Move Over Fair Scones

The Puyallup Fair is a big deal in Western Washington and these Fisher Fair Scones are a reason to go all by themselves.  I know teachers who rush down to the fair and buy these to bring to school and share with staff.  I remember waiting in long lines (think: Disneyland) to buy a scone for a quarter when I was a kid.  Now they are $1.00 and there are multiple stands throughout the fair grounds so the lines are shorter.

Today is Fair Day in the Puyallup School District and classes let out before noon to accommodate the education showcase put on by students and staff at the fair.  But my teacher husband and I decided to stay home and get some things done.  Missing our scones, I remembered a recipe  I have been wanting to try out.  "7-UP Biscuits".   

Oh MY!  

 These make Fair Scones seem like cardboard!  I can't even describe them.  You just have to make            some yourself.  Moist, light, tender, delicious just don't even begin to cover it.  You want the recipe?  

7 UP BISCUITS

4 CUPS BISQUICK

1 CUP SOUR CREAM

1 CUP 7 UP

1 STICK OF BUTTER

PRE-HEAT OVEN TO 425 DEGREES.

MELT BUTTER IN 9X13 GLASS PAN IN HEATING OVEN.

REMOVE PAN WITH MELTED BUTTER.

IN A LARGE BOWL COMBINE BISQUICK, SOUR CREAM AND 7 UP.

ON WELL FLOURED BOARD GENTLY PLACE DOUGH AND FORM A RECTANGLE.

CUT INTO 12 SQUARES WITH SHARP KNIFE.

GENTLY PLACE BISCUITS IN THE PAN OF BUTTER.

BAKE UNTIL TURNING GOLDEN BROWN ON TOP.

ENJOY!

Ginger Jam I Am

I LOVE GINGER JAM!  I know it isn't the most popular taste in America, but I discovered it while living in Australia one year.  One visit to The Ginger Factory and I was hooked!  Price of admission for our visiting Aussie friends is one jar of ginger (pronounced "jin-ja") jam.
                                                  
For years I have fantasized about making ginger jam but recipes were hard to come by.  In fact, I think ginger jam recipes are the very last thing to make it to internet.  Recently I have found some but they all seem to have ingredients like pineapple or jalapeños.  In the meantime, my taste buds have been satisfied by the occasional ginger jam purchase at stores like Marshall's or World Market.  But today was the day I got the courage to try my hand at this amber delight.  After studying other recipes I came up with one of my own.

      Janene's Ginger Jam

1 pound fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped

2 medium gala apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

juice of 2 fresh limes

7 cups of sugar

1 packet Sure Jell Certo, liquid fruit pectin

Combine all ingredients, except the Certo,  in a heavy saucepan.  Heat slowly to melt sugar.  It will form a liquid.  Stir often.  Bring it to a boil and turn down to simmer for 45-60 minutes.  Stir occasionally, scraping sides and bottom of pot.  Because of the natural pectin in the apples, I probably didn't need to add the Certo, but I did just for good measure.  I added it after cooking the fruit.  I brought it to a boil and immediately removed from heat, stirring the Certo thoroughly into the mixture.  Spoon into clean containers, cool and refrigerate.  Jam could also be put into canning jars and processed in a water bath canner.  But I will eat too fast to bother with that!

I like to eat ginger jam on pancakes (piklets), biscuits (scones), toast, ice cream, yogurt and a spoon!

Back to Baking

Can't believe it has been a month since we have posted!  It has been a full summer and I hate to see it end.  When it is nice outside and grandkids abound and trails to hike, I tend to ignore my homemaking skills.  But I am officially "back" with the ring of the school bell.  Just this past week I made a fabulous blackberry cobbler, thanks to berry picking grandsons.  Then a friend's zucchini harvest resulted in a loaf of zucchini bread.

Today it was a batch of dinner rolls

A rhubarb apple cake with crumb top

And Peanut Butter Brownies

                         Mix up 1 box brownie mix + 1/2 c. chocolate chips + 3/4 c. warmed p.b. swirled in

                                                  Frost while warm for gooey goodness!!

                                      Now I am ready for tomorrow's Grandparents Day party.

Dachshund B-Day

We celebrated Lucy's 9th a month after the fact, but what's better than dragging out birthday fun?

She wanted a dachshund party, with face painting and a craft.  So, that's what we did.

Our good friend, Miss Beth, graciously painted everyone's face with the animal of their choice.

 The girls made clay necklaces (leftovers from girls' camp).

 We had hot dogs, chips and pop.  There was a cake that kind of looked like a dog.  With lots of crumbs in the frosting.  I am no cake decorator, but I think it tasted good.  And that's what really counts, right?

 Lucy was completely spoiled with a treasure trove of presents.  She has the most generous friends.

Here are some things about Lucy at age nine:

She loves dogs.  Especially dachshunds.

She recently became a vegetarian.

She's an avid Harry Potter Lego player on the Wii.

She is tall and wears a woman's size 6 shoe.

She is generous and always keeps a box of trinkets to give away to friends who visit.

She likes to play the piano.

She is a hard worker and loves to save and spend her money.

She loves to wear high heels when she can and has been putting Sun-In in her hair all summer to make it blonde.

She loves to draw.

Heirloom Treasure Arrived Today!

 Can't believe what came in the mail today!  Nephew Tommy sent a box full of handmade linens that were given to him by his grandmother, Opal (my mother-in-law / Becca's grandmother).  I am totally passing these on to my quilting fanatic daughter, Becca!  Take a look at this calico gem!

This is not filled with any sort of batting.  Just the quilt top backed by the green calico.

And this priceless old quilt top also has no batting but is backed with muslim.  Was it  a bed cover?  a table cloth?

 It is obviously used and somewhat worn in spots.  There are 35 squares and each was embroidered by a different woman and signed with her name.  

 Three squares include the date, "1933".  One declares, "Manassa, Colorado, 1933". 

Opal was 21 years old in 1933, a young mother of two daughters.  This was her square.

 Most or many of the women are relatives of my mother-in-law. 

Opal's maiden name was De Priest.

Mabel is Opal's mother, Becca's great-grandmother.

Mabel's maiden name was Crowther so this is a relative, too.

 Another one says "Grandma Crowther" so that would be Becca's great-grandmother.  

Can't wait for you to touch it Becca!