worse than the crime itself?
Guilt is not always measured by the severity of the crime, and secret guilt magnifies itself.   

Over time, the guilt was not as deep or as heavy but I never forgot what I had done.
I never told anyone.

Over 20 years later, I had grown up, married and was working at Eatons. 

A new employee was hired to work part time in the fabric department. 

I recognized her immediately as the owner of that 5-$100 store. 

Had God given me another chance to do what was right ? 

  I was in conversation with her one day and I took a deep breath and said,  

"I have something to confess to you."  

She smiled, wondering what it could possibly be! 

And I told her the story. 

She laughed, gave me a big hug and said, 

"I'm sure we must have just glued it back in. 

But thank you for telling me !"  

I was forgiven !!   

Even after all those years it was a burden lifted  -  my heart felt so light !     

Forgiveness! 

What a gift to give or to receive. 

So often we live with the burden of guilt fearing someone's anger or retaliation, 

when it is so much easier just to confess and ask for forgiveness. 

I think of God's forgiveness that He offers as a gift to anyone who asks for it. 

No matter what we have done, He smiles, hugs us and says... 

"You are forgiven, your sin is gone, but thank you for your confession!"  

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:9 

Make your gift giving a Celebration

 Celebrations
2013 certainly has been a year of celebrating here at Mennonite Girls Can Cook. We waited with great anticipation for the launch of our second cookbook called Celebrations this past spring, and we have been kept busy with different events. It's always so interesting for us to hear stories from those who have given or received one of our books.
With Christmas just around the corner you may already be looking for gift ideas.

In our first book Mennonite Girls Can Cook you will find many of our Mennonite heritage recipes along with our personal stories and inspirational thoughts.

In our second book Celebrations we chose recipes that would be suitable for 10 different celebrations in life. Most of the recipes in this book are not from our heritage collection, but are our personal family favourites we have served for family dinners to holiday dinner parties. Again we added our stories and inspirations in this volume along with more beautiful photography, making this not only a cookbook, but a coffee table book.

Here is a sneak peek into the pages of Celebrations.

Here is the link to find your local retailer who carry both of our cookbooks.
You can also order both books from amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Every time a book is purchased you are also helping those in need. 100% of our royalties always goes to one of our projects.

Healthy Quinoa Salad

Some of you have asked if we ever have some healthy dishes. Here's a salad that is chopped full of powerhouse nutrients. I have joined a group of ladies this past fall, for a 7-week challenge.  No junk food nor refined sugars. Truly this has been a challenge, but I've noticed how quickly those extra pounds can sneak on.  So this week I chose kale and quinoa.  I'm very content to eat the same old, but during this time I challenged my self to eat healthier and wiser, hoping to see some beneficial results.

Kale is known as one of the powerhouse of nutrients, high in antioxidants.  Quinoa is also known as an ancient grain which is high in fiber and protein and very low in fat and it's gluten free. 

You'll notice that we only use olive oil and lemon juice for the dressing, keeping things light.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups kale
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1/2 green pepper
• 1/4 cup red onions.
• 1/4 cup pure virgin olive oil 
• 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon  
• I/2 pound cooked shrimp (optional)

1. Cook quinoa as per instructions.  I cooked my quinoa in my rice cooker. 
2. Layer spinach on the bottom of the platter.
3. Chop up kale and drizzle pure olive oil on leaves.  It gives a perfect healthy shine.
4. Combine kale and spinach to form a bed of greens.
5. Spoon cooked quinoa on greens.
6. Combine cucumbers, tomatoes and onions in bowl and mix well with 1/4 cup olive oil.
7. Spread over quinoa mixture. 
8. Optional: Top with some freshly cooked shrimp.
9. Take your lemon pieces and drizzle juice over the whole salad.
10. Add your favorite seasoning spice on top.
11. Let the juices and oil marinate your salad.

It's simple, nutritious and it's paid off.

Chicken and Butternut Squash Lasagna

How many of you head to the computer when you're looking for a meal idea or for a particular recipe?

I love paging through magazines and cookbooks but find myself turning more and more often to the internet - to Pinterest or various recipe sites for ideas.

Lately, I've been intrigued by several chicken lasagna recipes I've seen on the internet 

and decided to experiment with the fall flavours of butternut squash and sage.

Here's what we had for dinner tonight.  I must say it was delicious.

1 small head garlic

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoons olive oil (2nd amount)

1 Butternut squash, peeled and seeded (I use a potato peeler)

salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon fresh sage chopped fine (1st amount)

2 cups cooked chicken, sliced

2 cups fresh spinach

1 leek, washed, halved and sliced

2 tablespoons butter

1  1 /2 cups Ricotta cheese

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

3 cups white sauce

1/2 cup butter 

1/2 cup flour

3 cups milk 

3/4 tsp fresh sage, chopped fine (2nd amount)

salt and pepper to taste

12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente

sliced Mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped fine (3rd amount)

1. Heat oven to 400º F.
2. Remove outer paper skin from garlic head, slice the tips off of the whole head and place on a square piece of foil.
3. Drizzle the garlic with 1 teaspoon olive oil, gather the four corners of the foil and twist.
4. Place garlic in oven and roast for 20 minutes or until tender.
5. Cut squash into 1/4" slices and then cut again to make 1 inch pieces.
6. Toss in a bowl with olive oil and salt and pepper and 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage.
7. Lay squash pieces on parchment paper lined baking sheet and place in oven alongside the garlic.
8. Roast squash for 12 minutes or just until tender.
9. Saute' leeks in butter until tender.
10. Mix Ricotta cheese with egg and Parmesan cheese.  Season lightly with salt and pepper.
11. Make white sauce by blending melted butter and flour, adding milk and seasoning. Stir and cook until thickened. ( I do this in the microwave)
12. When garlic is done, squeeze the cloves out of the paper skin, into the white sauce and whisk until blended.
13. In a 9"x 13" pan or two smaller pans, assemble lasagna in layers as follows:

1st layer: Spread 1/4 cup white sauce  in the bottom of the pan and cover with lasagna noodles, 

2nd layer: 1/2 of the chicken slices, spinach,  1/2 of the leeks, 1/2 of the butternut squash, 1 cup or so of white sauce

3rd layer: lasagna noodles, 1/2 of Ricotta cheese mixture, remaining chicken, squash and leeks, cover with white sauce

4th layer: lasagna noodles,, remaining ricotta cheese, white sauce 

5th layer: sliced Mozzarella cheese, 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage.

  14. Cover with foil and bake in preheated 350º F oven for 40 minutes.

  15. Remove foil and continue to bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese begins to brown and the casserole bubbles.

  16. Let sit 10 minutes before cutting and serving. 

Bread For The Journey

Reflections

But we Christians have no veil over our faces; 

we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. 

And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, 

we become more and more like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Living Bible

This photo was taken at Linville Falls, North Carolina.

We are on a road trip through the United States...

and have enjoyed the beautiful foliage throughout the Appalachians and the Ozarks.

How beautiful to see the trees so perfectly mirrored in the waters next to which they stand.

One thing I noticed...

the closer the tree is to the water's edge...

the sharper the refection. 

I think there is a lesson here for us...

who are followers of Jesus.

The closer we are to Him...

the more like Him we become...

the clearer His reflection in us becomes.

Food for thought...

'Am I radiating Christ to those around me?'

Saturday in Bev's Kitchen

Making apple juice is a family Fall tradition at the Klassens. 

 We made it for the first time with Harv's parents over 40 years ago with a borrowed press on a dark and stormy night.  The following year Dad Klassen built his own press and we have been refining and streamlining the process ever since.  This year it worked like a well oiled machine with only one small adjustment to make the juice heat up faster.

We start with a trip to get apples.  We get them in Keremeos from an apple farmer with whom we have have a long standing arrangement.

  He has a commercial press and knows the best apples to use.  This year Cox Orange and Golden Delicious were his apples of choice.  He loaded our pick up truck with apples - 1800 pounds of them!

 Juice making day was Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend and two of our 3 kids and their families and a couple of friends came to help. (we missed our daughter's family who live in the prairies. Those grandboys  were so disappointed they couldn't come to help!)

The children are all eager to help - What fun it is to toss those apples into the washing bucket.
Look out for splashes!

 Ella sorted the apples so we got a good mix into the juicer.

But it's not all work to the grandkids. It's cousin time too.

Nate carries the washed apple to the press

where he dumps them on to a chute.

Rick guides them into a hopper where a drum studded with screwheads and powered by an electric motor spins around and chops the apples into tiny pieces. 

We learned early on to cover that spinning drum!

When the vat is filled to the brim, it gets moved forward under the press.

Another vat is placed under the chopper so we can keep chopping while the full one is pressed.

After the first year when we had to hand screw the press down,  Harv devised a hydraulic press to do the pressing and now it is done with the touch of a finger.  We have to do it slowly though or we have apple explosions (Grandpa called them "Auspouffs!)

The pressed juice flows into the stainless steel tray and is funneled into a waiting bucket.

Tim punches out the remaining apple pulp.

Ben gets the first taste of the fresh juice.
We ration it out though because one cupful can be as filling as eating several apples.

We then strain out any bits of apple form the juice before it gets suctioned up through a heat exchanger into an old beverage dispenser Harv found at a used building supply place.

This is the back of the dispenser showing some of the "plumbing"  The juice bucket is at the right and my pan of lids is simmering on the burner to the left.The heat exchanger somehow heats the juice to pasturization temperature almost instantly. (How it works is beyond my understanding, but it does)
It then goes into the beverage dispenser which has a hot water jacket around it
 so the juice stays up to temperature

Then it's my  job to dispense it into jars and seal each jar with a hot lid.

Here's the finished product - all 453 litres of it.  Pure juice - no added water or sugar and so delicious! Ready for the family to take home and to share with friends

In years past it was an all day job, with cleanup sometimes lasting until 11 pm but each year our time is reduced by Harv's innovations and this year we started at 9 and had everything cleaned up by 5:30.
It's hard work but it's fun work with the family all pitching in.

Here are a few more glimpses of the day.

Julia and Dean enjoying their "boxed snack"

Nate bites into one of the treats that Nana provided to make the day even sweeter.

Jen and Dulci supervised the outside work and the smiles tell you that it wasn't a tedious process.

Time out for a simple lunch - hot dogs and platz.

Adele looked after providing us all with snacks and meals while watching the little ones. 

This was Dean's first apple juice experience!

And at the end of a long day, there's time to hug a tired boy