Ice

Carnival of Homeschooling

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On the 6th Day of Autumn

Today is the 6th Day of Autumn.

My friends back in North Carolina are still sweltering in 90 degree weather.

This evening, the kids and I headed down to the park, and saw this.

Do you recognize that stuff on the water?

Yep, it's ice.

Lots of it.

We were spending some time enjoying the ice, when we suddenly heard the sounds of ice breaking a few yards away. We looked, and there was a beaver coming out of its dam, breaking through the ice.

It's a good thing we got our winter gear yesterday, and winterized our van earlier today. Now we are ready.

For more of this.

Baked Potato Soup

When I was a kid, I hated potatoes. I really, really, HATED potatoes.

So when my grandmother would offer me potato soup, I quickly declined every time.

As I got older, my tastes changed, and while I am still not a huge fan of mashed potatoes, I do like lots of potatoes now. One day I was in a restaurant with my hubby for a date/lunch, and tried some potato soup.

I died and went to heaven.

And I wished I had tried my Grandma's Potato Soup.

After that, I started trying out recipes, and came up with a basic recipe that we all liked.

Well, yesterday someone asked me for a potato soup recipe, and I gave her both of mine. This one and the German Potato Soup. That put me in the mood for potato soup, so guess what we had last night for dinner?

So I made it last night, but with a couple further alterations, and this is my final, favorite version.

First, you need to bake 4 lbs of potatoes. (Wash them, poke them with a fork, and stick them in the oven for about an hour at 400 degrees. They are done when a butter knife can go in rather easily.)

Let the potatoes cool so that you can handle them. I cut them in half down the middle so they cool faster.

Now, dice up a large onion. You want about 1 1/2 cup.

And finely mince 3 cloves of garlic.

In a dutch oven or large pot, melt 1 tablespoon of butter.

Saute the onion and garlic until they are soft, and just about to turn golden on the edges.

Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth.

Now peel 2/3 of your potatoes.

Add those peeled potatoes to the pot. The rest, peel and cut into chunks, and set aside.

Just a note here, I apologize for the poor coloring. It is getting dark much earlier here, so no natural lighting, and the light above my stove stinks!

Now with a potato masher, mash them up. You aren't going for mashed potato texture here, just a chunky mush. Jack was helping me in the kitchen.

Now add 2 cups of milk.

And this is the kicker. Add 1 cup of half & half.

This makes it extra creamy. You can use all milk, but I think this was the perfect touch.

Now add salt & pepper to taste, and about 1 1/2 tsp parsley.

Bring the soup up to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

Now add the remaining potatoes that you cut into chunks.

Cook it until the potatoes are heated through. And that is it!

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls.

And what do you do with baked potatoes? You top them.

Cheddar Cheese

Crumbled, cooked bacon

And sour cream.

You can add whatever toppings you like. Anything you like on baked potatoes. Jack added black olives. Whatever floats your boat.

Enjoy!

Printable Version:

Baked Potato Soup

Things

The other day, I found out that I have been selected to receive two copies of a new book for military wives. It is called "Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives" The publisher will send me two copies, one for me, and one to give away to a reader out there. I will then read my copy and give a review, both on here as well as Amazon.com.

I'm looking forward to that.

This week, with highs in the 30's, and the chance of the first snow of the year, it is time to go through the clothes, pack away the summer clothes, and assess the clothing for winter. Forget Autumn. It is my favorite season, but only lasts about a week up here.

We all need boots. So we will begin the search for good boots for everyone. We also need good gloves. We already have coats and hats.

Something else I'm going to need to get, is a snow shovel. Didn't really need one of those in North Carolina!

And of course one of the most important things to get to prepare for winter, we absolutely can't go with out. To do so would be detrimental.

Sleds.

Neighbors

Not far from here, there is a family.

This family is very shy, and they don't much care for having their pictures taken, but if I am sneaky, I can snap a few.

Here is the mother and child.

The little one saw me and swam off into their home, but Mom kept on munching.

This beaver was busy, busy, pulling branches and continually working at the dam.

Still working.

In another part of town, not far from here, is a place called Creamer's Field. This farm is a migratory bird sanctuary, and is simply amazing this time of year (last month especially) with the THOUSANDS of birds traveling south for the soon-coming winter.

There are many species of birds coming through, but you really see lots of Canadian Geese and Sandhill Cranes. It is so cool seeing the many V's of birds flying overhead. Sandhill Cranes in particular are very vocal birds, and you can't miss their passing.

Just a few of our neighbors. These are the best kind.

Apfel Brot or German Apple Bread

This bread is a treat my mother and grandmother would make when I was a kid.

When I was in highschool, there was an exchange student from Germany name Anna.

One day, during my junior year, we had a multi-cultural day, and there was a festival of sorts in the gymnasium and both teachers and students set up tables representing the respective land of their heritage. People were encouraged to bring foods that were traditional of their homeland.

Anna made this same bread.

Now I know my mother had this recipe in her kitchen...she had gotten it from her mother, and I wrote it in my recipe book before I left home. But somewhere along the way, I lost the recipe. I basically remembered what was in it, but not the measurements. I asked my mother for the recipe again a couple years ago, and she didn't remember ever having such a recipe.

What?! Mom, you should remember EVERYTHING you ever made me. I've only been gone two decades. That is practically like yesterday!

So...I spent some time experimenting, and I think I about have it right.

Now my mother would always buy the pre-made frozen bread dough at the store. Because I am a bread-maker, throwing together a batch of bread is no biggie, so I do it from scratch. You can feel free to do whichever you like.

You need dough for one standard 4x9 inch loaf of bread. Press the dough into the bottom of a greased baking pan. A square 9x9 or a round 9 inch pan is good.

Let the dough rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled in size.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Peel one apple.

Core it.

And slice it up.

Take the apple slices, and stick them into the dough, all over.

Now in a small bowl, add 1/4 c. brown sugar.

1/4 c white sugar.

2 teaspoons cinnamon

And 2 Tablespoons flour

Stir to combine.

Sprinkle the dry mixture all over the top.

Over this, you are going to trickle 1/3 of a cup milk.

Now take 1 tablespoon butter, and cut it into little pieces, and place it all over the top.

Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes or until done. The bread is going to be ooey and gooey and every so scrumptious!

Enjoy it warm or room temperature.



Go here for the Printable Version:

German Apple Bread