This is a recipe I made over the weekend for my family. They absolutly loved it. I even ate it for breakfast this morning. I hope you’ll enjoy it to.

Apple Crumb squares

• 2 cups Oats (uncooked)
• 1 1/2 flour
• 3/4 cup of margarine(melted)
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt(optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts(optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan. Combine all ingredients except applesauce and nuts. Mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture in the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 15 min. Cool. Spread applesauce over partially baked crust. sprinkle with nuts. (i didnt use nuts) top with reserved 1 cup mixture. Bake 13-15 min or until golden brown. Cool in pan. Cut into two inch squares. Makes about 2 dozen. Voila!

Pumpkin Pie

I am going to try and start posting different seasonal recipes, this is recipe #1. Last year we got two gigantic pumpkins and were having a hard time figuring out what to do with it. This is a recipe we found and love. We hope y’all will too.

You will need:

• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell.
• 1 (15 ounce) can, or 15 ounces of fresh puree ‘d pumpkin.
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, beat all ingredients together with whisk, or mixer. Pour into crust and bake for fifteen minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 35 to 45 minutes longer. Cool before serving. Enjoy!

I am a menber of the Bread Beckers news letter. Here are a couple events that you may want to take a look at. 

Events
 

“The Pressured Cook” - Cooking Class and Book Signing
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
10:00 am - 12:00
Taught by Lorna Sass

We are very excited to host cookbook author, Lorna Sass, to showcase our new line of pressure cookers by Fissler.  Lorna is the author of “Whole Grains, Everyday, Everyway”, “Pressure Perfect”, “The Pressured Cook”, and “Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure”.  She will be demonstrating recipes from each cookbook followed with a tasting and book signing.  We will have each of these books available to purchase at the class, but if you would like to preview them prior to the class, visit Lorna’s website at www.lornasass.com.  You’ll not want to miss this exciting event!! 

Click here to register for The Pressured Cook

“Mega Blending”
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
2:00-3:30 pm
Taught by Sue Becker

Sue will be unveiling our own line of blenders, by MannaMaster.  The MegaBlend is a heavy duty, very versatile blender.  It has the speed of a blender but the design of a food processor, making the use possibilities virtually endless.  With the MegaBlend, Sue will prepare a Frozen Fruit Yogurt, Frozen Green Sorbet (dairy free), Totally Raw “Banilla” Ice Cream (dairy free), Amazing Raw Chocolate Pudding (dairy free).  Sue will also demonstrate coarse grinding grains for grits or cream of wheat using the MegaBlend’s mill function, as well as preparing biscuit and pie dough.  
Sue will also demonstrate our new MiniBlend, personal blender.  Mini blenders are a great compliment to any kitchen - you’ll love the features of this new little “workhorse”!

Click here to register for Mega Blending

The MegaBlend and MiniBlend by MannaMaster will be available in mid October.

Register for either one of the classes or come for both!  You’ll be glad you did!!!

I found this article over on homemaking 911. I have found this site to be full of great information and resources. 

Just last night I had my extended fammily over for dinner. We did not set the table pretty and fancy, but the food was prepared special and my daughter made a dessert that was out of this world. Afterward, when everyone went home, Amelia and I joyfully cleaned the kitchen because the night had been so great. It just goes to show you, if you make the meal special, then the whole night will be.

 Set Your Table Contest

 I know you can set a pretty table, but do you do this for dinner regularly? If not, it would be a nice treat for your family to take the time to set the table in a beautiful, inviting way: serve all the food in pretty dishes, use the nice napkins, add some decorations. Use the good glasses. What if you do not have a set of “nice” dishes? Well, use what you have in a new and creative way. Beauty does not have to cost a fortune, but it can take time and effort.

I would love to see a picture of your beautifully set table. No digital camera? That’s okay. Set your table beautifully and send me a “word picture.” Describe it to the best of your ability.

I also know some of you have babies and toddlers, so it may seem silly to get out the nicest dishes when they are at risk for getting tossed or thrown. I understand! Perhaps you can set the table for a nice, special dessert just for you and your husband after the toddlers are in bed.

Theresa powers from Seasons at Home Magazine is donating a terrific prize for this one. The winner will receive a free copy of Seasons at Home Magazine from www.joyoushome.com, a $12.00 Value.

If you are sending me an entry with no digital pictures, you can add it in the comments below. Email pictures to me at: HomeMaking911@gmail.com

About the Author Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to four children, ages 3-17 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator. ——————————————————————————–

This article may be reprinted freely in your publications or on your website, provided it is reprinted in its entirety and the biographical information is kept intact. Thank you!

Have you heard the big news? TODAY ONLY you can get an incredible ebook package from MoneySavingMom.com–over $100 worth of money-saving ebooks, homemaking helps, and encouragement for only $5.97! I can’t believe she’s offering such a great price and I’d highly recommend you run over here Click Here! and check it out.

What makes this deal so good is that this ebook package includes the ecourse Supermarket Savings 101–this course alone is worth much more than $5.97 and will teach you how to drastically reduce your grocery bill. If high fuel and food costs are discouraging you and leaving you strapped for cash, you definitely need to buy this ecourse. You’ll learn how to cut your grocery bill by up to 50% or more and have fun saving money at the same time!

Go here Click Here!to read more about this huge sale! Hurry, though, the price goes up tomorrow–get this money-saving ebook package at a ridiculously low price while you can!

A very dear friend of mine has started visiting our local Amish produce auction about every other week. She doesn’t usually know what will be at the auction each week, we get just what ever items happen to be in season. Now that I have moved into the local community I get to enjoy the benefits of her shopping spree.

About 2 weeks ago I ended up with about 8 quarts of strawberries. and 6 heads of broccoli. Since I do not have a large family this will last us quite a while. I decided to freeze both of the items as I didn’t have time to can them this week. Freezing provides fresher veggies when dinner time comes and the process is quite simple. Just wash and store. Some vegetables require a quick blanching before going into the freezer, but Broccoli does not.

Strawberries are a perfect way to consume some of the antioxidants that our bodies need, and in the hot summer weather frozen strawberries are the perfect ingredient for smoothies.

Here is how I make my smoothies, which I have to say are simply the best in the world. At least to me, that is why I make them.:)

• 1 cup orange juice
• 10 frozen strawberries
• 1/2 slice frozen fresh pineapple
• 1 frozen banana
• a hand full of frozen cherries

I like to use a not from concentrate OJ. Finding affordable good fresh oranges to squeeze my own is a bit of a challenge. But if you are a Florida or California resident then you should have no problem. I usually buy banana’s when they are marked down on clearance because they are really ripe. There is no way we could bring them home and eat them, so we just bring them home and freeze them. I do recommend peeling them first and putting them in zip lock bags. You can throw the banana in the freezer peel and all, but when you thaw them out it gets quite messy. The pineapple is also fresh we peel and slice it and bag it for freezing. We first discovered the idea of freezing pineapple by accident. My daughter put the bag of fruit in the freezer instead of the fridge. It turned out to be a tasty mistake. And, that is it. stick with as much fresh produce as you can. If fruits are out of season then I recommend buying frozen. or stocking up and freezing while the harvest is plentiful. Some people like to add yogurt to their smoothies. I do not have a recipe for that but if you would like to share your recipe then I would love to try it.

Well, I had hoped to announce the new blog catagories with a couple of great post for each. But for the moment I am having trouble finding my usb cable to download pictures from my camera to list in the post. So I guess you will just have to hear about what is coming soon for today.

Before I deleted my blog, by accident, I started a new catagory called in the kitchen. My hopes are to post here all the wonderful goodies that my daughter and I make in our new kitchen. I have pictures of us putting up strawberries along with squash and zuccini. So pictures and info to come on that soon.

I also just added, Around the House. I have been working on some projects to make our new house a home and will be posting before and after pitures of the remodeling that we have done so far. Pictures to come will show painting that took place alone with curtains and decorations that were all made by hand. Around the house will also include other changes that we make or projects that we do to help others see a finished work to gain inspiration that may be needed for your own homes.

And last we are adding In the garden Where I hope to show bounty from our garden, when we get it planted, and to share wonderful recipes from farm fresh veggies.

So we have great plans to bring more information to the site for you that will not only be encouraging but will also bring ideas and helpful information as well.