CREAMED BRAINS

This is the first installation of a series of recipes that actually make me gag. I have found these in my collection of vintage cookbooks, and hope you enjoy...

Creamed Brains

1 Brain
1 Cup White Sauce
Salt, Pepper, Paprika

Cover brain with slightly salted cold water. Let stand 2 hours. Drain. Cover with boiling water. Boil 20 miniutes. Drain. Chill quickly. Remove the finers. Cut in pieces. Add white sauce. Season to taste. Serve in patty shells. If desired, 1 tablespoon chopped green pepper and 1 tablespoon chopped pimento may be added to give variety in flavor.

4 servings.

The Household Searchlight 1946

Yummers.

We did it. In spite of my desires to glob rocks and jewels into crusty bits of concrete, Sylvia solved our Grotto conundrum by gluing pompoms and stickers onto a shoebox. It's a little more suitable for toddlers and preschool children : ) Even Beatrice (at 2) was able to get into the fun and glue her weight in pompoms.

Here is a shot of our "Pony Grottos" more crap to be glued down soon... I think we may paint a little and squirt on a little glitter glue. Ooo I think I also have a baggie of rhinestones mwwahhahahahah.

Go Grotto!

How does one go about making a Grotto of Redemption? Yesterday, my family went to visit the Grotto of Redemption in West Branch, Iowa. My four year old was completely and utterly inspired. She has been asking me all morning when we will get started on our "Pony Grotto" .

I am thinking plaster or hot glue. But I also have two bags of concrete in the garage... I think we'll start by gathering rocks and sparkles.




The Family amidst the grotto




To say it was impressive was an understatement



Look MA! I'm a statue...

Easy Pickled Radishes

So due to our overabundance of radishes (we decided to do a "living mulch" this year). We have been seeking new ways to enjoy these sassy garden goodies.

Here is one super quick recipe that is tasty and so easy any knife wielding monkey could do it.

You'll need:
Radishes - probably about a pound or two.
A jar of Classen Pickles (or other dill pickle) minus all the pickles, save the juice

Slice the radishes and put them in the pickle juice. Put the lid on and leave it in the fridge for a week. Good as a Bloody Mary garnish, fun on a salad, or just a yummy spicy snack.

Knock Knock.

Who's There?

Giant Tree Branch.

Gardening. Ugh. I hate the weeding but love the harvest. Ah well. We just gave the tomatoes a layer of newspaper and compost and forced their unhappy souls into tomato cages.

We picked out first "june bearing" strawberry today. If I didn't have children, I could tell you how it tasted... Looks like I may get one soon.


We've got three mysterious pole bean black holes. No matter what I plant there, they won't grow. I may have to give in and let one of the volunteer tomatoes take over. Our damn okra won't go either... Guess my thumb isn't yet green enough.

Scott is out here right now erecting our bean tee pees. I am admittedly pretty excited. Although, I have a feeling hunkering down amidst bean plants and all of the pollinating pals may not really float my boat anymore. The kiddos will probably like it.





I froze about 2 quarts of rhubarb. I've already made two batches of Rhubarb Jam. We have one frozen apple pie left from last fall's apple extravaganza. (see kiddos sitting in the harvest). And about fifteen jars of Apple Butter... I am excited for the tomatoes. We finally finished all of the tomato chutney and canned toms, and we have nearly eaten all of the sun dried cherry tomatoes.

Grow Baby Grow...

Off to the basement.

Hi ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go. I think the hardest part about working in the evenings is that I nearly always fall asleep while putting the girls to bed and then I have to peel myself away from sleep and drag my grumpy ass down to the basement to work. It is far more awful than waking up in the morning.

Tonight I should be working on orders. Which I likely will. But I would also like to get to work on my state fair entries...

Here is a pic of some of the pillow covers I have been making lately. I just filled a wholesale order for them about a week ago...