JEAN AND HER GRANDMOTHER REGARDING FUDGE, CHRISTMAS BREAD & DOG TREATS

OLIVE (JEAN'S GRANDMOTHER)

Someone asked about freezing fudge and it can be done.  You just have be really careful how you pack and defrost it. Make sure the fudge is cooled and cut before you start packing it.  As with the cookies, you will need an air tight container to put the fudge in.  On the bottom use either wax paper or parchment paper - NO aluminum foil or saran wrap.  After putting each layer of fudge in, put another layer of wax paper or parchment paper.  When you have put the final layer of fudge in put a layer or two of wax paper or parchment paper on the top.  Seal the container and put it in the freezer.

When you want to defrost the fudge take it out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator.  DO NOT take it from the freezer and set it on the kitchen counter.  Going from the cold freezer to the warm counter is sort of shock to fudge and that's what makes the sugar crystalize on the top.  I like to leave it in the refrigerator 24 hours before I serve it, but if my husband, Albert, or one of the grandchildren find out it's in there - it is opened sooner than that. When I am serving, I take the container out of the refrigerator, take out as much fudge as I need and put the container back in the refrigerator.  If I have any fudge left over from what I put out, I put it back into the container and back in the refrigerator.

Most of the time, though, you don't really need to freeze fudge as it would last a few months in the refrigerator if it is in an air tight container.  Here is my recipe for Peanut Fudge.

OLIVE'S PEANUT FUDGE

2 cups of white sugar
1/2 cup of milk
2 Tablespoons of peanut butter

Combine sugar, milk and peanut butter.  Boil until it is at a soft ball stage, beat the mixture and pour into a buttered baking pan. When cooled, cut into squares.

JEAN

I had my Grandmother tell about freezing fudge as she has done it over the years, where I haven't. We are making up the Christmas Recipe a day that will start on December 12th and run until Christmas Eve.  If you would like any recipes, please let me know.  I am going to have cookies, breads, fudge, dishes, etc. So please advise if you would like something special.  I will see if I have the recipe and put it on.  In addition to Grandmother's recipe, I am putting on a Orange Marmalade Bread recipe that I make every Christmas.  Also, I will put on one of my Dog Recipes for our four footed friends.

After I finished the post, I realized someone asked about freezing bread and I didn't answer them.  Most breads can be frozen.  Do not freeze breads that have any creams or fillings as they will be soggy when they are defrosted.  Make sure the bread is cooled and wrap completely in aluminum foil.  Some people don't, but I also put the loaf in an air tight plastic bag after I wrap it in aluminum foil.  Again, I label the bag as to what kind of bread it is and the date I put it in.  When I want to defrost the bread, I take it out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours, then place it on the kitchen counter.  You can take it directly from the freezer and place it on the counter, if you need it to defrost fast.  After you use the bread, what's left over, either wrap it in aluminum foil or put it in an air tight container so it won't get stale.  Once I have it wrapped or in the air tight bag, I put it back in the refrigerator so it won't get stale or mold so fast.

JEAN'S ORANGE MARMALADE BREAD

1 lb. jar marmalade - reserve 1/4 cup for glaze
1 egg
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup melted butter
3 cups sifted flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup broken pecans

In a bowl combine marmalade, egg, juice and butter.  Add sifted flour, baking powder, salt, and soda.  Gently stir in nuts.  Turn into well-greased floured loaf pan.  Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Turn out on baking sheet and place right side up.  Spread top with reserved marmalade.  Return to oven until glazed, about 1 minute.  Cool on rack before slicing.


JEAN'S DOGGIE BISCUITS

3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 cups wheat flour

In a large bowl, pour hot water over margarine.  Add in powdered milk, salt, sugar and egg.  Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Knead 3-4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a very soft dough.  Pat or roll to 1/2" thickness.  Cut out with cutter.  Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Allow to cool and dry hard.

Be With God,
Jean

JEAN-MICHAEL'S AND ELMER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Michael's birthday is on October 31st, which is also Halloween.  As Michael's natural parents were not religious, they told Michael that, because he was born on that day, he was evil.  When Michael came to our home, we did not celebrate his birthday on October 31st even though he had been spoken to by one of our Amish friends, Elmer, who was also born on that day.  After being in our house and Michael knowing Elmer better, Elmer decided they were going to have a Birthday Party on their birthday of October 31st to show Michael that he was what counted, not the day.

Elmer's family had had a party on the Sunday before.  We had had a party for Michael on the same day.  So Michael and Edward went to the party at Elmer's house on October 31st.  They arrived at milking time and gave Elmer a hand with milking.  Anna had cooked a dinner of Michael's favorite foods: hamburgers, french fries, baked beans, green beans, potato salad, cole slaw and for desert a chocolate birthday cake that had Happy Birthday Michael and Elmer.  After dinner Michael and Elmer exchanged presents.

Elmer said they had to play games.  So they blind folded Michael and spun him around a couple of times letting him think he was going to have to pin the tail on the donkey.  When they took the blind fold off, there was a scrabble game all set up.  After Elmer, Michael and Edward played that for a while, they went into another room where Elmer had a darts game set up.  Elmer warned Michael and Edward that Anna was good at that game, and she was.  She only played one game, but she beat all the men.  Elmer says she always wins.  They then went into the living room and sang, religious songs, then Elmer read from the Bible and they all prayed.  When they went to leave Michael and Edward each got a birthday bag which contained a flash light, jack knife, small first aide kit, small sewing kit, and some candy.  Elmer said you need the sewing kit in case your are hunting or fishing and catch your pants on something - you can do a quick sewing until you can get them to their Mom (me)
 who can sew it better.  Anna, also sent home the rest of the birthday cake.  Michael says he won't worry about his birthday anymore.  Elmer showed him that its not the date, but the person.  He wants us to have a birthday party next year and invite Elmer and Anna.  All had a great time. Oh, I forgot to say Michael was 15 on his birthday and Elmer was 50.  I did have Elmer's and Michael's permission to say that.

Edward and Michael will be leaving the public school the end of this year and will not be returning.  Bishop Joseph, was over, and thought that Edward and Michael should learn a trade that could be Mennonite and used in the outside world. Edward would like to be baptized, but Michael is still thinking regarding meetings (church).  Joseph said learning a trade would be something in addition to the farming that they know.  He hopes they both stay Old Order Mennonite, but if they should go into the outside world, he wants them to have a trade that would provide them with money for food, clothes, an apartment, etc.  Michael would like to be a car mechanic. Joseph thought that was a good idea if Michael also learned how to work on farm equipment.  Edward is still thinking what he would like to learn.  Cooking is his favorite - in fact- he would like to own a restaurant sometime.  Joseph said he wasn't sure what kind of a living that would make.  Edward is also considering house painting.

We are checking about Michael taking car mechanic and farm equipment lessons.  If Edward chooses house painting, David can teach him how to do that as his Dad taught him.  It seems they are growing up so fast learning a trade.  I hope they both stay within our way of life.  Edward has started taking classes for baptism in the spring.  As I said, Michael is still thinking.

Be With God.
Jean

NEXT WEEK IS MY BIRTHDAY (NOVEMBER 21) WEEK.  IT WILL ALSO BE MENNONITE WEEK.

VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 2013

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day Americans set aside to honor American military personal who died in battle or as a result of wounds
sustained from combat.  That's not quite true.  Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor American's war dead.

Veteran's Day, on the other hand, honor ALL American veterans, both living and dead.  In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country.  November 11 of each year is the day that we insure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in their lives to keep our country free.

THANK A VETERAN !

SOME CHANGES COMING !!!!

I have decided on some changes with the coming seasons.  First, Monday, will be on Veterans Day and Jean will have her post on Tuesday this week.  Someone special will be on Wednesday with Jean, this week.  There will be three different recipes on Wednesday.

I thank Sue Ann for all the posts that she has taken so much time to present to us.  As garden season is ending, I asked Sue Ann if she would end her posts and come again in the Spring.  We have really appreciated all she has done for us.

Olive, Jean's grandmother, said she would do a post on canning meats and fish.  Right now, she is still looking for where she put her notes that she wrote up for the post or posts.  She said she doesn't need notes to do it, but to write a post she does.  So, I hope to have her on soon on Tuesday.

My birthday is this month and I am trying to figure out what to do.  I want to put on a post about one of the Mennonite places of business I went to last month.  This will take more than one post.  The day after my birthday is the day that President Kennedy was killed.  I don't know if I should something special on for President Kennedy.  What would you like?  The Mennonite Business or President Kennedy?

On December 12th we will start the Christmas Recipe a day.  Jean and I decided to do something different this year and ask if any of you had a special recipe that has been a family tradition or favorite that you would like to share as one of the Christmas Recipes.  If you do, please send it to:
lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com   We want only one recipe per family.  The recipe will be made by either Jean or myself before it goes on our Christmas Recipes. If we don't have enough recipes, Jean will put some of hers on.  I made a list of last years recipes, for Jean and myself, so we don't have the same things we had on last year. We would like the recipe by November 20th, so we can get it on the Christmas Recipes.  Also, if there is any Christmas recipe you would like, please ask and Jean will see if she has it.

Doreen came up with a great idea,  Do you have any Amish or Mennonite made items?  Doreen came with the idea that people take pictures of the items, send them to me and I put them on the posts.  I thought it would be a great idea if you told a little bit about where you got them and if there was a special reason you received them or purchased them.  So if you have any Amish or Mennonite items, take those pictures and e-mail them to me at: lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com

The week of November 18th is my Birthday week.  I will be 65 on November 21st. That will be Mennonite week with Jean (Old Order Mennonite) on Monday, Mennonite School on Tuesday, Jean with recipe on Wednesday and a Mennonite Business for the rest of the week.



Marilyn

COWS GET EQUAL TIME !!!

I have put on posts of horses, buggies, chickens, ducks, and more, but no cows.  I think it is time cows got equal time.

JEAN'S CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

JEAN'S CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

1 chicken, cooked and broken in pieces
1 Cup celery
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can chicken noodle soup
1 can chow mein noodles

Mix chicken, celery, mushroom soup, chicken noodle soup and half of chow mein noodles.  Place in baking dish and top with other half of chow mein noodles.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Jean was upset by the last recipe that she put on, so we replaced it with this one on.  I told her not to get upset.  We are use to our local stores and forget that they are not all over the United States much less the world.

SUE ANN - NEVER SAY NEVER WHEN YOU PRESERVE FOOD!

NEVER SAY NEVER WHEN YOU PRESERVE FOOD!

My husband brought home, FIVE count them, FIVE,  5 gallon buckets of apples and pears! We are on the verge of having our first hard frost, and the trees we pick, still had fruit...he is not one to let things go to waste, and I have been busy with applesauce, and pear sauce! We put roughly 15 lbs. of apples in the fridge for eating....the first batch of apples produced 21 qts. of applesauce..I still have that many to go yet....I am freezing all of it....

This is the time of the month that I begin planning our Thanksgiving menu. I get a big sheet of paper out and begin.....I have kept the menus of several years past, and I look back on them to see what was a favorite..what was not. As life gets busier, and complicated at times, these lists have been a saving grace for me, when my brain can no longer think!

I found an easy yeast dough recipe years ago, for dinner rolls, that did not require kneading and several risings. It has served me well when time was limited, and now, it is just EASY!!! You will like it.

I use a long Pyrex, oblong , baking dish, the kind a whole lasagna noodle can rest in without being broken.

                  PERFECTLY EASY DINNER ROLLS

                          yields 2 dozen

1 c warm water

2 pkgs. dry yeast

1/2 c melted butter( 1 stick)

1/2 c sugar

3 eggs

1 t salt

4-4 1/2 c flour

additional melted butter (optional)

Combine warm water and yeast in a large bowl( the one you will be mixing the dough in). Let mixture stand til yeast has proofed(is foamy), about 5 mins.

Stir in melted butter,sugar, eggs and salt. Beat in flour one cup at a time, til dough is too stiff to mix. Some flour may not be needed.

Cover and refrigerate 2 hrs., or up to 4 days.

Grease well, a 13x9 baking dish. Turn the chilled dough out onto a lightly floured surface. divide dough into 24 equal size pieces. ( I use a pastry cutter). roll each piece into a smooth round ball, and place in even rolls in the baking pan.Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Bake- 375 degrees, til golden brown, 15-20 mins. Brush tops of warm rolls with melted butter if desired.

I halve this recipe, sometimes all I need are a dozen rolls, not 2 dozen- everything divides equally, except the eggs, I use 2 eggs.

I have made dinner rolls since I could walk, and this is THE easiest recipe ever!! And they are very fluffy, not heavy at all.

What is also nice about this recipe, is the adding of other things, like dried onions, in the dough. 2 T.

I hope you enjoy your week, and all your planning for Thanksgiving!